difference between c10, c20, c30 frames - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bgeraurd · 02-08-2005, 03:38 AM

I heard the 4x4 k10s and k20s were the same but just had different axles. So I was thinkin what is the diffrence between the c10-c30 frames cause me and my uncle want to build a drw c30. We were gonna get a c-10 or c-20 longbed and put a 73-87 drw 3500 front crossmember and rear axle with some modified stepside fenders. Do the c-30s have the trailing arm rear suspension cause we wanted to bag it but not make it lay frame, and having the trailing arms would make it a lot easier.

Longhorn Man · 02-08-2005, 05:59 AM

The one ton chassis never came with coils, so it'll only have the big 'ole leaf springs, they are also longer, 133 inch WB or 157. The frame is notably thicker and has more reenforcment.

Tx Firefighter · 02-08-2005, 09:57 AM

You can build a dually out of a c-20 coil spring truck really easy if you wanted to. I have pics of one by my house here that is done that way. It's a real neat truck.

67_C-30 · 02-08-2005, 08:38 PM

So is it true that the 1/2 ton and 3/4 frames are the same? I have a 1 ton and 1/2 and the difference is obvious. Howver, I do not have a 3/4 nearby (that I know of) that I can compare. Can any body confirm it either way? Thanks!

Robert1970C20rstbukt · 02-08-2005, 09:00 PM

TX just posted some pics showing the difference between 1/2 and 3/4 ton frames a while back. Read this thread here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=frame+doubler

Tx Firefighter · 02-08-2005, 09:57 PM

The old tale that 1/2 and 3/4 ton frames are the same cost me some money and time. That's the reason I have an extra frame is because someone told me they were exactly the same. Once I got them next to each other and began to swap parts, I found out differently.

That's why I was so quick to jump on that other thread that Robert quoted, and post pictures, to hopefully debunk the myth and save someone else the hassle I went through.

67_C-30 · 02-08-2005, 11:22 PM

Tx, Great info. The frame I have is a '70 GMC LWB C1500 with leaf springs. From what I can gather from the other post, the extra bracing and doubling was done on 3/4 ton trucks w/ coil springs. I guess that means that the 3/4 T and 1/2 T with leaf springs are pretty similiar, right??

67_C-30 · 02-09-2005, 11:11 AM

bump

cobb_ben · 02-09-2005, 11:27 AM

The frame on the C30 is bigger, the channel under the cab is deeper, its like 7inches where the C10 is like 4-5. But the back where the springs are is the same as the C10, the C30 tapers down.

Longhorn Man · 02-09-2005, 10:36 PM

it tapers down, but it is still thicker metal on the one ton frame.

Ford Assassin · 12-27-2019, 03:25 AM

Digging up a damn near 15 years old thread....

Do the frame differences extend to the 73-87 (91) C30/R30?

**71blksuper4x4** · 12-27-2019, 08:10 AM

Ford Assassin, yes the 73-91 Square body frames have thier differences as well.

02-08-2005, 03:38 AM	#1
bgeraurd BLAZERHOLIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Avondale, AZ Posts: 64	difference between c10, c20, c30 frames I heard the 4x4 k10s and k20s were the same but just had different axles. So I was thinkin what is the diffrence between the c10-c30 frames cause me and my uncle want to build a drw c30. We were gonna get a c-10 or c-20 longbed and put a 73-87 drw 3500 front crossmember and rear axle with some modified stepside fenders. Do the c-30s have the trailing arm rear suspension cause we wanted to bag it but not make it lay frame, and having the trailing arms would make it a lot easier.

02-08-2005, 09:57 AM	#3
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	You can build a dually out of a c-20 coil spring truck really easy if you wanted to. I have pics of one by my house here that is done that way. It's a real neat truck. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

02-08-2005, 08:38 PM	#4
67_C-30 I have a radical idea! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweet Home Alabama! Posts: 6,513	So is it true that the 1/2 ton and 3/4 frames are the same? I have a 1 ton and 1/2 and the difference is obvious. Howver, I do not have a 3/4 nearby (that I know of) that I can compare. Can any body confirm it either way? Thanks! __________________ '67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club!

