C60?

[un2xs]

Yes, you can tell me I am crazy. You won't be the first.

Last year I bought a deckover trailer. It was shop built and balanced to far forward. No so bad, but I have yet to have a heavy load on it. This trailer empty had my Yukon rearend squatting low.

I may be hauling a tractor or backhoe, so I wanted something that shouldn't have problems towing it loaded. Enter a 1980 C60 flatbed service truck. I am waiting on the bill of sale and title before I go get it. It's a V8 with Hi-Low 4 speed. I am not counting the cable winch or the 400amp welder to actually work... that would just be a bonus. Besides the obvious oil change and maybe a quick tune up what should I do or at least check on this thing?

https://www.bigiron.com/Lots/1980Che...edServiceTruck

[Tarsun2]

pressurized lines and fuel lines/filter.

power steering lines (if it has them)
brake lines
trans cooler line (looks like you have a manual, so no worries there)
oil cooler lines
coolant hoses
fuel lines for leaks, fuel filter, possible fuel pump. (iirc, it uses a mech pump off the crank with a diaphragm. if the diaphram leaks, it will leak fuel into the crank case. they are typically cheap and easy. (ill leave that one open lol)

basic "textbook" tune up...

plugs, wires, cap n' rotor, clean carb, coolant,
depending on its past life, maybe a clutch...?

if it were me.

[Mr. Hick]

If this is a split rear-end truck and you don't have split rear-end experience.... find an old timer to teach you how to drive it. I can't remember if these old C series are though.

[Twisted G]

If this is a split rear-end truck and you don't have split rear-end experience.... find an old timer to teach you how to drive it. I can't remember if these old C series are though.

Heres a vid of a older c60 with straight 6 and a split rear. From a person who likes driving manual cars, This looks only slightly more complicated. I'm pretty sure from the interior pictures that this is a split rear. I think its cool. .

[Mr. Hick]

A split rear is insanely more difficult than a split transfer. They do no appreciate being down shifted under heavy torque and it is about 4000k times more easy to miss a shift and have to come to a complete stop. They aren't synchrod transmissions (so like a big truck) and the gears and teeth wear from the previous owners shift style.

In short, its a nightmare in modern day applications.

Edit: I'm not trying to make it sound like you couldn't learn to do it. I'm just speaking from experience. I have driven 2 split rear ends, one an old old C- series with a straight six, the other a AM General. Both trucks drove completely different. I had to stop both trucks on multiple hills due to missed shifts.

The C series was an old fire truck that simply never was shifted into high range. They just never did more than 25 with the thing. It was a complete monster. The gearing on the high-side was all basically brand new and the low end was about worn out. that thing had no margin for error on shifts. The general was a over the road truck and was really at the end of its life. it shifted well, being mostly worn out. I'm glad I learned on the general first.

[Shane-O]

Brakes and brake fluid. bleed and fill the whole brake system with fresh, new fluid. I would check the brake shoes and drums, and replace if anything seems odd. Check the rubber brake lines from the frame to each wheel, they go soft and rob your system of pressure by expanding when you step on the brakes. Grab a bunch or wrenches and nut and bolt the whole thing underneath. Essentially put a wrench of each nut and bolt you can find, if its loose tighten it. This also forces you to inspect everything underneath the truck.

[un2xs]

I talked with the seller today. He says his mechanic was surprised at how tight the steering is for this age of truck. Also, apparently the first owner told him the engine was rebuilt. I will try to get the info on that.

He said he would not be afraid to drive it back to Manhattan from between Columbia and St
Louis. Just check all fluids and tire pressures before going very far. Am going to take two mounted C60 tires with me.

As an aside, should we plan on driving both vehicles back or take a trailer and tow the pickup back with this beast? I can see pluses and minus on both sides. Also, a mechanic told me I could use a tow dolly if I was willing to drop the drive shaft on the pickup.

And..... the PTO winch works! And the 400 amp welder should work... it just needs a new drive belt. Hot dang! I may not have to hire out my gate repair. :-)

Seller actually prefers a weekend to go over the truck and hand over the keys. (Kinda glad it's March... it doesn't have AC.)

Yee fricking haw! Almost able to not have to borrow whenever I need to haul a vehicle. I think the Farmall H is going to get the first trailer ride. I may need another chain or two, but I bought some screw tight chain boomers last summer when Harbor Freight was closing them out for a new model.

My rural ground is a former rock quarry. I have a loading dock made of old ledge rock. It will last longer than I will be alive.

Can you tell this has me in a good mood? It's about time positive stuff is starting back to balance out a few other events.

[Shane-O]

That sounds promising. If your trailer can haul the big truck, take it with you. If not id just drive it home, but it will be a slow boat from China type of drive. You get into Illinois or an Hour west of St. Louis and need help, Im your huckleberry. PM me when you are getting ready for your trip and Ill send my cell#.

