1968 C20 Build

[dagnabbitt]

I have a friend who always names his projects, he has Gertie and Hippo Hips and Betty Boop, etc etc. I just can't bring myself to name my own projects - I can't explain why - but I can't deny it would be convenient when you have several of them like I do. So I call mine "The Blue Truck"; "The Orange Truck", and "The Green Truck", which is actually much more ridiculous than just giving them names.

This one I just call "The C20", since it is the only three quarter ton I own - or have ever owned for that matter. But I'll take suggestions on naming her if anyone has any ideas.

I found this for sale online about 2-3 hours from where I live, in an area of Alberta called Rocky Mountain House, on a farm literally in the middle of nowhere. A friend of mine egged me on to go look at it and came with me to get it: the owner either didn't know much about it or didn't feel like providing any information and we were curious and wanted to go on a road trip. I initially thought it might be a shortbed half ton, the pictures weren't great. When I arrived and found it was a long bed C20 I bought it anyway: he wanted $200 for it, I couldn't leave it there.

At the time I already had two 1967 GMCs that I bought for similar reasons: simply because I could. One was a rattle can black base model with a 250, 3 on the tree, and not much else, but it ran, drove, and stopped. It was an old farm truck from Saskatchewan that I would have difficulty registering, but I kind of thought I'd get it on the road someday. The other one was green, and was a very highly optioned truck with a 327, automatic, chrome package and panoramic window option. The problem was that the motor seemed to be seized. It had 40 year old plates on it so it was like this for a while. I bought it off of a guy who had plans to part it out but he couldn't bring himself to do it, it was too nice and too complete. In my addled brain I thought perhaps I would make one good truck out of these three: the two 67 GMCs and my new 68 C20. I figured that the black 67 GMC would be the "base" of this project.

The C20 had no box on it: but I loved the Chevy front end - I only had GMCs at this point. It was a supposed 292 with a four speed that I thought was pretty cool. It had no keys, didn't run as far as I knew, and the mice at some point moved out of it for something nicer. But I just liked it and knew that I couldn't go wrong for the price I paid for it.

[cornerstone]

I am exactly the same way when it comes to naming my vehicles. I like when people do but for some reason I can’t settle on a name. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t started a build thread...

At 200 bucks it would have been mine too! Keep us posted on your progress!
Brian

[dagnabbitt]

Thanks Cornerstone! Its funny, when someone names their own truck I don't blink, but I feel silly doing it myself. Its like giving yourself a nickname, it isn't earned until someone else gives it to you.

Incidentally, that's $200 CANADIAN DOLLARS! So probably like 75 bucks for you! Too good to pass up, and I am a complete degenerate addict when it comes to these trucks. As you will see when this thread progesses, I have zero regrets.

[dagnabbitt]

Attentive users of this site will have already noticed my posted questions about rims and tires (great discussion, hope to select and buy some soon) as well as the bizarre prop shaft park ebrake setup I have (crickets: no one has a clue about it despite 20 years of discussion and a million posts) on this truck.

Overall, it really is an odd combo for some Canadian farmer 50 years ago to select. I mean this place is still pretty rustic in terms of roads and such; and in 1968 it was prehistoric. First of all, 90% of the old trucks up here are GMCs. I understand - apocryphally - that is because leaf springs were standard on GMC but optional on Chevs. All the trucks up here had oil baths due to the gravel and grain, and none had any options worth mentioning.

But this one is a little different, which is why I fell for it, kinda. It has coil springs, which might not be a novelty to the rest of you: but I have never ever seen such a thing on a three quarter ton in my life. No leafs, just massive coils. I seldom see coils on a half ton let alone a three quarter ton. And someone at some point POR 15'd the frame and suspension so it looks nice and black and proper.

Another thing it has is the Custom Chrome option, as well as some nice period correct cab lights. The seat was in surprisingly good shape due to an early-added cover. The lichen growing on the hood was patina x10. I reluctantly removed the sapling growing from the cowl as a precaution.

