66 C10 Stepside options

[TheMacster]

Hey guys, new member to the site, but have been poking around here for a while getting ideas, great info. I just bought up a 66 C10 stepside with an inline 6 and 3 on the tree. It had been sitting behind a shop for years but is in pretty good shape, interior looks good and low original miles, it also has some type of DOT or highway numbers on the side of the bed behind the cab. The paint is faded and has some nice patina.

I plan to just get it running and driving for now and probably lower it cutting the front springs and the TJ rears.

Down in the woods I have an 85 C10 (HD brakes) parts truck that I patched the frame on when it started cracking behind the cab. I also have 2" drop spindles and 3" coils for it that I never installed. I have enough parts to swap to the 5 lug disc correct?

Lastly I have a 3-53 detroit diesel sitting in the garage that I have been dying to put in something. I have seen them put into the 4wd trucks on here but not the 2wd ones. Do you guys think it will fit under the hood? Also do you think the front end can support it?

Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks.

[neto]

Welcome to this great site. I think just recently I saw a thread on someone doing a diesel swap. Try the search and see what you find. Have fun with the truck.

[markeb01]

Welcome to the forum! The 85 should make a nice donor for the front suspension. I don’t know the weight of a 3-53 diesel, but the stock GMC V6 weighs over 800 pounds and sat on the same Chevy suspension, so unless the diesel is heavier than that it shouldn’t be a problem.

I think I’ve also seen a recent thread on a diesel installation. Good luck on your project.

[TheMacster]

I did try the search and all I got was 4wd swaps, as for weight, its just a few pounds shy of 1000 lbs.

[JWheeler331]

Hope you post some pictures soon.

[TheMacster]

This is as she sits right now, I'm gonna try and get her running and moving this weekend. Any idea what those numbers are on the side of it?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...65174370665174

[1966FLEETSIDE]

welcome to the club,good luck

[1966FLEETSIDE]

with your project

[gofastnut]

Nice truck, good luck with it! Go to the "engine and drivetrain" section, there's a diesel conversions page.
Oh, and post more pics when you get some progress made!

[TheMacster]

Drove it out of the hedgerow today, she smokes but she runs.

[TJ's Chevy]

Do you have any idea what 6 cylinder is in there? Seeing it's a 66 if the engine has 4-4.5 inch sidecovers than it either has 194,230,250 if it has 6 inch sidecovers then it's a 292. Most of those 1/2 tons came with the 250. Some engine pictures would be appreciated to. Thanks for sharing and

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by TheMacster

Drove it out of the hedgerow today, she smokes but she runs.

You might remove the valve cover to ensure oil returns are open; change the oil, using proper additives, run it to really good, hot, highway-running temps, and change the oil again while it is still hot. I've seen some quit the smoke after such a good exercise.
Oh, enjoy your new ride!
Sam

[63burban4x4]

I bought an old chevy Nova one time, that had been sitting a very long time, but did not have a lot of miles. Smoked like CRAZY when I got it going, turned out the valve seals were all dried out from sitting. Pretty easy fix, (made an air fitting from a spark plug, blew up the cyl to keep the valve from dropping...changed the seals right in place.) VIOLA! No more smoke. Ran like a champ and never used any oil after that.

[TheMacster]

I had it moving around the other day again and it wouldn't idle or stay running so I looked under the hood and the carb was puking fuel out of the base of the bowl I think where the accelerator pump linkage is. Either way I rebuilt it the other day and should have it back on later this week. Hopefully that will solve that issue and I'll have her on the road in the next week or so.

As for what 6 cyl is in it i believe its the 230, its not the 292 because it doesn't have the staggered engine mounts.