1960 C60 Dump Truck

[Mattman2010]

My family has had this 1960 Chevy C60 for quite a while. The truck has been used as a grain truck for years but the thing has seen better days and sense it has a dumping bed on it I would like to get it up and running really good again.



The truck needs brakes really badly. Master cylinder to the wheel cylinders but I can not find parts for this thing. None of the local chain parts stores have anything for this big of a truck. Anyone know of a place I can get all of these parts from?

The truck also has a straight 6 in it and it really seems to small for this truck. It will get you there, but it seems very very underpowered for the size of the truck and I have a 80's 350 setting in my shop and was wondering if maybe the 350 would swap into this truck pretty easily and be a good upgrade. Not sure if the bell housing pattern is the same or not. I would like to keep the transmission currently in it because it has a PTO on it to power the pump for the dump bed. Id really like to stick a cummins in it and maybe a 13 speed or something, but for now I want to use what I have laying around the shop.

[Mattman2010]

More pics

[buggy5872]

Look over on Stovebolt.com Post it in the big bolts forum. There are a bunch of guys there who know where to get brake parts or where to send them to get rebuilt for these big old trucks.

[Greg63]

That truck has the makings of a real nice project. It is very intact.
Greg.

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by buggy5872

Look over on Stovebolt.com Post it in the big bolts forum. There are a bunch of guys there who know where to get brake parts or where to send them to get rebuilt for these big old trucks.

Thanks for the tip. Signed up over there seems like there are a ton of truck this size getting built up.

Originally Posted by Greg63

That truck has the makings of a real nice project. It is very intact.
Greg.

Yes it is in really good shape and would make a good project, but I dont own the truck so I cant really do with it as I please. Its nice to have a big dump truck around but have not been able to really use it because of the fact that the brakes are just not in great condition anymore. Hoping to get the master cylinder, brake lines, hoses and wheel cylinders replaced so I can actually drive the truck with comfort.

[mrolds88]

Great truck. As far as brakes, NAPA should be able to fix you up. As far as the engine swap goes, it will work, but bellhousing and flywheel will be different. If it has a 13" clutch you will need the adaptor plate for the bellhousing too and may not need the bellhousing. Keep us posted!!!!

[Mattman2010]

Thanks I posted over on stove bolt and a guy hooked me up with all the part numbers I would need. As for the engine swap I dont know that that is going to happen. The truck is my dads and he is not for changing stuff that doesnt have a problem. The straight 6 still runs great, but I think its to small for the size of the truck. So the straight 6 will either have to die or we are going to have to retire this truck from hauling grain before I can really do anything I want to it. I would really like to swap a cummins into it, but my dad is against that as well. I like the dump bed feature on the truck, but it would almost be cool to remove that and drop a cummins in this truck and use it to haul trailers.

[alabama mike]

That 6 will pull the truck around fine, its all about gearing in these old trucks, I have a 65 with a 292 6cyl and it runs great and will carry a heck of a load, but it will only run about 55 top speed, so even if you swapped a 350 in the truck your top end will be limited to what gears you have in the diff.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Mattman2010

The straight 6 still runs great, but I think its to small for the size of the truck. So the straight 6 will either have to die or we are going to have to retire this truck from hauling grain before I can really do anything I want to it.

If the engine runs great , IMO , I would leave it alone. It may be the 261 big six instead of the smaller 235 6, both with excellent reliability records. This truck GVW is the limiting factor on who much you can carry or pull. Hauling grain is what it is set up to do, and should able to do just fine with regular routine maintenance. Worry about the brake system first. As Alabama Mike said, these trucks are generally geared for 55 mph, which would be fine around town and secondary roads.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Nice truck and that 6-Cylinder Engine wouldn't bother me one bit. Could very well be a 261 as mentioned above.

Bill

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by alabama mike

That 6 will pull the truck around fine, its all about gearing in these old trucks, I have a 65 with a 292 6cyl and it runs great and will carry a heck of a load, but it will only run about 55 top speed, so even if you swapped a 350 in the truck your top end will be limited to what gears you have in the diff.