But the more I looked at this thing the more I thought maybe I could build it into something that could pull the trailer I hauled it out on. I just loved that beautiful Chevy front end - I love 67-68 grills - and despite that delicate design it had that beefy C20 suspension that meant business and it maybe had a 292 and a 4 speed and no one I know has one like this and I have to get it on the road and here we are.

[3757chevy]

That was a steal. I'm in to see what you have in store for it.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by 3757chevy

That was a steal. I'm in to see what you have in store for it.

Thanks! I hope I don't disappoint.

[dagnabbitt]

So I began the story by mentioning that I had a couple other trucks, both 67 GMCs. One - the black rattle can one - I had high hopes for, it was a runner and the truck I thought I would make a project out of. I put a new rad and fuel tank in it, as well as a bunch of little things under the hood like a distributor, plugs, wires, etc. I had it running really well, but it sat for a few years in the parking lot of the place I worked at. One day I took it for a cruise and found out that something happened to the brakes, because there were none. Foot to the floor, terrifying. Luckily it had a working emergency brake, which I had never tested before.

I decided that it was time to put some time into this one. It ran good, just needed brakes, right? I drove it to my buddies shop with no brakes, slowing down with the 3 on the tree and feathering the emergency brake as I went: the cables snapped as I pulled in. And when we got it on the hoist... it was simply too far gone. Frame was bent, rivets were popped out of the rear suspension, driveshaft was bent, leafs were broken, shocks were broken, and there was definitely something wrong with the steering. I think someone had jumped it Dukes of Hazzard style, this thing was trashed underneath. And that was basically the tip of the iceberg, I knew as I looked at it. It now had no brakes whatsoever and besides, it wasn't like it was well-optioned or even nice to look at.

THAT was when the C20 looked like it might be the "base" of this project I wanted to embark upon. Nothing wrong with the undercarriage of that truck. Big and solid and beautiful and it had that 292 and the chrome package. Maybe I could use a 3/4 ton, I thought. Lots of parts on the 67 GMC that the 68 C20 could use.

So I did something that I have never done before, I chopped up a truck. A couple buddies and I removed everything we could from the 67 GMC, one friend of mine even cut the floor out of it. Then we sent it to the crusher, which was not as bittersweet as I thought it would be, since we did use every part of the buffalo. The new fuel tank and rad went in the C20 immediately, as well as the box, which was nothing to write home about, but at least it had one now.

I had never heard the C20 run, but after jumping the starter it became clear that we needed a fuel pump. We stole one from the GMC's 250 and what do you know, it fit. The 292 fired right up. Once I installed the ignition and door locks from the other truck, it fired right up with a key. Sounds great, like a sewing machine.

[dagnabbitt]

Once I got the box on, the fact that the C20 had no bumpers really bugged me. Well, the rear had part of a bumper, I guess. But no problem, the black 67 GMC was the gift that just kept giving: I went to my parts pile that was created by the teardown. The bumpers weren't in great shape but they were free and I had decided that I was going to try to save my money on stuff I needed to make the truck roadworthy and safe.

The front bumper was badly bent due to the truck it was on being pulled behind a tractor most of its life, but some judicious bangs with a sledge straightened it out quite nicely.

Finally, I took them down to the metal and painted them white and installed them. The C20 is starting to look like a truck, now.

Then the grill was bothering me. Somehow this truck had managed to exist for 51 years without someone pulling the letters off the hood, but the red emblem was missing and the grill itself was kind of bent. I reluctantly - at first - pulled a piece of wall art out of my garage. It was a pretty nice 68 grill that I had got several years before, long before the C20. Initially I thought I was wasting the grill on this truck, but I didn't feel that way for long. It is definitely the nicest part of the truck, but why shouldn't it be?

[dagnabbitt]

Last weekend we replaced all four shocks, which was interesting. I think what we removed might be originals: Delco Pleasurizers. Seems to me that even in 1968 that would have been a funny name to hang on a product.

They look like they've been at the bottom of the ocean, all of them were broken, and and they did not want to be removed, either. We had to get the torch out for the two in the back.

Replaced with new Monroes, all way around.

[Aus69c20]

Nice honest project. Had to laugh about naming the truck. Mines just called “the chev”.

