Re: 69 c50
 

All our and my own GM and IH trucks were Electric. The '62, '64, and '67 as well as all the trucks I rode in, rented and looked at for sale. I cannot even remember a Vacuum on an early 60's and newer.

Re: 69 c50
 

While I'm still waiting on pictures of the tires and engine I've been looking up transmissions.

I found these two that are the only 2 OD options 5 speed transmissions from the era the Spicer 3153 5-Speed and a Clark 264VO 5-Speed both geared very similar. Both are basically .80:1 final drive. Any thoughts on how hard these are to find or to swap? I'm worried that 55 mph with the 4 speed I would get ran over. Highway speeds where I live and travel is 70-75 mph.

Re: 69 c50
 

My maintenance manual for 1979 still shows both electric and vacuum available. I know the vacuum was used into the late 70's on school bus applications.

Re: 69 c50
 

While I don't really do much interstate driving, I certainly never worry about getting run over - there aren't many vehicles on the road today that want to tangle with 50 years of real steel. Slow or otherwise:sumo:

Re: 69 c50
 

I'm not too worried about the rear end now as long as it pulls my 10k pounds without too much of a struggle without having the low in the rear end. I'm pretty confident that I will be able to figure that out.

My main concern now is the top speed and finding a usable 5 speed with over drive that will stay together. Since its a fixed rear end currently may be even an automatic.

Re: 69 c50
 

Semi trucks can do 75 when I'm headed north about 2 hours from me. That's a battle I know I wouldn't win :lol:

Most of my driving will be on the expressway too

Re: 69 c50
 

That's interesting. Wonder if that was one of those "regional" things like the wheels were.

Wow, I remember where school bus drivers had a hard enough time with a Manual Trans. I can't imagine throwing in a 2-Speed as well.

But that is also another first. Never ever saw a school bus with a 2-Speed Rear.

Re: 69 c50
 

I've made a plan to look at it this Saturday. The engine is currently out of it. I have 3 different options on buying it.
1) buy it without the 350 - $1800.
2) buy it with the engine, not installed - $2200.
3) engine installed ready to go - $2500

Knowing that it has some issues and things that have to be done right away to be usable... and I do the work on all of it myself. Keep in mind I did have back surgery in December and the Dr said not to do anything stupid for a year...
1) brakes booster/master cylinder $100-500ish
2) possible unknown other issues with the brakes $100-600.
3) 2 speed rear end isn't usable and to make fixable, no switch on the shifter and is missing (guessing) $100-400.
4) a 24k pound gooseneck needs installed $500 ish
5) some sort of OD transmission installed so it will do 65+ mph, trans + whatever I need to fabricate to make it work (guessing again) $1000-2000.
6) trailer brake switch $100-300

If I go with option #3 for buying it so I can drive it onto a trailer and move it around the yard when I need to and go with the high side of my guesstimate on price to make it usable for me I would be $4300 to make it work plus $2500 for the truck which adds up to $6800.
On the low side it would be $1900 + the price of the truck 2500 would put me at $4400 for a tow pig that would do everything I want it to do.

Another thought worth mentioning. The current owner said that high in the rear end is a 6:50 gear which tells me it's a GM axle with a low gear of 8:85 which in searching and doing my home work I've come to find out that you can no longer get parts for that axle if something did go wrong. Going hand in hand with what a few people have said and what I have found on the internet, doing 55 mph the 350 would be turning 3000-3200 rpm. How fast can these 350s turn comfortably and for how long? I would also like to hear opinions on gear swaps or possible rear end swaps that would suite me pulling up to 20k pounds and be able to do 65 comfortably.

In the pictures of the motor that they sent me it looks to me and most of this is judging off of the valve covers that the 350 is not original to this truck. The valve covers look like they've never been off and it says 350 GM Goodwrench which I assume the original valve covers from 69 would not say that. It looks as if it's a crate motor if I had to guess.

