The Government Mule - 62 c20 with service bed
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 |
Re: The Government Mule - 62 c20 with service bed
Looking forward to the new build! And love me some 6 cylinders. You gonna do a twin carb setup with fenton headers? :mm:
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Thanks TJ! Twin carbs and Fenton headers would be sweet! |
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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.
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Finally got my picture issues sorted out. Here's some from when I picked the truck up.
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A few more of the interior, the torsion bars cranked down and a little sanding on the door.
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Very cool! Nice to see another early C20 here. Looking forward to see what you do with it.
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That truck has Character written all over. Love it! :metal:
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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 |
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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.
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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". :lol: I almost made a lap around the neighborhood, but it was spitting and sputtering the whole way. |
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A service bed? Jealous...cool truck.
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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. |
Re: The Government Mule - 62 c20 with service bed
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?
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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.
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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?
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http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p...psv1la0hnx.jpg http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p...psm0iqswtm.jpg |
Re: The Government Mule - 62 c20 with service bed
Wow...that's a good looking truck. That would definitely be worth checking into!
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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!
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Sweet, so I assume you are going to be using an automatic transmission with it? since a 292 would require mechanical clutch linkage.
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Hey hey! Another Big 6 brother! :metal: I smell turbo. lol
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badass!!!
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Picked up my Christmas present this morning. Drove to Asheville with my dad and came home with a 292. Looks to be in decent shape....I was pleasantly surprised. Looking forward to getting it back home and checking it out better.
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Couple of pics because nobody's ever seen a greasy engine sitting on a tire before. :lol:
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Nice looking 6! :metal: Never seen one on a tire........ :lol:
Now time to make it look like this! :metal: |
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Pulled and sold the 235 and SM420 today. Was happy to have my brother in law and a buddy over to give me some extra hands. Removed the bench seat to get the trans out through the cab. No treasures found....just some old stick matches, a cheap screwdriver and a small bird skeleton.
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My 20x20 garage is a tight fit and pretty much maxed out between two cars, my tools, and all the other stuff that doesn't go in the house, so it's kinda nice to be able to use the utility bed to store parts while they are off the truck. Drive shafts fit nicely in this box.
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good to see some progress... did the T-5 swap and couldn't be happier!
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Picking up a parts motor on Thursday. Complete and running 250 with Clifford intake, split exhaust, Holley 2 barrel and HEI. For sure the intake, carb and distributor will be used on the 292. :metal:
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Awesome! Do I hear a pair of Brockman Mellowtones in your future?
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I love these old service body trucks!! That plus I can't get over just how much character this thing has, GREAT FIND MAN!
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:metal::metal::metal:
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