Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ClassicTVMan1981X · 05-08-2013, 09:37 PM

I have a question: did Frito-Lay ever run a fleet of 1967-70 Chevy Step Vans with the 3-53 Detroit Diesel engine?

Thank you,

Ben (ClassicTVMan1981X)

Bigdav160 · 05-08-2013, 10:19 PM

Deja Vu

Your thread from a couple days ago.

I'm not sure if GM produced their own bodies or just sold chassis to the body builders. Grumman seemed to used mostly Ford chassis/running gear.

ClassicTVMan1981X · 05-08-2013, 10:34 PM

(pic by Flickr stanh4464)

Here's a Chevy Step Van (but a 1976-79 model and obviously with a gas engine) operated by Frito-Lay, in October 1983. The FL logo on it was in use from 1961-79. The '67-'70 FL vans would've bore this logo, too.

~Ben

**special-K** · 05-08-2013, 10:39 PM

GM is the only top 3 who did produce their own StepVans. "StepVan" is a GM trademark,just like "Stepside". But,Plenty of Grumman bodied GMs out there as well. The little mail rigs you see are Grumman bodies in S10 chassis.
I believe I recall Frito-Lay StepVans with 4-53s. In my area we are fortunate to have a much better chip company in Hanover,PA...Utz,and they traditionally ran GM s\chassis StepVans. Again,memory is coming up short on whether they ran the 4-53s,but I know for sure they ran the 4BT/TH400 combo for years.

**70cst** · 05-08-2013, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

GM is the only top 3 who did produce their own StepVans. "StepVan" is a GM trademark,just like "Stepside". But,Plenty of Grumman bodied GMs out there as well. The little mail rigs you see are Grumman bodies in S10 chassis.
I believe I recall Frito-Lay StepVans with 4-53s. In my area we are fortunate to have a much better chip company in Hanover,PA...Utz,and they traditionally ran GM s\chassis StepVans. Again,memory is coming up short on whether they ran the 4-53s,but I know for sure they ran the 4BT/TH400 combo for years.

Good info Thanks

Wrenchbender Ret · 05-08-2013, 11:02 PM

I did all the work on Frito step vans in this area & a lot of major work on surrounding areas going back to 1965 models. I never had one with the 3-53 Deisel eng. They converted a lot of them to the 4BT Cummins. They tried propane conversions which was a desmal failure. Most of there step vans were Grummans bodys on chev chassis with 292 engines. Some were 350 v-8 & a few were Fords with 300 CID 6 cyl.

cheyenne shortstep · 05-08-2013, 11:37 PM

A buddy of mine has a Grumman/GM that was custom built to pull a 5th wheel hauling a drag car. It is a half cab with a flatbed, pretty cool in itself. It is powered by a small 4cyl turbo diesel, not sure what it is but I wanna say Detroit. Next time I see him I will get a pic and more info., he knows the complete history and has paperwork from when ordered. He also has the trailer.

chevy88 · 05-09-2013, 12:18 AM

Most that I have seen are 4bt cummins with th 400 trans.
Posted via Mobile Device

**special-K** · 05-09-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70cst

Good info Thanks

You mean the Utz potato chips? Send me your address and I'll ship you some. Bet you can't eat just a small bag!

OOPs,I kept typing 4-53 when it's the 3-53s.

Always Chevy from the start:

alsriv2 · 05-09-2013, 02:11 PM

Like those Utz chips... have a bag of Utz Cheese popcorn on my desk now!

GCncsuHD · 05-09-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

You mean the Utz potato chips? Send me your address and I'll ship you some. Bet you can't eat just a small bag!

OOPs,I kept typing 4-53 when it's the 3-53s.

Always Chevy from the start:

Utz's Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips, and their BBQ Chips are Nomz

**Ol Blue K20** · 05-09-2013, 03:04 PM

I feel bad, never even heard of the Utz brand....Maybe I should leave the left coast sometimes....

cheyenne shortstep · 05-09-2013, 03:10 PM

Never heard of Utz either, I think Special-k should come out to the Brothers show with a couple cases for us Cali. guys to try.

**Ol Blue K20** · 05-09-2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheyenne shortstep

Never heard of Utz either, I think Special-k should come out to the Brothers show with a couple cases for us Cali. guys to try.

I'm liking the way you think, I agree also

How bout it Tim?

rambler · 05-09-2013, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy88

Most that I have seen are 4bt cummins with th 400 trans.
Posted via Mobile Device

I think there is a build on here where someone put this in one of our trucks.. I would love to do that..

**special-K** · 05-10-2013, 09:15 AM

Sorry for the hijack. I promise I'm done after this. But,Utz does use the Chevys w/diesel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheyenne shortstep

Never heard of Utz either, I think Special-k should come out to the Brothers show with a couple cases for us Cali. guys to try.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I'm liking the way you think, I agree also

How bout it Tim?

