Chevy C8500 Grain Truck

Paul swpa

Member
I have been looking for a bigger truck and saw an ad for a 2002 Chevy C8500 tandem with a 20 foot Scott grain box. Was wondering if anyone has experience with a C8500. Has a 3126 Cat engine, 8LL Eaton Fuller trany with power divider, listed GVW at 52,000 which is almost where I wanted to be. It was a Lowes commercial delivery truck in a former life (202,000 mi.). Should I run away or are they a decent truck? It doesn't help that it is about a 5 or 6 hour drive to look at it but haven't found anything closer. Any input would be appreciated.
 
The 3126 engine is a sleeveless engine and are the predecessor of the C-7 which are prone to ring breakage.When the rings break,they score up the cylinder walls,and you will have blowby.I would avoid that engine.Mark
 
I drive a 2002 GMC school bus with 3126 cat under the hood with 415000 km or 256000 miles on it. It runs good and have not had any trouble with it. So if your looking for something like that, I would go have a look at it since trucks like that don't come up every day. Friend had a c7 which is a newer version @275 hp in a potato truck and it was also trouble free. That one was hooked to a 6 spd allison auto and would run in the field at 55000 lb loaded. It was no speed demon but got around OK
 
I will never own one. Rust builds up under the head and pushes it off of the block. That was at 175000,one new block later and Cat had it running. If they start using oil, dip the fuel tank to see if the fuel is clean. If it is dirty have new O-rings installed on the injectors.
 

Most guys around here (including me) that owned those Cat powered GM's had to upgrade the radiators as they ran hot, especially in the field at harvest. Mine was a '92 with the earlier 3116, just a single axle so it had plenty power. My neighbour had a similar one that he tagged up and put a 20 ft box on - it was no ball of fire on the road.
 
Thanks for the information guys. Not too up on the trucks, but would really like to get something bigger than my IH4900 (DT 466 with six speed trany) with 12 foot Gallion dump body for hauling 30+ miles to elevator. Have a good number of hills between too. Old IH is down in second gear for a lot of them, especially if I get a little heavy :) and pass DOT setup as well so have to have a higher GVW to be legal.
 

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