1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Hello everyone! I have enjoyed this website for many years. I have been a member on here for several years. I tried to post for the 1st time a few weeks back and didn't have permission so I opened a new account. I opened a new account today so I can post this. I hope I can post my progress every couple of weeks or so. I have to have this thing done by the time my son turns 16 in about 3 years. I hope no one is in a rush because this will be a slow moving project!

I am posting this because I think some will enjoy it and mostly because there are many of you on here that have way more knowledge than I do about these big trucks. This website is a great resource and I love all of the info available here.

I have been collecting parts and pieces for a couple of years now and finally have enough to get started. Pics to come.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

This is the cab and front clip I am starting with. 1969 C50 with about 65k on it. Found the truck about 2 years ago. Drove it 2 1/2 hours home from southern MO. Reminded me of when I was a kid on the farm. It was as slow, rough riding, and powerless as I remembered.

The truck is rust free. It has some dings and dents and a bunch of extra holes drilled EVERYWHERE. I think they must have mounted about 10 different CB's in it over the years.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Parts I have collected....
1997 Cummins 12 valve with 120k miles....supposedly
2010 G56 6 speed
Chevy Dana 60 front end from dually (4.10 gears)
Brand new Dana 70 HD rear (4.11 gears)
Long bed from a 70 pickup. Needs a floor and front panel. Otherwise nice.
Cab and doors from a 70 K20. Not as nice as I wanted but I bought anyway like dummy.
Cab and doors from a C30 tow truck. Super clean and zero rust.
4 extra doors.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Here is the frame so far. It is .188" x 2" x 8" welded seam rectangular tubing. I have to finish getting the pivot for the front leaf springs installed. The I can flip it over and start placing the front clip and cab on. I have the back cab mount welded in. The front cab mounts will be used off the fire truck. They are kind of funky and rather than fab them I will just use the originals.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

a couple more pics

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Anyway, there it is.
If anyone is interested in the remainder of the C50 once I get the cab and front clip off, let me know. I can't tell for sure if it is a 327 or a 350 in it. The casting numbers and the number stamped on the block say it could be either. It runs great and starts right up. The brakes work good. The tires are about 75% tread or more. The 4 speed transmission and 2 speed rear end work as they should.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Im in to see this one .

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Cool!

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Wow.
Nice work on that frame.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

send me some info on motor ?? price & your location ?? might be able to use it ?? thanks mike

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Are you a professional welder? Those welds look very well done.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Thanks for the compliment on the welds. I am nowhere even close to a professional welder. A buddy of mine is welder at a nuclear reactor and he has given me some tips that helped me out.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

I'm in to watch this! Nice cab to start with and sweet frame. I told myself after I put all the work in the frame of my 72, I'd build a new frame out of tubing and be done with it. :lol:

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

ya my budget beater project could have used the new frame option for around the same amount of work .

and to the o.p. nice job and again nice welds .

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Thanks a bunch. I hope the frame doesn't break at the welds from the weight of the cummins and G56. I put a 3/16" gusset plate on the inside. I think it will be fine.

I tell you what the price of steel was way cheaper when I decided to go ahead and do this. I called the local steel place up to order and they said it was 30% higher than the month before when I had it quoted. I think I have $600 in the frame rails and 4 or 5 crossmembers I had them cut?


I hope to get the rest of the front welded up this weekend.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Ok. Found this when I flipped the frame over to finish welding it up. Notice anything wrong with the 2 top bumper mount holes???? I knew I should have flipped it over to drill them, then flip back over to weld the nuts in. Dang it. I guess I had a few too many frosty refreshments that day?

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

im in, this looks awesome, what type of bed are you going with?

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

I have a pretty nice long bed with a wood floor. Needs a new floor and a front panel. Can you convert a wood bed to a steel bed? Not sure.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Yes, you can convert a wood bed floor to a steel. You will need a front panel for a steel bed floor. I used an OEM steel floor I got from a Kansas truck when I converted my Longhorn bed to steel floor. I couldn't see buying a new one because I knew it was going to get dented and scratched.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Been a long day. Mizzou got their butt kicked by Georgia. Saw that one coming. But Cards won in extra innings and made up for it. Front leaf springs are roughed in.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

still interested in motor -send me some info on it ?? thanks mike

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Mike,

I sent you a PM when you first asked.

Thanks!
Jon

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

cant seem to send you a private message ! anyway i ckd & cant find any messages ? even my spam file ? can you rend it ?? thanks mike

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Looks good. What part of MO you in?

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

I sent you a PM test. See if you have it? I changed some settings for PM.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Well here are a few more pics of progress.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Found another mistake. If you ever build a frame for a C50. The drop amount from the top of the frame to where the front clip sits across the frame rails is 4.25". Not the 3" I somehow measured off the C50 when it was fully assembled. Other than that, everything on the frame seems to work well.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

If anyone is interested in WAS running and driving C50 without the cab and front clip let me know. Everything is there except the cab, front clip, and radiator.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Whereabouts?

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Near Union, MO.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Here is the front end after cutting another 1.5" off the top to fix my mistake. I will make a 3/16" plate that I will weld inside the frame rail to beef it up. My jeep frame is the same height and thickness on the front and I have beat the tar out of it and never had an issue. The extra 400 lbs of the diesel won't be a problem for a road driven vehicle.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

With any luck I will get the top plates made and welded on today.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Nice fab work keep it up! This is what I want to do long term with my 67 c50.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Got it all sewed up tonight. Looks like where I was 2 weekends ago! Will try the front clip again tomorrow when I get some help from a buddy. The next step is to remake all of the rubber body mounts out of polyurethane.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Now to settle in and listen to the Mizzou vs Alabama game. Hopefully they can stay within 18 points and cover the spread!

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Mizzou got spanked...
Got the front clip on and have the mount for the front grill all measured out and ready to mill. For the front cab mounts I used the factory C50 brackets. I bought a body mount kit for a C-10 from energy suspension (3.4108G) and the bushings marked "4010" are a perfect fit. The back cab mounts are 3.50" tall and will have to be made. Hold on to your shirt when you go to buy 3" diameter 85A polyurethane!!!! Expensive stuff.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

why not do like the off road guys do and make a spacer block out of aluminum ? if you have the right size bushing minus its height .

lots of guys doing this for 1" -1.5" body lifts these days .

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Got the 2nd cab this weekend. It needs rockers and corners. The crossmembers and underneath are very nice. One of the nicest cabs I have ran across in a while. A neighbor of mine had it. I got lucky on this one!

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Looking good.
I like your progress.
Looks like you have a great Plan.
I am watching because my cab is at the sandblast Man's place.
After that will be my CC journey.

Re: 1969 C50 crew cab build
 

Haven't had much time to work on it lately. Busy, busy like everyone else now days. I included a pic so everyone can see how the clearance I had to redo on the frame for the front clip worked out. Measure twice and cut once, right?? Not in my shop I guess...