1969 C50 crew cab build

[gup1972]

Hello everyone! I have enjoyed this website for many years. I have been a member on here for several years. I tried to post for the 1st time a few weeks back and didn't have permission so I opened a new account. I opened a new account today so I can post this. I hope I can post my progress every couple of weeks or so. I have to have this thing done by the time my son turns 16 in about 3 years. I hope no one is in a rush because this will be a slow moving project!

I am posting this because I think some will enjoy it and mostly because there are many of you on here that have way more knowledge than I do about these big trucks. This website is a great resource and I love all of the info available here.

I have been collecting parts and pieces for a couple of years now and finally have enough to get started. Pics to come.

[gup1972]

This is the cab and front clip I am starting with. 1969 C50 with about 65k on it. Found the truck about 2 years ago. Drove it 2 1/2 hours home from southern MO. Reminded me of when I was a kid on the farm. It was as slow, rough riding, and powerless as I remembered.

The truck is rust free. It has some dings and dents and a bunch of extra holes drilled EVERYWHERE. I think they must have mounted about 10 different CB's in it over the years.

[gup1972]

Parts I have collected....
1997 Cummins 12 valve with 120k miles....supposedly
2010 G56 6 speed
Chevy Dana 60 front end from dually (4.10 gears)
Brand new Dana 70 HD rear (4.11 gears)
Long bed from a 70 pickup. Needs a floor and front panel. Otherwise nice.
Cab and doors from a 70 K20. Not as nice as I wanted but I bought anyway like dummy.
Cab and doors from a C30 tow truck. Super clean and zero rust.
4 extra doors.

[gup1972]

Here is the frame so far. It is .188" x 2" x 8" welded seam rectangular tubing. I have to finish getting the pivot for the front leaf springs installed. The I can flip it over and start placing the front clip and cab on. I have the back cab mount welded in. The front cab mounts will be used off the fire truck. They are kind of funky and rather than fab them I will just use the originals.

[gup1972]

a couple more pics

[gup1972]

Anyway, there it is.
If anyone is interested in the remainder of the C50 once I get the cab and front clip off, let me know. I can't tell for sure if it is a 327 or a 350 in it. The casting numbers and the number stamped on the block say it could be either. It runs great and starts right up. The brakes work good. The tires are about 75% tread or more. The 4 speed transmission and 2 speed rear end work as they should.

[flashed]

Im in to see this one .

[Katrina/10]

Cool!

[Getter-Done]

Wow.
Nice work on that frame.

[wahl4m]

send me some info on motor ?? price & your location ?? might be able to use it ?? thanks mike

[jumpsoffrock]

Are you a professional welder? Those welds look very well done.

[gup1972]

Thanks for the compliment on the welds. I am nowhere even close to a professional welder. A buddy of mine is welder at a nuclear reactor and he has given me some tips that helped me out.

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm in to watch this! Nice cab to start with and sweet frame. I told myself after I put all the work in the frame of my 72, I'd build a new frame out of tubing and be done with it.

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I'm in to watch this! Nice cab to start with and sweet frame. I told myself after I put all the work in the frame of my 72, I'd build a new frame out of tubing and be done with it.

ya my budget beater project could have used the new frame option for around the same amount of work .

and to the o.p. nice job and again nice welds .

[gup1972]

Thanks a bunch. I hope the frame doesn't break at the welds from the weight of the cummins and G56. I put a 3/16" gusset plate on the inside. I think it will be fine.

I tell you what the price of steel was way cheaper when I decided to go ahead and do this. I called the local steel place up to order and they said it was 30% higher than the month before when I had it quoted. I think I have $600 in the frame rails and 4 or 5 crossmembers I had them cut?


I hope to get the rest of the front welded up this weekend.

[gup1972]

Ok. Found this when I flipped the frame over to finish welding it up. Notice anything wrong with the 2 top bumper mount holes???? I knew I should have flipped it over to drill them, then flip back over to weld the nuts in. Dang it. I guess I had a few too many frosty refreshments that day?

[Deer_hunter_088]

im in, this looks awesome, what type of bed are you going with?

[gup1972]

I have a pretty nice long bed with a wood floor. Needs a new floor and a front panel. Can you convert a wood bed to a steel bed? Not sure.

[Dieselwrencher]

Yes, you can convert a wood bed floor to a steel. You will need a front panel for a steel bed floor. I used an OEM steel floor I got from a Kansas truck when I converted my Longhorn bed to steel floor. I couldn't see buying a new one because I knew it was going to get dented and scratched.

[gup1972]

Been a long day. Mizzou got their butt kicked by Georgia. Saw that one coming. But Cards won in extra innings and made up for it. Front leaf springs are roughed in.

[wahl4m]

still interested in motor -send me some info on it ?? thanks mike

[gup1972]

Mike,

I sent you a PM when you first asked.

Thanks!
Jon

[wahl4m]

cant seem to send you a private message ! anyway i ckd & cant find any messages ? even my spam file ? can you rend it ?? thanks mike

[jdl71]

Looks good. What part of MO you in?

[gup1972]

Well here are a few more pics of progress.