1962 C20 Almost Restore Build

[Crazy Rusty]

We'll see how close I get to an actual restore but thought I would post up what I've done so far. Bought 5/14/15 just so I can have a little project on the side of my other projects. Since its a 3/4 I don't plan on making many modifications and just keeping it as a work truck. I'll be working on rebuilding and toning down a 350 race engine I have to put in it in place of the 283 when I go to rebuild that.

PO must have used it as a camper of sorts as there were, literally, a dozen toggle switches in the cab. In the glove box, the ash tray, dash, under the dash, on the door, above the door... it was crazy. At one point there must have been two more gas tanks on it as well.

Here are some pics on the progress.

[Crazy Rusty]

Not a terrible truck to start off with, definite rust issues but that just takes some work.

[Crazy Rusty]

I was not a fan of the hand made woodwork in the cab so I took that out. Which is great because now I have plenty of holes in the dash to use as grounds...

[Crazy Rusty]

Found a few unexpected surprises. A hidden tray on the drivers side under the bed and a hidden box on the passengers side. The tray was just a crappy piece of wood but the box on the other side is actually very functional. I may keep that.

[Crazy Rusty]

First thing to change out was the dash. I've never been a fan of idiot lights. I spent $500 getting SS gauges into my 69 chevelle but was able to get these deluxe gauges for about half of that. The fuel, speedo, and battery gauges are definitely working. Havent been able to try the oil (cant find an aftermarket line to screw into it) or the temp (need a new sender), but they all look fine.

[Crazy Rusty]

I don't have the funds to blast the cab and replace the bad rockers/etc... yet so I just did a quick POR15, caulking, sheetmetal job on it (through the recommendation of you good folks). The drivers side didn't need any patching but the passenger side is pretty bad. I'm going to have to replace the door at some point as the bottom half of it is just pure rust (though covered nicely with bondo)

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by Crazy Rusty

First thing to change out was the dash. I've never been a fan of idiot lights. I spent $500 getting SS gauges into my 69 chevelle but was able to get these deluxe gauges for about half of that. The fuel, speedo, and battery gauges are definitely working. Havent been able to try the oil (cant find an aftermarket line to screw into it) or the temp (need a new sender), but they all look fine.

I used this fitting to run an -3AN stainless line to my factory oil pressure gauge.

Parts # link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nex-16150

and Auto Meter Kit 3235 to go from the fitting to the block....

I may have the old fittings I use to run with the plastic line. I can check if you want me too. I know the line I threw away, but the fittings I probably would have kept.

[Crazy Rusty]

After spending a half hour trying to do the bolts up side down I lifted the bed back up on its front. I don't know how other people are doing this but I do it by hand... It's a bit tiring, that thing is very heavy, even more so full of wood. Took me about 3 hours to get all the bolts in, wood even, and tightened down. Also made it very easy to drill the holes for the frame bolts.

[TJ's Chevy]

Bed wood looks nice. Looks like it'll be a nice driver.

[Crazy Rusty]

Finally got the bed back on the truck. It amazes me that I was able to lean this thing up and down pivoting on the front sheet metal and only got a few scratches.

[TJ's Chevy]

Good work. looks good.

[1963c-10]

Great....Glad you got the oil gauge up and going

[Crazy Rusty]

Mocked and installed the new underbed gas tank from POI this past weekend. Overall it went alright though I came to realize the only thing made for the 62 was the tank, all the other components they just threw together so I had to make some modifications.

It's hard to see (I'll post a rear shot once the install is finished) but the tank sits nice and high behind the bumper.


I thought there would be less clearance between the tank and rails but there is a good 1/2" of play which is nice to have since I had to work around all the other holes that were drilled in the frame.


Bolting it up was a breeze


I don't know how anyone else does this but I was not in the mood to unbolt the bed to measure the gas inlet and couldn't figure out how to do it with it being out. I measured the red line (where I knew the wood ended to the support) and then stuck a measuring tape along the top of the tank from the front, pushed it all the way back, and measured from that support to the edge of the gas inlet which gave me the blue line measurement and I added the two together. That was really just a guess though as you can barely see the inlet (I had it wrapped in blue tape).


I think it came to something like 4 1/4" from the back but then I just had to guess on the exact placement side to side. I got lucky though, my test drill hole was almost exactly centered on the inlet. I drilled that out a bit and then kept making circular drill holes. Once I got it mostly centered I put the rubber tube over the top and marked my circle and cut it out with a small jigsaw.

[Crazy Rusty]

I had to cut down the top inlet to 1 1/2" as it was too long and would hit the gas inlet... that was leaving out the rubber hose. I don't see how that would ever work. Easily 2" too long.


Cut the rubber hose down to give about a 1/2" gap between the bottom inlet and the top inlet.


Got it back up and mounted.. looks pretty good!


I've been driving the rig around more lately to empty the in cab tank. The sending unit doesn't come in until Wednesday (another thing I had to buy since the POI came with a 90 ohm). Once that's in I'll mount the tank permanently and then just have to run a fuel line. I may just have a local shop make one for me.

[rcnutt]

Nice write up. I'm thinking I'd like to use that tank setup for my 62.where'd you buy it from?

[Crazy Rusty]

Originally Posted by rcnutt

Nice write up. I'm thinking I'd like to use that tank setup for my 62.where'd you buy it from?

I got mine from here - https://www.performanceonline.com/home.php.

If I had to do it again I would probably just buy the tank and then the pieces separately. Since their sending unit doesn't match, the bed inlet needs modification, and I could have made my own supports for the tank ears it seems like they overcharge for that. The supports are just 2 straight metal pieces (maybe 1" x 8" x 1/4" thick) with three holes and nuts welded on.

I also didn't know about the other tanks that might fit. There was a thread a few days ago that mentioned a few tanks (a corvette and a van?) that would fit. Probably could have picked one of those up for $100, had it cleaned, etc.. for another $100.

But, minus the $$, I'm pretty happy with it.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks good. Full tank of fuel adds traction to the rear tires.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

killer driver! kind of dig the wood inside the cab too!

[Crazy Rusty]

Ended up selling this.. build over