1968 GMC Water Truck 671 Detroit Diesel Cold Start First Start for the Season.

The Old 68 GMC comes out of the woods for another Fire Season. Wasn't enough fuel in the tank for the pump to pick it up because of the grade it was parked on. A little purgin, starting fluid and 15 gallons of fuel later, it's ready to make more episodes!

The 48 Brill turned out to be a 46. It's still here waiting for the transporter to take it to it's new home. I'll post the departure video when the time comes.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• first
• cold
• start
• Detroit
• Diesel
• 671
• engine
• Water
• Tank
• Truck
• 1968
• GMC
• Jeff
• Bradshaw
• Nova
• bus
• Super
• Steel
• Schenectady
• Redneck
• Restorations
• this
• Old
• Fire apparatus
• Engine

[NeilLB7]

You know, a simple vacuum pump will bring fuel up thru the lines much faster and safer than 3 cans of ether. That stuff RUINS heads, pistons and gaskets. Ive seen it a dozen times. If u insist on using ether, you don't know what your doing.

[ElderlyIron]

@NeilLB7

Where did you see 3 cans? A two second shot with an intermittent spritz. Did you think I was just holding the button down? Ol' shagwan there thinks I did. Not a lot of compression left in that tired old Detroit. Even WITH fuel, if its below 50 degrees, all you'll get is a plume of raw diesel and a hot starter. Even after a 2 second shot, it's going to stall. Usually a second shot before it stays running on 4 cylinders. Has to be 100 degrees before you have all 6.

[318Captain]

I thought NA was Naturally aspirated. Without a supercharger or turbocharger.

[ElderlyIron]

@318Captain

It is, and so is the engine. Non-alcohol makes a better one-liner, though.

[goldduster318]

@ElderlyIron The 2-stroke Detroit Diesels all have superchargers - they don't run without them. Some have the turbochargers in addition to add performance. The supercharger doesn't run at very much pressure though.

[ElderlyIron]

@goldduster318

Back where I'm from the old Detroits are usually considered N/A even with the blower. Depends on who you're talking with. I always felt the term "non-turbo" was somewhat useless. If it doesn't have a turbo, then why mention it? :-)

[markeholbrook]

Can you use a spray of wd40 or diesel to get it going in warm weather instead of ether?

[ke4yoi]

Doing mop up...but I don't see any SCBA's. We had to wear SCBA doing mop up when I was on the fire dept.

[mccrackenphillip]

Do You Have Any Video Of That Red GMC Day Cab?

[isfeldt34]

Nice vid, ok, sound rather since I am blind haha. good ol screamin' jimmy! nothin like that sound! lol and that god offel buzzer! haha surprised it even had one, being a 68.

[Onslow327]

Those Detroits sure tend to become Addicts as they get older lol, Lovely sound though!!!

[shagwhan1]

wow that much sniff, i would NEVER buy a truck off you if thats how you start things

[crisp2882]

love the sound of the 6-71 engine lovely

[goldduster318]

@ElderlyIron Yeah...I think while it would be possible to add more boost with the supercharger - but it might mess up the idle characteristics, and create a lot of heat you can't easily dissipate. Worst case, you remove it and bolt it on a gas V8 and turn the wick up...after all, it is a 6-71 blower!