Help me decide!

[CHEVY_71_C20]

HI all,

So Im having a really hard time deciding between two trucks and could use some expert knoledge to help me decide. The first truck is a 1965 gmc c20, the motor is solid and has a 4 on the floor manuel. But the rockers have some bad rust and so does the bed. The other truck is a 1966 chevy c20 with a ok motor and a manuel transmission. The body is clean with minimal rust. A bullet hole thru the bed but just one. Both interiors are shot. They are close in price but the manuel transmission is about $600 more. Any advice will be much appreciated. I've never owned a 60-67 so any advice on them would be great as well.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I personally don't like the 60-66 models. The panels & doors never fit or close right. The c20 models are 3/4 ton & ride hard. I sure would pick the one with minimum rust.
George

[62stepside longbox]

I would definitely go with the one with less rust. With rust the more you dig in the more you find

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by CHEVY_71_C20

HI all,

So Im having a really hard time deciding between two trucks and could use some expert knoledge to help me decide. The first truck is a 1965 gmc c20, the motor is solid and has a 4 on the floor manuel. But the rockers have some bad rust and so does the bed. The other truck is a 1966 chevy c20 with a ok motor and a manuel transmission. The body is clean with minimal rust. A bullet hole thru the bed but just one. Both interiors are shot. They are close in price but the manuel transmission is about $600 more. Any advice will be much appreciated. I've never owned a 60-67 so any advice on them would be great as well.

In this case I'd go with the Chevy for sure. But it really depends....which one do YOU like better?

[50bomb]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

I personally don't like the 60-66 models. The panels & doors never fit or close right. The c20 models are 3/4 ton & ride hard. I sure would pick the one with minimum rust.
George

Then why are you in this thread? My 64 c10 doors close perfectly.

[CHEVY_71_C20]

I like the gmc for the manuel transmission but the rust in the rockers is pretty bad. My rust repair knoledge is slim to none. I'm siding more on the chevy side because of the rust factor. Truly if I could find a 60-66 c10 with no rust I would be sold in a heartbeat but they are getting hard to find in idaho.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by CHEVY_71_C20

I like the gmc for the manuel transmission but the rust in the rockers is pretty bad. My rust repair knoledge is slim to none. I'm siding more on the chevy side because of the rust factor. Truly if I could find a 60-66 c10 with no rust I would be sold in a heartbeat but they are getting hard to find in idaho.

The Chevy for sure then.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

I personally don't like the 60-66 models. The panels & doors never fit or close right. The c20 models are 3/4 ton & ride hard. I sure would pick the one with minimum rust.
George

I haven't had issues so far. My 3/4 ton GMC rides pretty nice actually. lol Especially for having leafs in the rear. The big heavy V6 is what softens the ride. Doors and panels are fine to. Sorry to hear you've had bad experiences with them.

[CHEVY_71_C20]

After doing some research on lowering the c20s it seams to be a little in depth of a process. Should I wait until a c10 comes up for sale?

[50bomb]

Originally Posted by CHEVY_71_C20

After doing some research on lowering the c20s it seams to be a little in depth of a process. Should I wait until a c10 comes up for sale?

I say whatever you like. I'm more of a chevy guy then gmc but they are both cool. I also would prefer a rot/rust free truck. Mine is rotted around the windshield/pillar and alil on the outside roof. I still drive it everyday doesn't stop me but maybe neither are for you and maybe wait for the right one and you will know even if you pay more than you want but HAVE to have it.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by CHEVY_71_C20

After doing some research on lowering the c20s it seams to be a little in depth of a process. Should I wait until a c10 comes up for sale?

Depends on how low you want to go with it. Alot of Chevy C20's had coil springs. I don't see why half ton lowering springs could be swapped over.

[chevy2tom]

GMC Paul's has drop coils for c20's

[TopFuel1966]

Originally Posted by 50bomb

Then why are you in this thread? My 64 c10 doors close perfectly.

You wrote exactly what I was thinking. So do mine.

[forestb]

I would guess that this was in the 71 section and then it was moved to this one. Just going off the name of the original poster. Maybe not though.

Originally Posted by TopFuel1966

You wrote exactly what I was thinking. So do mine.

[Mathew21]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

I personally don't like the 60-66 models. The panels & doors never fit or close right. The c20 models are 3/4 ton & ride hard. I sure would pick the one with minimum rust.
George

Wow I don't agree with either one of you statements. I have a 66 3/4 ton. I've had friends and family compliment my truck for how well the ride is and how well the doors shut.

To the original poster. I can turn a wrench but I'm not a body man. When I was searching for a truck I was looking for one with no to little rust. Whatever rust you see it's going to be at least twice as bad when you start getting in to it.

[CHEVY_71_C20]

Well I've decided to wait and save my money in order to get what I truly want. I drove the non rusted one and the motor had a heavy knock. Thank you everyone for the advice. It helped me make my decision alot easier.

[stsalvage]

I know some one touched on this But how the song goes better shop around.

Lets look at the pluses and the negatives.on the 1964--72 Chevy trucks

I own 12 of them from 64 -72 i had the 3 ton bob tail as well and the suburbans.

My fist truck was a 1965 3/4 ton names spot.

When i got it it had a tired 307 with a power glide and power assisted steering manual brakes dram all the way around with ladder bar with a 4.10 rear end.


Ok lets look at where we are now days when i got my truck back in 1989 there where still massive parts being made for this trucks.

Reason the 1967--72 used most of the parts as the 1964--72 trucks used just a few improvements.

The one i like for 3/4 ton is rear droms that side off instead of taking the floater rear end apart that take 3-5 hours if you know what your doing make sure you put the right axle back in on the long side.

Remember Power steering and power brakes where in there begging stages.

Reason why i feel you need to leave the 4 speeds alone cus your foot will hurt for a long time.

A automatic is the best choice they are still plentiful.

1968 should be the year your looking for cus it had the power steering on the frame and better brakes better cab better steering column better wiring.

1968 was the year that GM got there trucks right plus they look Cool

the 2 trucks are the ones i still own my 1965 Spot its has all the new up grades like power steering on the frame power brakes disc brakes front sway bar and she runs like a dream

That dream now come with a heave price tag I put all Brand new wire harness in from M&H wire harness cost me 650.00 back in 1995 after my truck caught on fire do to 30 year old crack wires on the freeway.

it made every thing come back alive runs 150% better Put a HEI in 1994 Bye bye points put rebuilt motor in my truck in 1995 $750.00 long block 30 over did all the new up grades in 1996 cost me 1100.00 for all the parts and 500.00 labor.

5 years ago I find out i did not need to change my front end Bell teak makes spindles that will take the 3/4 ton to convert to 1/2 ton and use all of the parts under your truck.Plus they make 3/4 ton spindles for 299.95 From CCP for your truck to add disc brake with out changing your front end

Meaning you A frame 1 part to put much needed braking to your truck disc brakes and power brakes is the real easy part you have one bolt on your fire wall that lines up the 1968-72 brake booster bracket.

the 1968 has factory power steering it has the mounting for the booster already on the fire wall it has already the front sway bar.

Butthe 1968-72 is the better choice trucks