Newbie to the forum building a C-30 car hauler

[RSRXION]

Gentlemen, I am sure that this question has been asked and answered many times , BUT ........ I am currently building a 72 C-30 car hauler and I am using a 76 1 ton dually "rocket launcher " car hauler as a donor truck. I'd very much like to use the tilt/cruise column out of the 76 and adapt it to the 72 . Is it a simple task or can it even be done within reason ?

I'm not new to the collector car world but I am a little unfamiliar with the intricacies of the 67-72 Chevys. Other questions ...

Can the frame/engine mounts from the 76 be used in the 72 ? The 76 has a 48,000 original mile 454 and TH400 that I'd really like to use.

Will the bench seat from the 76 ( it's mint ! ) fit in the 72 and bolt up without modification ?

Is there currently a kit to add power windows and locks to the 72 ?

This truck is a 350 4 speed originally , does it have the high hump or the low hump transmission tunnel ?

Thanks for your help and I'll post questions and pics as the job progresses if anyone wants to see them. I've attached pics of the 2 car haulers as they were when I found them and I've also added a pic of my recently finished ground up resto Mach 1.

Thanks, Dean

[special-K]

He in da house!!!Hey,welcome to the forum building(that`s how I originally read your title.The`72 will have the high-hump.Any bolt-on cover is a high one.These trucks with TH400s came with them,if you don`t want to patch the shifter hole.You will be able to bolt that big block right in.They did have different big block mounts,though.You`ll need an auto trans crossmember,too.The column,it`s an auto column,right?It can be "made" to fit.The one drawback is the indicator was in the dash and pre-73s had them on the column.

[RSRXION]

Man, that was quick ! I appreciate the welcome and the info. I think maybe I'll forego the column swap and just put a straight automatic column in it. Anybody need a smooth column without any shifter provisions ? I'm going to be looking for an auto column and an auto brake pedal assembly if anyone has one.

I've read a previous thread about the big block swap and I think I'll try to bolt in my 76 towers , mounts etc...

As far as a seat is concerned , I've also considered a later model takeout with the fold down center console. Is there any seat assembly out there that is even close to bolting in ?


Thanks, Dean

[67_C-30]

Welcome to the board!! Thw '72 looks similiar to my '69 car hauler, except I believe yours is longer. I love my truck, and use it regularly. Here is a pic of it.

[67_C-30]

Check out this link. It is THE 1 ton thread on the board. There is probably 10 or 12 pics of other car haulers on there that myself and others have posted.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=126946

[RSRXION]

Thanks for posting and pointing me to this forum 67. Believe it or not guys that is a factory built bed on this thing and it is 18 feet , 10.5 inches long ! It's a drive on style and the ramps deploy out of a center storage area. I don't know who the comapny was that did this conversion but I'd sure like to. I can't find any markings anywhere. The truck was a 350, 4 gear and I'm swapping to a 454/TH400. Power steering, power disc brakes , air conditioning and it's red. I was very happy to find this little unit for 600.00 ! Dean rsrxion@yahoo.com

[Yukon Jack]

Welcome to the board - definitely keep us posted on the project.

[Longhorn Man]

Your later tilt can be used, but it is a real pain. You'll have the igniton switch to figure out since it is on the column of the later truck, along with the high beams switch too. Luckily, the wiper switch isn't on there though. The column diameter is quite large on the later one in comparison, and heavy mods to the dash (cutting) will probably be required.
However, a 72 - 81 chevy/GMC van tilt is very close to a bolt in, and since your truck is not wired for a neutral safety nor back up lights (at that location) then you won't have to worry about relocating the switch on the van unit. (I highly recomend the back up lights hooked to a toggle... plus to the work lights too) All you'll have to do is shorten the shaft, which is very easy. Most all van units are automatics, and many will have a cruise control lever on there which you indicated interest in.
The engine towers can be used. I have them in my longhorn supporting a caddy 500.
The bench will not fit without mode. The floor in the 72 is flat, the 73 - 87 is anything but flat. you MIGHT be able to unbolt the seat from the tracks and swap tracks over... but I can't say. If you go with later seats, watch the thickness of the seat back. You'll find there isn't much room in these, and every inch REALLY counts, esp if you are average to above average in height, or if you or short for your weight. With a flat floor, it is easy to mod many seats to fit, but bolt in is asking a lot... but with adrill and large washers, you can make them bolt in pretty easy. Just be sure to center the dvr seat on the steering wheel. Your back will hate you if you don't.
Power windows and lcks, fairly common, any vendor should be able to get it for you, or even Jegs has a generic universal unit. you can even get remote powered door locks, and there is a window switch on the market which looks like a bone stock manual window crank. Pretty awsome IMO.
Your 4 speed does have a high hump as already indicated. The big block with auto will probably need the high hump. You could easily patch the shifter hols and call it good. (new carpet or a custom console to cover the hole in the rug)
The pedal assembly is the same stick to auto. Just remove the clutch pedal and you'll be in like flyn. The wide brake pedal for automatic trucks didn't start untill 73.
Word of caution, you'll need to subscribe to the board... a donation of 25 bucks, in order to ask for parts, or post parts for sale. It goes to a good cause, and you will get your money's worth in no time, lots of ppl here can answer just about anything you need to know.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by RSRXION

Thanks for posting and pointing me to this forum 67. Believe it or not guys that is a factory built bed on this thing and it is 18 feet , 10.5 inches long ! It's a drive on style and the ramps deploy out of a center storage area. I don't know who the comapny was that did this conversion but I'd sure like to. I can't find any markings anywhere. The truck was a 350, 4 gear and I'm swapping to a 454/TH400. Power steering, power disc brakes , air conditioning and it's red. I was very happy to find this little unit for 600.00 ! Dean rsrxion@yahoo.com

It looks like an old Hodges bed to me. They have been around a long time, and are still in business today.

