1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I never realized how handy a rollback truck is. Great having one in the family. My oldest Son's car developed transmission problems. It is a 2013 Nissan Sentra with 91,000 on the clock. It has a CVT automatic transmission. This is the fourth time to be worked on. Friends don't let friends buy Nissan vehicles with CVT transmissions!

Yes, I know the truck needs washing. Our road is under construction and is a muddy mess.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Update on my tire wobble problems:

I drove the truck to Southern Tire Mart on Saturday. They were able to correct the installation of my front rims and got them running true. On the rear I had a 4 inch Band Spacer between the rims. This caused the wedges to not be in close proximity to the Dayton hubs. This was the culprit causing the rear wheels to not run true. After measuring they determined I needed a 3.25 Spacer. Once installed it did not allow the wedges to apply enough clamp to hold the rims tight. In the end they installed 3.5 inch Spacers which appear to work perfect. Now I am ready to haul and pull heavy loads.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Great news that you have that worked out. Definitely must give some peace of mind to have those issues corrected.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Noah, my son giving the C70 a much needed bath. I don't get to drive it much as all my sons, (Noah, Micah, & Seth) just love driving it. Micah (my youngest) was planning on taking his driver license test in it. The backup light burned out before the test so he had to use a car. It is fun to drive and reminds me of a time when I was much younger.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Another rescue for the C70 rollback! This is my son Noah's VW beetle which he restored many years ago. He thinks either the fuel pump quit or the fuel tank strainer is plugged. This is a link to his 1972 VW Standard Beetle restoration thread:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/vi...c.php?t=439103

Amazing how handy a rollback truck is, every family needs one!

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Installed the PTO control and monitor along with light switch for the work lights. The work light switch is guarded and illuminated when on.

When drilling holes for the PTO monitor light, my drill slipped and caused the hole to be offset. That is why the plate is crooked.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

First tractor show of the year that I could attend. Took a couple of my tractors to the Pawnee Oklahoma show. It was a mud fest due to several days of heavy rain. Still had a good time. Truck ran perfect with no issues. Averaged 8.17 MPG with a gross weight of 33,640 Lbs.

My sons, Left to Right: Noah Jones, Micah Jones

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

add's a bit of custom with it off square . ;)

to bad we wern't closer . i would show you how to WORK that rollback and show you lots of trick to make life easy . i have over 5 years full time and few more part time in a rollback .

i got this new 2,650lb 2 post bend pack lift off the side of the flatbed trailer last week with no forklift or other tools . had it square on the bed when i stopped winching . little forgin guy truck driver kept saying forklift . . i told him its broken thats why i am here . his eye's were huge after he saw me unload that off his truck that fast and easy . :lol:

on the flatbed / slid off in my buddys shop / installed and 1st car on it .

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Having operated the rollback for just a couple of months, I have decided it is right up with sliced bread. I am amazed at how handy this thing is. The bed and winch make loading anything a snap. I even loaded the rear trailer without using ramps. I just raised the car lift to its maximum height which lowered the rear of the trailer to the ground. Hooked the winch to the tractor and pulled it onto the trailer. Lowered the trailer to normal highway height and we were set to go.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

most i can tell you from here is if you can think it try it . lots of the tricks were from guys trying something stupid and it worked so easy or different than he was thinking it would .

i use to walk my rollback under vehicles with blown ball joints and do ZERO extra damage on/off the bed .

also grab some cans of p.b.blaster for the times a tire or something wont slide / roll . its like a hot knife in butter . but after driving 10 min or so the wind dry's the p.b.blaster off the bed . w.d.40 works better but must be washed off .

so many cool tricks and tips to be had . stay safe and always LISTEN to the winch and cable under heavy load . it will tell you before it pops a cable by the wound .

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Man I'm actually kinda mad right now that you got 8mpg at 33k lbs. https://www.preludeonline.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

P. B. Blaster, that is a neat trick. I will get some, thanks!

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Here is a picture of a 1981 Top Kick which I purchased new. It had a Cummins VT225 with 10 speed Fuller transmission. The first engine lasted 50K and was warrantied by Cummins. After a full rebuild it made it another 50K and failed again. Sold the truck with a bad engine.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Any idea on the causes of your premature failures? Thats a damn shame...

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I think it was a bad design. Its predecessor the 555 was a poor engine as well. The VT-225 was a improved design that was promised to have the problems of the earlier version fixed. Sadly, it was no better. The compression rings would fail the engine would get hard starting with smokey exhaust and high oil consumption. The good news was it had sleeves, the bad was parts were gold plated.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Hauled one of my tractors to the local show and swap meet only to find out it had been canceled Thursday due to forecast weather. The good news is it gave me the incentive needed to get my truck washed.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Well, I finally loaded my truck to the limits! Headed out for a Sunday afternoon of family cookout and jet skiing on Pat Mayse lake (pictured is my son Noah).

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Headed home after a fun time at the lake enjoying family.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

best part of a wheel lift for trailer towing is the power in/out and small angle change for the ball left/right to help hook up . and then ability to set good angle for towing with up/down . :metal:

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Yes, being able to adjust the hitch fore and aft, up and down is wonderful. With a boat you can extend it and not have to get the truck wet!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

years ago i used one to pop tree shrubs out and some short chain link fence posts we knew were not in to deep .

also few blocks of 4x4 or 6x6 can be used to help lift the whole truck up with the wheel lift to get the bed level with a semi trailer or loading dock so you can drag a pallet or other items on the tow truck .

