'65 Chevy C30 Dually

[focusedontheprize]

I decided it was time to make my way out of the 47-54 forum and start exploring around this website. I figured I would need a truck before I did that.

Here is the one I just "finished" last year:



The '65 I bought earlier this week. I have some plans for this one and am ready to pick it up this week. The truck is very solid (original California truck).

[TJ's Chevy]

Loved the 1st build! Look forward to the second!

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks TJ. I was looking through your builds when I was going through that 292 I put in the '49. You were actually the nail in the coffin for the Clifford over the Offey intake manifold.

----

I went up last weekend to pickup the truck. Now I do not have anything to tow something like this home so I was planning on calling my buddy in to use his Chevy to tow it home. When I was speaking with the guy I was buying it from he said AAA offers 4 free tows a year (mileage depends on your AAA plan) and I should just use one of those. I called AAA, asked them if this was true and they said yes it would be fine. So that morning the AAA wrecker came up and towed this beast home.



The truck was originally white, the PO painted it orange to match his fleet of work trucks and then went back to white at a later date, but never repainted the bezels for whatever reason.


Side view


Stakebed removed. Loving the look of this flat bed.


Much better.


Was lucky enough to find the build sheet was still there. Originally built in Fremont, CA with a 283 V8 4 speed (all still in there).


This truck probably has not had a good cleaning in a while. I didn't take any after pictures yet because it was a quick power washing session, but once things slow down around the house I will be really getting on this.

Next steps will be changing the fluids and bleeding the brakes. I need to get road worthy first before I start acquiring parts for it.

[OldGMJon]

[QUOTE=focusedontheprize;7005841]I decided it was time to make my way out of the 47-54 forum and start exploring around this website. I figured I would need a truck before I did that.

The '65 I bought earlier this week. I have some plans for this one and am ready to pick it up this week. The truck is very solid (original California truck).

Wow! I can wait to see this one...I got a 64' C30 and a 66' 2503 waiting for upgrades...

[hotrod66]

Cool another 8 lugger saved ! And a nice one to boot what are the plans for this one?

[markeb01]

Welcome to the 60-66 side of things. That is a great looking truck. It appears to have been well taken care of during it's life. Amazing finding the build paper still in place, especially on a commercial truck.

[Captainfab]

Welcome

I agree that is a very nice C30.

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks guys. It was well maintained to say the least. I have looked over this truck top to bottom and there are 3 small blisters on the rear lower part of the driver's side fender. This truck is solid.

I actually haven't touched the truck yet because I was deciding on what direction I wanted to go. I know a few things that I am looking for:

- A work truck/daily driver setup
- Something that can haul my toys and pull a house down
- Modern suspension

@Captainfab - I have been reading a lot of your posts about updating these suspensions with 14FF and newer front ends suspensions. I am currently searching for a donor at the moment.

[hotrod66]

You may want to add overdrive on to the list. I am in 3rd just getting out of my driveway mine is a 3/4 ton and has 4.56 gears. Going to put a tremic 6 speed in mine because the double overdrive.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Sweet!
I scored a perfect dually chassis today for my next personal build.
I have a 4X4 build going using a NV4500.
IMHO.. the 3500 and 4500 trans is the easiest/best way to go.
I'm definitely following this thread. :-)

[clemdaddy]

really cool truck and a great find.
i bought a 87 dually with auto trans and a 6cyl. for cheap and transplanted the entire drivetrain and suspension under my 65. did replace the 6 with a v8 but other than that, it was a breeze, everything just bolted up.

your bed looks perfect and what a monster of a rear bumper... congrats on the find.... gonna be fun watching what you do.

[Pappyx3!]

My brother and I are talking about doing a one ton. please post your progress.

Welcome to the forum!

[focusedontheprize]

Been away for a while. Trying to get up to date.

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I located a '86 GMC C30 for a great price and picking it up this weekend. It has a 350 in it backed by a 4 speed with a 14FF. The truck was a work horse as the previous owner installed helper air bags above the rear end. I will be trying to salvage as much from the truck as possible and parting out the rest.

First order of business was getting the truck all to match.








Before:


After:

[focusedontheprize]

Next, I began going through the brakes. I noticed the pedal pressure was horrible and I couldn't build any constant pressure.