[72 CustomCamper]

Hey Andy, the high beam switch didn't go to the column until 1983 or 1984...


Chuck

[Longhorn Man]

cool...i did not know thst

[special-K]

If you put a column with hi-beam switch in a truck that already has one wired in the floor,is there a way to use the column switch to operate the hi-beams on female passengers?Just a thought,hmmm....
I was going to say Hodges on the bed,too.They`re all custom-built,but Hodges is the only big outfit I`m aware of.They advertise in Hemmings.

[RSRXION]

Thanks for all the help guys ! I think I'll just use the 76 stands and mounts and I've got the crossmembers out of both trucks so one of them is bound to work.

I'll hold off on the column for now since my principal interest is putting the truck to work as soon as I can.

I'm going to a big swap meet this weekend and I'll look for a seat there. I'm thinking maybe a late 90's Chevy/GMC seat. The Suburban center seat sounds like it may be the best fit.

I do like the idea of the one piece side glass and eliminating the vent windows. I am curious though if a person could swap in a set of late model mirrors ? The small triangular panel at the front of the converted assembly looks very much like the late model glass/mirror set-up.

I'll check into the Hodges bed idea by contacting them and sending a few photos.

I'll post a few photos as we go. It should be a real quick process to make it run and drive but the full on "driver" restoration won't take place until this fall and winter. Has anyone used one of the Goodmark cowl hoods ? I'm thinking a 2 inch cowl induction set up would look killer on this piece.

Thanks, Dean

[RSRXION]

Just wanted to let you know that I spoke to the nice folks at Hodges today. I sent them some photos of this truck and they are going to try to determine whether or not it's one of theirs. The nice lady on the phone said that she was certain they had built at least 1 C-30 of 1971 or 1972 vintage with a 19 foot bed and red paint.

This truck was vandalized terribly several years ago and the owner at that time removed the interior after the damage. He said that he was afraid that holding water would cause excessive rust so he took carpet , seat etc... out of it. EVERY piece of glass was broken, EVERY marker and light was crushed and the hoodlums spray painted the bed and the inside of the hood. For reasons known only to them they did not paint the exterior of the cab, doors or fenders .

As I said earlier the previous owner is keeping the 350 and 4 gear. I much prefer to use my 454 and TH-400 anyway. I am going to try to post a few more on this thread but we'll see how that goes. Please forgive me for such an ugly truck guys. I know it looks like hell but I am confident that you'll like it much better in about 6 months.

Thanks, Dean

[Longhorn Man]

that's not ugly... it is a diamond in teh rough.

[67_C-30]

It doesn't look any worse than mine when I got it. Besides the bubba flames, it had a 67-68 grill w/ '69-72 fenders, a 70's Chevy truck bumper, a Cadillac bench seat, a super wide Dana 60 van rearend that hung the tires out from under the body, and some super cool Cavalier headlight assemblys for rear flood lights. A paint job, new interior, engine/tranny/rearend swap, a set of 1 piece rims, a new winch, and countless hours later, it is a pretty nice truck! I get lots of compliments from 67-72 Chevy truck guys all the time, and have had a lot of offers to buy it.

[special-K]

About those vandals...There`s a slow miserable death in their future,mmwah hah hah hah!(and they`ll be drivin`a Ford in hell for eternity)

[RSRXION]

Well guys, it isn't a Hodges bed. I am certain that it's a factory piece as the craftsmanship is impeccable. Believe it or not the sheets of flat plate are riveted together at the seams where they meet the crossbraces. Now when I say rivets, I don't mean "pop" rivets. I mean honest to goodness rivets like used in boiler plates or ship building applications. ( see photo ) If anyone has anyother ideas on manufacturers, I'm all ears.

Went to Petit Jean, Arkansas swap meet the last couple of days. Bought several pieces for the hauler including cab corners, rockers , gaskets etc... Lots of nice 67-72's on hand and dealers that had about anything you could want except the 2" cowl hoods.

Previous owner has extracted the 350 and 4 gear from the chassis and I should get it towed to my shop here sometime next week. Can't wait to shove the 454 down into the cradles ! Windshield gets installed a week from Monday and the temporary doors and windows go on at the same time. Now if I can find a sliding back window that I can afford, the cab will be sealed up tight again.

Just thought I'd bring y'all up to speed. Oh by the way, it's a 71. My bad on the 72 call but the VIN and title make it very clear that it's a 71. I bought it without ever seeing the title and took the owners guess at 72 being accurate. I have since learned how to tell them apart.

Thanks for the help and I'll keep you posted, Dean