RoadwayR

You can register a non-compliant diesel medium or heavy truck as a 'historical' vehicle, but don't let them catch you using in commercially. Yes, non-commercial fire apparatus is a different thing.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2026/03/chevy-silverado-md-production-to-end-this-year/?utm_source=gmauthority.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=biggest-chevy-silverado-will-end-production-this-year&_bhlid=4ff55b8692899beaafd76a66c32b1ddaa65983c7

You can't register an out of state non-compliant diesel truck in California. Honestly with all the emission controls on these new diesels they are not that much more efficient than gasoline engines anymore.

F-650 and 750 diesels are still not available for sale in California: https://www.worktruckonline.com/10256609/california-restrictions-no-longer-apply-to-ford-f-550-f-600-diesel-chassis-cabs

I am going to say it's a Euclid. Maybe a 5LLD. Curved fenders and the rounded upper rear corner of the door windows look like 50's era Euc to me. Also has the triangular fuel tank running crossways behind the cab common on Euc dumps. Darts were usually had squared off cabs and sheetmetal. LLD Euc's often had twin Detroit 6-110's each with its own Allison powershift 4 speed, one driving the #2 axle, the other driving the #3.

Interesting as Ram is now offering the Powerline with the B6.7 diesel. There was some speculation that Ram would offer the B6.7L Octane in their trucks, but it looks like it will not happen. https://www.worktruckonline.com/10256265/zf-8-speed-powerline-transmission-launches-on-freightliner-m2-106-plus-at-work-t

Your best bet for power steering would be to find a Brigadier/Chevy Bruin in a wrecking yard with power steering and get all the parts. Power windows might require a bit of fabbing up, I don't think those trucks ever came with power windows. Maybe you could use an aftermarket power window kit from a '67-'72 Chevy pickup (commonly availabe). The doors on those pickups are similar to the Brigadier but not exactly the same, you might be able to get the window regulators to work with some modification..

I could never figure out why James Hebe at Freightliner tried to bring American LaFrance back. Fire apparatus is a tough business.

Funny how Freightliner and Western Star are not specifically mentioned, just included with White. And Diamond Reo is touted as the 'owner-operator' make.

Maybe Farley is getting ready for the next chapter in his career...

That is correct. GMC made 'Magnum' versions of the 351, 401, 432, and 478. There was also a special 351E version offered in pickups for a few years that had the 'Magnum' parts on it.

https://fordauthority.com/2026/02/ford-motor-company-sales-numbers-figures-results-january-2026-usa/ Ford 'heavy truck' (650 and 750) sales are down another 21% for January. That may be the result of the model year changeover (They are building 2027's now) but there were no real changes to the truck for 2027.

I think this was only about licensing for the emblems on GM trucks. Yes the GM 10 speed was designed and is manufactured by GM, but Allison did consult on it. FWIW, a lot of Allison automatics were assembled in GM Hydramatic plants...

Somewhere I had a GMC V-6 repower catalog too. I talked to a guy years ago that worked for a trucking company back in the 60's that had a lot of White 3000's. He told me that they repowered their Whites with GMC V-6's with good results, they had more power and better fuel economy than the old White flatheads.

I think the Deutz was available sometime around 1987, after the brief fling with the Deere diesel. Last year for the Toroflow was 1974. In 1977 the Detroit 4-53 was back as an option in the GM medium duty trucks, and it was replaced by the Detroit 8.2L in 1980.

Saw that truck on another webside. Rare to say the least. Can't imagine spec'ing a Toroflow in a piece of fire apparatus! Has anyone ever seen one of the big 637 V-8 Toroflow's? I never have, though I have seen the gasoline 637 V-8 before.

Maybe it didn't get a lot of noteriety, but it sold in huge numbers. I believe it was the most popular class 8 engine for most of the 90's. As for Cat, all I can say is that yellow paint sure was expensive...

Well.... There was cooperation with Deere, but I think the Series 60 (or Tech 80 as it was originally known) was a Detroit project. I think Arn Vanderbock at Detroit was the chief engineer and the project was going well before Deere became involved. Around 1985 GM starting talking to Deere about mergeing Detroit Diesel with Deere's engine division. This was during development of the 60, so naturally Deere was involved as they were going to use the engine. I think Deere may have supplied some 60 Series castings, and there was a limited run of GMC 6500 series trucks with Deere 5.9L diesel in them (love to have one of those trucks!). The merger was looking good until Roger Penske offered to buy Detroit from GM, probably for more than it was worth at the time. It was also around this time GM decided to merge their heavy truck business with Volvo who made their own diesel engines, so Detroit Diesel was no longer as important to GM. The division had been loosing money as well. It's interesting to speculate what would have happened had GM gone ahead with the Deere merger and stayed in the heavy truck business. The new 1990 GM medium duty TopKick and Kodiak were supposed to have offered the 5.9L Deere diesel and a new generation Brigadier was under development. The Astro 95 would likely have been dropped as cabover sales were falling, but the General probably had a few good years left in it. GMC had just introduced a set back front axle General with a more aerodynamic hood. Here is a little background on what happened from the ag side: https://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=685481&DisplayType=nested&setCookie=1

One thing I remember was starting in 1987 the Detroit 60 was optional in the General and Brigadier, but I don't think it was ever offered in the Astro 95. When were the last Brigadier's built? I know GMC was building them at Pontiac at least until 1989, with WhiteGMC badges on them.

Quite possible, but I have heard rumors of a van based on the Maverick platform. I'll wager the E series will soldier on.

Confusing to say the least. I think this new 'affordable' commercial van might be smaller than the Transit, possibly based on the Maverick platform (which is already available as a hybrid). Something more along the lines of the Transit Connect. No idea about the future of the E series. 650/750 sales continue to tumble and Ford doesn't seem too concerned, I guess they sell enough 450 through 600 chassis-cabs. My guess is the 650 and 750 will continue until Ford needs the plant space for something else, like maybe this 'affordable' commercial van. Converting the Tennesse plant to trucks makes sense right now. The battery energy storage business sounds like a way to justify money already spent on EV battery production that Ford will not be able to use. It will be interesting to see how serious Ford will be in this new business. My guess is not very and it will either not happen (more write-offs) or be sold off.

Are Volvo 3080801 and 3080802 old White parts?

Good information. I remember up until about 1980 the Astro95/General had steel doors, then they went to some kind of composite. The composite doors didn't rust of course but I think they had trouble with the window mechanism.