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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 5 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 5 | Just acquired this beauty: http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/alexrex20/DSC08666.jpgIt's in OK shape. The interior needs some work and there's some rust coming through the new-ish paintjob, but it's a solid truck, albeit ridiculously underpowered. I have plans for a Vortec 8100 gasser + Allison combo; will probably pull the whole setup out of my '06 Chevy 2500HD and sell the truck as a roller. Anyway, I'm interested in making this my new tow rig, either with a flatbed hauler on the back, or with a utility flatbed that's setup for FW/GN or bumper pulls. Is there anything "factory" that can be swapped over relatively easy? Or do I need to have one made from scratch at an outfitter?
'70 C50
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 164 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 164 | welcome to the bolt  what engine is in it now? | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 5 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 5 |
'70 C50
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 942 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 942 | Truck looks pretty nice. You may want to try to super tune the 350 to give it a chance before you pull it. Also some flow-thru mufflers and even headers would make a difference. I have a newer 350 in my '72 C-30. It's not registered and I haven't had it out on the open road yet, but it seems like it will be plenty good enough. Do you have a 2-Speed Rear in it?
The truck chassis might be a little short to haul a car on it as it is, but would be a good goose-neck truck or as a traditional puller. The bed size will depend on the length. What is the CA? (Cab to Axel measurement).
Welcome to the site, by the way.
Bill
'60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan
GMC 9500 Fan
Detroit Diesel Fan
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 5 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 5 | It's the 5+2 manual. I know I can build the 350 but I already have a built EFI 496 (with 450hp/650tq) with an Allison behind it, and I'd much rather swap it in. SBC/BBC motor mounts are the same and I don't foresee any clearance issues, even with the Allison.
I'll check the CA tomorrow.
'70 C50
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 10 | If you could find some frame rail, the frame could be stretched to fit a longer bed.
Anyone here have any experience building a roll off bed? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 720 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 720 | I had thought of building a tilt flat bed on my dump as well. the bennefit to the short frame is you can put a longer bed on it and get it close enough to the ground to load vehicles with a set of ramps. I was just going to tear down the dump bed and fab up a deck on the frame & lift, cover it with diamond plate and mount a winch up front. So long as the load is centered fwd of the pivot it will lower on it's own. But for safety I was going rig a locking mechanism up front to prevent popping the deck while loading/unloading flat loads.
1956 GMC 370 dump " 'Tater "1970 VW Volksrod "the Black Bomber" 2007 Chevy Avalanche 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, 2005 Harley Davidson FLHTCUI 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! :P
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | I drove mine home about 90mi, all highway, and it did OK cruising at 60-65mph. I guess mine may not be geared too low, because it did 65mph at a safe 2800rpm. My plans are to swap in my EFI 496 and a 6-speed Allison, so it should be even more highway-friendly. My gearing is fine; I thought the issue was with the 2spd being less reliable or something...  I will be using this truck to haul my 36ft enclosed racecar trailer, or potentially a 46ft GN racecar trailer. My buddy pulls a 48ft GN flatbed hauler with his F450, and we "car pool" our rock buggies 3x or 4x at a time on it. I suspect I may be volunteered as the rig hauler on the next trip. lol With a 6 speed (double overdrive) you probably want a lower geared rear axle than you have now if you plan to tow that much weight. Or have it programed back down to a 5 speed? Sounds like an interesting project and truck. Run some numbers and ratios in a gear calculator and see what you find. http://www.onlineconversion.com/bigger_tires.htmGrigg | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | Looks like an 8 or probably a 9 foot dump body on an 84" C/A with about a 12" cab clearance. That means you can use an 11' puller body. Many available and i know the best and the worst of them. If you have questions concerning the body or CA give me a private e-mail as I am in that business and will be happy to help you. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 48 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 48 | HI I bought a 72 c 50 fuel truck scraped the tank and put on a steel flat bed 17' long (bought for $1000.00) I would get the j y bolts from a truck county or other big rig repair shop The bolts are not cheap but you do not want to loose the bed! | | |
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