Originally Posted by factorystock

If the engine runs great , IMO , I would leave it alone. It may be the 261 big six instead of the smaller 235 6, both with excellent reliability records. This truck GVW is the limiting factor on who much you can carry or pull. Hauling grain is what it is set up to do, and should able to do just fine with regular routine maintenance. Worry about the brake system first. As Alabama Mike said, these trucks are generally geared for 55 mph, which would be fine around town and secondary roads.

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

Nice truck and that 6-Cylinder Engine wouldn't bother me one bit. Could very well be a 261 as mentioned above.

Bill

This is exactly why I like to post things on the web. I understand all of the things you all stated but when I was thinking about it I didnt really thing about all of that and so swapping in the 350 wouldnt really help. I know the 261 is fine, it gets the truck where it needs to go. Plus I would rather be able to use the truck than have it torn down and just setting there. Plan is to get the truck running the way it sets. Brakes and then I will probably do some maintenance to the motor as well. Spark plugs, wires and maybe check the points (I think this uses points right?). It will probably be a while till I get around to working on this thing tho as my 84 Crew cab is taking up most of the room in the shop and so I need to at least start putting that back together and then I should be able to fix this truck up. I will keep this updated tho!

[buggy5872]

Glad you were able to get the info on the brake parts. There are some great guys on there who know these big old trucks

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Give the Engine a good super tune. Install new Points, Plugs, possibly Wires, Check the Timing, Re-Adjust the Carb, etc. Also re-adjust the Valves if necessary. Use a good maintenance manual for the correct procedure. I would also put a Straight-Thru Muffler on it. That would give you less restriction which will give you a little more power as well as sounding a whole lot sweeter.

Bill

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by buggy5872

Glad you were able to get the info on the brake parts. There are some great guys on there who know these big old trucks

Yes there are. There are all kinds of cool old trucks over there.

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

Give the Engine a good super tune. Install new Points, Plugs, possibly Wires, Check the Timing, Re-Adjust the Carb, etc. Also re-adjust the Valves if necessary. Use a good maintenance manual for the correct procedure. I would also put a Straight-Thru Muffler on it. That would give you less restriction which will give you a little more power as well as sounding a whole lot sweeter.

Bill

That's my plan. As for the muffler, I think this truck already has straight through ones. The exhaust goes to the back of the cab and then that's it. And there is a muffler just on the end of that.
Posted via Mobile Device

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by Mattman2010

The exhaust goes to the back of the cab and then that's it. And there is a muffler just on the end of that.
Posted via Mobile Device

Right, it sounds like it has the original type set-up.

Bill

[JPBrecheisen]

Did you ever get this truck running again?

I've always wanted to get one of these old flat bed or grain trucks. I think they're pretty cool.

I stumbled upon on recently that is in great shape. Guy bought it to take the cab and hood off for his C10. Its super clean, so I might try to make an offer on it just to save it from being torn down.

Its super complete and pretty straight like yours is. Seems a shame to tear it apart just for the cab.

Hope you get yours back on the road. Its a neat truck for sure.

[Mattman2010]

I have not even touched this truck yet. Been to busy with school and trying to keep my toys on the road.
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[Sunshinemm73]

I to have a 1960 c60 that i plan to get going I would like to convert to power brakes and do a 12 v Cummins swap and was curious if they make an adapter from that to the standard transmission that it has in the truck

[jumpsoffrock]

Is it a 4 speed or 5? Might want to start your own thread as well.

[Sunshinemm73]

4 speed. Ill go ahead and do that

[jumpsoffrock]

I don't know anything about diesel conversions, but look for an adapter to an SM420 trans. Those transmissions are very well known and they might actually be something.

[BlueDiver]

I have a 1960 C-50 with a SM420 4 spd and I need to replace the clutch. Does anyone have any part numbers for that.

I went to the auto parts store and they said it had either a 10" or 10.5" flywheel and I would have to pull it to find out. I'd like to have parts on hand when I went to replace it. Any advice?