[dagnabbitt]

So I bought my new tires: I totally caved and bought these 10 ply 235 85 16 Firestones. I had planned to use some old 265 70 16s off this 99 Tahoe I am scrapping, but I since I think I will be using this C20 to haul and work as a truck, I just want the piece of mind that comes with new tires.

It sure would be nice to find some 68 3/4 ton hubcaps. Extremely unlikely at a decent price, so I will just have to cross my fingers. I've been checking the parts board every day here for a "driver" quality set.

Since hubcaps are not in my near future I also sprung for these Gorilla brand black lug nuts. Its a good brand and the reviews say the paint doesn't chip. I've never used these before but I think I will prefer them over the chrome ones that insta-rust when you put a wrench on them.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm excited to get these on, probably this weekend.

[GerhardH]

Great information, I'm in and marry christmas for you.

[dagnabbitt]

Tires are on! Looks really, good, I have to recommend the 235 85 16s for this application, it just looks right, tall and skinny. I can't wait to drive it, but it is December in Canada so I think I will tackle the heater/defroster situation first.

I painted up the drums in black, and although I still want to find some correct hubcaps I think I might look at a modern cover of some kind, I have seen some interesting mods on the board.

[dagnabbitt]

It's -30 Celcius here today, which I understand is about -22 F, so pretty cold.

Doing a few little things, painted up my oil bath air cleaner. At some point I'd like to take the front clip off and do some more engine bay detailing and painting, but I think I should have some new fenders before I get into that.

Also pictured is the "new" lower thermostat housing that I got off ebay, which are apparently rarer than hens teeth. Also have new water pump, new upper thermostat housing, new upper rad and bypass hoses, new fuel line, and new (rebuilt) carb. Thing runs pretty great now. Also stole the brand new spark plug wires off of the 67 GMC parts pile.

Given the temps up here in Canada I think the next step is to see if this heater works. Looks like most of the ductwork is missing. Also the windshield has a silver dollar-sized hole in it. I still have some work to do. I really can't wait to take this thing to the car wash, open the doors and spray every inch of it.

[68bowtie]

The chevy is looking good.

Is the gmc too far gone to save? That’s a pretty cool truck with those options, and boy that dark aqua poly with fawn interior is such an awesome combo.

[dagnabbitt]

You know, I had never checked to see what that aqua looks like, when I searched on this forum I now see that it IS a pretty cool color combo. Dark Aqua is not what I expected.

I'm going to see what happens with the engine, get it on the hoist, etc. Maybe it can be saved. If the engine is stuck I really don't know that it will be worth it, though.

[dagnabbitt]

Wow, what a surprise, the last guy drove the front brakes down to the rivets. Honestly I'm so shocked.

At least the drums don't look too bad. New pads, new wheel cylinders, new brake lines. This truck is going to stop really good, I guess.

[dagnabbitt]

I've been puttering away at this one day a week, and have been making slow progress. Upon discovering that its 327 was seized, The 1967 GMC Custom pictured below has donated the following to the 1968 Chevrolet:

• Taillights
• West Coast Junior Mirror frames/brackets
• Cabin light cover
• Five gauge dash
• Brake and gas pedals
• AM radio
• All the deluxe dash knobs I need
• Emergency hand brake assembly and cable
• Dash vents
• Rubber door and hood stoppers
• Numerous original screws and bolts which only someone could on this site could see value in, I know, but now the 68 has no rusty "Robertson" screws in the headlight bezels, etc.

And all four original wheels: I managed to put together four other wheels out of my junk collection to keep it rolling. Three 1990 14" Mazda truck rims from a B2200 I owned 20 years ago, as well as one trailer tire I found in the ditch.

At that point, I stopped stripping it because a guy had showed up about five times to look at it, and he seemed very interested in buying it: he wanted one of "these old trucks" to restore as a hobby. He had seen it parked outside.

I ended up selling it to him for $1000 as it sat. I had all parts I needed from it already, I made a small profit on the sale, and I know that this guy is going to build it into a driver. Had he not come by to buy it I would have eventually started pulling fenders off of it and made it unbuildable.

