1988 C70 "Big Red" Fire Truck Toy Hauler

[Moose62]

I bought a 1988 C70 fire truck from my home town fire dept. Has a Detroit diesel, automatic, 13k miles. Plan is to ditch the water tank and pump, lower the bed rails some, create a bed floor and side access door, and just make it a medium duty truck for hauling sxs, dirt bikes, and occasional parades.

I'm going to need some help with a few items, I've owned a nice C10 and familiar with half tons but not the bigger trucks.

1. I want to lose the dayton hubs and use bud or pilot hubs and switch to a 10 lug so I can run a super single 335/80/20 and military style rim to look more like a modern brush truck setup. Don't know where to start with the new hubs.

2. I want to put carpet in the truck as the interior is like new and I want it a little nicer inside. The floor pan and seat from look like that from the 67-72 era. Floor pan, seat frame, and door sills, looks just like the earlier era trucks, def not the 73-87 floor pan. Can anyone confirm that they might have been using the earlier floor pan in these trucks in 1988?

[Moose62]

[Moose62]

My last project I sold. 1979 Big 10, 33k original miles. Mint original Camel color interior. Cordova Brown Chevrolet paint color. Detroit Steel Wheels 20x9s.

[Pick121]

Wow that is one clean rig, a testament to the firefighters maintaining it (I am retired FD). Sorry can’t help with your hub/axle changes but will be following along on your build. Must have been tough decision to get rid of the Big 10, another nice truck but now you are a Heavy Hauler

[Bob B.]

Floor and firewall of the 1973-1990 medium duty C series trucks are unique, not like 'Square Body' pickups. The floor under the seat is lower on the medium duty trucks, similar to the 67-72's. I don't think it's exactly the same, but a 67-72 carpet kit just might work with a little trimming. You will find the heater box is a lot different than same year pickups too.

You probably have a Detoit 'Fuel-Pincher' 8.2L in that. That's good and bad, they tended to blow head gaskets a lot if turbo'ed and pushed hard. Parts are getting a little tough to find and they are finicky to tune up (they have unit injection like a Detroit 2 stroke) but if it runs good they give great fuel economy.

Truck looks nice!

[Moose62]

It is the turbo 8.2l, but so far runs great, no issues. As for the carpet I noticed the floor pan being also identical to the 67-72. My only concern now is the transmission hump. It starts out as a low hump by the seat and ends up 6" high near the front. Its not a high hump but more of a high ramp. I've seen some 72s that used low hump carpet and it appears to ramp up pretty high in the front trans area. Debating on which hump carpet to purchase.

Looking at ACC cut pile with with the mass backing. Problem is I'm only finding Loop, or Essex on multiple sites with mass backing in a dark saddle color. Kinda wanted cut pile in case I want to add door carpet to the lower door to match. Or should I avoid mass backing?

[jumpsoffrock]

I don't have much to add, but I must say most of us guys who run these older Medium duty trucks consider factory Dayton's a godsend over the typical multi piece rims of that era. I wouldn't change them until you have every nut a bolt to finish the job. It'd be a shame to have that truck off the road for any serious amount of time even though the original wheels had no issues to start with(other than cosmetic)

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

I don't have much to add, but I must say most of us guys who run these older Medium duty trucks consider factory Dayton's a godsend over the typical multi piece rims of that era. I wouldn't change them until you have every nut a bolt to finish the job. It'd be a shame to have that truck off the road for any serious amount of time even though the original wheels had no issues to start with(other than cosmetic)

I agree. I prefer Daytons myself.

[sodly]

My biggest question has always been what to do with the discarded fire body?!? Wouldn't think it would be too terribly hard to remove... but then what to do with it? I'm sure nobody wants it. Anybody gone through this?

[Pvmt-Pndr]

Try donating it to a firehouse that has kids that go there They could use it as a playground piece. I'm just throwing out an idea.

[LT7A]

I'll bet if you posted it for free that someone would take it. I don't know how easy it is to divorce the storage areas from the hose storage or tank area, depending on what's in the center, but I'll bet that it could be converted into some sort of a utility body or narrow pick up bed with utility sides.

[Bob B.]

Most 'pumper' fire apparatus bodies have a good sized stainless steel water tank in them. That body might have some decent scrap value.

[truckfan]

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