Addicted to Chevrolets ( bought a C30 )

[JustinR]

I have been looking for a 1 ton for quite a while now. I found this 1969 1 ton listed locally about a month ago. I emailed him right away, since it is pretty close to what I wanted. He finally got back to me on Saturday and I got to go look at the truck yesterday. It turns out it is a 1970 CST Custom Camper with 157'' wb. It was yellow and white originally and only has 67,000 original miles. The owner said the guy he bought it from owned a construction company and had left over green paint from a scraper he was painting. So he painted over the yellow and white with lime green...

I am planning on restoring it to as close to original as I can, but I still want to keep the flat deck. The truck was built in Oshawa Ont, would anyone happen to know how many 1970 C30 CSTs were made in Canada?

I will update this page as I get things done, it needs quite a bit of work. The cab corners and rockers are actually really good (rust wise), especially for a Canadian truck. The front cab supports will have to be replaced, the rears I am not sure about yet. Since it only has 67,000 miles the rest of the truck looks to be in pretty good shape. We just got it home a couple of hours ago, my Dad and I did manage to get it started. I don't think the truck had ran for quite a while.

Here are some pictures from when we went to look at it, and once we got it back home.

[JustinR]

Here are a few more pics.

[lukecp]

Nice find....looks like its in great shape and really original!

[67_C-30]

Awesome find!! As you tell, I love the ol 1 tons myself. I have yet to start with one that nice!

[Spray-Bomb]

Man I dig that green

[72BlckButy]

Nice score!

[MrBeast]

Thats a sweet truck, you got a good find there.

I am also building a 72 C-30 right now.

Good luck with your build, sounds like you are off to a great start.

[JustinR]

Time for an update. In the last couple of days I have been scraping and scrubbing oil and dirt off the engine. Then I removed the inner fenders and started cleaning the firewall. Today I masked off and then painted the intake and whatever else I could, without removing the engine. I might end up pulling the engine anyways, so I can repaint the block. One thing I was surprised about was under the 1/4'' thick sludge the engine block is blue. I know they used blue in the late 50s, but did they ever use blue in 67-72?

[67_C-30]

It would have been orange in 67-72's and up till about '75 and most 76's. A blue engine block probably places it from like '77 - 80. After that they went with black.

[JustinR]

Well here is a huge update:

Right from the beginning of my dually search. I wanted to have a 67-72 4x4 with dual wheels, which Chevrolet obviously never made. I found this 1990 4x4 dually 3+3 locally, made him an offer.. and the rest is history. The truck has 119,000 km, has a 5.7L tbi, th400 transmission, dana 60 front, Corporate 14 bolt C&C with posi-traction, axles are 4.56 ratios, and a bunch of other heavy duty options.

My plan was to restore the 1970 C/30, but since I found out the motor was not the factory 350. Then I found this K30, my plans have really changed. What I am planning on doing now is install the 1970 C/30 cab, and the flat deck on the 1990 K30 chassis, and I will keep the 5.7L tbi installed in the truck.

So far we have got the 3+3 cab completely removed, the radiator support removed, and the cab mounts are removed. Now I am just cleaning everything up before I pull the 1970 C/30 cab and prepare to install the cab mounts on the K30. I have to mention Grendel's build thread made a big difference in the decision to tackle a project this large. So thanks!

Here are some pictures.

[JustinR]

Here are some pictures of the disassembly.

[toomanytoyz]

Can't wait to see more of your Build, I like tha fact that you did'nt waste any Time getting Started with the 4x4 Conversion...........

Rick

[JustinR]

Here are some pictures of the 1990 3+3 cab being lifted off the frame. We ground all the cab mounts off the frame, and cleaned everything that would be covered once the 1970 cab is installed. Then pulled the chassis out side, to make room for the 1970 C/30.

[67_C-30]

Great project! I can't wait to see the end result!

[JustinR]

Bringing the C/30 into the shop was the next thing to do. It was covered in ice from our great Saskatchewan weather so we let it melt over night. The next day we started tearing it apart. It was much simpler to disassemble this truck, than the 1990 with all the wiring. So we had it completely removed by the afternoon. We removed the cab mounts on this frame as well, since I will be using them on the K30 frame. This time however we drilled the rivot head out, then broke the head off. It resulted in a much cleaner job, since a grinder wasn't used. Then in the evening we rolled the chassis back outside and brought the K30 chassis back into the shop. Of course we "had" to try and lower the 1970 cab onto the K30 chassis just to see how it would look. We placed some wood on the frame rails and set the cab on.

