My 69 Chevy C50

[Marrowthirst]

Hello,

I am a new member and found these boards after trying to learn more about 67-72 medium duty Chevy trucks.

I acquired a Chevy C50 recently and now am determined to bring this back to life (it has not been running for 4 years, but when the owner passed away it was a running toter for mobile homes).

It sat and over time started getting vandalized (windshield was busted).

What I know about the truck

VIN# CE539P828632
1969 Chevy C50
125 inch Wheelbase (Shortest they made according to my service manual)
366 Tall Deck Engine
4 speed manual
2 speed rear end
10 lug rear dually
5 lug front
6.25” center hole
8.75” bolt circle
20 inch rims with tubed tires

My goal is to make it a daily driver (I drive 30 miles to work every weekday) and also use it to connect a goose neck and haul other cars on the trailer from time to time long distances on the interstate.

I want good power but also good reasonable gas mileage. I want to keep it with a short wheelbase and have air bags (to improve the ride), and keep the side saddle tanks.

My initial thoughts is I cannot accomplish my goal and keep it gas and that I would need to do a diesel conversion. Am I wrong in this?

I think a 5.9 Cummins would fit, but I would prefer a DT360 (I would really prefer a DT466 but I think that is too big) conversion if I knew it would also work without chopping the firewall or doing any custom dog house work to fit in. I want to keep it manual and likely would use the manual from the donor vehicle. I prefer the wet sleeve aspect of the DT and the amazing B50 life it brings with a HP/Torque at lower RPM’s. I would do a couple things to it to bring up the HP a tad and the torque, but nothing crazy.

I want to lose the tubed tires and want to run 22.5’s. So, I am left with finding out in the wild rims for it that can work or having custom made rims made. However, I am thinking changing the axle with a different gearing, better brakes, and hubs that can accommodate a modern rim might be the way to go.

I am not opposed to doing a Gear Vendors under/overdrive and/or doing a ring and pinion kit to improve gas mileage and allow higher speeds.

What are your thoughts on gas vs diesel to accomplish my goal?

What are your thoughts on axle swap even if the axle has air brakes that came with the donor vehicle (CDL license is not a problem in this scenario) to accomplish my goal?

Last question – will a hood from any 67 through 72 Chevy C40/C50/C60 be interchangeable? Existing hood has a huge hole on one side where the hinge is supposed to go. It looks like someone welded the hinge to the hood to keep it on but even that broke or rusted off.

Thanks for all your help!

[Swiftshifter68]

Hoods are a straight swap, plus the hood hinges are often on Ebay for $40-75 each. Kinda' spendy, but they're available. Cool truck! I've seen one wrecker that had an even shorter wheelbase (it's on this section somewhere, owned by a member), but it may have been custom-cut.

[ClaytonS.]

It surprises me that more people are not looking to the Duramax for a viable swap option. A LBZ/Allison 1000 (06 and up 6 spd) combo would be easy to source, plenty of power and can be put in a tight spot. While a 12 cummins is a good motor you just cant beat a common rail for tune ability of the ECU, no matter Ford, Chevy or Dodge. My trailer and Dozer together weigh 26,000 and my '07 Classic pulls it just fine.

[1976gmc20]

You can buy a lot of gas for the cost to convert it to diesel.

My old C50 got 10mpg loaded and empty, but that was a 305 V6. My friend's (2009?) one ton crew cab Duramax gets 12-15mpg.

I would get it running as is and then go from there ...

[Marrowthirst]

Thanks ClaytonS. Always nice to get another diesel engine perspective.

Thanks 1976gmc20. I plan to run it with what is in it for awhile while I figure out stuff anyhow. Yup it is a lot of cost and one could buy a lot of gas - I agree. But, I am not looking at this project in that way, but rather something fun, different, and having function over cost even if it means it is slightly over engineered. I'm not saying I have money to burn and I will certainly be careful how I spend it. I have other vehicles, but I plan to have this forever. I plan to sink some money in a new cab interior - the cab will be frame off worked over also.

[Marrowthirst]

Thanks Swiftshifter68. I think the short wheelbase gives it a cool look. I'll keep my eye out for the truck you mentioned.

Good to know about the hood. That opens up my search options a lot = )