My 1970 C/20 "Old School Metal"

[OSM 70 C20]

I go through bouts of self doubt. But I now have enough money into it to make it difficult to quit. I have been finding this project to be a real growth experience. I sure have learned a lot and thank God for this website!

[OSM 70 C20]

I forgot to bring my camera home, but finished welding in the floor today. I also started on the cab corners. On a related note, I learned an important lesson regarding proper footwear & welding... OUCH!

[Tinkermc]

pics would be real nice

[OSM 70 C20]

I replaced my cab corners this weekend, having never really welded before I think I'm getting better...


I had to turn the welder way down or else blow holes in the old sheet metal. I don't think the service managers planned on auto body work when they bought the welders.
I had practiced on welding up the front floor joint, I'd show pictures but it is too embarrassing! Fortunately it should be well hidden from the world. My dirty little secret.

[OSM 70 C20]

I assume I have a LWB (Long Wheel Base), but what does Short Wide mean?
I'm guessing short wheel base, but what is "wide"? Not a "step-side"? Dumb question, I know...

[80k30]

nice truck we really need more pictures of your long box slab-side

[OSM 70 C20]

Just a few pictures of:
Rodent damage to my blower fan.

My work bench.

And my attempt at a magnetic welding spoon (I have a real one)

[OSM 70 C20]

I also have a question, is this supposed to flare like this or is this a weird effect of being stamped formed?

[Wbrown]

On that cab corner I havent found any that fit very well usually different than a factory piece. How fast did you weld that corner on because it only takes a tiny amount of heat to draw the sh*t out of it.

[OSM 70 C20]

Just a few quick spots, they are both like that. I wish I saw it before I welded them in. I will just try to work that flare out.

[OSM 70 C20]

Got a little more done this weekend. I think I have all the new steel welded in, tweaked and twisted into place.


I had to rebuild the lower drivers side door hinge area.

[OSM 70 C20]

Skipping ahead a few weeks:
Undercoated the cab. Used a Loctite brand...

Test fitted my wheels (15" American Racing 44's)

Found out the grease ball with the sticky-outy is a transmission



Could someone tell me what tranny it is? I see GM numbers on it but no ID plates.

[OSM 70 C20]

I had an assembly marathon this weekend. I had been working on my truck in our shop, but the owner of our company hinted it should go home (or somewhere). He has been patient but it is his property. I painted the body work, put the cab on new body mounts and pulled the box off. Somewhere in the Aether are some of the pictures I took, during the transfer from my old digital camera I seemed to have lost them
I will post what I do have...
Got new sneakers for the Beast

A new shiny beanie for the engine

Installed a new fuel cap (made from recycled materials, Think GREEN!)

And did some doodlin' on the hood

[OSM 70 C20]

OH! I just about forgot. This afternoon after work I had my engine idling for the first time in a month and a half, sitting behind the steering wheel burning rubber in La-la Land, when a co-worker drives by and says:
"You have a huge oil leak under your truck"
"Ya, right" (Tires screeching on Candy-cane Lane)
"No, seriously"
I jumped out... UGH!
I lifted the hood looking for something dumping out oil, turns out I barely finger tightened the oil pressure sending unit fitting. I was surprised at the amount of oil that came out.

[OSM 70 C20]

Not much for pictures this week, only a few small victories. Got the brakes bled so my brakes work satisfactorily, got my new shocks on
Found this on one side, not sure if it was supposed to be there

Sure am glad I bought that little impact wrench

Hard to see in this picture, but there are cracks in that plate in front of the u-joint seat

[jhaymon]

you right we cant see it, but we know what your talking about. it's common on these trucks.
drill a small at each end of the crack. the purpose of the holes is to keep the crack from spreading clean the crack with a jig saw or a cut off saw(basically cut it open, but keep the cut as narrow as possible). I use a dremal cutting wheel in tight places. then weld it up and grind it clean.

[OSM 70 C20]

OK, thanks! I never would have thought of that. I'm definitely grateful for all the help I get on here

[80k30]

so wheres the beef?????

[Tinkermc]

I have 2 trucks and 3 cracks like that I don't think they are rare, if they are boy am I lucky

[OSM 70 C20]

I really need to get back to work on this! Now duck hunting season is coming up, then pheasant...
Too many hobbies, not enough time

[80k30]

i like beer

[GMCJOE]

Originally Posted by OSM 70 C20

Are you recommending OEM, LMC or...?

Great buy. Liking the out come so far. By the way, LMC is a dealer of OEM parts. They bought that part of GM's parts after it became too old of a venue for them.

[OSM 70 C20]

MAN! Am I waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy behind!!!

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by OSM 70 C20

Found out the grease ball with the sticky-outy is a transmission
Attachment 974944
Attachment 974945
Attachment 974946
Could someone tell me what tranny it is? I see GM numbers on it but no ID plates.

You have a Muncie SM465 transmission. Super tough unit. A bit crude at shifting but damn sure bulletproof.

[OSM 70 C20]

Way behind in posting, so things may get jumbled. But 80K30 is being a pest...
I have spent some time working on things like the idle, wiring and such, so there won't be pictures for that but here are a few pictures to catch up...
cleaned up the blower motor housing & repainted

welded up the old gas tank hole. I can't find a picture of it cleaned up. I lost a bunch of pictures I think.

Drained the diff and cleaned up the cover,

and repainted it... may have to redo it

I found this stuff at Harbor Freight, seems to work