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Joined: Oct 2009
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Hey all,

I'm a new guy here. I have been lurking around learning stuff for a while and decided to join up and ask some new guy questions.

I am in the process of buying a 1966 C50. It is a straight six truck with a four speed and single speed rear.

My new guy questions are:

1.) Would this be a 292 six? The seller said it was a 231, and maybe he was thinking about a 261, but as far as my research has shown that motor was not offered in this era of truck.

2.) Gear ratio in the rear end. 6.14 or somewhere in that range? Cruising speed about 45 or so?

3.) Truck weight. This thing has a pickup bed on it. How much are we guessing that it weighs?

Thanks for any help!

Brian

Joined: Dec 2003
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The 292 was offered from 1963 till 1990. Starting in 63' there were four different block castings used through 66. Yours is likely one of the last two, 3921970 or 3994258. It is easy to check and is found on the passenger side of the block as I recall. The rear end could be a 13500 or a 15000 lb capacity GM and the ratio is approx. 6.20. Factory tires could have been 7:50x20 or 8:25x20 depending on the GVW it was built as. You may find that sticker inside the glove box or perhaps on the door jamb. I don't know what the weight is (was) but it isn't much more than a 4WD pickup to say about 5800 lbs. Someone has added the pickup bed as that was not a factory option. Perhaps you can identify the make/model year of the bed? Maybe you could post some pictures of your truck. We all love pictures.

Welcome to the StoveBolt Page Brian. Don't be a stranger.


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Hey Dave!

Thanks for the info. You've educated me better in one post than in the couple of weeks I have been poking around for info.

Here's the truck. I am going to pick it up on 11/14. I have a hard time sleeping when I think about how neat this big boy is!

I know that these were never built with a bed as a factory option so that's why I really like this thing. It looks like someone hit a pickup truck with an expander ray! The bed is a '66 Chevy bed, so it looks like a factory job.

There are some AWESOME trucks here. I'm glad that I'll soon be joining the fun!

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/nedannouncer/C50.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/nedannouncer/344.jpg

Last edited by Brian Lohnes; 10/28/2009 9:43 PM.
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3
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Now THAT is one good looking bolt dance
what a great place to be starting from. I do like the bed other then the dent in the pic. WOW great now there is ONE MORE darn bolt I need to find and buy.
welcome to the bolt. let the fever begin.


I am just here to learn, and to meet like minded people.
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Now - that's a TRUCK! thumbs_up thumbs_up


David Colter
pics * 1954 wrecker * [color:#009900]1948 Chevy 1-Ton[/color]
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Nice Truck! From the year that I was born 66, and you're picking it up on my birthday, 11/14!
Chris

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Nice! thumbs_up


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Nice truck is right.

It also has the big back glass on it, which if original, was an option (altho the sliding glass is not original).

My '62 GMC 4000 (very similar truck) weighed 8000. It had a longer chassis and a 16 Ft Flatbed on it. Dave seems to be pretty close, I would say that it weighs around 6000 to 6200, but bring it down to your local scale to be sure.

Top speed should be somewhere around 55 to 60 MPH, but if the engine has a lot of miles on it, I wouldn't drive it for long periods of time at top speed.

I like how the running boards and the fender fillers have been removed to keep the truck in line with the pick-up bed. I've never seen one of these trucks done that way and it sure looks good.

Keep us posted.

Bill


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Thanks for the good words everyone. As soon as I laid my eyes on the photos of this big guy, I knew I had to have it.

I can hardly wait to get home from SEMA and get a move on to pick it up!

The truck has a brake problem and I'm probably going to be an annoying pest with brake questions, but here's the first.

This truck would be equipped with the Bendix hydro-boost setup right? Aside from that bit, it is a pretty standard 4-wheel drum brake system, correct? I ask simply because it seems like any problem could be logically sorted out pretty quick as drum brakes are not the most complex things in the world. smile

I'm not familiar with the hydro-boost stuff but I read the great tech story in the tech section about rebuilding one and it doesn't seem like rocket surgery, just good old fashion machanic'n.

Anyway, are there parts of the system prone to failure? I suspect I'll be rebuilding wheel cylinders and rebuilding the hydroboost as well.

Thanks again guys! This is a great place.

Brian

Joined: Jun 2009
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Originally Posted by 54TOW
Now - that's a TRUCK! thumbs_up thumbs_up
I'll second that! That looks like a manly truck for manly men.


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It's a Deere!

Nice lookin rig, I'd drive the snot outta somethin like that. grin

Dont worry about brakes too much, they are relatively simple, many replacement parts are available thru NAPA, and the best part is you'll find no shortage of info and help here!


1956 GMC 370 dump " 'Tater "
1970 VW Volksrod "the Black Bomber"
2007 Chevy Avalanche
2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk,
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I dig all cars, old and new, whether they were hammered out of American iron, German steel, or Japanese tin cans. Being unable to appreciate them all is missing out on a world of great things.
But thats just MY opinion!
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Yep, I like it too. That bed looks sharp on there. Have fun with it.

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Nice truck Brian. Where in Mass are you?. I'm in Canaan Ct just below Sheffield Ma on the western end of the state.

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I have a 65 C50 wrecker. I did my brakes and thier are two wheel cylinders on each wheel in the back. I never thought of a pick up bed on one but yours looks great. My wheels are 700./20s check too make sure your rims are not the widow makers like mine are. Still havent found any replacements that I can afford. I am in Greenfield mass. where in mass are you.

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Hey fellahs!

Well Goliath came home yesterday. For you Massachusetts guys, I am in Abington, on the eastern end of the state.

You can click here for a few photos -- I'll be doing lots more on the details of then truck as soon as i get caught up here at work.

www.bangshift.com

Brian


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