Rare 70 CST/10? Keep or Sell?

[70cst]

If it is a factory matching BB SWB SCT AC 400 auto Truck .... I would keep it and eventually fix it up. In 1970 the union was on strike and thus the production numbers were down.

This would be a much lower number truck optioned this way.

[specialtyretail]

Originally Posted by briscuba

Fred... I don't have a pic of that, but can take one. What were you looking for?

You will know it if you see it. Looking to see if the drivers side engine stand has been excessively clearnced for the header tube. Not trimmed off on the trailing edge, but a huge chunk removed from it. Thanks, Fred.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by briscuba

Couldn't agree more about the SPID conversation. Nothing at all in the glove box! There was one (SPID?) in the coils of the bench seat that basically crumbled away... When I pieced it together I saw if was for a small block (350) C10. Crestfallen... Then I found under the seat another one stuck to the floorboard and in pieces. I put it together like a jigsaw puzzle and it shows (in pieces) 1970 CST option BB402. Happy days! Seat musta been changed. It's in pieces in a ziplock bag. If I knew numbers better I could decipher more of it. Wish I could clean the paper too - it's dirty and greasy. I am afraid to handle it. Lots of "hope", little evidence.

So this is actually pretty common - the build sheets ended up in the wrong vehicles if someone was being lazy or not careful on the line - since they weren't intended to stay in the car (that's what the glove box SPID was for).

I have a '63 Buick coupe, and I was super excited to find a build sheet inside the rear seat, only to find it was for the 1037th car off the line that year, and mine is the 1035th. Ah well!

Also, just from looking at the photos and your description of "rough body" makes me wish I lived on the West Coast ... a rough truck where I'm from up in New England, you can see through it like swiss cheese!

[briscuba]

Fred: Pic of header/mount. Driver side.

[yote1234]

Originally Posted by briscuba

Is there another way to verify if the BB is original other than the stamped numbers and letters on the front of block? Believe me, I am the number one skeptic! Numbers do indicate 1970 truck 402 - which would have been original. Long shot it was swapped with same cubic inch, same year...

please any one correct me if im wrong but heres the best way to tell originality

* check to see what the casting date on the pass side back of the block,
* then check the suffix stamp on the front passenger side of the block,
(both should be with in 60 days of each other)
*then you can then chart the vin# and cross reference a manufacture date.

if they all coincide than you have a winner! and also see if the turbo 400 trans has a tag. that tag will give you a suffix ( should be C J ), that can tell you if it was a 396-402 truck trans and also dated to the truck.

now if all these are good than
I Think I would keep it! short box big block!!!!
hope this helps

[yote1234]

heres a pic of engine casting date

[specialtyretail]

Looks like big block engine stands. That is a plus for it.

[briscuba]

Yes, numbers seem to match on engine. Even the heads have the "truck" stamp inside them, with a corresponding number. However, no intact paperwork.

I'd be curious to know if anyone has seen this Black paint, green interior combo? Black was the original paint, for sure. My mechanic seems to thing it was a special order. I have yet to see one... I have included above a pic of the interior. Seat is black, seat belts green, steering column green, among other accessories like A/C vents, etc.

Fred: still not sure what the header reference was for, sorry if I missed it.

[yote1234]

Did they even install the 402 in 1970? or 1971? I really don't know?

[specialtyretail]

The truck looks to have big block stands. If it had small block stands they would be all butchered up to make room for the header tube. Big block stands lean towards more likely being an original big block truck.

[Cash3481]

If a person who parts trucks wanted to add a bb to the truck it could be done pretty easy. I added a 402 to my 72 GMC and the date codes are correct or very close. I took the motor from a 3/4 ton bb truck, added the 1/2 ton correct carb from another truck I parted a few months later.
I say this because all these are easily or reasonably easy to find parts but the riveted exhaust brackets are much more difficult to duplicate. I think the 70 bb trucks had a one year only TSC too. There is some differences in the upper alt bracket and ps reservoir mount too we could check but again these are readily available on the parts board.
Just for the record...
I'm not knocking the original posters truck just trying to help see if it's original.
It was his original question.Lol

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by briscuba

Fred... I don't have a pic of that, but can take one. What were you looking for?

Kinda cutting in here....

While you are in that area, are the engine mount perches designed for the clam-shell mounts? I'm under the impression that a factory big block C10 would have the clamshell mounts but I don't know that for a fact.

Also, about the exhaust hangers, I am also under the impression that the factory hangers are riveted in for the small block only on the driver side, and for the big block for both sides. Don't know for sure all the big blocks had duals but I do know for sure the small blocks only had single from the factory and always hung on the driver's side only. WISH I had a set of R side factory style hangers for my small block LOL.

[specialtyretail]

If I am not mistaken, 72 models went to the clam shells.

[yote1234]

Originally Posted by Cash3481

If a person who parts trucks wanted to add a bb to the truck it could be done pretty easy. I added a 402 to my 72 GMC and the date codes are correct or very close. I took the motor from a 3/4 ton bb truck, added the 1/2 ton correct carb from another truck I parted a few months later.
I say this because all these are easily or reasonably easy to find parts but the riveted exhaust brackets are much more difficult to duplicate. I think the 70 bb trucks had a one year only TSC too. There is some differences in the upper alt bracket and ps reservoir mount too we could check but again these are readily available on the parts board.
Just for the record...
I'm not knocking the original posters truck just trying to help see if it's original.
It was his original question.Lol

good point! I have the original engine to my 71 (proof by 2 build sheets) but I needed a orig intake manifold. I got lucky and found one dated 2 days before engine build date! so it can be done. thank god for build sheets....

[67swb72klb]

didn't the factory BB trucks have a heat shields on the lower part of the firewall too?

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by specialtyretail

If I am not mistaken, 72 models went to the clam shells.

That seems to be the case.

[Vintage Windmills]

As mentioned, if it has factory dual exhaust brackets, the heat shield on cab, and removable high hump, it would most likely have been a BBC truck. 1968 was the first year of the BBC in these trucks.

Killer color combo and a CST would make a very nice combo.

[briscuba]

All great comments, certainly a wealth of knowledge out there. I am convinced it is a BB truck. It does have a few quirks which would be consistent with a "ranch type" thinking in Arizona. I am gonna double check the exhaust mounts in back to be sure. The truck is definitely growing on me!