'69 C20 with 396 and 3 on the tree

[FabricatorKevin]

I had inadvertently posted this question in the project section, so I am re-posting here. I have a low mileage 1969 C20 leaf spring C20 with a 396/4bbl and three on the tree. I have been searching all week to find another one. I know the 3 speed would have been the standard trans regardless of power, but I can't find any other survivors?

[yuccales]

That is one cool truck!

[old51sedan]

Nice truck. The color looks like it may have once been a State of Michigan truck. I had a 1954 chevy sedan delivery that color and the paint code said SPECIAL on the vin tag in big letters. Is the SPID sheet still on the inside of the glove box door?

[VWNate1]

Nice rig ! .

Mi. you say ? where's the rust ? .

No matter how rare a thing you may have, there are more somewhere that you don't know about .

[FabricatorKevin]

Originally Posted by old51sedan

Nice truck. The color looks like it may have once been a State of Michigan truck. I had a 1954 chevy sedan delivery that color and the paint code said SPECIAL on the vin tag in big letters. Is the SPID sheet still on the inside of the glove box door?

It's there, and it just says: 4516AA ORANGE

[FabricatorKevin]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Nice rig ! .

Mi. you say ? where's the rust ? .

No matter how rare a thing you may have, there are more somewhere that you don't know about .

I'm sure there are others, but I haven't been able to find one anywhere. Lots of 6 cylinders, 307's and 350's - but I can't find any 396's?

[68Gold/white]

Not to sound negative...396 engines in these pickups are pretty uncommon. Standard 3 speed trans, column shift would be way less common than just the 396 engine...

Keep this thread alive, maybe you'll find another...!

[VWNate1]

Agreed it's not a common rig .

[FabricatorKevin]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Not to sound negative...396 engines in these pickups are pretty uncommon. Standard 3 speed trans, column shift would be way less common than just the 396 engine...

Keep this thread alive, maybe you'll find another...!

Yes - 396’s are very common. I meant I see lots of other engine combo’s with a manual column shift, but I cannot find a single image/post/video of a current truck optioned like this anywhere on the internet.

[mingoman]

Beautiful truck and the 396 3 speed only adds to the awesomeness factor!

[Boog]

I have probably only seen one of those in all my years. I do think a member here has one though i cannot remember his username. Yours appears to be in real good shape for michigan.

[cypressbog]

The truck looks nice for what it is and probably used for. The number built like this can never be known, but the 3 speed makes it distinctive from all the granny low 4 speeds and automatics out there. Rare is a term people may use, but it must be remembered that rare doesn't translate to desirable or increased value. It might be my computer screen, but 516 orange should be more of the hugger orange which has more red in it. This color almost looks like it has tangerine in it.

[FabricatorKevin]

Originally Posted by FabricatorKevin

Yes - 396’s are very common. I meant I see lots of other engine combo’s with a manual column shift, but I cannot find a single image/post/video of a current truck optioned like this anywhere on the internet.

Originally Posted by cypressbog

The number built like this can never be known, but the 3 speed makes it distinctive from all the granny low 4 speeds and automatics out there. Rare is a term people may use, but it must be remembered that rare doesn't translate to desirable or increased value.

Im not sure I agree with this, but desirable is relative to the desire-ee! Haahaa. I mostly was thinking that it was far more common than I’m finding out. I thought there would be many of them, but that most were converted to a floor shift. That’s what I expected to find.

[Travisarmenta]

Originally Posted by FabricatorKevin

Im not sure I agree with this, but desirable is relative to the desire-ee! Haahaa. I mostly was thinking that it was far more common than I’m finding out. I thought there would be many of them, but that most were converted to a floor shift. That’s what I expected to find.

Just for sh!ts and gigs, what the suffix code on the front of the engine block?

[Travisarmenta]

Seems like its an L-66 model on the SPID? Making 310 HP

YP 1969 396 310 Truck L-66 10, 20, 30
YQ 1969 396 310 Truck L-66 20, 30
YR 1969 396 310 Truck L-66 10, 20, 30
YS 1969 396 310 Truck L-66 20, 30

[FabricatorKevin]

It’s T1113Y. There is no letter after the Y, I have examined it very closely

[weim55]

Wow, that's quite a unicorn! In 35 years of being around these trucks enmass i've never seen a big block three speed stick combo. I'd be very surprised if you run into another. Colorado DOT used trucks that same color orange in those days so that's the first thing I thought of when I laid eyes on yours. Tell us a little more, what other options does it have? Maybe a pic of the glovebox sticker. Know any history on it??

Enjoy the old girl!

Steve weim55 Colorado

[FabricatorKevin]

It is very sparse on options (I blurred the vin)

[too much stuff]

Very cool truck. A few years back I had a 72 1/2 ton Cheyenne with a 402/ 3 on the tree. I would say that is uncommon like yours.

[CrewCab59]

524 Hugger Is darker than 516, here are the 2 setting next to each other member Joesjunk pics.

Thanks

[oneperfectrun]

Nice truck! Cool and looks great! I can’t remember ever seeing a 3/4 ton truck with a 3 on the tree in any make. All I’ve ever seen were automatics or floor shift 4 speeds.

[s10mk]

It may not be a Cheyenne Super or a short bed CST, but I think its just as cool. That's really interesting that someone would splurge on the 396 and yet decide to keep the 3 on the tree. Really speaks to a day gone by at GM when you could select individual options to fit your specific needs.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Sweet truck. I love the color. I had a factory bench seat exactly like that, same Gray Fawn color and pattern in my '68 C/10 Stepside. [Also 516 Orange.]

[Steeveedee]

That really is a cool truck. I can see where having a four speed with compound low isn't necessary with a big block, so 3-speed makes more sense to me, really.

Is that the stock steering wheel, with no apparent cracks?

[FabricatorKevin]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

I had a factory bench seat exactly like that, same Gray Fawn color and pattern

Thank you! Mine is black though.