70 C30 Questions

[artsar]

So I have been looking to get a project truck for a while now and I found a 1970 C30 close to me. It says its 2wd but what is the major difference from a C10 to a C30. The goal is to bag and maybe body drop the truck. Are there any surprises I should keep a look out for?

[bobs409]

There's a big difference between the two. The "C" is for a 2 wheel drive. A C10 is a 1/2 ton and a C30 is a 1 ton. (C20 would be 3/4 ton)

If it is a C30, that's a heavy duty truck and would have leaf springs, dual wheels, large brake drums, etc. Sounds like you might be better off with a 1/2 ton.

[artsar]

I looked at the ad again and its definitely single wheel rear and has coils up front. There are leafs out back. My goal is a shop truck look so the 8 lug single wheel might look slick. I just wanted to make sure the front geometry isn't something crazy.

[special-K]

There were single and dual rear wheel C/30s,with only single rear wheel pickups. They were either 9' Stepsides or Longhorns. They all had rear leafs. You'll be on your own with slamming it but it can be done.

[artsar]

How different is the front of the frame from any other C10? I figure the front suspension is the hard part. The club shop I am working out of has built custom frames and has several bodied vehicles. As long as there isn't something crazy up front I figure its all the same.

[special-K]

10-30 frames are the same up front. Suspensions are interchangeable.

[SS Tim]

OK, now I'm curious. But first as Special K hit on there is a lot to choose from suspension wise. If it is your decision to lower a C30 then the later dually parts are apparently useable without too much effort as I recall.
Now the question, what does it look like? A Fleetside 8.5' (Longhorn) or a Stepside 9'? It could even be a Chassis Cab truck with SRW. Pictures please!
Also to put in perspective a bit, the curb weight difference between a Fleetside V-8 C/10 8' and a C/30 8.5' is about 600lbs..

[artsar]

The truck doesn't have a bed. But since it would require frame work any way I can always just shorten it to accept a short box

[artsar]

This is kinda the idea in the end. Just paint probably won't black. Probably a fake patina of some sort

[SS Tim]

Thanks for the pictures. Looks nice but now I need to ask if you are sure its a C/30? It would be interesting to see the SPID or the model number. I can see the fender emblems are C/30 (at least on the driver's side) but the cab has the '67-68 molding on the doors and the cab. Looks like the front clip may have been changed or vice versa Take a look at the title, SPID, door plate, and even the frame numbers if nothing else matches.

[artsar]

It was a tow truck at one point in time. I will see what I can find out on Saturday when/if I can go see it

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by artsar

It was a tow truck at one point in time.

Tow trucks, especially boom type tow trucks and dump trucks are by nature vocationally very hard on the chassis and driveline. Everything from overloading to an underpaid driver at 2AM who would rather be anywhere else....

[old Chevy guy]

A real C30 has a taller frame. The main rails under the cab and just behind it is an inch taller than a standard c10 or 20 frame. Nice work truck. Almost a shame to lower it and stuff. Just me though. Let me know if you buy it and want to get rid of the overload springs.