The Government Mule - 62 c20 with service bed

[jcramsey]

Was searching craigslist a few weeks back and came across an ad that just said "service truck". No picture but I clicked on it anyway and found out it was a 62 c20 service truck. I was definitely interested. Made arrangements to go check it out that weekend. Took a two hour drive,ending up on a dirt road in the middle of the woods. My kinda place. Old fella had bought it to use but ended up getting a newer model truck with a service bed instead. Turns out it was a retired water water department truck from a local municipality. Looks like it had been rode pretty hard and put up wet, but i had to have it. I gave him a deposit and came back the next week to haul it home.

It's got a running 235 with a 4 speed, plenty of rust, and tons of character. Right now I'm just working on a plan of attack. I want to lower it significantly so weighing my options on how to do that in the most economical, yet effective way. My brother has some TJ springs so I think I will give them a try along with making a set of lowering blocks for the rear. Up front I have cranked down the torsion bars til it's siting on the bumps and I know I want to go lower. Will keep the 235, but would like to upgrade to a T5 trans to make it a little more highway friendly.


Pics coming....having site issues at the moment

[TJ's Chevy]

Looking forward to the new build! And love me some 6 cylinders. You gonna do a twin carb setup with fenton headers?

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Looking forward to the new build! And love me some 6 cylinders. You gonna do a twin carb setup with fenton headers?

Thanks TJ! Twin carbs and Fenton headers would be sweet!

[62stepside longbox]

Sounds like it's gonna be an awesome build, I'm in. If I was you I wouldn't use tj springs, they can't carry much load and with the service bed it could put you close or on the bump stops.

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by 62stepside longbox

Sounds like it's gonna be an awesome build, I'm in. If I was you I wouldn't use tj springs, they can't carry much load and with the service bed it could put you close or on the bump stops.

I've heard that about the TJ springs. I was thinking maybe some helper bags in the rear...but then if I go with helper bags, why not just bag it in the first place? We will see!

[jcramsey]

Finally got my picture issues sorted out. Here's some from when I picked the truck up.

[jcramsey]

A few more of the interior, the torsion bars cranked down and a little sanding on the door.

[72cs20]

Very cool! Nice to see another early C20 here. Looking forward to see what you do with it.

[TJ's Chevy]

That truck has Character written all over. Love it!

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by 72cs20

Very cool! Nice to see another early C20 here. Looking forward to see what you do with it.

Thanks! Do you know what gears your truck has? Just wondering how the 235 and 4 speed does on the highway. I would imagine its screaming at around 60 mph or so.

[72cs20]

Pretty sure it has 4.57 rear gears. For now. These gears with a non-overdrive tranny and 31 inch tires, 50 to 55 mph would be about right. Mine will be changed out to a later Dana 60 with 3.73's as the last phase of my drivetrain modifications. The goal with my 62 is modern drivability while keeping that "farm truck" look. Check out the link, new update soon.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=703583

[jcramsey]

Picked up the TJ springs and some 2" square tube for the lowering blocks from my brother this weekend. Hoping to at least get the springs in one day this week.

[jcramsey]

Popped the TJ springs in yesterday afternoon. Looks like they brought the rear down about 4 1/2 inches.....but I do have a little bit of weight from junk piled in the bed. Need some lower spring retainers and bolts for the trailing arms as they were shot and I cut/beat them out.


When I said "running 235" in my first post, I should have said "barely running". I almost made a lap around the neighborhood, but it was spitting and sputtering the whole way.

[RDrancher]

A service bed? Jealous...cool truck.

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by RDrancher

A service bed? Jealous...cool truck.

Thanks RD!

I looked up the VIN the other day just to see what I could find out about the truck.
Most of the info was standard, 1962 2wd 3/4 ton 127" wheelbase, born in Baltimore. The 5th digit was a 3 and that threw me for a few minutes, but I found out that meant it was a cab and chassis truck.

[Iplay4keepz]

There is a truck very similar to this down the road from me. I love the way these trucks look even as dedicated workers. Do you have any plans to restore it or are you just upgradio suspension and driveline some?

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by Iplay4keepz

There is a truck very similar to this down the road from me. I love the way these trucks look even as dedicated workers. Do you have any plans to restore it or are you just upgradio suspension and driveline some?

No plans to full on restore the truck. I will try and patch up the bad places though. Other than that, I just want to get it down low and make a reliable driver that's still a functional worker. The more I think about it, the more I want to replace the 235 with a 292.

[Iplay4keepz]

Hell that's about what I'm doing with mine, replace the bad and get it going. Hopefully there's not to much rust in that cab. Also I've debated fixing the 292 that came in mine, but I've had a replacement engine waiting for a project so I'm kinda torn. Would defiantly be cool with a beefed up inline though.

Originally Posted by jcramsey

No plans to full on restore the truck. I will try and patch up the bad places though. Other than that, I just want to get it down low and make a reliable driver that's still a functional worker. The more I think about it, the more I want to replace the 235 with a 292.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Iplay4keepz

Hell that's about what I'm doing with mine, replace the bad and get it going. Hopefully there's not to much rust in that cab. Also I've debated fixing the 292 that came in mine, but I've had a replacement engine waiting for a project so I'm kinda torn. Would defiantly be cool with a beefed up inline though.

Beef the 292. Did it, no regrets.

[Iplay4keepz]

If mine wasn't locked up, and I didn't already have an fi ls1 that I've been prepping lol. You looking for an engine jcramsey?

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Beef the 292. Did it, no regrets.

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by Iplay4keepz

If mine wasn't locked up, and I didn't already have an fi ls1 that I've been prepping lol. You looking for an engine jcramsey?

I am starting to look for an engine...you ever get near South Carolina?

[Iplay4keepz]

Originally Posted by jcramsey

I am starting to look for an engine...you ever get near South Carolina?

Not really, but we are in practically neighboring states. Also here's that truck I was talking about... I wouldn't mind trying to get my hands on it.

[jcramsey]

Wow...that's a good looking truck. That would definitely be worth checking into!

[jcramsey]

Since we are going to NC for Christmas, I put an ad on the Craigslist city closest to my parents place looking for a 292 and to my surprise I got a couple emails right away. One reply was actually a board member in Knoxville. He was about 2 1/2 hours away from them so a little farther than I wanted to go. Talked to another guy in Asheville which is only a half hour away and he had a motor sitting in his shop for a pretty reasonable price. Need to schedule a day to meet him and pick it up while we are at my folks. I'm pumped to be getting a big six!

[62stepside longbox]

Sweet, so I assume you are going to be using an automatic transmission with it? since a 292 would require mechanical clutch linkage.