68 c10 with no rear view mirror or armrests?

[speed-racer]

I just recently bought a 68 chevy c10 with a 250 six cylinder and a 3 speed. The truck has very few options (wood bed, heavy duty rear springs, paint stripe). It was purchased from a local dealership in Fort Smith Arkansas new and the original owner still lives nearby. Nothing has been changed on the truck except the column shifter was moved to the floor, I beleive it is all original parts. My question is, the truck has no rear view mirror, or any sign that it would have previously been mounted and also has no armrest or holes in the door panels. I have never seen an rpo code for armrest and rearview mirrors, so it seems like they are standard on all trucks. Why does mine not have them? Also, it has the aluminum trim around the top of the hood and fenders, but I have seen others without it. Mine does not have an rpo code for this, seems like the same situation. Anybody know what the deal is?

[Palf70Step]

Welcome to the board. I believ it is very common to find the basic truck without armrests and these trucks without an inside rear view mirror. If the truck was bought to be a working truck, especially on a farm, they wouldn't need those things anyways.
Again welcome to the board. I am sure some others more knowledgable than I can be more specific.

[LUV2XCLR8]

From West TN

[Longhorn Man]

The mirror was an option untill 1970.
the arm rests I THINK became standard in 69.
The grill trim became standard in 68.


Welcome to the board. Got any pics of the rig? What's the plans?

[speed-racer]

No pictures yet, I will post some soon. Plans are to drive it daily with a gen III v8. I hope to keep it as factory looking as possible. Ive got all the parts for a disc swap and have added a 92 bench seat. The more I drive it, the more I want to keep the 250, but it is just not practical. Anyone have good pictures of the factory paint stripe? Is it vinyl or is it actually white paint?

[redneckgirl]

[ Anyone have good pictures of the factory paint stripe? Is it vinyl or is it actually white paint?[/QUOTE]

The factory pinstripe is painted on. I have a picture of a truck with the stripes, but you cant see it very well.

[jimmydean]

My '69 also had no mirror and no arm rests. It was a forestry truck, so it had few options as well.

My truck as a make-shift rear view mirror that is functional, but ghetto. I'll change it some day.

[Werewolf]

Got a very similar '68 long step 6/3 on the tree. Has chrome on hood lip, and chrome grille inserts. No other chrome, save for the standard chromed up bits. Has a rear view, has no arm rests. Truck's all stock. I can check for a rear view RPO if you like.

[Longhorn Man]

just looked it up, in 69 the mirror was standard... however, i have seen a few, and even owned one, that did not have it.

[toms68cst]

As mentioned the rear view mirror was optional in 68. Mine was lacking one too. If you have the painted steel door panels vs the CUSTOM or CST vinyl panels chances are you have no arm rests. They could have been dealer installed back in 68 also.

Some very basic 68's came with silver painted inserts and grill face lacking the usual eyebrow and hood lip chrome trim.

Here's what the paint stripe looks like. For darker colored vehicles it would be white along with the tailgate lettering. Mine is painted on.

[Chevyman680063]

I have a 68 my grandfather bought new and it doesn't have the arm rest but it does have the rearview mirror. It also does not have the chrome trim around the grill and front fenders. The grill and front of the front fenders were originally painted gray/silver.

[speed-racer]

thanks for all the info, I will try to get some pictures to post soon. I've always wanted a 67-72, and now that I have one my 2002 camaro ss is parked. I love driving this truck! Its not much to look at now, but hopefully by the end of next summer I'll have it painted with the engine swap complete.

[Werewolf]

If you're putting a bigger engine in there, be careful. In '68, 6 cylinders generally had no sway bars and a smaller carrier bearing. I put a 350 in a '68 when I was 15, and damn was that thing interesting on corners. Snapped off two carrier bearings in it, too; never thought about getting a beefier upgrade for it, like I should've. Too young and dumb.

[Longhorn Man]

actually, the carrier bearing shouldn't have been efected by the output at all. If the engine and tranny are located center, and everything is lined up, then the carrier bearing should have no torsional, not lateral, nor verticle stress.
As for the sway bar, it was optional on any truck, big or little, inline, small block, or big block.

[speed-racer]

longhorn, that is exactly right. Your last post sounded like something an engineer might say; are you an engineer? I am in the last year of my mechanical engineering degree and work in the engineering field. Your post sounded very similar to something my co-workers and I may say.

[68shortstep]

My '68 has inside rear-view mirror & plain-vanilla door mirrors. Metal inside door panels, covered at some later date with fabric generally-matching the later model seat. No arm rests.

350/350 swapped in for the six-stick, with disc brakes & 5-bolt later-model Ralley wheels all around, and it's not bad at all to drive - great fun, really, except not very good on gas. Doesn't overheat, even in Arkansas Summers, but I did get the radiator cleaned-out. Not "squirrelly" in corners at all, unless you're really stupid. Sure will smoke the tires if you get on it. Have to be carful when stopping, not to get run-over by the gawking tail-gaters.

Better interior planned with electric bench dual bucket seats, and sway bars front & (maybe) rear.

Time & money needed, too..... And more lessons from this great Board.

Enjoy fixing yours up !!!!!

[Werewolf]

Well, I know they put different carrier bearings in these trucks. My CST came with a big block, and has a massive bearing which bolts to the right and left of center, versus the old 6 cylinder one which has two bolts and one slim piece of metal that comes down from dead center. And I broke two when I put that 350 in my truck. :P Wouldn't there be some torsional stress on the bearing?

[Longhorn Man]

nope, I'm a mechanic.
However, if the engine and tranny are bolted down, they aren't gogin to move for nor aft, they won't go left, not right, the only thing it'll do is twist. An inline will twist just as hard, and in all reality, the shaft is staying pretty much in the exact same location. Give or take 1/32 of an inch.
I've seen the teardrop style in many small block truck.
Like I alway tell ppl, if your carrier bearing keeps going out, find the real problem before replacing it... SOMETHING isn't in line.

[1LoC10]

mines a 69 and no arm rests

[Werewolf]

Oh well. Everything was straight, swear to god. We just ended up bending some steel stock and welding it to the crossmember to keep it from breaking. Worked fine; sold the truck when I was 16, found a friend driving it when I was 20. That was 10 years ago; poor old girl's probably dead by now. I know the 250 with the 3 speed always seemed plenty torquey, so I didn't understand the problem. Still don't. Like I said, oh well.