Factory 3/4t Dually???

[Joesjunk]

Im from the 67-72 side of the board, but have come across a deal on a 1978 Scottsdale/20 dually a friend of mine has. I have never seen or heard of such a thing on a 3/4ton. Here is the vin CCS248Z141836, and the GVWR is 8200. It has a 454 in it and thats what the vin shows. It has a dana70 rear end with a sway bar. It does not have cab lights though. It has the correct dually bed and everything else looks correct??? Just wanted to know if someone just swapped this stuff over a long time ago, or if this was something that was factory. Any ideas?????
Thanks!!

[LONGHAIR]

It has to be a conversion a true "Dually" is a C/30 1 ton truck.

Does it have the correct wheels on the front?
Are they on the correct hubs? or spacers?

[Joesjunk]

I forgot to get a pic, but yes, it has the correct wheels on it and the correct front hubs. It looks 100% correct, thats what I thought was weird. I thought maybe the clip had been changed at some point and it just had the wrong emblems, but the vin states its a 3/4ton. The one thing that really makes me believe it was a conversion is the fact that it does not have the roof marker lamps (standard on a 1ton). Im pretty good with info on the 67-72 trucks, but not the 73-87.
Thanks again for any info!!!

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

... The one thing that really makes me believe it was a conversion is the fact that it does not have the roof marker lamps (standard on a 1ton)....

Joe the cab lights aren't "standard" on a dually, they are mandatory. It's a federal regulation if I am not mistaken. Regardless you can take a look at the frame and tell at a glance what going on. If it has a C-10/C20 size frame, it was not a factory dually.

[Joesjunk]

I have found a 79 1ton dually 4x4 that runs and drives good, but is rusty. I was thinking about using this 2wd truck for the body to swap over. Any issues swaping these body style trucks over??

[Dooley]

Not factory. Could be someone replaced a rusted out 1 ton cab with one off a 3/4 ton and used the donor cab ID/paperwork for registration. Could be a problem if truck gets an inspection and the title doesn't match frame ID. I've passed on buying a few trucks for this same reason. The cab roof and rear marker lights are a DOT requirement on 1 ton and larger trucks. The 4x4 cabs have the high transmission tunnel cover as some floor shift standards also have. Normal 2wd cab will need the tranny floor section modified for the 4x4.

[Joesjunk]

Where are the frame numbers on these trucks?? This thing doesnt look like it has ever been apart?

[USSkoval]

Can you get a pic of the frame rail, at the forward rear spring hanger? Oh, is it a crew cab?

[Joesjunk]

Its a regular cab. I dont have any pics of it. I might go look at it again tomorrow, if so Ill try to get pics.

[USSkoval]

IIRC, the perch spacing on a 1ton rear axle (and 3/4, crew cab ONLY) is 40.5, and 1/2 and 3/4ton are 42.5. A 1ton also got rear shocks inboard of the frame rails, and they are staggered on the opposite sides as 3/4. Look for perches and shock mounts that have been relocated on the axle, and also spring hangers and upper shock mounts that are bolted on (or welded, I suppose).

[whiskeydented]

My 78 is also on the right side rail and is also stamped twice. Once where jeffspower has mentioned and also about 18 inches from that stamping towards the rear it is stamped again.

[Joesjunk]

Well, I got it home. Here are some pics of the rear axle. Im guessing the bed was changed at some point, it looks like the bed was dark blue at one time. Still a pretty clean truck, and it was cheap!!

[Joesjunk]

Pics.

[bucket]

cool truck. what are your plans for it?

[jeffspower]

Cool. I have to laugh though... you see 50,000 dollar new trucks running around on worn out rubber everyday, and this old truck has all new rubber? Maybe those guys really can't afford their trucks

I'll bet the box and chassis is original, and the cab was changed.

[Joesjunk]

My plans are to resell it. I need to see if I can find the frame numbers and see it they match the cab. The truck does have 6 brand new tires on it, But I have to give the rear tires back to the guy I bought it from. So I need 4 tires.

[bucket]

if you decide to part it, i could use the 454.

[Joesjunk]

Heres a pic of it all cleaned up. It really a pretty clean truck. Looks like it has had the cab and front clip changed. The chassis is for sure a real 1 ton dually. It has 7 wheels and they are all date coded the exact same day, 04/01/80. Thinking its a 1980 Chassis with a 78 cab and clip.
Thanks for all the info guys!!

[N2TRUX]

That is a good loking truck. You gonna keep it?

[Joesjunk]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

That is a good loking truck. You gonna keep it?

Not going to keep it, its for sale.