1969 Chevy C50

[South Florida C50]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this site and this is my first post. I just bought a 1969 C50 grain truck that I've only ever seen on a web site and I'm having it shipped down here to south Florida the first week of November. I found this site surfing the web looking for parts. I plan on making a pickup out of this truck like many of you on here have done. Do any of you who live in Florida know where I can buy an 8ft., all steel, fleet side bed from a 69-72 C20 or C30 to start my project build? I hope I can trailer one down here from central or even north Florida. We don't have any junk yards in south Florida like some of you lucky fellas do in the mid west or New England coast. Any info on where I can find a donor truck or parts for my build in Florida would be greatly appreciated. My name is Randall if you want to call me. My cell is always on 954-234-8849.

[rkn463]

Welcome to the board! I wish I cold help but I'm all the way over here in Texas. Looks like a cool project, make sure to post plenty of pictures when it arrives. What else can yo tell us about it?

-Richard

[South Florida C50]

Thank you RKN463,

I bought the truck from Smokey Jennings truck sales way up in Illinois. Super nice owner, Roger Jennings. He has 4 lots of trucks and cars for sale up in that area with over 100 employees working for him, and when I called the dealership about the truck I saw on their site, of all people to answer the phone... the "owner himself", you got to Love small towns! Mr. Jennings owns a winter home down here in south Florida somewhere on the west coast and offered to trailer it down here for me the first week in November. He said the truck runs great. It has a 366 BB with a 4 speed/2 speed rear, the pto and 10,000 lb. lifting cylinders are still on it, but grain body was removed because it was damaged. Fine by me, that's one less thing that I will have to remove. I'm sure that most of you have seen the sweet Green and white 1972 C50 sitting on 22.5's that was built by a gentleman from this site who also lives here in Florida, well sir , I want to clone that truck!!! I saw his truck for sale on the web ( it was an old ad that had not been removed yet) and called him to buy it for $16,000, but he had already sold it to a guy who lives in Texas. I fell in love with his truck and was crushed when I found out it was already gone because I had never seen something like that done before. I knew from that day that I was going to have to build my own because they are so rare in this part of the country where I live. I can't wait to get started.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Nice looking project you have there. The pick-up that you posted was actually owned by one of the site members here on the forums.

Keep us posted with your project.

Bill

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Welcome to the forum!
Give Sal's Towing in Oakland Park a call. I know they used to have a junkyard in Pompano on Powerline Rd years ago. Not sure if he still owns it, but he has access to lots of "junk"
Please keep in mind forum rules. You'll have to become a supporting member to post a "want-to-buy"

[South Florida C50]

Thank you for the replies C10-C90 Bill and 63 & 64 Bowties. I just paid $25.00 to become a Premium Member for a year, so I can ask people to help me get parts for my project truck.

[South Florida C50]

Well I spoke with Mr. Jennings today, the owner of Smoky Jennings trucks in Illinois, and he gave me a delivery date for my C50 of Nov. 15th. I think $800 for 4 days of driving sounds more than fair. The frame hasn't been cut down for the pickup bed yet so it's going to fill up his whole trailer. I think I found an 8ft. fleet side bed already, well my brother in-law found it 100 miles north of me in Fort Pierce, Florida. He said it looked pretty good and the owner only wants $400 for it. Chevy C30... perfect. I'm heading up next weekend to check it out. Well that's it for now, have a great weekend everyone.

[South Florida C50]

Thank You Colgad!!

[South Florida C50]

Got some more pic's....

I should receive the truck in a week or so. God I have a lot to do!

Check out my custom fuel filler cap, I think it's a garbage bag and a zip tie!

[South Florida C50]

Well it finally arrived yesterday 11/13/14. I got my first look at it around 12:00p.m. 2 1/2 days on a trailer. I love the truck don't get me wrong but, WoW have I got a lot of work ahead of me. I backed it off the trailer for Mr. Jennings and it fired right up on the first try. After I checked the oil and the water later in the day I took it for drive for about twenty mins. or so. It ran strong and the brakes seemed to work fine. Good tranny, and the rear end split the gears well. This is not a 366 BB with a four barrel as I was told. The glove box sticker said...350 V8. I haven't checked the numbers on the motor yet. I took a few pics with a gopro, wrote down a list of easy to fix things that I saw. I am driving 100 miles each way to work on the truck in my spare time, I can't do the fabrication at my house because I live in a big city, and code enforcement would have a field day if my neighbors called because of the late night welding and grinding in my drive way! I'll start a build thread soon and document the work with pics. Here's a few from yesterdays first encounter.....

[Cash3481]

Nice start and congrats on receiving the truck! I'll continue to follow along. I feel sorry for you driving 100 miles to work on the truck. I don't have a bldg yet but I can walk outside and wrench anytime I want to. Keep going and I'll be here to cheer you on!

[jumpsoffrock]

Please be careful when assuming the brakes are OK. (after my C50 had sat for most of the last 25 years)...It took about two months and 80-100 miles before my wheel cylinders started to go; both front wheel cylinders gave out first, I started doing the break work before the rears got a chance to die. Although other brake parts and even wheel bearings look to have been replaced at some time, the wheel cylinders all looked original.

