The Long and The Short of It: 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak / GMC TopKick C6500/ C7500 / C8500 Cover GM’s Medium Duty Truck Bases
FOR RELEASE: March 6, 2002The Long and The Short of It: 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak / GMC TopKick C6500/ C7500 / C8500 Cover GM’s Medium Duty Truck Bases
As part of GM’s extensive revamping of its conventional-cab line of C-Series medium duty trucks, Chevrolet and GMC have expanded their Class 6-8 chassis cab lineup to include models with easier loading capability and longer-wheelbase models that handle larger bodies and more carrying capability. The move allows the 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak / GMC TopKick C6500, C7500 and C8500 Series trucks to offer easier upfitter installations without the need for extensive and costly modifications.
“Our expanded lineup of Kodiak and TopKick C6500-C8500 trucks offers more variety and longer wheelbases to accommodate any customer’s needs,” said David Dunahay, brand manager of medium duty products, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “Upfitters will also like the way in which they’re able to mount bodies and equipment more easily and inexpensively.”
Bigger Wheelbases and Frames
Overall, the new Class 6-8 models offer a wider choice of 16 Regular Production Option (RPO) wheelbases to take on a broader range of applications and improve customers’ productivity. Wheelbases now reach up to 296 inches on single-axle models and 308 inches on the tandem-axle trucks, compared to previous 281-inch maximum.
The longest-wheelbase models use a 450-inch frame, which is 80 inches longer than the previously largest size. This allows customers to easily mount bodies up to 30 feet in length on single-axle models without the need or expense to extend the frame. Frame strengths can be ordered in 50,000-, 80,000- or 110,000-psi ratings, depending on application and GVW ratings.
Regular cab models provide a clean, back-of-cab design with fuel tank capacities of up to 75 gallons. Crew cab versions, with their 41 inches of additional cab length, also provide a clean, back-of-cab design with fuel tank capacities of up to 75 gallons. All C6500-C8500 models have a standard clearance for engine-mounted PTOs.
There is a wide range of available equipment options, enabling customers to tailor their trucks to fit a particular job, territory, driver, climate and other such variables. Plus there’s a LoPro Package available on C6500 models which reduces chassis height by about 4-5 inches over regular Class-6 models, thanks in part to a specially “notched” frame.
Expanded Powertrain Choices
Led by an expanded lineup of new and upgraded inline diesels and automatic transmissions, Kodiak / TopKick C6500-C8500 models provide outstanding power, performance and durability, along with reduced operating and maintenance costs.
“Our new powertrains nail every requirement for high performance, low operating costs and long-term reliability and dependability,” said GM’s Dunahay. “They also enable customers to more precisely tailor powertrain selections to their specific needs.”
The new inline six-cylinder diesel lineup features a special version of the Duramax 7800. This engine offers a total of 10 separate power ratings and mates to carryover Eaton Fuller and Spicer manual transmissions, Allison 2000/2400 Series automatics and the Allison MD 3000 Series automatics.
Power ratings of the new Duramax 7800 range from 200 to 275 horsepower at the same 2200 rpm; maximum torque ratings range from 520 to 860 lb-ft, all at 1450 rpm. The Duramax 7800 also provides an outstanding durability rating of 410,000 miles without requiring major servicing.
Customers requiring a premium, high-range engine can opt for the Caterpillar 3126E, an inline, air-to-air aftercooled six-cylinder diesel with three valves per cylinder and an HEUI (Hydraulically actuated Electronically-controlled Unit Injector system). All CAT 3126E diesels are exhaust-brake compatible and approved for operation up to an altitude of 10,000 feet. Their 11-different horsepower ratings range from 175 to 300 hp. Torque offerings range from 420 to 860 lb-ft.
Finally, the Vortec 8100 gasoline V8 provides Class 6-8’s lowest-cost engine, plus a low-cost entry for conversion to alternative fuel use. Its attractive price and features make it an ideal choice for municipal truck operators and other customers who need medium duty capability for their work but don’t log a large number of miles on a yearly basis. The Vortec 8100 mates to the Eaton Fuller manual transmissions or the Allison 2000/2400 Series five-speed automatics.
