Picked up a "new" C20 to add to the fleet!

[Mykids69]

I have the 69 C10 that is for my oldest son, I have the 70 C10 orchard find farm truck, and now the 68 C20 camper special for my oldest daughter. I will have a fleet in a few years, my 2 younger daughters and youngest son all want C10s too! Guess that means I will keep searching for a 67, 71, and 72!

Found on CL near Sacramento.

Had an engine fire, after close inspection, it was just minor damage. I have all the leftover parts in the garage from the 69 C10. It will need a carb, dist, wires, radiator, fan shroud, fan, heater box, battery, new wiring from the firewall forward, and belts n hoses, but all in all it is in good shape. Besides the battery, wiring, belts and hoses, I have everything else. Anybody have a stock wiring harness they dont need?
Crawled under, in, and over it. Small dent in the pass front fender, and get this....... no rust in the floor, rockers, or drip rails! Doors are not cut for speakers either!
Has a wood bed floor that will need to be replaced.

It is a 1968 C20 Camper Special. 3 gas tanks.
350ci is in now, came with a 327 originally. It has power steering, but 4 wheel drums that work really well.

What do you think?

I will get some more pictures in the day light, it's been a long evening!

[68bowtie]

Great truck

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks good, I want to see it in daylight.

[Astro-Balls]

Nice Find..

[morepwr]

Looks like a great start for a project! The solid body is a big plus.

[jocko]

Great find, I really like it!

[Mykids69]

Thanks guys. I will be headed to the shop later today to start the removing and cleaning of the crusty and melted crud and then start looking at a little paint under the hood and getting it running again.

Anyone have an old, not melted wiring harness they dont need anymore? Doesn't need to be perfect, mostly the firewall plug ends with basic wires?

[Ol Blue K20]

I'll look when I'm at the ranch tomorrow.

[Jeff's72C10*]

Nice find

[Mykids69]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I'll look when I'm at the ranch tomorrow.

Thanks, Dale!

[Mykids69]

Did some cleaning today on the 68. Figured out the the wiring damage goes all the way into the cab. Heat transfer from the engine side of the harnesses melted most of the wires just inside the cab........... Now need under dash and both under hood harnesses, just keeps getting better!

I stripped all of the melted parts out and started cleaning up. Ended the day removing the valve covers and intake. I cleaned the Edelbrock intake in the bead blaster, guess what? It's a Torquer 2! Yeah for me!

And a shot of the SPID.

[Mykids69]

A few more pictures.......

[68bowtie]

I bet that truck would buff out nicely.

[Mykids69]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

I bet that truck would buff out nicely.

Buffing out the truck is on the list for sure. The problem is that I think someone repainted it at one time or another. Although it looks like faded Medium Blue, it is a light blue metallic paint which is not the same as the door jambs, inside of the door or the dash.

I could just be wrong though...... and it could turn out really nice, buffed out!

[Ol Blue K20]

I looked for a harness yesterday. I don't have one that's complete or usable.

[Barnfind46]

Glad to see that you are saving this one!

[Mykids69]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I looked for a harness yesterday. I don't have one that's complete or usable.

Thank you for taking the time to look, Dale!

When I get it running and driving, I will bring it by for you to see it.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Mykids69

Thank you for taking the time to look, Dale!

When I get it running and driving, I will bring it by for you to see it.

That would be great!!

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Mykids69

Thank you for taking the time to look, Dale!

When I get it running and driving, I will bring it by for you to see it.

That would be great!!

[Mykids69]

Well, I went to spin the engine over to TDC to put in the new distributor and guess what?

Engine wont turn over! Pulled the plugs and #5 & #7 had a little rust on the plug, so i squirted a little PB blaster into the cylinder and let it sit. Put the breaker bar back on it today and it spins........ kinda.

Rotates about a 1/4 turn in both directions and then stops.......

Pulled the intake, again, and decided to pull the drivers side head to check #5 & #7 and found that the head gasket was blown and both cylinders are full of rust and water.

So now something simple has turned into a bigger project just to get it running.

Going to pull the other head and pull the engine to see if it is rebuild-able. This is a 350 that was put in place of the original 327. It is already 40 over and still has hone marks on #1 & #3, so I might get lucky re-honing and re-ringing it, but i am not holding my breath. Casting # 3970010 no date stamp cause its been decked. Hopefully the bottom end is still good. At least this way I will check for a 4 bolt main and see what cam is in it, so that's good, I guess.

I already have the original 69 block, #3932386, from my son's C10 at the engine shop getting redone so having another engine at the machine shop is not in the budget anytime soon. He got an engine that was "freshly rebuilt", also a 3970010 block. It was supposedly built by a local engine shop for 380hp. He paid the now ex mechanic at my work for the engine and to install it. Guy helped me install it and got the ignition installed while I wasn't there and told me he broke in the engine. Well he quit right after that and now the cam is junk. It lasted about 600 miles.

I do not have luck with engines from other people at all.

Guess I will stick to doing engines myself and not to trust other people, wish me luck.

[Mykids69]

Been a while, but the simple fix to get a running truck has turned into an overhaul.

010 2 bolt 350 bored 40 over. re honed, new bearings, new rings and some fresh paint. Turned out not too bad.

Was able to get it put back in earlier this week, but it has been raining so much here, that it just got set back in and bolted to the transmission.


Not sure if this post should stay here or get moved to a build thread? Admin?

Will keep updating as I can!

[Mykids69]

Here a couple of the engine resting back in the truck.

I will pull it out again when I get time to finish cleaning the engine compartment.

Still need to get the wiring replaced.

Does anyone know what the bracket (last picture) connected to the battery tray is for???

[Ol Blue K20]

I believe the bracket is not a factory item. Who does your machine work?

[Minkota]

Originally Posted by Mykids69

Does anyone know what the bracket (last picture) connected to the battery tray is for???

Looks Like it may have been a Fire Extinguisher holder. Maybe the melted wires explain why the Extinguisher is missing?

[68Gold/white]

Being by the battery, there may have been an inverter mounted there.

Very nice find, except for the fixes you are making.
I cringe every time I read about a vehicle for sale, and the engine is freshly rebuilt or reman'd. I'd rather have an original engine that uses oil and may be a little down on power, than have one that that's been rebuilt by folks that are clueless about engines...