It's not easy to do, but well worth it.

[South Florida C50]

Thanks Cash3481,
Yes, the driving part is going to suck, but there are 3 plus sides to having the truck dropped off that far up north of me,
1. I have been a welder for a living my whole life so I got that part of the build covered, but my mechanical skills are Very limited. My brother in-law has 35+ years of wrenching on heavy equipment, owns a heavy 1" impact gun & tools, plus a plasma, oxy/ace torch, mig & stick welding machines etc.
2. We can make as much noise on his property day or night without disturbing anyone as we want. He's putting up a 20' x 10' canvas tent this weekend for us to work under. They wont let me do the work where I live, I can't even have the pole tarp in my neighborhood.
3. My mother in-law lives 4 acres away, so between her and my sister in-law I stay pretty well fed while I'm up there. $$$ = FREE LUNCH & Dinner..... LOL

And thanks for your reply jumpsoffrock,
You are 100% right, I know absolutely nothing about those brakes, I was so excited to finally get the truck, after a quick check of the oil and water I had to take it for a test ride, defiantly wasn't a smart thing to do. It was a back country roads and I never even saw another car, but you are right, I shouldn't assume that their fine, we need to pull all the hubs and see where we stand. I'm heading up there this morning with a new 3500 psi pressure washer to try and knock off 45 yrs. years mud from the frame and wheels. Give it a little TLC in the cab too. I bought buckets full of cleaning supplies yesterday, the inside of the cab is filthy and it smells like ass! LOL

[greg64]

Nice looking truck! Going to make a good project. Good luck, and take lots of pics

[jumpsoffrock]

Let me say this: your truck looks a heck of a lot nice than mine did!
While it is possible--I wouldn't expect your brakes to simply fail out of nowhere, but rather start leaking one cylinder at a time, maybe worn shoes, etc. Just thought I'd let you know to be ready to replace the parts (oh, and don't forget the rear hub seals!).

Sounds like you and your family/friends are MADE to restore old cars, you have a lot of skills that fit well with this hobby, very cool.

I might even PM you with some welding questions, if it's OK with you.

[colgad]

I know we have talked about the brakes before if are keeping them at least split the system to a dual brake master. This way if you do loose a cylinder you still can stop. Oh and check the lines where they are clipped to the frame, thats where mine burst.

I got one of my hubs back on and new caliper on today too!
One more tomorrow!
Back on the ground tomorrow hopefully.

[Cash3481]

I never get tired of seeing these big trucks going together.
Keep up the great work!

[Peanutbutter]

Looks like a nice solid truck, since its a hydraulic brake truck I'm wondering what the air brake compressor is doing there. That's something I could use if you decide to take it off, I'll PM you later on that. Last of the great trucks.

[South Florida C50]

Hello Peanutbutter,

I haven't got into the build yet but I'll give you first shot if I decide to take the compressor off. I found a large 5ft. air tank under the passenger side of the cab, clean no rust. It has a quick hose coupling in the back of the tank just hidden under the cab. I know a few things I will be removing soon..... 20" widow maker split rims and tires..... and 2- 10,000lbs. lifting cylinders, PTO, hydraulic tank and 2 in the cab PTO control levers and hoses. I'm putting a 8' fleet side bed on, and the lift hydraulics have got to go.

And Mr. Colgad.......WOW! That will be the nicest Chevy C50 in the state of Florida when your done sir!

[colgad]

SFC50 I can use the lift cylinders if you want to part with them.
I have a friend with a C60 that has been looking for some.
PM me.
My C50 is on the ground, brake pluming is next.

[MattBMiller]

Originally Posted by colgad

SFC50 I can use the lift cylinders if you want to part with them.
I have a friend with a C60 that has been looking for some.
PM me.
My C50 is on the ground, brake pluming is next.

What axles did you end up using? That looks great! Almost making me reconsider dropping mine down to the ground

[colgad]

Originally Posted by MattBMiller

What axles did you end up using? That looks great! Almost making me reconsider dropping mine down to the ground

In the rear is 92 TopKick 6500, I used the Topkick frame and welded it to the C50 Frame right behind the cab. That gave me the newer style springs and a huge swaybar.
The front is 92 Freightliner, I believe it was from a mid size truck like a Topkick. I took 10 inches out of the middle of the front axle and it fits good within the fenders. Mounting the springs worked out and I can post some pics if you want to see what i did.
I am adding small airbags to each corner just to be able to adjust the height a little and to hopefully improve the ride some. What you see in the photo is about as low as it will be.

[84rzv500r]

welcome...

Im gonna go with the no running board look on my 4x4... Just got to move it down to the shop so I can get it inside for the winter to do the welding/body work

[colgad]

Originally Posted by 84rzv500r

welcome...

Im gonna go with the no running board look on my 4x4... Just got to move it down to the shop so I can get it inside for the winter to do the welding/body work

I am going for the 2 running board look.

I'am welding two together so they run back passed the cab almost to the wheel well.

If I could find a set of C40-C60 front fenders to cover my rear tires I could tie in the steps to them. But they are really hard to find.

[South Florida C50]

Here are a few pics from the last 2 weeks....