C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

After realizing I can never take my 65 Chevelle SS to Walmart. I am going to temper my need to make this truck perfect and just make it better than when I got it. The truck is Fremont, CA built C20 long bed that was sold locally here in Colorado Springs at Daniel's Chevrolet. Plans are to convert the 8 lug drum front end to 5 lug disc brakes, 5 lug rear diff. drop it 4-5" in the front and 6-7". Shorten the frame and convert the long bed to a short bed. Roll it on some 20" Boss 338s.

Have not done much to it yet,just fixed a coolant leak, wet sanded the primer spots and sprayed some rattle white. Removed the ugly broken red horn from the firewall and installed a working horn. If it ever stops snowing I am hoping to get some work done on her soon.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Sounds similar to what my son is doing with his 68 C20. Frame and bed already cut, doing bodywork (when it is above freezing). Just picked up a 78 C10 for donor running gear today.

Keep us posted.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

I bought the truck because the drivetrain was solid. 350/TH350 that runs and shifts good. The pass/drivers outer rockers have been replaced but not a good job. The pass cab corner and mout are rusted but drivers side is good. Best of luck to you and your son with your truck.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Looks like a good place to start. Good luck.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Thanks for the words of incouragement. My sister graduated from UC Davis. Orig from San Jose, I spent some time in the Elk Grove area near Sac. Even showed a 67 Nova at the fairgrounds in Sac.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Cool. There's several members up in these parts. Where in CO are you. I spent a year there when I was a kid near Durango. Too cold for us Californians.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Made some progress today. Left side C20 lower control arm, spindle, drum and upper ball joint are removed. Pressed in new lower ball joints in to 84 C10 lower control arms. Toughest part was getting the rivets out of the upper ball joint/control arm.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got the right lower control arm installed, the upper ball joint installed, 2" drop coil spring and drop spindle.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

New standard duty 1" thick rotor, bearings, caliper and brake pads. New KYB GR2 shock. Need brake hoses, tie rods, master cylinder and perportioning valve. Still deciding if I want a booster or not.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got the driver's side taken apart yesterday. Hope to get assembled today.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got the driver's side done today. Perportioning valve, front brake lines and tie Rod sleeves coming this week from POL.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got these in on Fri. Going to run 20x8.5 fronts and 20X10 rears. Hope to run new brake lines, install new master cylinder and perportioning valve tomorrow.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got the brake hardlines done. Finally got the correct rubber brake lines, bled the system and took her for a drive. Need to have the alignment done. Hope to swap the rear diff out sometime next month, but need to put the truck to work on some projects around the house.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Nice work so far. Looks good

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Wheels look very nice. I see you ran your brake hardlines for the longbed, are you not going to cut it to a shortbed anymore or are you planning on keeping it running and driving till you cut it?

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

With spring here I'm gonna do a few cosmetic things and leave the long bed alone. My girlfriend has a paddle boat that the longbed might come in handy for. 👍 Mac93 great work on the seat recover.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got some paint work done on the truck. My first try at patina. If it would stop thunder showering I could get some paint on the hood.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got rid of the all white front end too.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

I have thought about trying this build. Im in for the education. So you used the stock c20 upper a-arms and the '78 lowers with '78 ball joints in both? after you swap the rear are you going to swap the core support and cab bushings to the c10 size or will you have to keep the c20's to keep everything lined up?

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

I wouldn't take that truck to Walmart ether! LOL! Nice work so far, amazing how much better it looks with 5 lug wheels.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

boynton, I used stock upper control arms with later(73-87) upper ball joints. 86 lower control arms with new 86 lower ball joints. Have not decided on the mounts yet.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Got some letters and the hood done.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Looking good. Keep it up.

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

Starting to look Killer

Re: C20 long bed farm truck to C10 short bed driver
 

This pickup has really nice front sheet metal.
It looks great lowered.