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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Hello Heavy haulers, I am new to the site but I have been stalking all of you! Just today allowed to post.
My neighbors are old ranchers and have a bunch of “yard art” meaning broken down rusted farm equipment and such. I have been at their house many times but one day, this old truck catches my eye. (Photo 1) It’s a 1963 C50 sitting out there to rust its remaining years away! On a side note, I love good beer. And I have always had this dream of growing hops on our 19 acre ranch, and one day I saw this old photo (Sorry it’s a Dodge) (Photo 2) of an ole truck harvesting hops on the Hop Growers of America site and I says to myself, wouldn’t that be cool to have an old workhorse truck working the Hop harvest? (Now remember, I don’t have ANY hops growing) So I tell them, don’t ever think of getting rid of that truck without asking me first. They say: it’s yours! Take it, we would just love to see it running again. Johnny (the neighbor) says it was running when it was parked x number of years ago. So my next project is, rescuing this beast from its current state of non-function and get it across the street to my shop! More photos to follow
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Some may be thrown off on the year 1963 by the headlight bezels but the VIN doesn’t lie, and the fender emblems too.
My plans for this build is to keep it relatively stock, to use as a work truck around the ranch. While I like the looks of the bagged, slammed conversions i just want a usable, reliable work truck. Probably will remove the cattle racks on the flatbed, make it with removable stake sides and add a removable gooseneck trailer ball (we have a lot of those kinds of trailers around here) First order of business is, will it run? It has oil on the dipstick but no coolant in radiator and the brake fluid reservoir is bone dry. Some of the tires actually still have air! Then get the brakes working, go from there
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
The history of this truck: it was first put into use as a service truck for Peterson-Caterpillar in San Leandro, CA. This explains the “SPEC” paint code, it was originally painted Caterpillar Tractor safety yellow under the green, you can see the yellow poking out in a few places. It has a V8 and a PTO that ran a compressor on a rear flatbed, along with a welder setup (the PTO is still there but the compressor and welder are long gone) The Caterpillar Tractor factory in San Leandro was a major producer of tractors and other machines in the mid 1900’s, and a great many folks from the area were employed there until the plant shut down in 1985. The Peterson-Caterpillar equipment dealer is still in business in San Leandro! Johnny tells me the truck was bought by his father in law to be used for his cattle and hay farming operation. The engine was blown and rebuilt before they bought the truck so not sure if it is original engine or not. Johnny’s FIL had the cattle cage added to transport cattle. I will get the rear casting number one of these days, but the front stamp was a lot easier to see. It looks to me like 9S0304XTO which I think is a 327. I will try to get a better photo this weekend
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: west coast
Posts: 3,371
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
The biggest problem will be with the brakes. Not sure if parts are even available anymore. May have to send all the parts out to someone who specializes in rebuilding brake componets. The one piece 22.5 wheels are rare and very desireable, people buying these C 50's with 2 piece wheels are spending a fortunate to get one piece wheels put on them.
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Quote:
Thanks for looking!
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#6 |
Senior Member
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Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,465
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
That's a sweet truck Mike.
You are correct that the grille doesn't seem right, but for the big trucks it is. GM didn't redesign the grille for the 63 big trucks, they just carried over the 62 grille. A darn shame they did it that way because I think the regular 63 grille is one of the best ones, but I wasn't around back then to design an 63 only big truck grille ![]()
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
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#7 |
Registered User
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Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn
Posts: 3,008
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Thats a nice truck you have there! Also a great idea for growing hops too, we used to grow our own hops for home brewing.
The engine code has me puzzled- do you have better pictures of the entire engine? XTO suffix code doesn't seem to exist in any of the books (including The Lime Book) or on websites. The S is Saginaw engine factory and 0304 is March 4th. But the XTO is throwing me and it almost looks like XTC but even that one doesn't exist. There is a TC suffix but that is a 348 big block (which would be appropriate for 1963) and it doesn't resemble a 327. XTD is a service replacement engine 283 for 1965, 66 and 67 but would be tough to read that as a 'D'
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'51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com |
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Quote:
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#9 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Quote:
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Quote:
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Quote:
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#12 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Quote:
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#13 |
Registered User
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Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn
Posts: 3,008
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Looks like its just a simple service replacement engine- the stamping won't mean anything other than the factory and date it was made. Great start for a project- I would find the stock air cleaner for it too eventually.