[Shane-O]

Make sure you have a breaker bar or 4 way that has the right size for the Lug nuts. One jug of brake fluid is fine, it works as P/S fluid also. Extra gas, like 2-5 gallon can would be good, just in case the gauge is off or inoperable. What engine is in it?

[Shane-O]

Looks like they are tube tires. I went and looked at the listing. Thats one hell of a Generator for the welder.

[un2xs]

The listing says the engine is a 350. I ran this past an acquaintance yesterday. He immediately went online and did a little digging. He seems to think that a 366 was put in these things in '80. I did find something that said a 4 speed was common behind the 350, which lends credence to this being a 350.

As to the welder... the seller says that as far as he knows it should work, but that he has never use it. It needs a new belt to drive it from the PTO. Kinda makes me wonder what RPM that engine needs to maintain to drive a 400 amp Lincoln welder. Again, nice if it works, but not counting on it until proven to work.

Thank you for mentioning the breaker bar. I plan to take a 20VT cordless impact wrench. But that breaker bar could be needed. Either way, the impact sockets could be a plus.

[un2xs]

Update: Many gallons of gasoline and a full day, the truck is now home. It was a five hour trip east. It took a bit more time going the other direction.

The two spares we took would not fit. So off came both back passenger tires. An impact socket, long break over and a 6' pipe managed to break the lugs free. Out came the sledge hammer, pry bars, and even a front end tractor bucket. My helper for the trip managed to safely change a split rim even though he had only seen it done before. After everything was said and done the old tube held air. It may have just had a slow leak.

Kyle drove the C60 back. During daylight hours we were sometimes maintaining an even 70mph going west on I70. Kyle really, really likes this truck. He said it handles just like a big pickup instead of a lumbering farm truck. I told him he cant have it.

Have not checked either the winch or the welder yet. Also, the truck looks like it may have sported a jin pole at one point. It looks like it would be relatively easy to fabricate. One of the boxes holds the pulley and axle for the bracket at the front of the bed that is higher than the cab. There are pullies and some other things that might be able to rig up a snatch block.

The body metal is mainly straight and relatively rustfree. Looks like learning to paint a truck might be on tap this summer.

While not new, the tires still have plenty of life left in them.

Seat could use a little new foam and a new cover.

All in all, this beast is in nice shape, especially for a forty year old truck. Will be doing an oil change before it gets driven very far. Will be having somebody more knowledgable than I check out the welder.

Happy wIth purchase, but now have too many trucks. Anybody near Manhattan interested in an '88 Chevy half ton? ;-)

[un2xs]

Most of the original paint on the cab is in good shape, just old and faded. I mentioned that I might try to repaint it to an acquaintance. He suggested I try to buff/polish it out first. Are there any compounds or methods that you recommend?

I have also come across several videos using boiled linseed oil as a restorative coat. However, I have not seen how this method looks after time and nature have had a chance at that finish.

[Tarsun2]

watch anything AMMO NYC on youtube.

depends how far you want to go, really.

you can do a strip wash, clay bar, ipa rubdown, compound, then polish, then wash again with generic car wash soap, dry, ceramic coat spray...

or you can wash and use a wax 'n dry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjeXbIDDFLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8AtczDSs0

11:25

here are two good videos to watch.

all in all youre probably going to be in it for $200 - $300 if you go the 1st route
the second route would be < $100

[un2xs]

What is the oil capacity of a 1980 Chevy C60 with a deep oil pan 350 and two quart oil filter? Also, what is the recommended modern oil for this beast?

I am having trouble finding any info. Pickup 350 with normal one quart oil filter is five quarts of oil. On a 5.7L (a 350) 5-30 is recommended.

I know I can just measure the oil I drain out... or fill the filter before installation and then fill to the full oil mark. But I would like to have enough of the right oil ahead of time.

Any idea where I can find the specs to this (besides calling Chevy?)

[Twisted G]

Mr. Hick You have confused me. "A split rear is insanely more difficult than a split transfer". Aren't those just two words for the same thing? I understand what you said about shifting though. It would definently take some getting used to. Especially on a worn out transmission. Never driven one and I don't plan on it. I hate driving big vehicles. Tiny cars for a tiny man for me! .

[Mr. Hick]

Sometimes used interchangeably they are in fact, not. A split rear-end is exactly that. The drive axle has a hi/low range in the differential that is switched, changing the final gear ratio. if shifted incorrectly, or in the case of a lot of split rear ends from that generation, never ran in one or the other gears you have to come to a complete stop to get the rear end to find a range. it was common on a lot of "medium" duty trucks like the C series and the ford 600 or 700 series.

A split transfer, or a high and low transmission is that. The transmission or a hi/low range gear box attached to it was actually shifted leaving the differentials out of the equation. This is how all medium and big trucks are now. They weren't "insanely difficult." I just have had a lot of crappy experiences with them using old farm trucks, repurposed fire trucks and old dump trucks when I was growing up.