Couple Questions From A New Guy

[MJ14]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the site and I have a few questions for you guys. I'm wanting to do a restoration of a truck with my father. I can't say at this point that I know a ton about vehicles, but I'm doing my best to learn.

So, I'm looking at a 1965 Chevy C20 Stepside. My main question is could I take parts from a 1962 Chevy Shortbed Stepside? The one question that I can't answer at this point is whether or not the 1962 Chevy Shortbed is a C10 or C20. So if it's a C10 could I still swap parts easily between the two or not really?

I might be able to answer my own question to be honest, I'm just here to ask people who would know better than I. The C20 is a regular bed truck and the C10/C20 is a shortbed. So would I be able to take parts from the '62 or not?

Thanks for any and everyone's help, it's much appreciated. I'm really looking forward to getting to work on a project and learn more.

 

[Lakeroadster]

First... welcome to the site, great to have you here!

Some stuff to ponder:

• The '62 has a wrap around windshield. The '65 doesn't. Therefore the doors and the cab are different, 62 vs. 65.
  
• The '62 has an x-frame style, the '65 has a ladder frame style. therefore the frames are different, 62 vs. 65.
  
• The stepside bed sheet metal is the same. The attachment locations on the frame is different. This isn't a big deal, but a minor modification will be needed to swap 62 vs. 65 stepside beds.
  
• A C20 is a 3/4 ton truck and has 8 lug wheels and heavier springs than a C10 which is a 1/2 ton truck with 6 lug wheels and lighter duty springs. Therefore the suspensions are different C20 vs. C10.

General stuff:

• 60-63 have wrap around windshields, 64-66 have the newer style windshields
• 60-62 have torsion bar suspensions and the x style frame
• 63-66 have coil spring suspensions and the ladder style frame
  
• 63's are kind of a mix of the 60-61 cab on a 64-66 frame / suspension.

Hope that helps.

John

 

[MJ14]

Thanks, that was very helpful indeed. So a quick follow up for you, if you don't mind:

This is listed as a '65, but the windshield does in fact wrap around correct? Or am I getting confused here? Is this an earlier body style truck than '65?

Thanks for your help, it's very much appreciated. BTW, I looked at your build thread and let me just say it's inspiring, to say the least. It looks like you have a great build going!

Edit: Another one in my area, listed as a '64 but it also has the wrap around correct?

So are they just wrong on their years or what's up? Could they both be '63's and the owners are confused by the frame, causing them to think they're actually 64 and 65's? Thanks again!

 

[Rich 5150 69]

The truck in your lower pic is not original frame / body, you will not see the frame from a side view on any of the 60 to 66 trucks, somebody has pieced something together, that could be a registering nightmare...! On your truck there should be a vin number on the left side frame rail, just below the drivers door, you might have to use a wire brush or sandpaper to reveal it...

 

[Lakeroadster]

This is listed as a '65, but the windshield does in fact wrap around correct? Or am I getting confused here? Is this an earlier body style truck than '65?

It has a 63 grille and a wrap around windshield.. looks like a 63 to me. One thing it isn't is a '64-66. Looks like it is in good shape though. Caveat Emptor... Buyer Beware!.

Thanks for your help, it's very much appreciated. BTW, I looked at your build thread and let me just say it's inspiring, to say the least. It looks like you have a great build going!

Thanks!

Edit: Another one in my area, listed as a '64 but it also has the wrap around correct?

Yep, wrap around windshields are pre-'64.

So are they just wrong on their years or what's up? Could they both be '63's and the owners are confused by the frame, causing them to think they're actually 64 and 65's? Thanks again!

Yep, wrap around windshield. So they are just wrong. These era trucks are titled based on the VIN which is stamped on the cab and on the frame. Rich's advice is on the mark. Check the numbers stamped on the frame rail. If it doesn't match the vin number on the cab and the title... walk away.

FYI: On '64 thru '66's the VIN number is stamped on the top of the drivers side frame rail in the engine compartment as well as on the VIN tag on the drivers side cab, in the top of the cab door jamb.

 

[MJ14]

The truck in your lower pic is not original frame / body, you will not see the frame from a side view on any of the 60 to 66 trucks, somebody has pieced something together, that could be a registering nightmare...! On your truck there should be a vin number on the left side frame rail, just below the drivers door, you might have to use a wire brush or sandpaper to reveal it...

