I finally got my 63 C20 home...

[70inline6]

... Monday, and I had the day off and did a little work on it today.

I had the truck delivered from Greensboro NC to Kinston NC by transport for $175. I could barely do it for that myself after renting a trailer, gas, and the six hour round-trip haul I would have had to make. I thnk I got a pretty good deal. Fellow put it in the garage, right where I wanted it - right where you see it.

I bought some inner fenders from a forum member and set about getting ready for them when they get here. I pulled the radiator to have it pressure tested and freshened - a "while I'm in there."

Also did a search for the motor SN and found its a late model 250. PO said it had about 5K on it when he bought the truck, and he put on about 5K more. It has plugged air pump ports in the in the head... what year did GM start that...78?

[aerotruk63]

Aluminum headlight rings? Pic's of the inside. Did you check for a build sheet in the back of the seat?

[70inline6]

Nope - headlight rings are steel... and rust. I did get a bonus in the sale though. Found an owner's manual and heater control switches in the glove box.

Nothing behind the seat but a seat stuffing mouse motel.

This truck is almost certianly a hybred- use to be dark blue, 1/2 ton cab, 3/4 ton chassis as well. VIN is 3C154B111627... all my research points to C154 being a 1/2 ton... no?

[collins10672]

yes those are half ton serial numbers.c15 is a long bed half ton.

[aerotruk63]

C1534 Long box fleetside 1/2 ton just as collins10672 wrote.

[gimmy 64]

on the six, i had a 68 panel that had smog pump and those heads i think that was the first year for them

[aerotruk63]

I've got a lot of information for 63's. Don't be shy.

[70inline6]

Funny someone went to a lot of trouble finding a 63 1/2 ton cab to put on this chassis, or 3/4 axle, spindles, and probable springs on a 1/2 ton LB 127 in frame.

I tried for about 45 minutes with solvent, cleaner, sand paper and finally a piece of paper and a pencil to lift a SN from the frame by the alternator. I couldn't get the whole number, but none that I did get sequentially match the cab/title paperwork.

Oh well... I won't get screwed at the NC DMV when I register my "half ton" ... LOL

[collins10672]

probably the reason they went to all of the trouble to find another 63 cab was that if you change to the earlier type cab 60-62 you will have to modify the body mounts on those since the frame is different.the cab mount holes do not line up without modification.since there were alot more half ton trucks built the natural choice would have been to find a good solid one of those since there is not as many 3/4 tons around to choose from.

[70inline6]

I got a little more disassembled today. Got the PS fender off and the grill and panel. I also put an new fan belt on while I was in there... and a thermostat.

There wasn't a thermostat in there when I got the waterneck off... what some people do. The crank pulley was tack welded onto the crank. The welds have let go, but it doesn't spin... I'm guessing it will be ok if it's timed good enough to start.

Bumper came off pretty easy but I see where it took a pretty good whack on the PS frame where the bumper blots on... gggrrrrrrr... ah well.. progress.

[aerotruk63]

The PO of your truck torched the frame for a larger radiator?

Matching broom handle. There's a joke in there but she'll just get mad!

[70inline6]

...yea, looks like the PO before the PO did. The PO knew how to put gas in the tank... that's about it. The notched frame will come in handy when I drop the 454 in in a couple years... lol

That's my 17 year old daughter's broom.... the wife has a full-fledged hover vac... that's how she rolls...

[Woogeroo]

cool truck.

make sure to read up on this stuff here in the 60-66 forum:

60-66 faq's

that'll get you started off right.

-W