[JustinR]

Here are the pictures from when we lowered the cab onto the frame for the first time. So far the project is coming along very well, but the more difficult and time consuming stuff is still coming. I am planning on getting the cab mounts on the frame next, then I will start with the body work and wiring.

I will be doing a shackle flip in the rear and 4'' lift springs in the front, hopefully that will give it a much more aggressive look! I am planning on going with Bfgoodrich Mud terrains in 255/85r16. This is going to be a work truck / toy hauler, so a 16,000 pound winch in the front bumper will be necessary!

[*Dylan]

looks awesome, so your keeping it a flatbed right?

[JustinR]

I haven't updated this thread in quite a while, but I have still been working away on the truck. I used the cab mounts off the 1970 C30, and drilled out the 1990 frame and bolted the mounts on. It turned out really well, the frame widths were within 1/8th of an inch difference. The cab mounts fit the frame perfectly, and I didn't run into any issues with rivets being in the way. I removed all the exhaust, and saddle tank mounts on the frame, and cleaned off all the dirt. The front of the frame was actually in really nice shape, so it didn't take too much prep. The rear of the frame was pretty ruff, since it had no box installed and had been sitting outside for a few years. I painted the frame where the cab would cover first, then I lowered the cab down onto the mounts. I installed the front fenders to make sure I had everything lined up correctly. While I had the fenders on, I notched the front bumper to clear the outer grill. After I had all that done, I removed the fenders, and grill and started wire wheeling the rest of the frame. Then we rolled it outside and I painted the entire chassis, springs and axles. It turned out looking really good, and it is sure nice to work on now that it is nice and clean. After that I installed a used automatic column and got the steering all hooked up. I decided to use the complete 1990 brake system, so I attached it to the firewall. In the mean time I ordered a Painless Performance stand alone TBI harness, which I received yesterday. Today I installed most of the harness, except for the VSS and Park/Neutral selector which I didn't think of ordering at the time. So that brings it up to it's current state. I hope to have it drivable in a couple months.

On to the pictures!

[JustinR]

Here are some pictures of the painted chassis, and the beginning of the wiring.

[FormerMember]

Looking good!

[msgross]

very nice truck that your creating...

just for grins why not throw the crew cab on the old frame! I'd like to see that monster...

[67_C-30]

Nice work. That bad boy would make a great ramp truck!!

[toomanytoyz]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

Nice work. That bad boy would make a great ramp truck!!

That would be Kool, Do you Know where a Guy Could get any Plan's or Documentation to Build a Ramp Bed?

Thanks, Rick

[thirdstreettito]

I love this thread, so much awesome.

[JustinR]

IT RUNS! I got the truck running for the first time since disassembly. All the fuel injection wiring in installed, it took longer than I expected. I have never worked with efi before, and there was a fair bit to research before I could get it all figured out. Steering is hooked up, brakes are hooked up and working. Transmission is hooked up. I have a 1970 radiator support mounted on the 1990 frame. It was a bit of work, since the spacing.. front-back was way off. So I had to drill new holes in the radiator support to get it right. I also installed all new body mounts, and cushions for everything. I had to install a 1/2'' body lift on the front, to give the cab the right angle, to aline with the radiator support. I've got the fenders on, and alined. I am planning on using a fuel cell mounted in-between the frame rails in-front of the duals, but for now I have a original 3+3 tank mounted. A couple days ago my tires and wheels came in. They are 255/85r16 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires on 16x8 steel rims. It gives it the look I was looking for, the tires measure 33.5" tall, which is about what a 35" actually measures, so I'm really happy with that. I also installed brand new Warn front hubs. The 4 wheel drive wasn't working when I bought the truck. So I had to test it by getting stuck in my backyard.. then I found out the 4x4 didn't work. But the new hubs did the trick, and it is working perfectly now. The next step for me is the find a lift kit for it. I am not sure if I want to do a shackle flip on the back, or go with new 4'' lift springs all around. My plan is to get the truck drivable, with lights and everything. Then this coming winter, start on the body work and paint.