Thoughts on a 62 C-30 - potential build....

[ScottN795]

I'm looking for some thoughts and input from the group. I have a 62 Chevy C-30 flatbed factory dually with a 261 straight 6 with a 4 speed. Originally I was going to use a later (1974 1 ton Chevy flatbed dually 454/TH400) chassis and the 62 cab to build a shop truck. Plans have changed and the 74 has been been re purposed, I just picked up a 59 Chevy Viking 40, and it looks like this cab will fit better on the 74 chassis (stay tuned)...

Anyway this brings me back to the original question; what to do with the 62 1 ton dually? I like the nostalgia idea of keeping the 261 (going multiple carbs, header w/ split exhaust) maybe an S-10 5 speed or a 700R4 (a bell housing adapter is required I think)? (I have no false expectations of this being any kind of tow vehicle, just a shop truck to carry bulky things and be forklift accessible.) I have no idea what is available for the early 1 ton front end for disc brakes? Any ideas? 62 is the last year of the torsion bar front end... With that said, I want the truck to be usable, travel at freeway speeds easily (60-65) and be reliable. I thought at one point to covert it over to be a half ton, but here in Northern CA, I don't see many decent 60-66 1 tons, and thought it might be different and kind of cool?

If anyone has photos of 60-66 1 tons and or flatbeds, I would love to see them for motivation!

Thanks!

[1963c-10]

Heres a c-40 that Ive been wanting. For sale...been tryna pile cash before it goes. Only needs a winshield and all original drivetrain and interior. I really like the flatbeds and this one would definitely find some use at my house.

[ScottN795]

Thanks for posting the pictures, that's a great looking truck no doubt! Good luck getting it before somebody else does....

[aerotruk63]

I ran a stock 64 GMC 960 as a daily driver. It does the same job as the trucks of today at 7 miles to a gallon and twice the time to get anywhere. No reason not to run it as is. lol

[pestwagon]

I'll be first in line to buy the 261!!!!

[1955 mancave]

i know how you feel, i picked mine up about a month ago.

[62 Longbed]

Glad to see another person with the 261 engine as factory in there truck .. I found a flat bed as well and was thinking of picking it up and doing the 5 speed conversion as well as adding maybe side rails or making look like a form of delivery vehicle / or a produce or wine delivery truck .... Many possibilities , but I think keeping it a flat bed dually is a must ...

[ScottN795]

Thanks guys for the feedback and pictures!. 62 Longbed, any chance of 261 pictures?!?!? The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of building the C-30 this way. 261 with the stock 4 speed for now, with plans to convert to a 5 speed as I come across one, and definitely leave it a flatbed. The 261 is completely stock right now and runs great... Mechanically the truck is very solid, the previous owner used it to haul a large water tank during construction of his house in the Sierra Nevada Foothills in Northern CA. I don't think it has seen a paved road in over a decade. Maybe a Fenton or Offy dual carb intake with split header....

[62 Longbed]

Here are some pictures of my 261 ... Just stock , its nice having the direct oiling system with the 1 inch oil tubes ... I runs great with no smoke or oil loss , so I'm gonna just run for now and enjoy ... Got rid of the generator .. On the lower hose you can see the heater hose heating element .. Don't need around here , but gets people asking questions about it ... There is only 2 other trucks local besides mine with the factory 261 that I know of ... I've been told that it wasn't normally stock in the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks in this year ... Mine at one time belonged to the U.S. Forest Svc .. so I believe thats where the 261 came in as a special order on the truck .. What the truck was used for I'm not sure .. that granny low is low .... But was well taken care of ... Have some misc paperwork from the U.S. Forest Svc. , but nobody really could tell me much about the truck , but one gentleman remembers when a shipment of 14 trucks came in , step side , fleetside , suburbans , flatbed , and two tank tanker trucks .. C-60 ??? Some cool history anyway .. I wish he had some pictures ...

I will do the 5 speed conversion sometime , not sure when ..
Just enjoying being able to drive it ... Good Luck on yours !!!

Sorry the pictures aren't the best ...

[ScottN795]

Thanks for posting the pictures of the engine, very clean! Since you are running the 261 and a 4 speed, what rear gear is in your truck? I'm trying to figure out if my flatbed will be drive able in today's world with the current setup? I think my C30 has a 4.10 gear in it, which means a lot of RPM even at 55 -60 MPH (around 3000) or so. That seems too high for any real duration. I know this is how it used to be back in the day, but in today's world of overdrive transmissions and lock up torque converters we're used to cruising all day, 70 MPH at 1800 RPM... I'm probably way over thinking this!

[62 Longbed]

I'm in the same boat as you with the rearend gears and RPM's ... Thats why I just cruise around town because out on the highway its revving high !! Thats why I want to change to the S-10 5 speed trans or if going to an automatic I would do the 200R-4 trans .. That way I can keep up in traffic or on the freeway ...