The brakes did not look bad, but the wheel cylinders were leaking. Deglazed the drum and shoes, installed new wheel cylinders with hydraulic hoses, and a new spring kit for both sides.

Freshened up:


Located the brake pressure issue:


The piston was seized up and would never fully retract. Stopped over to O'Reilly's and installed a new one.


Adjusted the pedal, bench bleed the MC, and installed.

[focusedontheprize]

I noticed the turn signal switch wasn't working correctly and assumed it was the cam inside. I ordered a SunPro Tach and decided to look through before putting the tach on.

Simple enough:


Ordered a new one from O'Reilly's and installed. No pictures of the new tach, but I have to say I was impressed with the SunPro. Changed the oil, flushed the radiator, and put it on the road. I will be putting miles on it this week to start working out the bugs.

[TJ's Chevy]

Cool to see an update! If the 283 runs good jerk it out and paint in detroit diesel green. lol

[focusedontheprize]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Cool to see an update! If the 283 runs good jerk it out and paint in detroit diesel green. lol

Well I am considering putting in the 5.7 350 I am grabbing this weekend with the donor truck.

It was a great sight pulling up into U-Haul with Darla and everyone coming out to take a look. I will grab some pictures of her all loaded tomorrow.

[focusedontheprize]

A few weekends ago, a friend and I set off to pickup a donor truck for the '65. I found a 1986 GMC Sierra 3500 on Craigslist for a price that was too good to pass up, however it would require a drive to get it. It was fun picking up the trailer from U-Haul with Darla, everyone came outside and had to have a look at her. So with some convincing of a good friend, we packed up and made the 5 hour (each way) journey.

The start of it all/morning coffee run:


We had to cut through Sierra Nevada to get where we were going in Nevada. I have never done that trip let alone done it in a 50 year old truck - it was definitely a great experience. Slow and steady wins the race.

One of the roads in Smith, Nevada:


The beginning of this guy's driveway. His house was 6 miles off the "main" road:


When we arrived the guy had mentioned he was going to throw in a 1970 350 motor he had in his garage for free. He thought Darla was too cool not to have a 350. Let alone the new donor truck had a 5.7 350 with a 4 speed I was already planning on using. Great guy.

All buttoned up and ready to go:


The ride back was slower than going there, however without a hiccup Darla pulled like a champ. While we were going up the mountains people would pass us and wave or give us the thumbs up. It was an overall great time.

[focusedontheprize]

Specs on the donor truck:
1986 GMC Sierra 3500
- 5.7L V8
- 4 speed
- 4.10 rear 14FF
- HD front disc brakes

Whoever had the truck prior used this one as a true workhorse. The flatbed and hitch are outfitted for some heavy duty hauling along with someone adding helper air bags over the axle. All in all, I am incredibly happy with the donor truck. Thanks to CaptainFab and clemdaddy for the information about swapping these suspensions over.

In the coming weeks, I need to piece this truck out first before I can dive into it. Also we have Goodguys coming up in the next couple weekends so the '49 will have my focus now.

[clemdaddy]

perfect donor... that will work great. congrats on the find and the adventure to get it.

[cooperhw]

Very cool project and thread you have there. I am also building a 68 currently.
I love hearing/reading stories of the getting, and the building of these dually's. Each of us taking his own path for Our truck. I have grown real fond of them as of late.

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks Clem. I use your truck as a guide, hopefully soon mine with be the red headed sister to yours.

That's great to hear Cooper. Actually funny enough - today I sold the flatbed to my '86 donor to a guy who was planning on swapping it on to his '68 in the next few months. He wants to build a workhorse and that flatbed was the piece he was looking for.

[Palf70Step]

Darla is a cool start for a truck. It will be of great interest to watch your build.

[flashed]

Im in to see the rest of this one.

[focusedontheprize]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I committed myself to a few things before I started ripping into this project -

1) I wanted to sell the '86 GMC Parts truck off, which has been going well. Flatbed and front clip have been sold, just need to unload the cab.

2) Finish small "to-dos" on the '49. This is my daily driver.

So Darla has been sitting in the garage for the better part of the last 2 weeks. However I am looking forward to finally getting to it. Good news, the extra motor the guy gave me with the deal turned out to be a 350 with 4 bolt mains so that will go in the corner for another project.