1968 396 cu in C20 pics

[C10_crazy]

My thanks to Clyde65 for his advice on loading pictures. I hope I can pull it off.

[C10_crazy]

more pics

[uncle]

Nice ride! My favorite color interior. Original paint too?

[C10_crazy]

I've got a short frame that I want to mount this body on, upgrade with disc brakes and do a 4/6 drop.

My goal is to do a "C 396" or "SS 396 C/10" truck as if Chevrolet had offered a sporty, high performance C/10 in 1968.

[C10_crazy]

Thanks uncle. Yes, it is original paint. There's some rust in the rockers and cab corners that will have to be addressed and then painted but I want to keep as much of the original paint on it as I can. In the picture of the interior, you can see that there were snaps around the back window for a boot... they'll need to be repaired as well.

BTW, if there's anyone out there that knows where to find reliable, accurate production numbers, I would appreciate knowing how to access it.

[toms68cst]

That's an interestingly equipped '68!

At first glance, I thought it must be a Custom or CST but it's lacking chrome trim on the windshield which is the only real give away. I never really thought that a non-CST or custom truck could be so well equipped. Is that carpet or vinyl on the floor?

Off-White paint is listed too. My '68 is white but looks identical to your paint.

Very cool find!

[chewychevy67]

Wow that is an awesome truck.

[C10_crazy]

The truck is a "Custom Camper" so it probably would have all the same trim as a Custom.

It's possible that the windshield has been replaced. It was a Colorado truck and rock chips are really common with the way they deal with snow and icey conditions. The rear window doesn't have the stainless trim either, but it had a camper boot at one time.

The truck has 55,000 original miles on it. It's a lot of fun to drive.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

That's an interestingly equipped '68!

At first glance, I thought it must be a Custom or CST but it's lacking chrome trim on the windshield which is the only real give away. I never really thought that a non-CST or custom truck could be so well equipped. Is that carpet or vinyl on the floor?

Off-White paint is listed too. My '68 is white but looks identical to your paint.

Very cool find!

"CST" must mean something different in '70, because I do not have the stainless strip in the windshield gasket. Wouldn't know about the rear window, because it has snaps for the boot. But it shows CST trim on the SPID, and had the cargo light, which I had to remove before the new shell got installed.

BoT, that is one sharp truck! I like it!

[KQQL IT]

Neat truck.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by C10_crazy

I've got a short frame that I want to mount this body on, upgrade with disc brakes and do a 4/6 drop.

My goal is to do a "C 396" or "SS 396 C/10" truck as if Chevrolet had offered a sporty, high performance C/10 in 1968.

68 C20 Custom Camper big block with buddies. Very very nice - almost too nice to be a swb conversion candidate (Ok, I'm sorry, but you knew SOMEone was gonna ask...). Have you considered starting with a C10 which will already have 6 lug instead of 8? It's kinda rare in its original configuration. It's your truck of course - enjoy it whichever direction you choose to take with it! Very nice!! and thanks for sharing.

[C10_crazy]

If I didn't respond to each post to my 1968 C20 thread, it's not because I didn't appreciate your comments. I did. It's nice to chat with people who share a common interest. Believe me, my wife gets tired of hearing about trucks!

Nice unrestored '68 Tom.

And your '70 CST is a nice looking rig Steve. I'm not sure, but the CST designation may have started with the '69 or '70 trucks.

Yeah Jocko, a big part of me just thinks that I should repair a couple things and enjoy the truck as a stock survivor. BTW, that's why I'm really curious how many 396 buddy equipped trucks the General built. I'd hate to change a really rare original truck.

[68bowtie]

There are no documented stats on production numbers including options. But that’s certainly an uncommon combo. Very nice original truck.

[northerngmc]

Very nice truck.

A quick question on the oil filter. Is it a spin on filter or a replaceable cartridge inside of a metal can? I ask as I have a 68 C20 with a 396 and the part store books show the 396 having a spin on filter but mine has the replaceable cartridge.

[C10_crazy]

It had the metal canister with the replacement element when I bought the truck, but I changed it to the spin on filter for convenience and the ease of changing the spin on type.

[davepl]

That's a beautiful truck! Please keep it that way, and original!

[special-K]

Really nice camper hauler survivor. CSt began in '67 and this one has neither Custom or CST trim. By the SPID it has no trim level option. The buckets, side trim, chrome bumper, and tinted glass are all individual options. Custom Camper has nothing to do with trim, other than the emblem. The truck has metal door panels, pained horn buttton, and pained wing vents. It would have had painted hubcaps originally.

[C10_crazy]

Thanks for the information special-k... BTW, I have all 4 of the original hubcaps just don't have the wheels to match them up with. Quick question, will the hubcaps fit on 16" wheels or will I need to get 16.5" wheels.

[C10_crazy]

Thanks davepl... really, I was wondering what kind of comments I might get about changing the truck. I like one of the comments about only changing things that could easily be changed back to original. I want to go with a more original looking wheel (a white steel wheel) and original style hubcaps if I'm not going to C10-it but not the original 16.5" size...

to 68bowtie... "Blue Bomb" is a really nice truck.

At any rate, thanks for the comments.

[special-K]

The original wheels would have been 16" but split rims. The hubcaps are the clip style, so the thing to do would be get four original type wheels together and have custom wheels built. My friend had 17 x 9s built for his K/20 using OEM centers. Some place in CO.

[68 c20 cst]

was looking at getting some custom wheels built to fit my clip hub caps. Do you have any info on where your buddy got his wheels built.
thanks

Richard

[C10_crazy]

Sorry, I don't know where to get the wheels made.

Ask special-k... he has a friend who had a set made.

[northerngmc]

Originally Posted by C10_crazy

It had the metal canister with the replacement element when I bought the truck, but I changed it to the spin on filter for convenience and the ease of changing the spin on type.

Thank you for confirming that.

[special-K]

I'll ask my friend.

[hugger6933]

I have a 68 GMC that is a 396 T400 truck with a/c speedwarning buddy buckets. I plan to change it to 454 as the 396 was replaced by a 350 [to save gas yeah right]I have added tach vac and tilt it is pretty loaded I think
Yours is awesome. Enjoy