I have the itch to own and another '67-'72 - Decisions

[arkracing]

So I've been out of the '67-'72 trucks for a little while, but now have the itch again. I traded my last '71 1/2t 4x4 to my buddy for a '94 Silverado and have been driving the Silverado for the past year or so. The '94 is a great truck, has a rebuilt motor and tranny, and all the options - Air, PW, PL, Etc. Only problem is that it is a 305 and has no power if there is any type of load in it or if I'm pulling the car trailer.

I have the opportunity to sell the '94 and actually make money on it (surprisingly b/c I ususally loose on everything).

So I'm thinking of selling the '94 and getting a '67-'72. I THINK I've narrowed it down to two options (which are both in my head right now, not actual trucks for sale):

#1. C-30 Dually Short Wheel Base (133" I think) with a 292 I6 Th400 - eventually a mild 383cid. I'd like A/C - probably an aftermarket unit, and that is about it.

#2. K-20 with a 292 I6 Th400 - eventually a mild 383cid. Still would like an aftermarket A/C unit or whatever.

I do a fair amount of towing with a car trailer and need the power to get up hills etc - reasoning for the I6 - they don't tend to bog down on grades like V8s do (and I know where there is one that is supposedly rebuilt and could probably pick it up cheap)

I preffer the stock looking 4x4's - no lift, and no "high floatation tires" - ie Wide tires. I'm leaning toward the 4x4 as it would help in those situations where you need to get something unstuck from the woods or mud or whatever. But i like the looks of a slightly lowered 1ton too oh and it will be a '71-'72 nose.

What do you think??

[LockDoc]

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I would guess the reason the I6 doesn't bog down is because of the lower rear end gear ratio. With that setup you would be limited on your highway towing speed and I think you would find it unacceptable. Personal opinion, I think a V-8 with proper gearing would put a six to shame in all towing applications. Plus, why go through the work and down time of a swap down the road.

Oh, I voted for the 4x4, but I guess it depends on what you would use it for when you aren't towing with it.... I do like the flat beds if they are set up like Joe's.

Just my 2¢ worth.

LockDoc

[Palf70Step]

with LockDoc

The 292 is great puller, but if it is going to be a daily driver/worker, I would go with an 8 and matched gearing for more live-ability.

[67_C-30]

For what its worth I still have the 292 in my '67 C-30 dually pickup since I haven't swapped in the diesel yet. When it had the low geared factory Eaton the 292 felt like the one of the strongest pulling motors I've ever had in anything. After I put in the 14 bolt out of the '97 C3500 with 4.10's it feels very average at best.

Ironically, I also have a 383 in my '69 C-30 car hauler, and it is a beast. It outpulls the factory 396 in every aspect, and gets much better fuel mileage to boot.

[arkracing]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

For what its worth I still have the 292 in my '67 C-30 dually pickup since I haven't swapped in the diesel yet. When it had the low geared factory Eaton the 292 felt like the one of the strongest pulling motors I've ever had in anything. After I put in the 14 bolt out of the '97 C3500 with 4.10's it feels very average at best.

Ironically, I also have a 383 in my '69 C-30 car hauler, and it is a beast. It outpulls the factory 396 in every aspect, and gets much better fuel mileage to boot.

I've heard that the 292's are great pulling motors - my buddy said that back in the early late 70's early 80's he had one in a car hauler and it was great. he got the bright idea to V8 the truck - he started with a 327 then went to a 350, neither of which performed as well as the 292.

Yeh I think that I PM'd you a couple years ago on the 383 specs. Do you know what gears are in the car hauler? and what gears were in the eaton? 383 Kits are pretty inexpensive now, and I have several blocks, and a couple sets of decent heads I could throw something together cheaply I guess.

It's going to be a "work turck" not a "daily". I'm trying to buy a '67 Nova 4-dr for a daily/cheap car to run - even though I hate driving cars.

[AuggieStyle]

i have almost decided to build for my next truck, the tow pig. a c-30 dually with a 5.9 12v cummins, with a nice lowered stance, would like to maybe shorten frame with a SW pickup bed. trying to figure gooseneck in a wooden bed.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by arkracing

I've heard that the 292's are great pulling motors - my buddy said that back in the early late 70's early 80's he had one in a car hauler and it was great. he got the bright idea to V8 the truck - he started with a 327 then went to a 350, neither of which performed as well as the 292.

Yeh I think that I PM'd you a couple years ago on the 383 specs. Do you know what gears are in the car hauler? and what gears were in the eaton? 383 Kits are pretty inexpensive now, and I have several blocks, and a couple sets of decent heads I could throw something together cheaply I guess.

It's going to be a "work turck" not a "daily". I'm trying to buy a '67 Nova 4-dr for a daily/cheap car to run - even though I hate driving cars.

I have 4.10's in the ramp truck. The Eaton had 5.38's and with the low gears the 292 felt awesome, but when I dropped back to 4.10's, it killed a lot of pulling power. You have to remember too that my ramp truck weighs 9000# and the dually pickup weighs a little under 5000#. The 292 would struggle to pull the loads I pull with the ramp being what it weighs. I also have a 292 in my '67 C-50 wrecker, and again it's great at low speeds in low range, but sucks out on the roads at higher speeds. The 292's are only rated at 170HP and 275lb ft TQ at 1600. What you heard is right about them being good pulling engines as they make alot of torque down low, but they run out of breath real quick at highway speeds. On the other hand, if its not a daily driver, and doesn't see a lot of interstate use, it will probably be great and run forever!

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by AuggieStyle

i have almost decided to build for my next truck, the tow pig. a c-30 dually with a 5.9 12v cummins, with a nice lowered stance, would like to maybe shorten frame with a SW pickup bed. trying to figure gooseneck in a wooden bed.

That would be cool. Just build a healthy gooseneck plate underneath the wood bed, and then deck it leaving a cutout for the ball.

[71Chevy4-speed]

[QUOTE=AuggieStyle;2551347]a c-30 dually with a 5.9 12v cumminsQUOTE] beat me to it.

[arkracing]

Originally Posted by AuggieStyle

i have almost decided to build for my next truck, the tow pig. a c-30 dually with a 5.9 12v cummins, with a nice lowered stance, would like to maybe shorten frame with a SW pickup bed. trying to figure gooseneck in a wooden bed.

OK, what year Dodge's do I look for?

The poll is pretty close. I looked @ a '71 3/4t K-20 today, but the body was junk, and the owner didn't seem like he wanted to sell the whole truck, he just wanted to sell me the 292 out of it.

I know where there is a '71/'72 C-30 that I'm going to see if I can look @ this week maybe. - A 5.9 Cummins would be cool in that I guess.

Maybe I need 1 of both - wish I could find decent deal on these trucks around here in NewEngland, like you guys do down south.