The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 1964 Chevrolet C10 4x4?

Is their such thing as a 1964 Chevrolet C10 4x4? The truck is registered as a C10 and is 4WD is that possible? The vin On frame and cab match and their is no sign of modifications. Is this possible? Or a NAPCO?

Hello, Robert,

That information should-be/might-be available somewhere in the 1964 Chevrolet Truck Specifications Manual.

I think it should be either a CK10 or a K10. someone correct me if I'm wrong.

John

whats the VIN on the frame?
Is there a spec sticker inside of glove box door?
How is the vin tag on driver door fastened? Could very easily been moved.
I may be completely naive but Cs were 2WD and Ks were factory 4WD and the VIN will tell the story.

That link that Tim posted tells the story. If it's a factory 4x4, the 2nd digit in the VIN will be K. If 2WD it will be C.

Thanks for the info tclederman

Both the vin on the cab and on the frame are the same
Only C

What is/are your "vins"?
And, where did you find them?

There was no standardized 17 digit VIN in 1964.

Sorry Tim. That page in your link indicated that it was a "Serial Number". I guess I'm the one that used the term VIN.

on edit: Wait, it was Hambone that first used VIN in this thread. I'm off the hook.
on edit again: Nope, it was the OP who first used vin. I'm off the hook again.

I will take that hit. But if the number on the frame has a "c" it was delivered as a 2WD. 4WD added later. I think you will find bolted on suspension brackets and other evidence of changes.
If you care to throw some pictures up of the suspension, front axle and transfer case and frame number, I suspect we might be able to derive some history.

It should be 2WD since it's a C.

I also think the frames are different. The 2WD has an X frame and the 4WD has a ladder frame. Right?
I agree with the others about the C or K in serial number.

It’s a truck that is for sale. Infact it might of got sold. My understanding is C is 2wd and K is 4wd but the gentleman is telling me they made C’s into 4x4s I guess like a NAPCO. I’m not sure lol.

I'm pretty sure that the C and K frames were both ladder type. It wouldn't be that hard to bolt on 4x4 front suspension on a 2WD truck. In fact, I doubt that ANY truck used an X frame.

The 1960 C10 frame is an X frame also supported with outside frame rails. It isn't a typical X frame as on a 1964 impala (for example), but is often referred to as an X frame.

Please see link to 1960 Brochure which shows two frame designs - one for 4x2 and another for 4x4.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stat...evrolet%20Pickups%20Brochure/image4.html
And I thought that design continued thru 1966, but I guess I was mistaken. See link
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stat...20Pickups%20Brochure%20(Rev)/image4.html
Since the 2WD and 4WD frames are essentially the same, then a C10 could be converted to 4X4 as others have suggested. Whether NAPCO or not I don't know, though I have read of some NAPCO trucks being built into the 70s. You could visit the NAPCO Facebook page for more info.

C= 2WD, K= 4WD. The title and the Vin plate need to match. The vin plate needs to show original attachment, never removed. Then there is the frame stamp. That stamp may just have the numbers and not the C/K. At any rate, the truck is not a NAPCO. There are no 1/2 T Napco's after 1959. The are not called Napcos. They are factory 4X4's. (K10)(K14)(K15)
Before 1960 there are Dealer Napcos, DIY Napco's, upfitter Napco's and factory Napco's. All legit if built with the kit, on or around the time period. Lots of so-called Napcos built from donor parts, etc. Some under the name "restored". It was pretty easy because all the trucks had the same chassis with leaf spings. Then when independent front suspension/rear coil came along there had to be two different chassis. C and K, etc. This truck is one of those mysteries that has to be investigated to get the true story. You may see where the independent front suspension was removed and leaf springs added. The rear trailing arms, and etc., would be converted to leaf. It could have been built any number of ways. It also depends on the components and other tell tale features. The factory 4x4 in 60-66 used the same basic drivetrain as the former Napco's (divorced transfer case/3 drive shafts). All kinds of VIN swaps, frame swaps, chassis swaps, illegal swaps and legit DIY swaps have been done. K designation started in 1960.
Most likely this truck is a clone, a latter day conversion.

Frank50, I do not see any 4WD chassis pics in your links.

I agree with Bartamos, the independent front suspension started in 1960 and it killed the ability of converting a "C" truck into a "K" truck by the dealer or owner, thus eliminating any third party competition. The only way to get a GM 4X4 was to buy/order it that way...no more DIY'ers.

Mike B

Bartamos , thank for the very valuable information. I appreciate it

Sorry guys I muddied the water. The link to the 1960 brochure shows 2 types of chassis/frames. The print was so small, I did not read it correctly. The ladder frame with rear leafs is for the C30. My bad.

So surfer, What's up? You find that truck yet? I am intrigued and following your search for a 64-66 K10.

I’m going to move this along to the 60-66 Forum for future search activity.

Those 2wd X frames with the front torsion bar suspension ran from 1960 to 1962. They changed to coil springs up front and a ladder frame in 1963 and stayed with that basic frame through 1972.

I've seen quite a few c10's and c20's converted to 4wd by removing the coil spring suspension and bolting/welding on leaf springs. My first truck was a '63 that someone had swapped on the springs and axles from a late '50's napco after removing the '63 front and rear suspension.

My most recent acquisition was titled as a '63 k10, but had a 4-5-6 cab, 350 th350 np208 from a square body, and axles from a squarebody. The frame and springs turned out to be factory '63 k10 that was just continually updated and changed through the years with different axles, engines, transmissions, transfer cases, and major body components.

Sometimes it's hard to tell with just pictures, and you just have to crawl under the truck to see what's been done.