1965 Canadian built C20 Alaskan Camper

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Thank you Brad.

That upper is standard , all 63-66 V8s had them from new , many were replaced with a solid rubber because the tubes would rust and leak over time. Lower is just a rubber hose.

I had no idea that's how they came! I always thought that was a HD option or something.

-Brad

[sodly]

Sooooo legit!

[factorystock]

Congratulations on another incredible find! Time Capsule! Hope to see this one in "most original thread". There are originals out there, but very few have very nice original paint and straight as an arrow as this one. Luckily this truck was preserved by a collector, a vast majority of these "originally bought for a camper", pickups got sold off during the energy crisis of '73, camper removed, then used and abused as a work truck for the next 40 years by several different owners. I spy 15" lock rims ,'65 last year for them, replaced by 16" lock rims at mid year.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by Brad54

I had no idea that's how they came! I always thought that was a HD option or something.

-Brad

Brad , there are so many things to learn about these great trucks , it amazes me every day. If I remember right you were/are a writer or editor for a Magazine ? You may know Alan Colvin ? Alan wrote the books "Chevrolet By The Numbers" for cars . He was telling me a few months back that he has ALL the information ( except production numbers ) on Chevrolet trucks from the GMs archives . He asked me if I thought there was enough interest in this kind of book on trucks ? It would be interesting to see if there is .It would be more about block numbers , alternators , heads and driveline , though. Thoughts ?

Originally Posted by sodly

Sooooo legit!

Thanks Todd !

Originally Posted by factorystock

Congratulations on another incredible find! Time Capsule! Hope to see this one in "most original thread". There are originals out there, but very few have very nice original paint and straight as an arrow as this one. Luckily this truck was preserved by a collector, a vast majority of these "originally bought for a camper", pickups got sold off during the energy crisis of '73, camper removed, then used and abused as a work truck for the next 40 years by several different owners. I spy 15" lock rims ,'65 last year for them, replaced by 16" lock rims at mid year.

Thank you Factorystock. My very first thoughts before purchasing this truck were close to that 1973 time period, remove all the camping stuff, to see, " the Truck " but after talking with another member, it all started to sink in , this, IS the Truck ! Dont change a thing ! Its really growing on me , roof back pack , LOL , and all. Even that is now staying. I brought this truck home from Kentucky on a trailer , stopping at a gas station a man came up to me to talk about the truck , when I gave him the short version of the history his eyes lit up , he then had to look everywhere and share memories. I may need some new tires on those 15 inch rims , but if I can convince the wife , a long trip is in my thoughts for this one.

[LT1 Burb]

Can you find out if that came through Oregon, I missed a package exactly like this a few years ago but I think it was a 62, can't remember. It was the same camper, color etc.

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Brad , there are so many things to learn about these great trucks , it amazes me every day. If I remember right you were/are a writer or editor for a Magazine ? You may know Alan Colvin ? Alan wrote the books "Chevrolet By The Numbers" for cars . He was telling me a few months back that he has ALL the information ( except production numbers ) on Chevrolet trucks from the GMs archives . He asked me if I thought there was enough interest in this kind of book on trucks ? It would be interesting to see if there is .It would be more about block numbers , alternators , heads and driveline , though. Thoughts ?

Yeah, I was a full-time writer for a long time. Now it's just occasionally--I've moved to swap meet and nostalgia drag race promotion, and I'm gearing up to dabble in some parts reproduction for our trucks.

I think the restoration market is dwindling. Not many people are restoring cars like they were, and those who are restoring them are older.

I'm 46, and like "the best of both worlds" approach to things: A stock looking vehicle, with "hidden" or less obvious upgrades.

I really enjoy the Factory Original thread here, and find the Order of Operation and Assembly stuff fascinating.

I also really enjoyed the details of the painted interior door panels, showing the differences between '64, '65 and '66.
That kind of stuff, to me, is very interesting, and very useful--I'd buy a book about it.

And while I don't think the restoration market is that big, and the truck restoration market is even smaller... those two red, restored 4x4 trucks ('62 and '63) absolutely lit up the hobby when they hit the scene. EVERYBODY saw those trucks on the internet and appreciated them.

Then there's your Camper here... I don't know anybody, no matter what brand and era they gravitate towards, that wouldn't stop and walk laps around your truck if they saw it at a show.

So yeah, I think putting together a good book on it, including interiors, trim packages, options, etc. etc. would be popular.

I talked to a publisher a few years ago, and he said their best-selling books were truck and tractor books.

-Brad

[andyh1956]

Boy that's a nice truck you got there! That's better than a ride in the WayBack machine! are those hyd cyl on the INSIDE of the camper to raise it up? wonder they haven't leaked after all these yrs.
Whatcha got in the cream can on your front porch?

[Ronzo]

Beautiful truck Jon, and a nice trip back through time. Let us know what GSL let's you know buddy.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by 60-66

I may need some new tires on those 15 inch rims ,

If it were mine, I'd find out if it has the standard 4.56 ratio or optional 4.11 ratio before new tires. Is there a build sheet? IMO, it may be a good time to upgrade to 19.5" solid or 17.5" solid. If you like the look of lock rims ( like some of us do), IMO, the look of the 16" lock rim wheel ( like on Sodly's C.C.) is hard to beat!

[60-66]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

Can you find out if that came through Oregon, I missed a package exactly like this a few years ago but I think it was a 62, can't remember. It was the same camper, color etc.

Its quite possible given the location it was from , but being that both the previous owners have passed , I cant get an answer.

Originally Posted by Brad54

So yeah, I think putting together a good book on it, including interiors, trim packages, options, etc. etc. would be popular.

