Identifing a 60 model

[cheby267]

I'm working on 60 model Chevy swb stepside , it's been a long term project . Drivetrain is done with an updated FI350/700r combo , vintage air , dash and gauges , tilt and p/s . Now it's time for the suspension / brakes , which will be a disc/drum update with power, new bushings and joints and a front swaybar . One thing has me scratching my head , it has front coil springs …….. is this correct , could you get coils in 60 ? If not and the frame has been swapped out or something , how do I identify what model it actually is ?

[cwcarpenter98]

Coil springs started in 63. If your frame looks kinda like an X, a previous owner probably swapped in a coil spring cross member from a later model truck. If you have 2 straight ish rails, you have a later frame. On the 63-66 frames, there should be a partial vin on the frame in front of the driver's side engine stand. There's a good chance you have what I first listed since that is an extremely common swap to get rid of the torsion bars

[cheby267]

Thanks , I believe that it's the latter , it has coil springs and a ladder-type frame , not an "x" at all . Are there just 2 types , just 60-62 and 63-66 ? I guess what I'm asking is , is there just 1 ladder-type frame on the coil spring trucks ? Going to be possibly updating some components and want to make sure of what I have here , Thanks for the quick response !

[cwcarpenter98]

Ok, so that narrows it down to a 63-66 frame, or a 67-72 frame, or a 73-87 frame. What does the front frame horns look like? That will be the easiest way to identify. Coil spring rear? Also, post up some pics so we can help identify it even better

[cheby267]

Well I have some pics but they're on my phone and in the wrong format so I did a little looking around and have determined that the chassis is a 67-72 chassis . Now I am far from an authority on these trucks , but I had no clue that it was not original to the truck . There is no evidence of modification to make the body fit except for a few extra drilled holes here and there ……. anyway , I know now what I'm working with and can plan accordingly . Thanks for the heads-up !

[cwcarpenter98]

Sure thing!
The 67-72 frames are not too different from the 63-66 frames. The front frame horns and a couple body mounts are different. If you desire a steel bed floor, the 60-66 bedsides will bolt to the 67-72 steel floor. That's what I'm going to do with the truck bed trailer that I have. If you are keeping it with the wood bed and need to replace some bed crossmembers, replacing them with 63-66 crossmembers will be easier because they should bolt directly to the 67-72 frame

[demian5]

I did it the hard way on a 60 with torsions and it cost so much $$. You are ahead of the game already.

[Captainfab]

What factors led you to believe the chassis is a '67-'72?

[cheby267]

Good Question , got me to thinking . One thing is definitely not a 60 model frame , in the pics that I referenced the frame shape , brackets , and front and rear coil spring suspension with a progressive rear spring , all pointed to a 67-72 frame ,IMO . After revisiting I noticed several places that the 63-72 frames were grouped together . Armed with that info , there's a possibility that it could be a 63-66 , I really am not sure at this point …… never too old to learn something !

[cwcarpenter98]

The shape of the front frame horns is probably the easiest way to identify it. If the bottom protrudes out farther than the top, you have a 63-66 frame. If the top is out farther and you have a nice, smooth curve towards the bottom, you have a 67-72 frame

[cheby267]

I converted these images to jpg , let's see if this works . The truck is not here right now , so I can't look at the frame horns .

[cwcarpenter98]

I'm not sure based on those pictures. The frames are pretty much identical from the back of the cab to the rear of the frame.
On your panhard bar mount at the frame, do you remember if the panhard bar looked like it was somewhat in a bind or was really hard to bolt on to the rear end?

[LVPhotos]

Dosen't look like 60-62 frame. The rear is too narrow with tank size and if you look back under frame that is not the X but removable track mount

[LVPhotos]

Also the front frame is not boxed

[Captainfab]

That is a '63-'66 frame. The only telltale sign I see is the mangled radiator crossmember under the radiator. The VIN stamped on the drivers side frame rail between the engine mount and the steering box will tell you the exact year. Not that the exact year matters. In taking another look at the firewall around the master cylinder, that does not look like a typical '60-'62 firewall that originally came with the hydraulic clutch. It looks more like a '63-'66 firewall. Does this truck have the wrap around windshield and double hump dash?

[cheby267]

Let's start over here , I do not own this truck , I was doing some work on it for a friend of mine . I recently relocated the fuel tank , updated the dash , installed a tilt column , installed a new wiring harness , changed the camshaft , installed a Holley Sniper Fuel Injection and generally cleaned up and pulled it all together .

I had never seen this truck before a few months ago and I know little about it's history . It is most definitely a 60 model .......but there are some things on it that don't match up with that such as the frame (which we agree is not a 60 model) , there is no evidence of a hydraulic clutch setup (I personally removed the pedal and rod mechanism that exited through the rubber boot at the lower part of the dash) It does have a wrap around windshield , double hump dash and a huge 50s style lower cutout door opening .

Here's a few more pics to ponder on , the owner is currently enjoying the truck and will bring it back in July for phase2 , which is the suspension/brakes that I talked about in my initial post . Now we're all on the same page.

I do appreciate you guys taking an interest and helping me get a few answers to a few questions . BTW I do have a 76 Squarebody Cheyenne with 67,000 original miles on it ( not a creme puff , a little rusty , but 100% all there except for a am/fm/cassette !) That I'm going to make a few mods to and drive it to Cruisin the Coast in Oct !

[cheby267]

How do I rotate the Pics ? Tech-challenged at times !

[Captainfab]

I would say that is a '63 cab. In fact the frame could be a '63 as well. Everything I am seeing and hearing say '63 Chevy to me.

[cwcarpenter98]

I concur with the Captain.
Also, the panhard bar mount at the frame looks exactly the same as the one on my 63

[cheby267]

Ok after educating myself as to the differences in model years , I tend to agree that it is very possible that the truck is a 63 rather than a 60 . I did not realize that the 63 still had the wrap around windshield , small side windows and double hump dash as this truck does . This truck does however have the 60 double hump "eyebrow" hood and dual headlights , but that could have been bolted to a 63 if I'm not mistaken . I did assume that it was a 60 because that's what I was told and have not seen the paperwork or registration , which may very well identify it as a 63 , I don't know and not my bidness !Nuff said , just glad to see another piece of history preserved for future generations , It's a cool old truck , very comfortable to drive now with the added creature comforts and newfound power and is just going to get better with the updated suspension and brakes . Thanks again for the info and knowledge about these old trucks , Terry

[LVPhotos]

The first # in vin will tell you

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by LVPhotos

The first # in vin will tell you

I'll bet he's got one number on the frame and a different one on the cab.

[cheby267]

So there's a number on the frame between the engine mount and the steering box , a number on the cab (plate in the door jamb ) and these numbers should match each other and the registration correct ? Any hidden , say partial VINs anywhere on the vehicle that anyone is aware of ? Truck will be back in a month or so and going to launch a full investigation into what's going on here !...……………….No , not really , but I am curious now .

[cwcarpenter98]

If a cab is on the original frame, yes those numbers should match. In some states, like Georgia, all that matters is the VIN on the cab. I'm not aware of any other full or partial VINs, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will know

[cheby267]

Alright guys , I got the truck back and looked into the frame issue a little more in earnest and discovered a couple more things that I want to throw out there and see what y'all think .