Build thread / Advice

[CenValyCali]

I got my 63 today and I've got to say maybe it was a bad trade I traded my square body for it that ran good, smogged everytime and had A/C! Anyways the square bodies gone and now I have A 63. It's got a 62 style grill with the 62 light bezels. The fenders got bondo, the doors and the bed. And it's not sanded down I took a look under the bed and it looks like there's about two 2x4 in each corner supporting the bed, So 4 corners with 2 2x4. Then I look at the rear end and it's held on with 2 leaf springs. I didn't know these trucks came with leafs? I'm guessing there not suppose to be there, but that's not what scares me. It's the fact that theres only two on each side . Also owner that had the truck before me put in two fuel tank and decided to cap off the tank behind the seat. Now I'm not sure this truck came with the tank behind the seat but everthing I've seen said it's suppose to have it. Well now the good The motor is out of a 1987 Camaro and so is the rear end. The motor is carburated and runs very well. I've got power steering but my brakes need a little adjusting. I ran through a stop sign tonight. The exhaust is all brand new from the headers back to the flowmasters. Even the pipe is new. Interior is ok. The guage cluster doesn't really work but that could be from not being hooked up. also the linkage on my shifter is backwards Forgot to mention the tranny is a 700r4. Well that it for now. I would like some help with maybe finding a gauge insert and maybe finding after market guages. Also am wondering about the leafs and the bed being on 2x4. Thanks a head of time. I'll post pictures when I get my camara back. O yeah did these trucks come with five lug? It's a five lug. I guess that how I can tell if my rear end is really out of a camaro or not. It should have the small five bolt pattern. Thanks

Adam

[skoffice]

As far as I know, if your truck is a GMC it should be leafs, because I think only the GMCs came with leafs. I have heard of Chevys that had been custom ordered from the factory with leafs too though. If the brackets are riveted on then they are original. I think they only came 6 lug, so someone must have updated the front end as well. Are they disc up front? If so then thats most definitely the case. The lug patterns should be different though, 5x5 up front and 5x4.75 out back.

[onequickchevy]

Sounds like you got rooked, and for punishment you should send it to me, but only if the doors are good!! Just kidding. Sounds like a good start, just needs some finishing up. Show us some pics as soon as you can. Also, the 2x4 boards are there to do the job the bed floor used to do if I am reading you correctly, they are just using the boards as a spacers.

[CenValyCali]

Originally Posted by onequickchevy

Sounds like you got rooked, and for punishment you should send it to me, but only if the doors are good!! Just kidding. Sounds like a good start, just needs some finishing up. Show us some pics as soon as you can. Also, the 2x4 boards are there to do the job the bed floor used to do if I am reading you correctly, they are just using the boards as a spacers.

For punishment I'll sell it to you for 3000.00 . The body on this thing is jacked up but can be fixed with some metal work and filler. The bed has the floors in it still but will probably come out eventually to post new boards. The 2x4 are definitely used for spacers but they can't be same. Is this original? What happens when the wood expands? Easy fix with square tubing(metal)? Also shouldn't the bed lay on the frame or close to it? Thanks
and stay with me .

[CenValyCali]

Originally Posted by skoffice

As far as I know, if your truck is a GMC it should be leafs, because I think only the GMCs came with leafs. I have heard of Chevys that had been custom ordered from the factory with leafs too though. If the brackets are riveted on then they are original. I think they only came 6 lug, so someone must have updated the front end as well. Are they disc up front? If so then thats most definitely the case. The lug patterns should be different though, 5x5 up front and 5x4.75 out back.

OK sorry guys the truck is a 62 not a 63. It's also a chevy not gmc. Looks like the lug is a wide 5 lug like most chevy truck. I'm not understanding this at all. The guy who sold it to me said it had a 1987 camaro rear end and a motor. I though all camaro's had small 5 lug? Anyways no big deal. Also no disc brakes. Stay with me

[BR3W CITY]

ooook...lot of info to digest in this post. From what I gather
1. yes leafs are normal, I think its only the 4,5,6 trucks that had trailing arms normally.
2. are ANY of your gauges working? If just the speedo is inop, that may be because the 700r4 uses a different style cable, and an adapter can be purchased.
3. The trucks were 6-lug, the rear end may be out of that same Camaro (since you mentioned it for the motor), and the front may be the 73+ style truck suspension, hard to tell without pics.
4. remove the in-cab tank, no reason to have it in there if it isn't doing anything

[CenValyCali]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

ooook...lot of info to digest in this post. From what I gather
1. yes leafs are normal, I think its only the 4,5,6 trucks that had trailing arms normally.
2. are ANY of your gauges working? If just the speedo is inop, that may be because the 700r4 uses a different style cable, and an adapter can be purchased.
3. The trucks were 6-lug, the rear end may be out of that same Camaro (since you mentioned it for the motor), and the front may be the 73+ style truck suspension, hard to tell without pics.
4. remove the in-cab tank, no reason to have it in there if it isn't doing anything

1. Thanks, I can sleep better knowing they are original. The other leafs are laying in the back of my bed so there going to go on eventually.

