C50 vs C60 trucks.

DeltaRed · May 15, 2019

the 'new' 59 Chevy Apache C60 truck says GVw 16,000. The 'old' 68 Chevy C50 Gvw is 19500.I always thought the 60 was a bigger heavier truck. Was the older trucks just smaller,despite the bigger model number?The 68 C50 is a heavier truck all around.Wkat's the deal?

Leroy · May 15, 2019

Think they changed the weight classofication sometime. Our milk hauler always used one model, when it came time for him to get new truck he had to go to the other model number to get trouck to haul same weight This was about mid 70's as he had to give up milk hauling in early 80.

Bob · May 15, 2019

(quoted from post at 22:45:20 05/15/19) the 'new' 59 Chevy Apache C60 truck says GVw 16,000. The 'old' 68 Chevy C50 Gvw is 19500.I always thought the 60 was a bigger heavier truck. Was the older trucks just smaller,despite the bigger model number?The 68 C50 is a heavier truck all around.Wkat's the deal?

I would suspect either truck could have been ordered with various spring and axle choices, which would be reflected on the rating plate, depending upon how they were ordered, and the weight rating ranges probably overlapped .

If you've ever needed to order brake parts or wheel bearings for a medium truck, you will already be aware of how many choices there can be of how the were set up within a given model and year.

DR. EVIL · May 15, 2019

Chevy was Just like BurgerKing back then. They built trucks "Your Way!" You had your choice of three different rear axle weight ratings, 2 or 3 frt axle ratings, same choices of springs. I drove a little 1974 Chevy C50 box truck that was barely heavier duty than a 1-ton C30, had a 305 V8 and 4-speed, ran about 50-55. Everybody tried to run it 65 and over-reved the engine. That's why it had 3-4 replacement engines in one year. Then the guy Dad drove for hauling livestock bought a '64 C-60 that was a Real truck. 327 truck engine 5+2 transmission, heavy rear axle, 23,000# rated, 12,000# frt, set-up for a 20 ft livestock rack. 12 to 15 1000# cattle, 30 hogs not a problem with that truck. Same components used on the township's C65 dump trucks and sand & chip spreader trucks they also plowed snow with all winter. They had a '67 C65 with low gears in the axle, ran about 57 mph at 3600 rpm, the '74 C65 was identical except for axle ratio, it would run 65 mph around 3200-3300, much better for running up and down the Interstate.

fastfarmall · May 16, 2019

You'r spot on DR.Evil, the dealer were so misinformed, they always order them with to short wheel base, and then the box would go over center, oh it was a sad situation!

fastfarmall · May 16, 2019

But the 68 was the only year that they used 6 bolts in front and 6 bolt wheels, in back, most other years they used 5 in front and 10, in back ! you have to watch them 6 bolts in back they will shear and work them selves loose !

timcasbolt · May 16, 2019

The 305 came out in 77. The truck you're speaking of probably had a 307.

Sprint 6 · May 16, 2019

Medium trucks of all brands could be had however you wanted them, as others have stated. I think a lot of combinations came about to skirt weight laws, taxation laws, and appearance laws. Some states had laws against commercial vehicles on certain roads, so trucks were built to look smaller, like a pickup, but rated for higher GVW. I have seen C50 outfitted all kinds of ways. I also have seen heavy GVW C30, had a customer once with a '69 C30 with 17.5 wheels and an Eaton rear axle and heavy brakes. That thing was a pain to get brake parts for.

BarryfromIA · May 16, 2019

Also 5 speed was available as an overdrive in 5th or 1 to 1.The 24000 lb rear was foe attaching a tag axle if you wanted. A Neway had no springs it pivoted at the rear an used the truck spring. Popular with gravel haulers.

sms · May 16, 2019

Saw this one in Grand Junction two years ago. Might still be there.

DeltaRed · May 16, 2019

The '68 has 5 bolt fronts,and 10 bolt rears. the 59 has 6 bolts,front and rear.

notjustair · May 16, 2019

My 58 GMC 370 and 54 Chevy 6400 will overbalance on the short wheel base. The 58 will catch itself but the 54 will sit straight up and you have to get the tractor and chain.

I rarely use them but as backup trucks at harvest. Some jerk I hate at the coop got mad at me when I wouldn?t run the 58 up as fast as he wanted at the pit. So I did what he wanted. You should have seen the look on his face when it overbalanced. It will slam back upright about two feet until the load dumps and then flip back down. I think he needed a new set of shorts. Now he never gets pushy with me on the old trucks. Or the semis for that matter!

DR. EVIL · May 16, 2019

NO! They were 305's installed sometime in the 1980's. All the local junk yards were out of cheap Chevy
small blocks. The C50 probably came with a 350 which blew up because of over-reving, as did all the 305's
because they were cheaper than 350's. No tach in the C50 like all the larger medium duties I drove. The
box on the truck was just long enough for four 40x48 4-way pallets to sit on the floor, roof was so low I
couldn't stand up straight inside the box. I normally drove their semi, a Ford F-700 single axle
tractor with 8.2L V-8 Detroit, yes, those engines really ARE as bad as people say! Then there was the
1970-something IH FleetStar with 478 V-8 gas engine, even drove a borrowed 1960's vintage KW tiltcab
twinscrew with 238 Detroit. NOT the best truck to pedal freight out of. Pulled a 45 ft roll-up door
trailer.

C50 vs C60 trucks.

DeltaRed

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Leroy

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Bob

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DR. EVIL

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fastfarmall

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fastfarmall

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timcasbolt

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Sprint 6

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BarryfromIA

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sms

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DeltaRed

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DR. EVIL

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