I was thinking the same thing. I was born here in Maryland. I've lived in some places I liked a whole lot (CA,AZ,FL,CO) but came back because they didn't have Utz Chips...honestly. I wouldn't tell a lie

I just found this for those in L.A.:
http://losangeles.grubstreet.com/201...s-stanley.html
The second picture shows the Utz girl with the National Bohemian (Natty Boh) Beer dude...the pride of Baltimore?

**Ol Blue K20** · 05-10-2013, 09:40 AM

Thanks for the pics and,article Tim. Now I'm on the hunt for them.
Posted via Mobile Device

ClassicTVMan1981X · 06-04-2014, 03:18 AM

By chance, has anyone ever tried to shoehorn a 6V53T/MT643 power team into a Step Van "King"?

~Ben

05-08-2013, 09:37 PM	#1
ClassicTVMan1981X Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Milwaukie, Oregon Posts: 69	Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans I have a question: did Frito-Lay ever run a fleet of 1967-70 Chevy Step Vans with the 3-53 Detroit Diesel engine? Thank you, Ben (ClassicTVMan1981X)

05-08-2013, 10:19 PM	#2
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans Deja Vu Your thread from a couple days ago. I'm not sure if GM produced their own bodies or just sold chassis to the body builders. Grumman seemed to used mostly Ford chassis/running gear. __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

05-08-2013, 10:34 PM	#3
ClassicTVMan1981X Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Milwaukie, Oregon Posts: 69	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans (pic by Flickr stanh4464) Here's a Chevy Step Van (but a 1976-79 model and obviously with a gas engine) operated by Frito-Lay, in October 1983. The FL logo on it was in use from 1961-79. The '67-'70 FL vans would've bore this logo, too. ~Ben Last edited by ClassicTVMan1981X; 05-08-2013 at 10:49 PM.

05-08-2013, 10:39 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans GM is the only top 3 who did produce their own StepVans. "StepVan" is a GM trademark,just like "Stepside". But,Plenty of Grumman bodied GMs out there as well. The little mail rigs you see are Grumman bodies in S10 chassis. I believe I recall Frito-Lay StepVans with 4-53s. In my area we are fortunate to have a much better chip company in Hanover,PA...Utz,and they traditionally ran GM s\chassis StepVans. Again,memory is coming up short on whether they ran the 4-53s,but I know for sure they ran the 4BT/TH400 combo for years. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

05-08-2013, 11:02 PM	#6
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,229	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans I did all the work on Frito step vans in this area & a lot of major work on surrounding areas going back to 1965 models. I never had one with the 3-53 Deisel eng. They converted a lot of them to the 4BT Cummins. They tried propane conversions which was a desmal failure. Most of there step vans were Grummans bodys on chev chassis with 292 engines. Some were 350 v-8 & a few were Fords with 300 CID 6 cyl.

05-08-2013, 11:37 PM	#7
cheyenne shortstep Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vista Ca. Posts: 2,405	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans A buddy of mine has a Grumman/GM that was custom built to pull a 5th wheel hauling a drag car. It is a half cab with a flatbed, pretty cool in itself. It is powered by a small 4cyl turbo diesel, not sure what it is but I wanna say Detroit. Next time I see him I will get a pic and more info., he knows the complete history and has paperwork from when ordered. He also has the trailer.

05-09-2013, 12:18 AM	#8
chevy88 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern, Saskatchewan Posts: 640	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans Most that I have seen are 4bt cummins with th 400 trans. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Kerry My build thread. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=3657823 1971 Chev SWB with 68 nose, 6.2 diesel th350, and 3.73 rear gears 1988 Chev Extendacab 2010 Honda VT1300CS Sabre 2005 Buick Rendezvous wife's ride

05-09-2013, 02:11 PM	#10
alsriv2 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Formerly MD and San Diego, now loving life in Arizona Posts: 1,636	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans Like those Utz chips... have a bag of Utz Cheese popcorn on my desk now! __________________ Alan 2012 Ram 3500 Dually Crew Cab 6.7 Cummins 2014 Palomino Columbus 340RK 5th wheel '69 Chevy C10 396BB

05-09-2013, 03:04 PM	#12
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 16,245	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans I feel bad, never even heard of the Utz brand....Maybe I should leave the left coast sometimes.... __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man R.I.P. FleetsidePaul

05-09-2013, 03:10 PM	#13
cheyenne shortstep Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vista Ca. Posts: 2,405	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans Never heard of Utz either, I think Special-k should come out to the Brothers show with a couple cases for us Cali. guys to try.

05-10-2013, 09:40 AM	#17
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 16,245	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans Thanks for the pics and,article Tim. Now I'm on the hunt for them. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man R.I.P. FleetsidePaul

06-04-2014, 03:18 AM	#18
ClassicTVMan1981X Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Milwaukie, Oregon Posts: 69	Re: Question About 1967-70 "Frito-Lay" Step Vans By chance, has anyone ever tried to shoehorn a 6V53T/MT643 power team into a Step Van "King"? ~Ben



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