2. None of the gauges work. I have a after market temp gauge and a after market pressure gauge. they both work but are not displayed in the gauge cluster. Do you have a link to the adapter? Thanks

3. I'm going to have to get some pics. What should I take pictures of so that it will be easy to identify?

4. It's already out. Thanks, stay with me

[Bugeyev8]

Originally Posted by CenValyCali

1. Thanks, I can sleep better knowing they are original. The other leafs are laying in the back of my bed so there going to go on eventually.

2. None of the gauges work. I have a after market temp gauge and a after market pressure gauge. they both work but are not displayed in the gauge cluster. Do you have a link to the adapter? Thanks

3. I'm going to have to get some pics. What should I take pictures of so that it will be easy to identify?

4. It's already out. Thanks, stay with me

All Chevy trucks 60-66 had trailing arm suspension, GMC had the leafs in 60-61 only as I recall

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by Bugeyev8

All Chevy trucks 60-66 had trailing arm suspension, GMC had the leafs in 60-61 only as I recall

other way around...60-62 gmc were coil, 63-66 gmc were leaf.

[aerotruk63]

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

x2

Post up some pictures!

[CenValyCali]

Pics will arrive shortly . Took a look at the brakes today and there disc. Also went to the junk yard and got a brake reservoir for ten bucks. Took it off a 90's chevy. It fit's much better and will also hold more fluid. Bleed the brakes and now I've got some breaks. Still kind of wondering why i'm overheating at stop lights? It's got a electric fan and I've never used one before but I imagine they have to work good. Should I just go to mechanical and maybe run the electric for supplement? Anyways thanks. I should have pictures in a few minutes.

[CenValyCali]

OK here's some pictures ....

First some of the body needs work.



Now here's a few of the wood that's holding the bed off the frame... You can also see the hangers? Leafs original or possibly a different frame?



Here's a few of the rear end and you can see the leafs and shocks.




Inside bed... Looks like the rest of the leafs...


Inside cab...




Motor...



Wide 5 lug...



WHAT IS EVERYONE THINKING?

[CenValyCali]

Wow now that I look at that frame it looks like my square body frame. The hangers look similar.

[TheDark1]

How's the cab mounted? If it's a square body frame, the cab mounts would be modified (not riveted). It looks like you're going to need to get some numbers off of each major component to identify their origins. Axles can be redrilled/replaced with different patterns, so take too much for granted. --Jeff

[CenValyCali]

Originally Posted by TheDark1

How's the cab mounted? If it's a square body frame, the cab mounts would be modified (not riveted). It looks like you're going to need to get some numbers off of each major component to identify their origins. Axles can be redrilled/replaced with different patterns, so take too much for granted. --Jeff

Yeah If I can remember correctly the cab mounts were modified. Ok cool, I've lowered a square body frame before so this one shouldn't be a problem. Looks like I'll have to cut that mount off of the rear end so I can flip the leafs. What's the best way to do this, So not to heat up the rear to much? I've got a cut off wheel that will take most of the mount off then maybe grind the rest off? So other than try and but back the leafs I have now should I just go and grab some from the junk yard? The only reason for that would be because I might not have all the hardware. Let me hear what you guys think. Thanks

[blackedoutharley]

An Astrovan (or GMC Safari) would have the small 10 bolt rear with a 5x5" bolt circle. The frame does indeed look to be a later model.

[padresag]

I would say that it was a newer frame also. spring hangers are newer. crossmembers don't look right and why would the box have to be jacked up.
I think that perhaps someone unloaded a problem on you
ron

[ConnDemned]

The newer column will have the ignition on it where an original won't, and the oler style wheel is thicker than a newer and won't bolt on correctly (found this out after breaking the horn piece on m/y column) I believe it has to do with the locking steering componets being further out than an older one without locking steering. Also I want to say Markb has mentioned an adapter to work for this problem.
I will also chime in that the frame is from a newer truck and you will have to rework the bed mounts to make up for the wood holding it up, maybe some square stock welded in. Or a slight body drop on the cab forward sheet metal.
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