jonz 63 K20 build

[scotts62]

Cool man looks like a good find! Even still has the manual!!

[factorystock]

The vin# will tell if it was originally a step, fleet or chassis cab.

[jonzcustomshop]

I ran the vin, and it comes back as :63 3/4 ton 4wd cab chassis, from the st louis plant.

[jason65]

Looks like a tuff ole rig.

[justcuz]

Nice find! Besides the V8, you have the SM420 4 speed, divorced Rockwell T-case, Eaton HO52 rear and a closed knuckle Dana 44 front with the factory lock out hubs. It probably has 4.56/gears and if your lucky a No-Spin. Closed knuckle front axles have king pins instead of ball joints. If you are lucky enough to have a No-Spin that thing would make a great wood/off road truck. Nowadays I am so spoiled, I don't know if I could do without power steering. If you don't change out the steering, keep your thumbs outside the steering wheel rim when 4 wheeling rough terrain! Looks like a set of 255/85x16 tires would be a good replacement for the old ones. Or 11x16 Co-Op grip Spurs.

[justcuz]

A final note, the front timing cover seal or the fuel pump gasket may need replacing. That leak down on to front axle looks familiar

[jonzcustomshop]

thanks for the info!
the leak is the bad water pump...

[jonzcustomshop]

maybe someone can help decode the engine...
rf block is stamped H40IC

[jchav62]

Now that's a work horse! Nice score Jon.

[justcuz]

I see the green drip on the tie rod now that you mentioned the water pump.
The stamping on the front of the block may have some of the vin numbers in it. What you really need are the cast numbers off the back of the block to tell what it is for sure. The ones above the bell housing. After you get them you can look the numbers up on the Mortec site.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

maybe someone can help decode the engine...
rf block is stamped H40IC

I have a couple of sites saved on the shop computer. I'll look tomorrow and see what I can find.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Very cool congrats on the score.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

maybe someone can help decode the engine...
rf block is stamped H40IC

Jon, I looked and couldn't find an "IC" code. Could it possibly be H401C?

Where I went to look was on http://www.73-87.com
They have a huge database of engine codes.

[jonzcustomshop]

yes just "c" comes back as a 283, which is probably what it is.. it almost looks as if the engine has never been out of the truck.. I will have to see if I can see the code on the back of the block.

[LILRED66]

Jon:

I like the '63 chassis/cab. I believe the 4x4 became a factory installed option by 1963, vs the NAPCO conversion that was shopped out.

In any case, nice rig and thanks for sharing.

[justcuz]

^Correct, factory 1/2 and 3/4 tons started in 1960. A 1 ton would have been a Napco though

[jonzcustomshop]

yes , definatly not a napco, I had thought all gm 4 wheelers were napco, in this vintage, but per the info given this is a Gm 4x4.

Any one have an idea what color the original wheels would have been?
the cab was/is dark blue;and were the 3/4 tons available with only split rims, or did they have regular rims too?
this has splits on it, and they may be the original wheels, but I don't even know if you can even have a tire shop change out a split rim anymore...
If they are the stock wheels I might want to save them for a later date, but for now I just want to use regulat 3/4 ton steel wheels.....

[factorystock]

Both split rims and one piece wheels were available on 2 or 4 WD 3/4 tons. However the rims in the photo are not original, they are 16" early 70's vintage.All original 3/4 ton rims had hubcap clips. The original split rim size in 63 were 15" and 17". The original one piece rims would be 17.5" or 19.5". Your original solid paint scheme would come with black painted rims.

[jonzcustomshop]

thanks! So I won't have to hold on to thos splits.
I will just put some modern black 3/4 ton wheel on it , and piece together a set of original wheels for it over time!

[justcuz]

My 63 1/2 ton had split 15" on it when I bought it. They are heavy and require tubes. There are better options available today.

[factorystock]

The 63 grill is one of my favorites and really matches the wrap around winshield cab design.An interesting detail item is the partial black trim paint used around the 63 headlight bezels. Most people today never knew it was there originally.

[jchav62]

Originally Posted by factorystock

The 63 grill is one of my favorites and really matches the wrap around winshield cab design.An interesting detail item is the partial black trim paint used around the 63 headlight bezels. Most people today never knew it was there originally.

Wow! I never knew that about the '63 headlight bezels. Truck trivia! And it looks cool too....

[joe231]

very cool!

the '63 grill is my favorite...

[jonzcustomshop]

that is neat, makes the lights look like they are floating in there.

[Revoh]

Originally Posted by factorystock

The 63 grill is one of my favorites and really matches the wrap around winshield cab design.An interesting detail item is the partial black trim paint used around the 63 headlight bezels. Most people today never knew it was there originally.

I repainted my headlight bezels back like that a few weeks ago. The only reason I did it was because I couldn't stand not having it "right". But I actually liked it better before because it looks kind of like it has black eyes now. Oh well. It still couldn't stay the other way.

That 4X4 looks like a good project!