1963 Chevy C10 or GMC ???

[TimC63]

Hey,

I recently purchased my 3rd Classic Money Pit, a 1963 Chevy C10 or a GMC 1/2 ton shortbed fleetside. I'm not exactly sure what I have for the simple fact that my vin tag is for a 1963 Chevy, but I believe I have a GMC single hump dash with GMC gauges.

I'm guessing someone changed the truck over to a Chevy (stupid) and went to the extent of riveting in a new vin tag (not cool). Unless there were Chevy's built with a GMC dash, it's got to be a GMC.

How can I tell what I really have?

[truckn']

definitely GMC gauges and dash.

[jonzcustomshop]

check out http://www.6066gmcguy.org/ he has all sorts of vin info for these trucks.

things to look for: by the left inside vent, the informatoin tag(wheelbase, gvw, hp) they are different chev/vs gmc
check around the dash,look for welds, or other signs of replacement- it is definately a GMC dash.
there should be a vin# on the left frame rail by the motor- the gmc site says exactly where.

On a lighter note, I doubt the Dmv knows the difference from a 60-66 chev or gmc.
I saw one on ebay, chev, 60 front clip, 456 cab , and listed/titled as a 63- I emailed the guy, and he said that it had had cab changed at one time, and they reasigned the vin...

[62 short step]

Yep, GMC dash.

[ChiefRocka]

Cool truck man....Looks like we have another member from SAN JOSE !!!

That makes it like 4-6 members here from one town.


Welcome, I'm sure we'll see each other arounnd.


Later,

[LILRED66]

Tim:

Welcome to the forums from Kansas City, KS.

If your VIN tag and title indicate a Chevy and your dash is a GMC, the DMV does not care if the dash, tailgate, hood or body badges indicate it is a GMC.

If it is a Chevy, the last eight digits of the VIN will be on the driver side frame rail and match the VIN tag and title.

In any case welcome aboard and thanks for sharing.

[TimC63]

Thanks for the input guys!

BTW: The chest impaler is no more. I've also recently installed 3-point seatbelts which I'm pretty happy with.

[Captainfab]

One more thing different between GMC and Chevy. GMC's had leaf springs in the rear whereas Chevy's had coils....in 2wd configuration.

[63sbssbbw]

Coils and leafs as standard equipment,but each was on the option list,leaves on a chevy ,coils on a GMC if you ordered it that way (not trying to bash ya Capt.)
This still could be a truck someone threw together,it wouldn't be the first one .(and certainly won't be the last)
PS my '61 GMC has coils out back
Thanks,T

[Frizzle Fry]

The whole coils/leafs Chev/GMC correlation is a myth.

[63sbssbbw]

Then I recant My statement,But have a Q
Why and or how do both setups end up on our trucks
Hope we're not hyjacking the thread
Thanks, T

[Turtle]

my 63 gmc has leaf springs

[TimC63]

I've heard the same; leafs on GMC's and coils on Chevy's for 1/2 tons, but ordering the opposite from the factory definitely sounds reasonable.

Mine has coils in the rear.

Does anyone have a better understanding of where exactly on the front left (drivers) frame rail the vin would be stamped?

[magooster]

Originally Posted by 63sbssbbw

Then I recant My statement,But have a Q
Why and or how do both setups end up on our trucks
Hope we're not hyjacking the thread
Thanks, T

Although you may have been able to order any combo from the factory, Canadian GMC's were basically Chevy's with GMC styling. You don't ever see 60-66 GMC's with V6's in Canada unless they were imported from the states.

My '65 GMC has coils in the rear, and originally had a 250 I6.

[greg64]

One other tip off is the wiring harness. The GMC was somewhat different. Check in the engine bay for the horn relay. If it also acts as a main positive terminal block, that's Chevy. If there are only a few light gauge wires going to it with no terminal strip, that's GMC. Also, I think the voltage regulator is mounted on the driver's side on Chevy and the passengers side on GMC (sure about the GMC).

As another data point, my American GMC has leaf springs. The writeup I read somewhere explained all this by saying that GM wanted to try the coil springs for a better ride, but they were worried that that would put off some truck purists (load capacity reasons). So, they went with the coils on Chevy (with leaves optional) and stuck with tried-and-true on GMC.

[Frizzle Fry]

But you see both on both and they never have either listed as an option from what I've seen (through later years as well). Also I've never seen data stating that more GMC's came with leafs and more Chevy's came with coils. I'd sit corrected if someone could prove me wrong.

I think it's just an easy thing to pass off as fact and most people don't feel like putting the energy into researching it.

[63sbssbbw]

Tim, on my chevy ,if I turn my front wheels to the left, I find it on the drivers side approximately under the toe board. Haven't found it on my GMC Yet (still to be sandblasted and haven't really looked for it yet),it might be a good place to start
.
Friz: I like the debate already,You're correct, I too come by this notion through hearsay and accepted it to be true,It seemed feasible to me,To get us started I like Greg64's veiw on what GM might have been thinking when they did this.I also agree with Magooster that CDN models were US chevys,But Tims is a US model
Thank,T

[Captainfab]

Well it looks like I started a little debate.....and made myself look foolish. My statement regarding the whole GMC leafs and Chevy coils is based on my 34 years of working on the '60-'66 GMC and Chevy trucks. During which time I've not seen a GMC with coils nor a Chevy with leafs. But apparently somehow I've been isolated from what the rest of you have experienced. I have however seen trucks in the '67-'72 era that have had the 'other' springs.

So I stand humbly corrected.....and as I say Your never too old or smart to learn something.

[66trkbldr]

what kind of steering wheel is that seeing how were of track already!