02-08-2005, 09:00 PM	#5
Robert1970C20rstbukt Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Beeville, Texas Posts: 1,943	TX just posted some pics showing the difference between 1/2 and 3/4 ton frames a while back. Read this thread here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=frame+doubler __________________ RJD 1984 Chevrolet C30 welding truck 454/SM465 1977 GMC C15 pickup 350/TH350 1970 Chevrolet C20 pickup 350/TH400 1970 Chevrolet K20 Suburban 454/TH350 1969 GMC 8500 478M V6/5 spd winch truck

02-08-2005, 09:57 PM	#6
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	The old tale that 1/2 and 3/4 ton frames are the same cost me some money and time. That's the reason I have an extra frame is because someone told me they were exactly the same. Once I got them next to each other and began to swap parts, I found out differently. That's why I was so quick to jump on that other thread that Robert quoted, and post pictures, to hopefully debunk the myth and save someone else the hassle I went through. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

02-08-2005, 05:59 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	The one ton chassis never came with coils, so it'll only have the big 'ole leaf springs, they are also longer, 133 inch WB or 157. The frame is notably thicker and has more reenforcment.

02-08-2005, 11:22 PM	#7
67_C-30 I have a radical idea! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweet Home Alabama! Posts: 6,513	Tx, Great info. The frame I have is a '70 GMC LWB C1500 with leaf springs. From what I can gather from the other post, the extra bracing and doubling was done on 3/4 ton trucks w/ coil springs. I guess that means that the 3/4 T and 1/2 T with leaf springs are pretty similiar, right?? __________________ '67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club!

02-09-2005, 11:11 AM	#8
67_C-30 I have a radical idea! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweet Home Alabama! Posts: 6,513	bump __________________ '67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club!

02-09-2005, 11:27 AM	#9
cobb_ben Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fort Leonard Wood Mo Posts: 299	The frame on the C30 is bigger, the channel under the cab is deeper, its like 7inches where the C10 is like 4-5. But the back where the springs are is the same as the C10, the C30 tapers down.

02-09-2005, 10:36 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	it tapers down, but it is still thicker metal on the one ton frame.

12-27-2019, 03:25 AM	#11
Ford Assassin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Jackson, Ca. Posts: 674	Re: difference between c10, c20, c30 frames Digging up a damn near 15 years old thread.... Do the frame differences extend to the 73-87 (91) C30/R30? __________________ Cable -K5 Blazer 2wd: 6.0 LQ4, 7875 Turbo, Tick Stage II Turbo Cam, Built 4L80e, RevMax Billet 3600, 9.5" 14 Bolt -Chevy 3+3 Crew Cab Dually: Cummins 12v P-Pump Swap, Compound Turbos, A2W Intercooler, NV4500HD, 4wd conversion, Radius Arms, Coilovers, Crossover Steering, etc Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803608

12-27-2019, 08:10 AM	#12
71blksuper4x4 SWB 4x4 Collector Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Osage City, KS Posts: 5,156	Re: difference between c10, c20, c30 frames Ford Assassin, yes the 73-91 Square body frames have thier differences as well. __________________ TREVOR 1970 CST swb 4x4 (speedwarning,cruise,tilt,tach,8track, original red shoulder belts,tow hooks) 1972 Jimmy (soon to be Hickey cloned) 1971 Cheyenne Super 4x4 swb (tilt,tach,buckets, original blue shoulder belts,am/fm,cruise,tow hooks, dealer 8 track) 1972 Cheyenne Super K20 4x4 Custom Camper (tilt, tach, am/fm, tow hooks, bed toolbox, aux gas tank 1972 Cheyenne Super Crew Cab K30 4x4 Duramax, Allison, np205, buckets, tow hooks (CURRENT PROJECT) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=624819 1989 V3500 Crew Cab (454tbi, NV4500, np205) 1970 Chevelle SS (LS5 454,th400,8track,buckets,tach) :2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (daily driver) WTB: 1968-70 Cruise Control Lever



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