Since I've throw all the numbers out there I'm not convinced this is the truck for me. Any thoughts good or bad I want to hear them. $5k was the cap that I originally had in my mind for a truck that would do what I want. That's weather I pay 5k for a truck ready to go or in this case buy for 2500 and is be willing to put another 2500 into it. From there I would upgrade down the road and make it my dream truck as time goes on.

Re: 69 c50
 

I paid $2300 for a running and drivable ex-firetruck with 30k miles. Being an old firetruck, it was taken care of. That said, I have exceeded your price cap with my repairs, updates, etc. Some parts are hard to find and can be pricey if you do locate them. Do most of my work myself.

A lot of the sheetmetal is no longer made, so you'll need to source donors.
Not trying to talk you out of it, I think these trucks are great, but these certainly aren't cheap hobbies.

Re: 69 c50
 

CURVE BALL FELLAS!!!!!

As we know I had my heart set on this C50 we've been talking about. Just my luck i looked around today there is a 69 C60 with a 427 and a 5 speed with a 2 speed rear end posted for $2k 2 and a half hours away! I'm going to look at it tomorrow! It's much cleaner then the C50

Re: 69 c50
 

Don't forget the pictures.

Let us know how you like it.

Re: 69 c50
 

I'll post pictures of the C50 and the C60 for a comparison. I have to figure out how to upload pictures here. The C60 needs a flywheel and a leaf spring. It comes with the leaf spring. Looks like 2 tires are in order also. I feel the C60 is a much better truck for the money in all aspects. The reason I wanted the C50 was that someone added a small sleeper to it. The C60 is just a day cab. Later Ivan always add a cab to the back of it

Re: 69 c50
 

I'd definitely want that 427 over the 350 any day.

Re: 69 c50
 

EXACTLY! And a 5 speed too! It's a spicer trans is all I know, there are 3 different spicer options. I hope it's an OD transmission!

Re: 69 c50
 

i have a spare flywheel for 366/427 engine. i can have it fresh cut also .

Re: 69 c50
 

PM sent

Since we're talking a different truck with a different setup now what should the shift pattern be now? Still 1L/1H 2L/2H etc..?

Re: 69 c50
 

Right, still should be the same.

Re: 69 c50
 

Thanks. Man I'm excited for the truck. Not so excited that it's probably going to take me 3 hours or so to get home in a rough riding pig with a bad back :eek::eek::eek: worse case I'll have my wife drive it

Re: 69 c50
 

A 2 and a half hour drive there turned into a 3 hour ride. The ride back took almost 4 hours due to a nasty storm that hit on our way there. Snow, sleet and ice covered roads! Wind blowing caused white out conditions at 12-16 degrees the whole day!

I checked it out, drove it a little bit in the snow, loved it and got it bought! But I left it there! The last thing I wanted to do was get into a truck I don't know in the worse possible conditions and try driving it 200 miles. We lost count of people we seen in the ditch or guard tails and seen a couple first hand. One accident was a 3 semi pile up!

My wife and decided going back to get it tomorrow was the smartest thing to do.

A few things that I'll need to upgrade or fix in the near future are gauges! All gauges none of them work including the speedo. Flywheel obviously. 1 broken Ubolt on the spring. Window crank ion the drivers side. Blower motor, could just be a blown fuse hopefully. Wipers don't work, possible blown fuse also. 2 rear tires some time in the future. For now that's just the short list. I'm happy with the price too, I got it bought for a little less then he was asking.

Re: 69 c50
 

Congratulations. Unfortunately, without pictures it is just a fish tale. :smoke:

Re: 69 c50
 

Sounds like all pretty easy fixes. If it were me, I'd rewire the truck to make sure everything is update and safe. Not cheap, about $600, but that's nothing when it comes to piece of mind.

Re: 69 c50
 

Rewiring it was one thing I told my wife I wanted to do believe it or not. I already have all the wires to do it.

Here's a picture from the ad. It's even the right color! I love my white trucks!

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/...208-173241.png

Re: 69 c50
 

Congrats on buying it, but I would not try to drive it back home with all those little things wrong with it, especially in cold weather like you are having. The wheel base looks plenty short enough. Have you considered trailering it home?

