'67 C-20 long stepper to '67 C-10 short stepper

[Shyguy]

One day my son and I were setting around shooting the breeze about 67-72 trucks as we often do. We decided to make a '67 C-10 short stepper out of a '67 C-20 long stepper and misc parts trucks as inexpensive as we could.

The first picture is of the '67 C-20 and the second picture is where we are so far.

The short-bed frame is from an unknow year, not a '67 because of the dimple in the frame for the steering box. The front suspension and rear-end is from a '68 Chevy. The steering is from the original '67 C-20. The 292 l6 is from a newer year with HEI and the 4 speed granny transmission is from the original 67 C-20.

I have a short step-side box from a '96, but I am not sure I want to use it. I may just wait for a bed until I can find a '67-72 one.

It is not pretty, but has a lot of potential to be a good daily driver.

My plans for it is to start a slow restore after we get it all together and road worthy.

Danny

[1Low53Burb]

Good for you!

[Shyguy]

Some of the problems we had were the u-bolts would not come loose on the '68 parts truck rear-end so we took the the trailing arms as well with the rear-end.

The outer tie-rod ends from the C-20 would not fit in the C-10 spindles so we found a set of '67 C-10 outer tie-rod ends laying around in the garage and used them.

We tried to put the engine in with the transmission on it, but no way would it go. We took the transmisson off and the engine went in with some effort and a few well chosen words.

The granny 4 speed tranny is heavy as heck, but with the aid of a heavy duty floor jack and much wiggling it went in ok.

Now we are to the point we need to hook up the rear section of the C-20 driveshaft to the C-10 yoke on the rear-end.

Danny

[stingrayorangekrate]

Originally Posted by 1Low53Burb

Good for you!

short beds ROCK

[Shyguy]

Just a little up date on our project.

I found the u-joint to hook up the 3/4 ton driveshaft to the 1/2 ton rear-end at Fisher Auto Parts in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The part number is 348, it is pretty pricey, but a lot cheaper than having the drive-shaft modified. It cost right at $28.

We have put the front clip on, filled up the radiator and ran it for a while until the thermostat opened. We had a little problem getting it to run because the fuel line was blocked in a couple of places. My son backed it out of the drive-way and drove down the street a little to check out the brakes, he was so excited because it seemed to run and stop ok.

Here are a couple of pictures before we put the front clip on. You will see tht the engine is a l6, it is a newer 292. My son thinks I am a little strange because I wanted a l6 with a 4 speed granny transmission. He is more into big blocks and 3 speeds.

Now the fun begins, driving it and getting all the parts together to start fixing problem areas.

[Longhorn Man]

When i did my 1/2 ton converson on the burb, I was able to slip the 1/2 ton rear shaft right onto the 3/4 ton front shaft. I wouldn't have believed it had I not done it myself. (both shafts were from big block burbs) But... no expensive U joints at all.

[N2TRUX]

Nice project. Keep us posted on your progress...

[Shyguy]

Well, drove the '67 converted from a C-20 to a C-10 home from my son's to my place last night, not far though - 5 miles.

It ran, but the exhaust pipe to the manifold gasket blew out making it pretty noisy.

Now the real work begans since we have all the parts assembled. At first I am going to make this a reliable daily driver while I search for parts to restore it. It will need a lot of sheet metal replaced in the normal areas.

Eventually the bed will have to go, but for now it will serve the purpose of carrying parts until I can find a correct one.

Danny

[Shyguy]

Progress so far is slow, I am having to work around some pain in my left leg.

I put centers on the rallys yesterday and cleaned out the cab. I am now pretty sure what has to be replaced. One cab corner, inner/outer rocker on passenger's side, driver's side front floor and driver's side rocker assembly.

The previous owner of the l6 told me it was newer than a '72 and a 292. It does have the stock Hei. I think it looks more like a 250 to me. Here are the numbers I got off the engine, hopefully some one can help me identify what size and year engine it is. Block casting number is 3994256, info from the flat machined surface by the distributor is F1008CBJ and 12W136729.

