Chevy C50, C60 swaps conversions etc

Ford info 

Appleseed said:

Freiburger always said the wheel well cut-outs and flairs on medium duty trucks would be perfect for a 4x4 with huge meats. He's not wrong.

I think he was the one at 4WOR who kept suggesting people put medium duty front clips on their Fords and Chevys instead of doing lifts or body hackery to clear large tires.

No lift means no driveline angle issues, no need to re-engineer the steering, etc.

In reply to buzzboy : That's  what I just did. Bought this recently retired 1976 GMC 6000, with only 12,000 miles on it.  366BB Chevy, 5 spd.  

In reply to baronsautorepair :

I love those cabs, what are you planning to do?

Somebeach (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

As someone who spent a chunk of my youth in that very truck - well almost - it had an oil tank in the back instead of a dually bed, I'll take a pass.  No, I'll be a bit more emphatic and say hell no.

93gsxturbo said:

This is one of those builds that unless you have megabucks to do it right is gonna look cool but be awful to use.

-Gotta put it on air and a lighter chassis to have it drive good unloaded

-Dually wheels and tires are $$$

-Rear end gearing is gonna be terrible, may as well swap in a modern axle if you wanna go faster than 45mph.

-All the creature comforts of a 1960s grain truck

-People are not exactly giving away a Cummins or Duramax driveline swaps.

The first one posted looks like its put on an 80s chassis (straight front axle) - that would be OK but still ride like an 80s truck.  

If I wanted to build one I would start with a hail damaged or light rollover newer Duramax, straight axle swap the new frame, then body swap it.  That would get you all the modern underpinnings.  Easy $70k job if you do it and your labor is free, $150k if a shop does it.  

I guess I'm missing something about the gearing?  With the tall tires like in most of these pictures and the 2 speed Spicer rears that most C60 had, they'll run 75 - 80 all day long and probably a good bit more if you wanted to push it - I wouldn't.  Figure about 6 - 7 mpg empty with a Holley carb'd 366.  I never got to drive a 427 but it'd likely be similar.  

baronsautorepair said:

In reply to buzzboy : That's  what I just did. Bought this recently reitred 1976 GMC 6000, with only 12,000 miles on it.  366BB Chevy, 5 spd.  

 

Zooming in and looking closely at that body, I must say that it's likely the finest one in existence.

A 401 CJ said:

I guess I'm missing something about the gearing?  With the tall tires like in most of these pictures and the 2 speed Spicer rears that most C60 had, they'll run 75 - 80 all day long and probably a good bit more if you wanted to push it - I wouldn't.  Figure about 6 - 7 mpg empty with a Holley carb'd 366.  I never got to drive a 427 but it'd likely be similar.  

The C70 I spent time in had a 4 speed Allison and a Detroit Fuel Pincher. It would do 65 flat out belching smoke.

I'm surprised nobody's linked to Youtuber HalfAss Kustom's 1960 AMC General:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9KhvUlf1n8t4T4wgiHw0Y6iBtCIcXbU6

I love the way this thing turned out, and he did it on the cheap.  

In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :

Shortening the wheel base to 131.5 and installing a Square body 8 ft Dually bed on it.  Need to soften up the rear suspension ( rated at 14000 lbs) and swapping out the single speed rear end ( 7.20 ratio) for either a 2 speed or possible installing a 1 ton rear end along with new springs, mounts and brackets.  Love this look. 

A 401 CJ said:

93gsxturbo said:

This is one of those builds that unless you have megabucks to do it right is gonna look cool but be awful to use.

-Gotta put it on air and a lighter chassis to have it drive good unloaded

-Dually wheels and tires are $$$

-Rear end gearing is gonna be terrible, may as well swap in a modern axle if you wanna go faster than 45mph.

-All the creature comforts of a 1960s grain truck

-People are not exactly giving away a Cummins or Duramax driveline swaps.

The first one posted looks like its put on an 80s chassis (straight front axle) - that would be OK but still ride like an 80s truck.  

If I wanted to build one I would start with a hail damaged or light rollover newer Duramax, straight axle swap the new frame, then body swap it.  That would get you all the modern underpinnings.  Easy $70k job if you do it and your labor is free, $150k if a shop does it.  

I guess I'm missing something about the gearing?  With the tall tires like in most of these pictures and the 2 speed Spicer rears that most C60 had, they'll run 75 - 80 all day long and probably a good bit more if you wanted to push it - I wouldn't.  Figure about 6 - 7 mpg empty with a Holley carb'd 366.  I never got to drive a 427 but it'd likely be similar.  

I think the 2 speed rear in mine is something like 6.xx/8.xx? Even with tall tires, that engine is singing pretty loud at 65.

In reply to iansane :

Take off the fan and put electric fans on it.

Noise reduction of 50%