Truck looks nice by the way. Is that a 5th Wheel I see on the back? Is it a Road Tractor?

Re: 69 c50
 

The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow. If something does happen I have a friend of mine who has a semi and trailer he can come pick me up. I'll be being followed the whole way home with a vehical loaded down with tools. I have a back up plan for my back up plan so I should be alright.

Yep a 5th wheel I don't have a use for that I can see anytime in the near future.

Re: 69 c50
 

Does the truck have Air Brakes ?

Re: 69 c50
 

Yes it does. It was a bit of a deturant for me. I didn't want to deal with that headace but learning the history of the truck made me feel a bit better about it. I even checked with my state laws to see if I would need a CDL for personal use, turns out I don't. Only if I was using it to make money would I need a CDL. Gotta love those loop holes

Re: 69 c50
 

I'm a fan of the wide fender trucks. Wish I could find one.

Re: 69 c50
 

Cool truck. Love Air Brakes.

Also have you noticed that you have the Heavier Front Axle with the Wide Front Fenders?

Re: 69 c50
 

Looks like we were both posting at the same time about the same thing, lol.

Re: 69 c50
 

Great minds think alike. That looks like a good truck. Wouldn't mind having it myself.

Re: 69 c50
 

Have to say that although I like to keep them all original, I always wanted to make a Pick-up with a truck like that having Air Brakes. That truck would be the perfect candidate for it.

Re: 69 c50
 

To be 100% honest I didn't even notice!! I'm still learning about these trucks. I didn't even know there was a difference! I'll post a picture of the C50 that I was originally planning to look at and possibly buy tomorrow until the C60 basically fell in my lap

Re: 69 c50
 

Me too, lol.

That's a great find right there.

Re: 69 c50
 

I'd say you did good on that one. Great foundation to build from

Re: 69 c50
 

Yes it would!

Re: 69 c50
 

Compare the C-50 Fenders to your C-60 ones and you will see a big difference.

Re: 69 c50
 

Thanks guys I'm happy and I don't even have her home yet. My daughter is 13 and loves old trucks, cars and hot rods. She was MAD when I sold my diesels and P-OFF when I sold the 53 Willys I was building which you can see by scrolling on my photobucket. You can also see my wife's orange 72 mega truck on 50" tractor tires.

Here's the original truck I was planning on buying. I fell in love with it. The difference in fenders is clear as day now that it's been pointed out.
http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/...208-181735.jpg

Re: 69 c50
 

That's a nice truck too, but you did great with that C-60.

Interesting that the C-50 has 10-Lug front wheels on those Budds.

Must have a little heavier Front Axle on it.

Which reminds me, if you don't have any experience with Spoke Wheels, have someone qualified enough to show you. I'm a fan of Spokes myself, but they are different to work with.

Re: 69 c50
 

The C50 has a lot of selling points for me. It already has a cab on the back with 2 extra seats and a flatbed. Unfortunately it had a lot of short comings also like the 350, 2 speed rear that didn't work, brakes that needed fixed and as I spelled out before it put me at the max or more of my personal budget I had in mind for a usable truck and who knew what else was wrong with it. The C60 wins in that battle ever day of the week.

You guys are helping reassure me that I made a good choice in my spur of the moment decision with the C60. I must have looked at 200 trucks a few nights ago looking for my perfect truck and felt that I wasn't going to find it. Then I woke up and first thing I seen when I opened up the marketplace was the my now, new to me C60.

Since the fuel gauge doesn't work how far should I think the old 427 will let me go before I have to fill up? It only has the stock tank behind the seat.

Re: 69 c50
 

Are you talking about pulling the tires off and putting them back on? If so I'm sure theres a YouTube video somewhere :lol: I've read a lot of bad things about them. I'm a little worried about a couple of the rear tires. They're getting quite worn down. I think in a few years I'll have to replace them.

The exhaust is loud on this thing right now! There's quite a few leaks before the mufflers. There's 2 different mufflers on it now. I also plan on putting a set of headers and a pair of flow master 40 series on it and extending the tips out from underneath the cab with some turn downs.