Couple of Questions About '64's.

[Eliasj123]

Hey,

I've been tinkering around with my newest '64 C20 Fleetside and have a few questions -

1) Did Chevy roll out trucks without back-up lights or was it an option?? I can't any trace of back-up lights on my truck.. Is it legal not to have back-up lights in CA??

2) Can the steering gear be rebuilt?? Mine has a lot of play and was able to pull on off a 65 suburb and was thinking of rebuilding it. Will it fit??

3) What alternatives exist for beds instead of wood?? "Got Wood?"

Here are a few pics of my "new" truck"

Thanks,
Elias

[AesC10s]

Back up light were an option in '64. That seering box should work. How much slop is in yours?

[Eliasj123]

Wow... That was quick..

I can turn it a 1/4 turn each way without it turning the pitman arm. I had someone turn it as I checked out the tie rod ends.

I was thinking of rebuilding the spare, then swapping it out so I will have little down time.

Elias
Eh-lee-us

[AesC10s]

You can adjust some of the slop out by lossening the nut on the top of the steering box. get a wrench that fit and a flat head screw driver and lossen the nut then use the flat head and run the threads in as far as you can then tighten then nut and see how much slop is left. This is not a 100 % cure but it should make it better.

Aaron

[Eliasj123]

Cool... I'll try that first.. If it takes away half of the slop, I'll be a happy camper and won't replace it..

Thanks.......


Elias

[AesC10s]

also i noticed your truck has 65 badges, 64 had them on the fender not the cowl.

[Eliasj123]

WOW!!

I would have never known any different..

I'm looking at the title right now. It says 1964.. I matched up the VIN when I first got it and it didn't look like the tag was tampered with. Someone gave it to my dad last year because they owed him money and couldn't pay.. Then, my dad gave it to me because he has too many cars..

hmmmmmmm... I'll have to check out the VIN tomorrow..

Thanks for the heads up...

Elias

[AesC10s]

Originally Posted by Eliasj123

WOW!!

I would have never known any different..

I'm looking at the title right now. It says 1964.. I matched up the VIN when I first got it and it didn't look like the tag was tampered with. Someone gave it to my dad last year because they owed him money and couldn't pay.. Then, my dad gave it to me because he has too many cars..

hmmmmmmm... I'll have to check out the VIN tomorrow..

Thanks for the heads up...

Elias

Some one might have switched the front clip at one time too. You never know with these old trucks. most of them have been thru hell and back.

[Chevy Fleetside]

If you are going to go through the trouble and spend the money on a stock box why not just convert to Power steering.

[Eliasj123]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

If you are going to go through the trouble and spend the money on a stock box why not just convert to Power steering.

How easy or hard is it to convert it?? And, how much money is it going to cost??

Elias

[Eliasj123]

I checked the VIN over the weekend and it matches the title.. It doesn't look like the VIN was tampered with, but you never know..

While I was add it, I took off the emblems since I was going to do it anyway..

Any alternatives to wood bed replacements??

Thanks,
Elias
Eh-lee-us

[AesC10s]

Originally Posted by Eliasj123

I checked the VIN over the weekend and it matches the title.. It doesn't look like the VIN was tampered with, but you never know..

While I was add it, I took off the emblems since I was going to do it anyway..

Any alternatives to wood bed replacements??

Thanks,
Elias
Eh-lee-us

You want to get rid of wood bed?

[Shorty Cox]

Convert to power steering. It cost me $160.00, but it is like anything else regarding old trucks. You can put as much money into it as you wish. There are several threads on here covering the topic.

As far as the VIN and year, somewhere at the house I've got the info as to how to determine the year by using the VIN, I'm old and I just can't remember. It should be something like 4C 144-S 123456. The last six numbers is just the sequence of the truck built. The alpha letter is the assembly plant S= St. Louis. I have forgot the others. I think the 4c is just a 2 door cab.

You have '65 emblems, but that don't mean anything. That part will fit several years. I looks like you got someone's project, so no telling what the PO has done.

When you find something other than wood for the bed, Let us all know. Mine needs replaced...

[Eliasj123]

Thanks Shorty..

I'll look into the power steering conversion. First, I need to get it driveable so I can tear apart my Jeep.. It'll be down for a couple of weeks.. MANY MODS..

Originally Posted by AesC10s

You want to get rid of wood bed?

I thought about it.. I can't really say that I want to get rid of it because I really don't have wood in there now.. Cardboard is stronger that what's in it right now.. I put in a piece of plywood so it wouldn't look so bad..

Maybe I'll buy a welder that I always wanted and experiment with a metel bed.. I know, I'm a little

Elias