I talked to a publisher a few years ago, and he said their best-selling books were truck and tractor books.

-Brad

Thanks for your input Brad , will see what happens.

Originally Posted by Ronzo

Beautiful truck Jon, and a nice trip back through time. Let us know what GSL let's you know buddy.

Anxiously waiting their reply !

Originally Posted by factorystock

If it were mine, I'd find out if it has the standard 4.56 ratio or optional 4.11 ratio before new tires. Is there a build sheet? IMO, it may be a good time to upgrade to 19.5" solid or 17.5" solid. If you like the look of lock rims ( like some of us do), IMO, the look of the 16" lock rim wheel ( like on Sodly's C.C.) is hard to beat!

Going to figure out the gear ratio today. Not a huge fan of 19.5s but I have 17.5s and tires I want to put on it. Curious how it will look !

[SSpeed66]

Cool truck Jon. Be sure to buy Canadian made tires ! Glacier Nat Park looks incredible, it borders on Canada, which on our side is called Waterton Nat Park, equally incredible scenery !

[my04]

Very, very cool truck and history.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by SSpeed66

Cool truck Jon. Be sure to buy Canadian made tires ! Glacier Nat Park looks incredible, it borders on Canada, which on our side is called Waterton Nat Park, equally incredible scenery !

Thanks SSPeed66 ! Wife is taking a new job this year so it may have to wait till next year for Glacier. Ive got her talked into the adventure though. We are very excited about it now. I wish we had an outlet here for Canadian made tires , will have to look into that. Last I read , Cooper was still made in USA ? Everything else seems to be chinese and just dont seem to last. I recently put Michelins on my 2010 and Im very disappointed in them. If time is on our side I would like to make the trek into Canada and visit the GSL dealership that sold this truck new. Looks to be right above Glacier .

Originally Posted by my04

Very, very cool truck and history.

Thank you !

[oem4me]

Updates? Now that you've had some time to poke around, any interesting discoveries? Loving this rig!

[60-66]

No , not really . Ive been driving it every chance I get. Need to try and figure out more of whats on these tags and what everything means. Most of it appears to be in the Canadian Chevrolet/GMC parts book. Another mystery is the white painted bed wood.

[padresag]

1st pic body identification plate

2nd pic 13 lb pressure cap. with a/c it would have been a 16# cap
3rd pic vin plate with eng ser #. my 64 GMC panel also has the eng ser#, but never seeing the orig I can't say. my 32 Chevrolet had the same and it was also on the registration papers. the 5th digit after the C is an 8 for 8 cyl
4th pic is your GVW rating of 7500 lbs
5th pic my green 64 GMC panel had a green painted floor. my 66 ambulance had a white painted floor. still have some whhite painted ones like new as they were covered over from new
ron

[60-66]

Thanks Ron. Im curious if you know what F.T.O. stands for on the ID plate , along with SCHED and Item mean on the tag. My book does not show this exact tag. Its the Chev-GMC Truck 10 thru 940 1966 print dated GM Parts book

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Thanks Ron. Im curious if you know what F.T.O. stands for on the ID plate , along with SCHED and Item mean on the tag. My book does not show this exact tag. Its the Chev-GMC Truck 10 thru 940 1966 print dated GM Parts book

there is a GM historical site the same as in the States that you can get all the info on your truck .they should know what those things are'
here is a link that may have the answers also, but I think that the want renumeration for the answers
http://www.macmasterchev.ca/parts-ac...vintage-parts/

Norman has also packed a lot of Canadian info in here. quite a bit refers to 63 as that is what he has. He did a pretty good job of it.
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/...215?source=pwa
ron

[Chevystep]

I don't know what's more exciting here, the truck or the camper! I recently sold a 1957 8' Alaskan that I restored several years ago. Redid the whole upper half to add a small rooftop A/C and all new metal skin while replacing lots of wood rot. Don't let folks talk you into replacing the original hydraulic arms, all they need is new O rings. For the first few years I fabbed up a bracket and filler piece to hang a really small window unit A/C on the lower door with the upper one open and held with the handle bracket. It went in my Dodge 2500 cuz it was way too heavy for my 66 1/2T! If you decide to keep the camper and free up the truck, a small 5X10 trailer makes a great little pull behind RV that you can fasten the Alaskan to. 2 great finds, if you get a chance, snap some picks of that original V-8 engine compartment with the air cleaner removed, love to see some original wire locations and engine color.

[SSpeed66]

Hi Jon. I have what I believe to be a Canadian GMC 1966 shortbox utility trailer, original paint, it had body coloured floor in it also. I'm using that box on my 61. But I also have a 63 GMC utility trailer that I use, it appears to be painted normal black

[vetnat]

Hi. Sorry for the thread hijack. Just wondering if your trailer is step side or fleetside? I have a 1959 fleetside trailer.

[60-66]

Sitting outside last night , just admiring this old truck. Washed and waxed finally , replaced original leaking fuel pump . Those hubcaps sure cleaned up nice ! LOL

[sodly]

Looking great, Jon! I would have a hard time changing anything about this truck. I'm sure you'll pull the camper out at some point to see what the bed looks like. That'll be fun to see. Bet the camper hasn't been out of that bed since it was new!

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Those hubcaps sure cleaned up nice ! LOL

Outstanding, nos caps are the finishing touch! Now, what came first, the truck or the caps?

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by factorystock

I spy 15" lock rims ,'65 last year for them, replaced by 16" lock rims at mid year.

The source of the above quoted comment regarding the use of 15" 8 lug wheels used on '60-'65 C 20's from a July '65 issue.