brought home a 68 yesterday!

[Rupdog]

i just bought what seems to be a very original 68 lwb. however, it's got 8 lugs, but with trailing arms/coil spring rear. was this possible? please help. i'll try to post pics tomorrow.

[dmack91]

8 lug is the standard 3/4 ton, which only came in long box form. Chevy's came stock with coils/trailing arms and GMC came stock with leafs. Both could be optioned the other way though.

Mine is also a 68 3/4t with coils.

Now, you have to post some pics!

[Rupdog]

i found some pics on my work computer... let me know what you guys think.

also, i don't think the engine is original. it's blue, and the front pad stamping starts with an MJ, then some numbers. the block casting is 3970010. the trans is an SM465 i think. it's been converted to floor shift.

any help would be appreciated. thanks guys!

[Flint70step]

Very cool truck! I dig the 8 lug slots,hang on to those and clean them up a bit.They will set off your truck all nice n shiny

[dhaymaker]

Decent looking truck! The 3970010 is a 350 (and, yes, I know that's kind of generic). I was looking for the MJ code, but it's not in the SBC listing I usually refer to.

[Rupdog]

yeah, i couldn't find it either. according to what i found, it was used for 350, 327, and 302. but there's no VIN stamped next to the suffix stamp at the front, which implies a lower horserpower application (?) standard stamping format for late sixties is PREFIX, then date code, then suffix stamping. the suffix gives application, ie 327 4 speed with CA A.I.R, but my stamping is just MJ03800 or something like that. i don't recall right now. i think this might be a crate motor, or a swap from an early 70s application. i read somewhere that the 3970010 casting was used through 74. can't figure out why this engine is blue, but doesn't appear to have been repainted recently. no hint of orange anywhere either. any ideas when chevy went to blue paint for small blocks?

thanks again. keep the info coming!!

[Rupdog]

also, anyone recognize that air cleaner? it doesn't look like a 68.

[Jeffs70]

great looking truck

[Beat68CST]

Man, I gotta say, extremely jealous of them 8 lug Kidney bean wheels...


My step grandpa had a set on his 69 and my grandma always kept stock 16.5's on my my (now) truck.


Sweet right though!

[Rupdog]

i have another set in the garage that came off my 70, but they're approx 8 inch wide, not 10s.

[bobs409]

Originally Posted by Rupdog

also, anyone recognize that air cleaner? it doesn't look like a 68.

Looks like the factory air cleaner on my 69 C30 wrecker (350)

[Sicklajoie]

Great looking C/20!!!

[Shyguy]

The L6 250 in my '67 is original and painted blue. The engine looks like never has been painted since new.

The 4 speed transmissions were floor shifters with a granny low.

[RCbowtie69]

Nice truck,

[yuccales]

Great find! I also think the wheels look good. Calif. native with orginal plates is getting harder to find. Is the lic. plate frame from the original dealer?

[dmack91]

The air cleaner looks like the one on my 68, but don't know if it was factory (engine is now SB400).

BTW, find a parts truck with a power brake booster and you will be very happy with the results (hour long job, direct bolt-in).

[gferris5]

I have the same seat cover! It is not original, it came from O'reilly's (haha, that is a joke, btw). I actually think it kind of sucks, it always shifts around every time I get in and out of the truck--the pocket is handy though.

[Rob H.]

I'm thinking late 70's is when they went with blue on engines, I know I had a 79 Monte Carlo with a blue small block. Great looking truck whatever is under the hood, and I agree with the others on the slots, I love them on these trucks!

[BlackTopMotors]

Originally Posted by Flint70step

Very cool truck! I dig the 8 lug slots,hang on to those and clean them up a bit.They will set off your truck all nice n shiny

Agree! I don't see those very often, look great!

[low'n slow]

looks good. What's the chain for?

[Rupdog]

Originally Posted by Shyguy

The L6 250 in my '67 is original and painted blue. The engine looks like never has been painted since new.

The 4 speed transmissions were floor shifters with a granny low.

this was converted to floor shift. someone cut a hole in the hump. it has what appears to be the original column in place, and the "nub" for the column shifter is still there. someone removed the arm and pin.

[Rupdog]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Great find! I also think the wheels look good. Calif. native with orginal plates is getting harder to find. Is the lic. plate frame from the original dealer?

yes, original frames front and back. i think it was courtesty chevrolet, but i don't remember. i know it was in san jose, ca. i don't think the plates have ever been removed. truck was built in fremont (Z in VIN).

[Rupdog]

Originally Posted by dmack91

The air cleaner looks like the one on my 68, but don't know if it was factory (engine is now SB400).

BTW, find a parts truck with a power brake booster and you will be very happy with the results (hour long job, direct bolt-in).

yeah, i hate to mod such an original truck, but i'd love to add power brakes and power steering. currently 4 wheel drums, manual brakes. i may go junkyard hunting this coming weekend. LOL

DMACK... can i just add a booster, and leave the same master?

[Rupdog]

Originally Posted by gferris5

I have the same seat cover! It is not original, it came from O'reilly's (haha, that is a joke, btw). I actually think it kind of sucks, it always shifts around every time I get in and out of the truck--the pocket is handy though.

yeah, it does shift around. pocket? where the heck is it?

[Rupdog]

Originally Posted by low'n slow

looks good. What's the chain for?

chain is my hi-tech hood lock. shhh... don't tell anyone.