Buying a 1975 C-30 dump truck as a project!?

[shawn75c30]

My grandfather has a '75 Custom deluxe 30 dump truck, hawaiian blue in color. I used to be really into it as a kid, it's what got me into Chevy's, until a tree fell on it and it was repaired poorly, a quick paintjob, wrong grille and bumper, misfit fenders, etc. Wasn't quite the same after that. Other than that it's original, the interior is still good. Just a basic dump truck, no options, just gauges, doesn't even have a dome light. Has a 350, not sure how much it puts out in '75, manual 3-speed trans.

It hasn't been driven on the road in 20 years, it isn't used for anything now (was used for plowing and with a leaf vacuum)and just sits in the back of his driveway. It's solid from not being driven, with the door bottoms and weatherstripping being the worst of it from sitting outside. I had a '70 El Camino project for a while and I imagine a truck is easier to fix up.

If I bought it, I'd tune it up and go through all the basic stuff to drive it on the road. What do you think of something like this as a project? I'd love opinions on this.

How easy would it be to add options to it? Here is what I've thought of doing as I'd go along:

- Add a radio but keep it looking stock
- Get new grille and front end parts (how are repros?)
- Add a dome light, power windows, maybe upgrade the interior from a fancier truck
- Maybe retrofit A/C
- Could it be converted to a dually with a pickup bed?

I'll post pics when I can.  

[Blazin]

AC firewalls are diferent from non AC fire walls. It can be done but the firewall needs to be cut plus swap all the duct work etc. over.
Some reproduction stuff is better than others.
If you want to convert it to a dually you will need to swap in a dually rear end. You will also need to relocate the rear axle as the cab and chassis wheel base wont line up with a bed wheel arch. The inside of the wheel wells on the bed will hit the inside tire on a cab and chassis. You could also modify the bed floor, slide the wheel wells in board and fill the gap with sheet metal or a strip cut from a second pair of wheel wells.

Edited by: Blazin at: 3/3/07 11:34 am

[shawn75c30]

I didn't think it'd be that easy.  Thanks for the info.

[Fast68]

how doe sit have a 3 speed when its a c30 ?

the c30 always got the 465 trans

you sure its all original ?

good luck

[Blazin]

Allot of people call the standard trans in these trucks three speeds as the first gear in the trans. is called low and the second gear is called first. The C30s also came with TH 350s & TH 400s as well.

[SUX2BU99]

^ Two teachers at my high school had old 70's C10 beaters with a tranny like that. I call them 'farmer fours'.

[Stewart G Griffin]

I have seen commerical trucks converted to duallys (sort of) by using a stock bed--the wheel wells were enlarged but the wheels stayed in the stock locations tucked neatly underneath the fenders.  That way you dont' have to change rears.

I think 1tons are awesome but the gas mileage would probably suck.

I say go for it.