Thoughts on a 62 C-30 - potential build....

[ScottN795]

I'm looking for some thoughts and input from the group. I have a 62 Chevy C-30 flatbed factory dually with a 261 straight 6 with a 4 speed. Originally I was going to use a later (1974 1 ton Chevy flatbed dually 454/TH400) chassis and the 62 cab to build a shop truck. Plans have changed and the 74 has been been re purposed, I just picked up a 59 Chevy Viking 40, and it looks like this cab will fit better on the 74 chassis (stay tuned)...

Anyway this brings me back to the original question; what to do with the 62 1 ton dually? I like the nostalgia idea of keeping the 261 (going multiple carbs, header w/ split exhaust) maybe an S-10 5 speed or a 700R4 (a bell housing adapter is required I think)? (I have no false expectations of this being any kind of tow vehicle, just a shop truck to carry bulky things and be forklift accessible.) I have no idea what is available for the early 1 ton front end for disc brakes? Any ideas? 62 is the last year of the torsion bar front end... With that said, I want the truck to be usable, travel at freeway speeds easily (60-65) and be reliable. I thought at one point to covert it over to be a half ton, but here in Northern CA, I don't see many decent 60-66 1 tons, and thought it might be different and kind of cool?

If anyone has photos of 60-66 1 tons and or flatbeds, I would love to see them for motivation!

Thanks!