New from Central Cali - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Andyboy · 10-22-2010, 02:16 PM

Hi everyone I'm looking to buy a '63-'66 truck, but alittle hard to find in descent and running shape for around $2000. I do notice that there is a few '60-'62 trucks around. Reading the forum I've read that its easier to lower the '63-'66 trucks. How hard is it to lower the earlier trucks. Any help would be great. Thanks for any info.

markeb01 · 10-22-2010, 02:33 PM

It depends on how low you want to go. On the front of a 60-62 you can just unwind the tension on the torsion bar adjusting screws. There is a practical limit however, because the lower the suspension, the more the adjusting arms hang down. Lowered too far the arms become a road hazard.

The best cheapest solution is to replace the front crossmember with one from a later model with coil springs. Then all of the lowering options common to the 63-72 are available. Here’s a thread showing how it’s done:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=366850

Good luck on your search.

63 & 64 Bowties · 10-22-2010, 03:11 PM

Welcome Andy. Which ever you decide on, you'll get plenty of help here.
Have you checked out our classified area yet?

61_FL_Apache · 10-22-2010, 03:43 PM

If it rolls, you can bag it!

irish1966 · 10-22-2010, 03:46 PM

Welcome!!

SLAM IT, PAINT IT and CRUISE IT.

kalirodding · 10-22-2010, 04:05 PM

Welcome. You need come come up north a little, for $2000 you can find a good running truck.

bedfordia · 10-22-2010, 04:21 PM

Hey Andy
I'm from Tulare. If you see any prospects you want some help looking at let me know. I've got a sweet lil 63 sb bbw

Andyboy · 10-22-2010, 05:39 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome. markeb01 is the '63-'87 crossmember the same width or is it wider? bedfordia are you selling that '63? Thanks again for the warm welcome.

markeb01 · 10-22-2010, 05:47 PM

The 63-87 frame is the same width where it bolts to the frame rails, but I believe the track is an inch or so wider at the tires. I had a 1975 front end under my 1960 for 10 years and never noticed any difference in track until I read about it here. Of course depending on what offset wheels you want to run the track will change anyway.

And welcome to the forum!

bedfordia · 10-22-2010, 06:31 PM

howdy Andy
no, she's not for sale yet,finally starting to look like what I had planned for her about 10 years ago. Im still in the having fun working on her stag

e.

**Captainfab** · 10-22-2010, 11:51 PM

Welcome to the forum Andy

**Chevy Fleetside** · 10-23-2010, 10:31 AM

Here is one in Royal Oaks. Looks pretty good and it runs. http://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/2006665613.html
This on is los banos. http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/2018771518.html
and one in patterson http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/1996450852.html These trucks are $1000 and under except for the 1st one.

Andyboy · 10-23-2010, 09:03 PM

Thanks again for the welcome from everyone. chevy fleetside I looked at the one in royal oaks when i lived in salinas and it has alot of rust, rockers, doors, and the roof is rusted all the way arouond. but the interior is clean. Thanks for the info.

Andyboy · 11-06-2010, 12:24 AM

Hi everyone, I'm still looking for a truck, going to see one tomorrow but its a shortbed stepside. Can I put a fleetside bed withoout any problems? Thanks

**Captainfab** · 11-06-2010, 12:53 AM

Yes you can put a fleetside bed in place of a stepside. If you don't already have or know where a short fleet is, that may prove to be a challenge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andyboy

Hi everyone, I'm still looking for a truck, going to see one tomorrow but its a shortbed stepside. Can I put a fleetside bed withoout any problems? Thanks

**Chevy Fleetside** · 11-06-2010, 11:28 AM

I know where a short fleetside bed is but it is going to take alot of work to get it straight.

10-22-2010, 02:16 PM	#1
Andyboy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 376	New from Central Cali Hi everyone I'm looking to buy a '63-'66 truck, but alittle hard to find in descent and running shape for around $2000. I do notice that there is a few '60-'62 trucks around. Reading the forum I've read that its easier to lower the '63-'66 trucks. How hard is it to lower the earlier trucks. Any help would be great. Thanks for any info.

