my 72 c20

[DustinB]

alright guys, ive been looking all around where i live for a reasonable priced 67-72 truck. i've always loved these trucks since i saw my grandfathers probably 10 years ago. a friend of mine picked one up and then couldn't keep it. i got her for $530 plus a tow. she was driven daily by the guy who owned it before my friend, then he was having break problems and let it sit, then it was sold. now i have it!
now on to the truck, it is a 71 chevy c20. its got a 305 from a mid 80's camaro (from what i am told). an automatic transmission and on the spid it says the rear axle has 4.10 gears. hasnt run in a while but i plan on making her back into a daily driver/ work truck. i'm not too interested in making this one into a show truck (even if i wanted to i wouldnt have the funds as i am still in high school.) but i am sure i will have plenty of questions that many of you know without even thinking about it. thank you in advance for any and all help. these pictures are from the day i brought it home.

[DustinB]

today i pulled my bench seat out and all of the carpet, the carpet has cigarette burns all through it so i decided i am going to either replace it or just paint the floor with bedliner. i was told this truck had "no rust" which i didn't believe in the first place but i was pleasantly surprised when i pulled the carpet out to see that there wasn't much. here are the best pics i could get of the problem areas and one of the dash. what do you guys think?

[50bomb]

Cool truck! Just get it road worthy and drive it as is. My truck has same rust/cancer like yours but maybe more on passenger side. I tried my terrible welding to patch up a spot on passenger floor above rocker but like you I just really trying to make mine a Daily driver/work horse. Enjoy and have fun with it. Really a clean truck and love the color.

[DustinB]

thank you for the kind words, i honestly have never tried to do patch work but i dont think i want to try it on this.. haha it's not to bad so i dont think i am going to worry about it. just paint it with some rustoleum or something so it doesnt keep rustin.

[DustinB]

oh, and when i pulled the carpet i found a very water logged piece of paper. when i touched it it pretty much fell apart in my hands. it looked like a SPID but i couldn't quite make it out. but on the bottom i read "manufactured in Fremont Calif" so i am assuming that was the original paper work? i also got some pictures of the actual SPID.. sorry for the poor pictures. i only have my cell phone camera as of now..

[DustinB]

i was wondering, since i have an ugly bar style grille that's all bent up any ways, could a 69 or 70 front grille fit on my 72? just the one with the big middle bar that says Chevrolet. i plan on replacing the front bumper too. i assume this is all interchangeable? thanks!

[DustinB]

this is a 3/4 ton truck but i would like to lower it. not too far and still keep the suspension enough to use it as somewhat of a work truck. is this possible? if so what is the easiest way? and if not how would i just level the rear end so it isnt taller than the front end?
i was thinking maybe 2 inches in the back and maybe just an inch in the front?

[DustinB]

it has been a while since i have posted, but i have since gotten the truck running, put new wheels and tires, and waxed her, this weekend i will be replacing the transmission pan gasket and filter so hopefully the transmission will stop leaking! Cant wait to be driving her everyday!

[tsali39]

Looks great! Keep up the good work and post photos!

[Tinkermc]

you can't beat the price and it looks like an easy fix

[DustinB]

thanks guys! and yeah, so far it has just been simple things. i cant wait for it to be done enough to drive! haha

[thelonerife]

Nice buy! I like your truck.

[DustinB]

thank you! she definitely isn't the prettiest truck but i love it anyways!

[DustinB]

i have found a couple different things online saying that one way to lower a c20 without swapping it to a five lug is that you can cut the coils up front and pull some of the leafs from the rear. has anyone done this before?

[DustinB]

anyone?

[DustinB]

or is it a better idea to swap the axle to the top of the leaf springs instead?

[chevynova22602]

The 69/70 grill will work and when u get new bumper make sure its for 69/70 also cause the park lights will now be in grill.
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[DustinB]

Thank you!
I am replacing the transmission pan gasket and the crossmember is in the way. what would be the best way to get it out of the way? i have heard you jack up the trans a little bit and just unbolt it and slide it out of the way? where is the best place to put the jack? thanks guys!

[chevynova22602]

Unfortunately it has button rivets in it if it hasn't already been removed and re installed but if not them buttons will have to be ground out and its a pain with motor in the way and u have a v8 so its realy hard
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[DustinB]

well we got the gasket replaced and its still leaking but ever so slightly now. before it was just dumping out all the way around the pan, but now it leaves just a little drip under it when its parked for a while. i think i can live with that for now as replacing the pan gasket was a pain in the butt.. for as of now i have it running and driving quite well. i sure do love these trucks! thanks guys for all of the advice so far, i'm sure i'll need some more soon..

[DustinB]

Alright guys, just a quick update, haven't posted anything in a while. My alternator went out on it the other day. Replacing that tomorrow, got a lead on an all steel diamond plate flatbed, with the headache rack already built onto it. At this point it's getting down to the smaller stuff, need some shocks, the turn signal lever needs to be put on and she needs weather striping and still some hood hinges, but man I sure am glad to be drivin her. I love my chevy!!
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[DustinB]

Well today I traded my truck. It was somewhat a spur of the moment thing. Straight across for a 85 gmc rc drw. I'm happy with the trade and I know the guy who got the 72 will take care of it.
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[Mustard72]

What? You went from loving your truck to trading it in just a few days! Be sure to tell the other fella about this forum, and maybe we'll see your old truck back here again. Good luck with the 85!

[DustinB]

Well I still loved it even though I traded it. Now I've got somethin bigger. The bigger the better right? Lol I told him about it before cause he already has a 72 c10. Not sure if he joined, I'll remind him next time I talk to him. He wanted it real Bad and I know he'll take care of her, and I can use a one ton pretty often so I figured why not. If I want a 67-72 back I have no worries of being able to find one again. There are tons of people around here that still daily drive theirs. And plenty that have been left out on people's ranches. Not much rust here either so no worries. I'll have another some day I'm sure. I love that body style more than any other.
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