Thanks a bunch for this great info! That should be helpful when I go look at the truck that was listed as a '65, so I can see what's up with the years and everything. Much appreciated.

Yep, wrap around windshield. So they are just wrong. These era trucks are titled based on the VIN which is stamped on the cab and on the frame. Rich's advice is on the mark. Check the numbers stamped on the frame rail. If it doesn't match the vin number on the cab and the title... walk away.

FYI: On '64 thru '66's the VIN number is stamped on the top of the drivers side frame rail in the engine compartment as well as on the VIN tag on the drivers side cab, in the top of the cab door jamb.

Ok, awesome! Again, you guys have been more helpful than you could ever imagine. I'm going to go take a look at the first truck I put up a picture of, that I now believe to be a '63!

So now I'll ask you this, and I'm sorry for not figuring out the year differential first. Would having a '62 C10 for parts be useful at all for the '63 C20? Basically are the cabs the same? Doors? Hood? Bed? Both are stepsides, but would the same thing apply as far as it'll fit, just need a few modifications? I know you mentioned the other C20 vs. C10 differences, so I know the tires won't be useful, nor suspension or frame. But if I needed a door let's say, would it swap from the '62 C10 to the '63 C20?

Again, thanks for all help.

BTW, I haven't posted a pic of the '62. The second picture I posted was more of me just double checking myself on what was or wasn't a wrap-around windshield. Because after seeing a second one listed as a '64 or newer with a wrap-around I was beginning to wonder if I was just confused.

Here's a pic of the '62 I would get for the parts on it:

So would it even be worth it to get this '62 C10 to use for parts for that C20? Or is it just not really even going to be worth my time getting it? Thanks!

Edit: Again one more question. Here are pictures of the C20 I am looking at.

So my question this time is more of a based on what you see question. Do you guys think this would be a good truck for a first project for me? It looks pretty clean to me for the year as far as "project" trucks go. I'm going to go take a look at it with my brother-in-law who's a mechanic, but just based on the pics, this looks pretty solid to me. What do you guys think? Thanks guys.

 

[Rich 5150 69]

The biggest issue will be the rust, places to check, bottom corners of the doors, rocker panels below the doors, rear lower corners of the front fenders, and rear cab corners, they sell patch panels for these areas, serious rust places to watch for are the cab top rain gutter, area just above windshield, lower windshield at the door dog leg, these are extremely hard areas to be repaired even for an experienced bodyman and they donot sell panels for these areas, most will just replace cab with a donor, the rest will be mechanical/ electrical which can be managed by yourself.

 

[Lakeroadster]

Would having a '62 C10 for parts be useful at all for the '63 C20? Basically are the cabs the same? Doors? Hood? Bed? Both are stepsides, but would the same thing apply as far as it'll fit, just need a few modifications? I know you mentioned the other C20 vs. C10 differences, so I know the tires won't be useful, nor suspension or frame. But if I needed a door let's say, would it swap from the '62 C10 to the '63 C20?

Yes the cab, doors and hood from the '62 will fit the '63. The cab mounts might be different though since the 62 has an x-frame and the '63 has the ladder frame.

The red truck appears to be a short bed, the white truck is a long bed. that means the beds are different lengths.


Here's a pic of the '62 I would get for the parts on it:

So would it even be worth it to get this '62 C10 to use for parts for that C20? Or is it just not really even going to be worth my time getting it? Thanks!

It's hard to pass up something for nothing. If you have the space for it, why not? But it looks awfull rusty.


Edit: Again one more question. Here are pictures of the C20 I am looking at.

So my question this time is more of a based on what you see question. Do you guys think this would be a good truck for a first project for me? It looks pretty clean to me for the year as far as "project" trucks go. I'm going to go take a look at it with my brother-in-law who's a mechanic, but just based on the pics, this looks pretty solid to me. What do you guys think? Thanks guys.

I like the C20 long bed truck. But keep in mind it is a C20, which is a 3/4 ton. What are your plans for the truck? Are you planning to lower it and buy aftermarket wheels? If the answer is yes then a C20 probably isn't your most cost effective truck to start with, you'll have to change lots of stuff. If your planning to restore it to stock, then the C20 is a good choice.... IMO.