Like A Rock !

[54blackhornet]

I don’t often brag about my vehicles and I do have a few interesting ones, but I just have to tell you all about this 71 C20. I bought it in a lot of over a dozen vehicles at a farm sale after the owner died. I really wasn’t interested in it because I only wanted the 54 Hudson Hornet and the 65 Mustangs in the bunch. Family said if you want one you get them all or nothing. After days of dragging the good stuff home I finally got around to examining the C20. It’s got rust in the rockers but otherwise rust free. 307,4spd, power disc brakes but no steering. Who was the dope who passed on power steering ? Thankfully it has no spin out back. After cleaning it out I discovered it was bought new by the Burlington Northern Railroad. I later found out it was ordered as a rail yard vehicle for a place in Washington state close to Seattle. Long story short it’s a keeper. I only use it to move firewood. It works for about three months a year and is parked the remainder. Always starts on first try. Only work I’ve done on it since I got her has been a major tune up. Every time I start it I get a big smile on my face....thanks for listening fellas.

[morepwr]

It never hurts to have a workhorse around!

[bw46]

Fantastic!

[54blackhornet]

Thanks fellas....

[redneckgames]

Nice!

[68Gold/white]

Concerning the power steering...thinking was different back then. Folks cut corners on everything...who needed power steering back then, , what are you a Momma's Boy??? My thoughts on why the Rail Road did not order power steering...
Many folks that ordered these vehicles lived in the depression, thoughts and conversations surely could have been about whether a catastrophe like that could happen again...Everyone saved money back then, especially business entities...

Major congrats!!! We need more pictures. Best part is that it is a 71 with disc brakes.

I have a pickup that serves duty as my trash truck, LOL it can't haul much though, it's a stink'n 85 F150. 4 bags of leaves in the back and it nearly drags the rear bumper (well nearly...) and it's NOT a keeper.

[weq92f]

.
That big smile you speak of. I have it too when I drive my truck. Others on this board have spoken of it as well.

It is a common affliction many of us here have gotten used to.

-klb

[S_Gibson]

Great post and nice ride. I love my '70 rust bucket also. Mine has power steering although it appears to have been added at some point. No power brakes although I've gotten used to that.

[cypressbog]

Awesome story to go with a cool truck! Wife had me sell my 68 Chevy work truck and I wish I still had it around.

[toolboxchev]

let us know when it needs to get going to the truck gods. it wont happen for a while thats for sure.

[54blackhornet]

I feel lucky to have this truck because it’s a real workhorse. It has coils with HD option. The no power steering is a big downside because I use it around trees.

[crabman]

I made her work a little today...

[crabman]

Here is the picture right side up

[CG]

[QUOTE=54blackhornet;8352120] ... After days of dragging the good stuff home I finally got around to examining the C20. It’s got rust in the rockers but otherwise rust free. 307,4spd, power disc brakes but no steering. Who was the dope who passed on power steering ? Thankfully it has no spin out back. QUOTE]

I bet it feels like it has power steering with that load in the back =)

[HO455]

Too cool! That BN green was pretty outrageous back in the day (at least for a railroad). I remember hearing adults talking about what a terrible color it was. We lived in Sandpoint ID and every locomotive before the BN was formed I remember as being black. I thought the green with the white stripes on the front was cool. I think it was about 71 when the BN was formed so you may have a rare first year! Some railroad fan will always be ready to by it when you're ready to pass it on.
There were a couple of bigger service trucks around town that were painted the same green. A yard truck really didn't need power steering as most likely it started out as a foremans truck then after a couple of years it was passed on down to deliver switchmen around the switch yard. All flat, gravel and 25 MPH stuff. If my guess is correct the passenger side of the bench should be well worn.
I would be interested as to what the SPID says for paint.

[6T7 C10]

So we have to thank a Ford and a Hudson you got a Chevy? Welcome aboard and nothing wrong with a good ole honest C20.

[Canuckvetter]

I know what you mean about the power steering. I have a 67 "Man"s truck.
Man-ual windows, man-ual brakes, man-ual steering, man-ual transmission.
But.... I recently installed power steering. Slowly turning it into a girly truck.

[engineer_gregh]

Crabman there is no way I would load wood on the back of that beautiful truck. Brother you need a work truck to go along with that show truck:-).

[crabman]

I do use it as a truck, I try to be gentle though.

[Ad Cam]

Originally Posted by crabman

I do use it as a truck, I try to be gentle though.

Upside down or rightside up your truck is sweeeeet!

[RenoKeene]

I can dig it. I had to have this one when I found it. Just a plain ol work truck, power nothing, like yours. Might be the best kind
Congrats!

[special-K]

Great story. Only thing is, although a rock can last for ages and ages, they just sit there and gather moss. Yours is a rolling stone! I think if it were mine, and it ever needed a paint job, I'd put back to it's original RR livery.

Power steering hadn't been offered in these trucks all that long. Also, trains don't have power steering . But the perceptions of the traditional truck user as a work truck had been "You don't need all that" or "Just another thing to break". Fact is, p/s, p/b. automatic transmission were not even offered in trucks until they began marketing to suburbanites a second vehicle for chores and camping. Cars had these things available for many years before. The perception was you gave up some comfort and convenience to gain what a car lacked in utility. And yes, folks back then were more frugal in general and the adult buyers had come up with armstrong steering.

You can fix a truck up all pretty and keep it that way while 'carefully' using it as a truck. This perception that you are killing a truck by using it is inaccurate. Look at the beautifully maintained dump trucks that haul dirt, stone, asphalt, sand day in and day out in and out of quarries and asphalt plants for hundreds of thousands of miles. That limestone dust is acidic as all get out and they keep that aluminum and stainless shining like chrome. My buddy is a sign painter/mural/pinstriper and in this area there are fleets of dump trucks with murals painted on the side of hoods or on the side of the (painted) dump bodies.