5 star General ( semi)

[Matt Kirsch]

Bonus points for correct identification:

[dale560]

5 hours ago, Matt Kirsch said:

Bonus points for correct identification:

Semi from Knight Rider. Did not remember it was a general.

[Shell1066]

7 hours ago, Matt Kirsch said:

Bonus points for correct identification:

I know the 5 star in Smokey two had a detroit in it as you can faintly hear it a couple times. What did this one have in it

[Matt Kirsch]

25 minutes ago, Shell1066 said:

I know the 5 star in Smokey two had a detroit in it as you can faintly hear it a couple times. What did this one have in it

There were at least two different GMC Generals used from what I understand. A 1980 and a 1984. The one that still exists appears to have a Cummins engine in it.

[hillman]

[acem]

I've seen way more cabover than conventional. 

[hillman]

I think the radius on the corners are the same but that is where it ends with the cabs. COE is wider and bigger windows. but I can see why guys see the similarity  

[dale560]

Door frames are maybe the same also. Not the skin but door frame itself.

[hillman]

[hillman]

. IMHO they were the first and only classic looking truck GM built that was in the league of the classic Freightliners and PacCars

this is what the Bison and General replaced the one below looks like a giant pickup truck

[ChaseIH]

Neighbor still has a 82 or 83 Astro day cab with double frame on Hendrickson suspension. Rides like a lumber wagon and I have to open the door slightly to shift because my boot won’t fit between the seat base and the clutch pedal. Whacked my knee on the bottom of the steering wheel once and I had enough. It has a 400 big cam with a 13 speed and pulls awesome though on a 34ft dump and 1100 bushel

[acem]

Neighbor had an Astro with a 318 Detroit.

[hillman]

10 minutes ago, acem said:

Neighbor had an Astro with a 318 Detroit.

I wonder what market share 318s had back in the 70 and 80s

[acem]

6 minutes ago, hillman said:

I wonder what market share 318s had back in the 70 and 80s

Seems like there were alot of 318 Detroits and 290 Cummins in trucks back then.

[Sask466]

I’m not totally sure of numbers, but my guess for 2 stroke Detroits would be near 50% in 1970 and more like 5% by 1985. 
 

[Shell1066]

37 minutes ago, acem said:

Seems like there were alot of 318 Detroits and 290 Cummins in trucks back then.

Bosses I worked for on harvest in 2003 had 5 Generals in the 80's and early 90's. Number one truck had a 290 Cummins in it and it would out later Kw's that had 350 Hp  Cats in them. Don't know if it was turned up or not but with the right driver in it, it would run. Always was impressed by that engine.

[Sask466]

There is a truck collector with a fairly extensive collection in the city I live in.  He has a lot of old GM’s.  

And a Chevy Titan - I assume basically an Astro, but less common.  He also has an old 60’s GM with a 702 gas V12.

[ChrisNY]

Guy I know had this General he turned into a pulling truck. Was named General Stupidity

[searcyfarms]

On 12/28/2025 at 6:54 AM, vtfireman85 said:

I have a soft spot for those Louisville trucks, because it’s what I learned on, had tri axle with a Detroit and a large dump body. 

This ones here at my house visiting shes a gasser was converted from a diesel so its air brakes and 5 over 2 

Its my neighbors tjey use it asa farm dumper guess he wants to sell i dont need it but the air seat sure is nice 😁

[jass1660]

Wasn’t much to the daycabs for room…

[nate]

7 hours ago, ChrisNY said:

Guy I know had this General he turned into a pulling truck. Was named General Stupidity

Truck is now in Minnesota yanking the sled down the track.   Owners live about an hour south of me.   

[ChrisNY]

1 hour ago, nate said:

Truck is now in Minnesota yanking the sled down the track.   Owners live about an hour south of me.   

Thats cool. He put a lot of time and money into building that truck. Pulled it a couple years and sold it

[nate]

Here’s a pic of it back in August at a pull I went to 

[Sask466]

General Stupidity is an awesome name.  

[ChrisNY]

Nate,

  This was in NY. 3608B Cat I believe with 15 speed and lots of expensive parts.  Sure does not look like an Astro from this angle. 😆  Looks 100% badass