The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Questions about my 61 Apache.

I have several questions about my truck. I am unsure what the past owners have done to the Phanton 309.
1) How can you tell the difference between a short and tall tunnel cab floor section. Mine is toast.
2) I have 6 lug front hubs and 5 lig on the rear. Can I convert it over to 5 lug and from manual drums to power discs? Ideas on where to get the material would be helpful.
3) While my step son and I were changing tires, I noticed it has coil springs with locator bars out back. But it also has leaf spring hangers on the frame. Which is correct? THanks for the help people I hope I put these in the right place?

The 61 Chevs had coil springs in the back, torsion bars in the front. Pretty sure the GMC had leaf springs in the back but not positive. Yes it is possible to swap to front power discs, parts are available for a 5 lug or a 6 lug setup...there are aftermarket parts companies like LMC that sell conversion kits...I don't know how good of quality the parts are though. I'm sure there's other companies that sell the parts. As for converting it over with parts from another year of truck, I'm stumped, but if you find out let me know! Also, is your truck a standard or auto? If its a manual like mine, it likely has the hydraulic clutch, which works off the same master cylinder as the brakes. There is aftermarket power brake boosters for this that accomodate the hydraulic clutch, but man are they expensive. Maybe decide on if you're gonna keep the original powertrain or not before converting to power brakes.

As far as the tunnel cab floor section...not entirely sure what you're talking about...I'm fairly new to the hobby.

1-height of it. what trans did it orig have , 3 speed and p/glide low hump. 4 speed high hump and the high hump is bolted in while low hump is usually welded in. a few were bolted.
someone has changed the rear end. you would be better off to upgrade to a newer frt end. somewhere between 70-72 was 5stud and disc brake or you can go to a 73-87 frt end
3 someone has changed that rear end and whatever else?????. they didn't come equipped with facilities for both. cehevs were basically coils and gmc were leafs, but either were optional, but not that common.I may be mistaken with the 60-62 spring setup, but for certain with 63-66
ron

If i recall 60-62 was coil rear end, or atleast mine is, and the later models were leafs. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I keep thinking chevys had the mounting hardware under there for leafs if they had coils?

60-62 GMC were coils!

My 63 has the low hump 3sp trans and it is bolted. I have seen them welded also.

My 61 has a bolted low hump, truck originally came with a 3 speed.

As far as the leaf hangars, they must have been added. I have never seen one come with both.

The 61 Chevs had coil springs in the back, torsion bars in the front. Pretty sure the GMC had leaf springs in the back but not positive.

60-62 GMC were coils!

If i recall 60-62 was coil rear end

Apparently none of you guys have ever read a shop manual or even a brochure for the trucks that you own. When you make blanket statements without backup, you just continue misinformation to the new guys coming up. The FACTS are this, Chevrolets, (we are talking 60-62 here) had coils at the rear as STANDARD. However, the optional leaf springs could be ordered. GMC's (60-62) had Leaf springs standard. Coil springs were an option. Bottom line is this, both Chevys and GMC's could have either rear suspension.

K10 is right, either truck could be ordered either way, except 4x4s all had leafs F&R.
The coil spring trucks could have overloads installed, they look like half a leaf spring mounted to the rear.