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'51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Trenton,Ontario & South Carolina
Posts: 755
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Great detective work,When I bought my 1968 Impala SS 427/425 hp,I bought it from the original owner,he told me he had the engine replaced in 1969, started knocking,so what they did was replace the lower end and put all the top end on the new "crate engine" he asked about getting the original block back,and they said it had to be destroyed,yea right,probally whet home with one of the mechanics,but anyway,that engine had CE and then had the work order number on it
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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IT IS ALIVE…ALIVE!! The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Finally got this big guy running again! Moved by its own power from our across the street neighbor’s to my ranch. It took me a while to figure out. Ended up being points were adjusted too far open, who did that anyway? I wanted to take every precaution to make sure not to do any damage to the engine on its first start in 20 years since it was parked and left to sit and wonder what its future was.
I replaced the distributor cap, rotor, points, condenser, spark plugs, plug wires, ignition coil, threw on new fan belts and air filter (temporary, want to get a stock air cleaner eventually), changed the oil and filter, rigged up a remote fuel tank directly to the fuel pump to keep old nasty fuel out of the carb, and on day 2 of tinkering it fired up! Need to do a lot more work but at least it’s at my place now so I can tinker with it. Man he’s a BEAST. Love to work on an old engine, so much room to work. I have to say it is waaay up there compared to my C10. The brakes are non-existent, the brake pedal does not even move. Anyway this is for my own documentation of the build so thanks for following along. The Green Machine will eventually be my hops harvester but for now it is running yard art. I will give it some much needed TLC cleanup, wash, engine degreasing, etc.
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) Last edited by Pick121; 10-11-2021 at 10:05 PM. Reason: Wrong word |
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#16 |
Senior Member
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Location: Harrisville, New York
Posts: 459
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Great truck and great work saving it.
Brake pedal being stuck is most likely the piston in the master cylinder being frozen from sitting. I saved a 1960 C60 so its nice to see folks save the big trucks. I have manuals and parts data for some of the big truck stuff so holler if you need a GM number for anything. I might be able to help. Its posted elsewhere in the forum but here is mine. Jumpsoffrock runs a later model but was a big help to me when i was figuring out the wheels and tires as mine had splits that had to be replaced. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
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1960 GMC K1500 LB Fleet Side 1962 GMC K1000 LB Step Side 1988 Chevrolet C2500 |
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Quote:
Here are some pics The Green Machine made it to the ranch under his own power! 2. The engine compartment showing temporary gas tank robbed from a generator, new cap-plug wires-belts 3. Maybe could have saved some $$ and kept the old spark plug wires (#sarcasm) 4. The cab will be cleaned out next 5. Another angle of this beast
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Safford,AZ
Posts: 3,612
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
nice
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#19 |
Senior Member
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Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,465
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Yup, those wires have seen better days
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: California
Posts: 945
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
I had an interesting time tracking down all of the brake part numbers, and Raybestos for some unknown reason changed their catalog cross reference system making it harder to find obsolete part numbers.
What that means is it's harder to search the deep internet for NOS parts that would still be usable. ( I have found carb rebuild kits and ignition parts for older trucks--made by brands that haven't existed in 40+ years--by using ANCIENT part numbers I found on kakapart....very useful) kakapart.com is a very weird finicky website that I suspect is foreign, but no matter that, it is a GODSEND. I cannot believe some of the crossreference ability of that website. It pulls up new numbers Ive never even seen and they are often relevant. Good luck with your brakes and wheels. The info is out there, and the parts are too. |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: VENTURA COUNTY CALIFORNIA
Posts: 285
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Awesome project. Looking forward to updates!
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Just a photo…more progress soon!
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Tahoe City, CA
Posts: 166
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Just a photo…more progress soon!
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-Pickman (Mike) 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB “George” 1963 C50 “Green Machine” 2019 Silverado 2500HD My story (Welcome Page) |
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#24 |
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 3,684
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
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#25 |
Senior Member
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Location: Corona, CA
Posts: 1,840
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Re: The Green Machine - 1963 C50 field rescue
Congratulations and love seeing and old Big Gun being saved!
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MusicMan70 1961 GMC Suburban |
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