With more power than ever, the Vortec 8100 offers 295 hp at 3600 rpm and 440 lb-ft of torque at 3200 rpm, or a version with 225 hp at 3600 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 1200 rpm that boasts a flat torque curve for better fuel economy and increased durability.
Also available are the Allison 2400 and Allison 2000 five-speed automatics with certain power ratings/axle combinations on all engines. The two transmissions provide many benefits over the AT Series they replace, including improved gradeability and top vehicle speed, 7 percent better fuel economy and reduced maintenance costs, thanks to a spin-on oil filter that reduces service costs by up to 60 percent.
Improved axles and propshafts help the C6500-C8500 Series achieve best-in-class handling characteristics, while chassis upgrades also provide outstanding ride comfort. Tapered-leaf front suspensions are standard. Adding a front stabilizer bar permits using a much lower spring rate to soften the ride. Without it, stiffer springs are required. Twin-tube 35mm shocks provide the damping. Single-stage multi-leaf spring suspensions are also available on the heaviest front axles to maximize strength and control. Rear spring suspensions continue to be available in two-stage parabolic tapered-leaf or multi-leaf design. Single-axle models also offer the Hendrickson air-ride suspension.
Improved Maneuverability and Visibility
Wider front axles provide higher steering angles and therefore shorter turning diameters, giving the new C-Series improved maneuverability. The axles have the tires further away from the frame, giving them more room to turn and allowing the trucks to take full advantage of their new steering system. The wider axles also provide more stability.
A new, aerodynamic, sloping front hood helps the C-Series trucks attain improved forward visibility. The C6500, C7500 and C8500 models, with slightly higher frames and cabs, provide an extraordinary 18.8-feet of forward visibility. A lower-height instrument panel in all models ensures even shorter drivers of a full view of the road.
World-Class Braking
The Kodiak / TopKick C6500-C8500 models have a low-drag, four-piston (opposed), fixed-caliper brake design. Premium, high-capacity, 70mm, four-piston brake systems are now standard on both the front and rear.
The twin-piston systems feature a new pin-sliding design. Heavier models, rated at 19,500-lb GVWR and up, employ a new “totally fixed mount” caliper design. Both brake designs reduce wear, corrosion and potential caliper binding by separating the function of moving the caliper from that of applying actual clamping force to stop the truck. What’s more, new non-asbestos brake linings last up to twice as long as before.
New mechanical driveline parking brakes provide easier access to the brake handle on C6500 – C8500 models. And on C8500 trucks and tractors, four-wheel ABS Rockwell Q Plus air-drum brakes are again offered for longer service life.
Building a Better Truck
Thanks to major renovations and expansion, General Motors’ Flint (Michigan) Assembly Plant has become GM’s new core commercial truck manufacturing center. New, state-of-the-art equipment and machinery and the best practices and processes of GM’s light-duty truck plants are being used to produce the 2003 Kodiak / TopKick line with improved quality and more efficient customer delivery. For example, some 80 percent of the operations in Flint’s new body shop are now automated, with robotics providing consistent high-quality welds and sealant applications from one cab to the next.
What’s more, the new trucks also have a high degree of parts commonality, which simplifies assembly and further enhances quality. Many former regular production options (RPO) and special equipment options (SEO) are standard.
GM’s Janesville, Wisconsin, plant will continue building previous-generation medium-duty trucks into mid calendar year 2002 to ensure product availability to ensure product availability for customers during the transition to the new products at Flint.
Building Sales, Service and Marketing Partnerships
A new joint venture, General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck, LLC (GMICT) now consolidates General Motors and Isuzu medium duty commercial vehicle sales, service, and marketing functions in the United States. The partnership, announced late last year, is designed to better meet dealer and customer needs and long-term growth in the medium-duty commercial vehicle segment.
GMICT takes advantage of the established strengths of both organizations by improving operational efficiencies for the GMC, Chevrolet and Isuzu dealer networks. The GMC, Chevrolet and Isuzu brands remain intact while advertising and sales promotion are developed and implemented jointly. With the combined GMC, Chevrolet and Isuzu medium-duty truck dealers, the new company serves over 750 dealerships.
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All product information is based on the latest information at time of production and is subject to change without notice.
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