What are you all using to seal the seam on the back of the upper cab and the drip rail?

I almost forgot, the shift pattern for the 4 speed granny transmission in the '67 is different than my '71. Reverse on the '71 is over and down to the right, the one on the '67 is over and down to the left.

Thank you in advance.

Danny

[samwise68]

Lookin' good!

On identifying the 6 - just look at the lifter side covers. a 292's will be inches high, where as a 250's will be around 4 inches.

I checked a few sites for casting numbers, but didn't come up with anything for that particular combination. I'll search some more, though.

-Sam.

[Shyguy]

I also searched the internet for quite a while and could not find anything that the casting number would work with.

I just measured the lifter side covers and they are right at 4" so it must be a 250.

The old lwb '67 frame has a l6 still in it, I will check it Thursday when I am at my son's and get some numbers off it.

Thank you.

Danny

[Shyguy]

Progress on this one is pretty slow, but I have done a few things on it. Economic times being the way they are I had to go back to work, now I am one of the guys at a chain auto parts store some have complained about(lol). Over the last couple of years with the help of this forum I have learned a lot.

As close as I can tell the l6 engine in it is a about a '78 250 because it does not have the integral head but has the HEI set-up with the coil in the cap. Also the oil fill plug is a rubber type plug, not like the earlier l6's that had a metal twist cap.

Since I last posted I put the centers on the rallys, put in and hooked up tail-lights, put in seats out of a mini-van year and make unknown, replaced the solenoid, replaced the head-light switch.

Here are a few pictures. As you can see it has a long way to go, but I have been collecting replacement sheet metal parts.

Danny

[tdave00]

This should be a cool project. Keep at it man.

[thirdstreettito]

Looks like a good project, now all ya need to do is find a 67-72 step bed. Or just cut/weld the one you have.

[toomanytoyz]

Congrat's to you & Your Son, The Truck look's Decent for what you have invested so far, The True Value of working along side your Son to do the Build is Priceless.........

Rick

[Shyguy]

It has been quite a while since I have posted on this thread so I thought I would give an up-date.

I picked up a short step bed about a month ago and the only thing it will need besides paint is new bed wood.

I bought it from a body shop that is in St. Louis and they delivered it for the price they were asking for the bed.

They had removed all dents, primed it and wet sanded it. The owner of the truck decided he wanted a fleetside bed instead of a short step after all the work had been done.

I think the tail gate is off of an older truck, but I like the looks of it.

Here is a few pictures when it was on the original truck, of course I will put it on my 67 next spring when I start the restoration. These are the only pictures I have of the truck the bed was on unfortunately.

All work on the truck has been put on hold for this year so I can repair some extensive water damage in our dining room and finish the craft room for my wife. I am anxious to get started on the truck, but since I don't have the time or garage space I will just have to wait.

Has anyone ever seen a bumper like the one in the picture or know about what year the tail gate is?

Danny

[tcb-1]

looks like a nice bed, Danny! I can't tell you what year the gate is from, but it looks early sixties?

the bumper is from a late 70's, early 80's Malibu wagon. if you like that look, you can also go with a early 80's El Camino bumper. to put it on a step, you make have to cut a bit off of the middle.

[Shyguy]

Thank you for the info on the bumper

Danny

[Boog]

Hey Doug. That rear bumper is definately from the malibu or elcamino. I have seen it used on several older trucks, even the early 50's ones.
That style of GMC tailgate looks more like a 50's style to me. I don't know when they changed to the more square, blocked letter style though. It could very well have been cut and welded into the later yr gate too.
And I have seen pics of that red truck on the forums several times before too. I just can't recall who it belongs to. Sometimers disease....

[tcb-1]

Danny,
unless the previous owner filled the holes in for the tail light brackets, you can go back with the original look. then you have two options! nice!

[chevy29267truck]

WoW sweet looking truck the chevy 292 engine is hard too find and evening parts for the 292 engine and the bolts on the flywheel for the 292 engine are 1/2 inch bolts i am working on a 1967 chevy 3/4 ton long wheel base 4speed a/c truck with small block but soon will have 292 engine