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Went to a tractor show in Missouri this weekend. First chance to attend the Western Missouri Antique Tractor & Association annual show. It was held in Adrian MO, about 30 miles South of Kansas City just off interstate 49. Nice show with lots to see. They were featuring John Deere tractors and machinery. I loaded my mowing tractor, a John Deere 435 Diesel. It is powered by a Detroit Diesel 2-53. Round trip was about 1300 miles. Truck did great with no issues.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Good to see another 435 owner out there.

I have a '59 JD 435. I've had it now for 20 years this month.

I never knew they made one till the early 90's.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Sweet truck! :metal:

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Made another road trip with the C70. My son Seth decided he wanted a classic GM Motorhome (1976 Glenbrook) to restore and use as housing while he attends the last two years of his college (Mechanical Engineering degree). He found this unit in Guthrie OK. Needless to say we used the C70 to retrieve it, the motor in it was locked up. The unit was sold with a rebuild engine and transmission (loaded on the rollback bed). Had to load one of our work cars on the bed to be able to use the wheel lift. The truck made easy work of it and handled the unit with ez. Round trip was about 650 miles.

Noah Jones (Orange Shirt) Seth Jones (blue shirt)

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

:cf::bo2::burnout:

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

My favorite motor home! I would like to have one of those.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

if he paints it he needs this color combo :lol:

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Attended the Cook County Antique Tractor Show in Gainsville TX today. Pictured is my WD-40 Diesel, Noah's Farmall Cub Lo Boy 185, and my wife's Farmall Cub. Of course we had to make our usual McDonalds stop for breakfast.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

My son Noah and I attended a tractor show in Republic MO this weekend. Hauled two IHC Cub tractors (pictured above) and my McCormick Deering WD-40 diesel on a trailer. Gross weight was 32K. Here is a video showing pulling on to I-44 at Miami OK. The truck hits the governor at 71 MPH in 5th gear Hi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CN_BUo0818

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

My sons (Aaron & Noah) spent the day with me picking up a McCormick Deering 22-36 from Southeast Kansas. Planning to harvest parts off it to restore another WD-40 McCormick Deering. Truck made the journey easy and the rollback bed with winch proved to be invaluable. Noah got stopped by the DOT, they told him the truck was a commercial vehicle. I later printed the regulations and highlighted where 26,000 and less GVW without air brakes is exempt. Hopefully this will help next time any of us get stopped.

From DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Web Site

Question 6: A driver operates a tractor of exactly 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), towing a trailer of exactly 10,000 pounds GVWR, for a GCWR of 36,000 pounds. HM and passengers are not involved. Is it a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)s and does the driver need a CDL?

Guidance:

No to both questions. Although the vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 36,000 pounds, it is not a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) under any part of the definition of that term in §383.5, and a CDL is not federally required.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

My two speed axle speedometer ratio changer has stopped working. At first it was intermittent working once in a while. It is stuck in the low side ratio. I have checked and it is getting power (powered is low ratio and un-powered is high ratio). Anybody have experience with these?

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I'd be interested in details as well. Mine operates fine in high, but gets flakey when I go to low. But with my truck, when in low I'm going so slow, speedo is the least of my concerns...

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

This thread was to document my OEM A/C installation. Today I completed that task with the installation of a OEM radiator fan and clutch. I found a donor salvage truck with 4-53T that had the fan, clutch, and spacer intact. I feel very fortunate have found the OEM setup.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I have been having trouble with my 2-speed speedometer adapter not shifting when the axle is changed from low to high. I drilled out the four rivets and disassembled it. The lubricant was gummed up and sticky. I cleaned and re-oiled with 30W motor oil, installed pop rivets and presto, it works again. I should have taken pictures so folks would know how it works. Sorry I did not. It is very simple, just a set of planetary gears that are locked from rotating until power is applied. Once power is applied a electromagnet pulls against a spring to remove the locking tab and allows the planetary gears to rotate.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Ok fellow Heavy Haulers, I need help locating a correct fuel sending unit for my truck. I purchased a universal unit, adjusted it according to the instructions, it shows full regardless of fuel level. My original unit had become intermittent. I have confirmed the gauge works correctly, when the gauge sending unit wire is open, gauge shows full. When shorted to ground it show empty. I believe the universal unit I purchased works on different resistance values than the original. The original unit is 0 to 100 ohms. Below is a snapshot of the line build sheet, factory option list, and tank serial number tag. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I have nothing to add but wanted to say I enjoyed reading through this whole thread. Your truck sounds great cruising too!
For your pto controls where your drill slipped you could slot the holes and put on a couple small washers to make the plate straight.

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

I thought about trying to fix it, but decided in the end it was not worth the effort. Back in the day I have seen some very sloppy PTO installs....

1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

My first antique tractor show since COVID-19. All the normal shows I make have been cancelled. Crowds were way down, some due to rain, I expect most was due to COVID. Still had a good time seeing my friends. Truck made the trip without any problems.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet C70 Conversion to OEM Air Conditioning
 

Your truck is the ULTIMATE meduim duty truck. I can't friggin believe you can haul at 70 mph.

I also can't believe you managed to find ANOTHER 4-53T parts truck, those things have got to be rare.

I am so jealous of that truck.