I realized shortly after I sold the non-running GMC that this is the first time in my life that all of my vehicles have been running at the same time.

[dagnabbitt]

One of the parts I managed to pull off of the GMC was a pair of really, really poor condition West Coast Junior Mirrors. The mirrors themselves were crappy plastic replacements from the 70's which I threw away, but the armature was original to the truck. They were quite rusty, but cleaned up quite nicely.

Since the C20 had the exact same hole pattern in the doors I knew these were the same style that came with the truck, so I was pretty happy to put the time into rehabbing these arms and brackets rather than buying new. I did buy some new mirrors which matched up well. I've always really liked WC mirrors, I favor them over the more sporty style.

What I forgot was how hard it is to adjust these things, it easily took me 2 hours before I was happy. Just don't slam the door too hard or you have to do it all over again.

[dagnabbitt]

Before I removed the heater assembly I vacuumed a couple of pounds of mouse nest out of it, then as I removed it a couple more pounds fell out. Upon shaking it, yes: another couple of pounds fell out. When I got it home and took it apart, I discovered even more. I am not easily grossed out, rodents do not bother me, but I have to be honest it was disgusting. It has been disassembled and is soaking in a tub of soap and hot water.

When it is clean enough, I have to patch two holes that are in the side of it. I am in the process of sort of restoring a fibreglass trailer so I think I am actually pretty good at working with the stuff. We will see.

I have a new squirrel cage, blower motor, and all the necessary rubber seals for this job. One thing I do not have is the door that swivels inside, it is rusted beyond repair. I can't find any in the aftermarket, will have to post a WTB for it. Hopefully somebody has one.

The heater core itself seems like it is ok... the only test is to see it it leaks, right? I feel like I should replace it since everything is apart but I need to save a few bucks wherever I can.

[68Gold/white]

Were the drums machine-able???

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Were the drums machine-able???

The rears were pretty far gone, very deep grooves etx. It was a metal on metal situation for quite some time obviously. I suppose they could have been turned but I decided to go for new.

Front ones were worn but fine.

[dagnabbitt]

Long time without an update: the prop shaft parking brake issue really has me stymied and annoyed. Truck is ready to drive, but I just won't take it on the road without an e brake.

But, there's been a little progress here and there. With the help of a thread on the board here I manage to wire in my 5 gauge, along with the ammeter, which was challenging but rewarding.

When cleaning up under the seat and removing all the old tarpaper I found the original keys, next time I will check there first before replacing cylinders.

Also found some rather worn old 1968 hubcaps, they were the nicest ones I could afford for this project, and truth be told I still paid more than I did for the truck, lol. That was when I noticed that the E350 wheels I have on the truck are the later, "nubless" kind. Oh well, I will figure something out.

[dagnabbitt]

I've been making some progress, sort of, on the Propeller Driveshaft Brake. I think I might have a working park brake eventually. It has been very interesting to research this and figure it out.

Story of that search is here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=795405

Thought I would post my build sheet from GM: as many probably know an advantage - possibly the only one - of having a Canadian built truck is access to this stuff. Upon googling the dealership I was surprised to see that they are still in business, and even more surprised that they haven't changed their-not-at-all catchy name.

https://www.gslgmcity.com/

That's two Calgary trucks I have now. For those unfamiliar with "Mandatory Canadian Equipment": it's only a block heater... as far as I can tell.

One of the things I have been looking for is a blue fleetside woodbed, the black donor bed I have on it right now makes it look like a truck, but sort of the way that Frankenstein ('s monster) looks like a man. I have almost bought one or two now, but they got away from me.

[LT7A]

From here, it sure looks like you could get the paint matched from the cab and fenders, and use it on the bed. Single stage, matte. Let it weather a little bit and just have yourself a rough and ready 3/4 ton.

In planning to start a build thread myself, I got to thinking that the name of the build thread doesn't have to actually be the name for the truck. But it might be my idea of the direction the build will head. And along the way, a name for the truck might bubble to the surface. I think you could call yours Jerry Springer, for one idea, since the suspension is unusual.