10-22-2010, 02:33 PM	#2
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: New from Central Cali It depends on how low you want to go. On the front of a 60-62 you can just unwind the tension on the torsion bar adjusting screws. There is a practical limit however, because the lower the suspension, the more the adjusting arms hang down. Lowered too far the arms become a road hazard. The best cheapest solution is to replace the front crossmember with one from a later model with coil springs. Then all of the lowering options common to the 63-72 are available. Here’s a thread showing how it’s done: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=366850 Good luck on your search.

10-22-2010, 03:11 PM	#3
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: New from Central Cali Welcome Andy. Which ever you decide on, you'll get plenty of help here. Have you checked out our classified area yet? __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

10-22-2010, 03:43 PM	#4
61_FL_Apache Who Me? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL Posts: 4,067	Re: New from Central Cali If it rolls, you can bag it! __________________ Steve 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 2001 Blazer 4D 2WD 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold)

10-22-2010, 03:46 PM	#5
irish1966 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: hillsboro, oregon Posts: 484	Re: New from Central Cali Welcome!! SLAM IT, PAINT IT and CRUISE IT. __________________ Cheers David 66 LWB Fleet (on hold) 64 LWB Fleet (daily driver) 65 SWB Fleet (almost finished as a driver) 64 SWB Fleet (just started - "Tommys Hot Rods" tribute truck) Nothing worth doing, is easy.

10-22-2010, 04:05 PM	#6
kalirodding CLASSIX Truck Club Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lodi Ca Posts: 318	Re: New from Central Cali Welcome. You need come come up north a little, for $2000 you can find a good running truck.

10-22-2010, 04:21 PM	#7
bedfordia Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tulare, Ca Posts: 35	Re: New from Central Cali Hey Andy I'm from Tulare. If you see any prospects you want some help looking at let me know. I've got a sweet lil 63 sb bbw

10-22-2010, 05:39 PM	#8
Andyboy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 376	Re: New from Central Cali Thanks for the warm welcome. markeb01 is the '63-'87 crossmember the same width or is it wider? bedfordia are you selling that '63? Thanks again for the warm welcome.

10-22-2010, 05:47 PM	#9
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: New from Central Cali The 63-87 frame is the same width where it bolts to the frame rails, but I believe the track is an inch or so wider at the tires. I had a 1975 front end under my 1960 for 10 years and never noticed any difference in track until I read about it here. Of course depending on what offset wheels you want to run the track will change anyway. And welcome to the forum! Last edited by markeb01; 10-22-2010 at 05:48 PM.

10-22-2010, 06:31 PM	#10
bedfordia Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tulare, Ca Posts: 35	Re: New from Central Cali howdy Andy no, she's not for sale yet,finally starting to look like what I had planned for her about 10 years ago. Im still in the having fun working on her stage.

10-22-2010, 11:51 PM	#11
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,247	Re: New from Central Cali Welcome to the forum Andy __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

10-23-2010, 10:31 AM	#12
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,780	Re: New from Central Cali Here is one in Royal Oaks. Looks pretty good and it runs. http://monterey.craigslist.org/cto/2006665613.html This on is los banos. http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/2018771518.html and one in patterson http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/1996450852.html These trucks are $1000 and under except for the 1st one. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536 Last edited by Chevy Fleetside; 10-23-2010 at 10:32 AM.

10-23-2010, 09:03 PM	#13
Andyboy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 376	Re: New from Central Cali Thanks again for the welcome from everyone. chevy fleetside I looked at the one in royal oaks when i lived in salinas and it has alot of rust, rockers, doors, and the roof is rusted all the way arouond. but the interior is clean. Thanks for the info.

11-06-2010, 12:24 AM	#14
Andyboy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 376	Re: New from Central Cali Hi everyone, I'm still looking for a truck, going to see one tomorrow but its a shortbed stepside. Can I put a fleetside bed withoout any problems? Thanks

11-06-2010, 11:28 AM	#16
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,780	Re: New from Central Cali I know where a short fleetside bed is but it is going to take alot of work to get it straight. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536



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