1972 Chevy C20 Longhorn "Factory Dually"

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by 70K10Hunter

this is totally a doable build, find a later 74ish up 1ton running gear, if memory serves me well 1tons had the same type front suspension setup as the 2wd trucks, or just use a 1ton chassis and drop the body on it. anyway you slice it, it is cool.

You have to use the '67 -'71 1 ton (133" wheelbase) chassis to keep the rear wheels inside the bed. If memory serves me correctly the '72 rear was 1 1/2" wider than the earlier ones and the '73 up were even wider than that. You would have to do a lot more modification to build one out of a later frame.

LockDoc

[Ozark Tim]

Hmmmmmmm, I wonder....
C-30 C&C with 133" wb. Got it!
Just need the longhorn bed, cash and time.
I guess my long term plans arent all that original.
Nice looking and a shame GM didnt make one until 73.

[Dieselwrencher]

I happen to know where there is a decent Longhorn bed......................... And a Longhorn frame with SRW HO52.....................

[Palf70Step]

I like it. Not original, but still a very nice looking build.

[SS Tim]

Actually I like the period conversion style better. But here is a picture of a member's truck with widened tubs for dual wheels. Can't seem to find a quarter view of it in my pictures. Anyone have it or a link?

[Dieselwrencher]

The Blue one is 72Freak's old truck and the tires are tucked in the bed side. It is a very nice truck and he sold it really reasonable too!

[kwmech]

To get the duals to fit without fender extensions, a total custom job would have to be fabricated. As in the frame rails would have to be moved inward to clear the inner tire and rim assy. You can see by the pics how far the inner fenders were extended.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by kwmech

To get the duals to fit without fender extensions, a total custom job would have to be fabricated. As in the frame rails would have to be moved inward to clear the inner tire and rim assy. You can see by the pics how far the inner fenders were extended.

That is why you use a cab and chassis dually rear axle. The outer tire barely sticks out. That is how that blue truck is done and the same with this truck in this thread. No frame mods required.

[LockDoc]

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Here are a couple of threads on 72Freaks dually. Ryan is correct, no frame mods required with the C-30 Chassis. Basically all you have to do is widen the tubs and install front bed mount brackets on the frame for the Longhorn bed...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=260748

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=307114


LockDoc

[jwalk]

Pretty cool trucks! I was going to put a utility bed on mine, but having a hard time finding one I like. Think I need to cut it down to a long wheel base and put a bed on it! Now if I can just find that straight factory blue paint so I can keep the patina... Yeah right!
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=530720
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[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That is why you use a cab and chassis dually rear axle. The outer tire barely sticks out. That is how that blue truck is done and the same with this truck in this thread. No frame mods required.

So, you're not using a longhorn frame, you're starting with a flatbed. I've got a 68 longhorn that I did a dually conversion on the rear. the springs do not allow the tires to stuff in that far. Now if you start with a 133'' flatbed, I'm sure that is different

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by kwmech

So, you're not using a longhorn frame, you're starting with a flatbed. I've got a 68 longhorn that I did a dually conversion on the rear. the springs do not allow the tires to stuff in that far. Now if you start with a 133'' flatbed, I'm sure that is different

The 133" Cab & Chassis (flatbed) uses the exact same frame as the Longhorn. The C&C rear axle is 4" narrower than the single wheel axle putting the tires real close to the leaf springs and requiring the tubs to be widened. I imagine tire size plays along with just how much the tires either tucks in or stick out slightly. I'm in tbe process of doing this on a 4x4.
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[kwmech]

Hmmm, like I said I just did this to my 68. and the tires stick out each side by about 2-2-1/2'' inches. Tires are about 3/4'' from the springs. This is using stock dually rims with a 7.50-16 tire. Using a C&C rear axle wouldn't have worked by my measurements. I have a C&C axle assy in my tow truck and took the measurements of of that.

[bulldog2513]

very nicely done and i would LOVE to have it. however, it is by far an original. it screams restoration and customization. the tubs are clearly fabricated with a filler piece. and as stated before....the longhorn didnt release until 73.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Hmmm, like I said I just did this to my 68. and the tires stick out each side by about 2-2-1/2'' inches. Tires are about 3/4'' from the springs. This is using stock dually rims with a 7.50-16 tire. Using a C&C rear axle wouldn't have worked by my measurements. I have a C&C axle assy in my tow truck and took the measurements of of that.

You might remeasure. I put my extra bed on a 71 cab and chassis truck and it looked just like this truck. The outer tire barely stuck out of the wheel well. It had stock tires on it as well.

[SS Tim]

There are LOTS of variations.

[kwmech]

OK, I looked under the truck to remember what i did. The 3/4'' measurement I remembered was from the inside of the tire to the AIR BAG bracket that comes off the frame rail, that's why I had to move them outward. What I did about a year ago was convert the rear to a 14b axle to get a decent ratio. So what I did was use the single wheel 14b (3.42's and detroit), and put a dually drum on it for the brake drum clearance on the indside of the rim and I moved the backing plate inward to accommodate the drum and shoes. It always seems to be complicated when I do something

[Dieselwrencher]

That still looks nice though!

[SS Tim]

I do like the look of a SRW converted to a DRW and I need the 50" between the inner fenders. What are the options for a period looking truck? The cutout style works I'm just not a fan of the fastener pockets. The stepside conversion look is out for me. If I wanted a step I'd widen a set of fenders like the old Dodges did but bed volume and width are currently important. Are there any sources left for these early type of fenders? Arrow started about '74 but J.C. Whitney had them for their spool dual wheel conversions much earlier. Looking back I think learning to read with J.C. Whitney/Warshawsky and Popular Mechanics may have altered my life! :-)

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That still looks nice though!

Thank you. Been working on this truck off and on for about 8 years. I may just get it going by the end of the year.

[WIDESIDE72]

I wonder if the eBay truck at the start of the thread was a 3/4 ton longhorn that got dual wheels, or a 1 ton that someone put a bed and longhorn emblems on (?)
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[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

I wonder if the eBay truck at the start of the thread was a 3/4 ton longhorn that got dual wheels, or a 1 ton that someone put a bed and longhorn emblems on (?)
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The VIN and the model numbers presented confirm it to be a '72 C/20 pickup 133" wb Longhorn as built.

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm guessing it got a cab and chassis rear axle and they widened the wheel tubs when it was done. When ever it was done, they did do a nice job on it as it still looks great today!

[LockDoc]

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If someone wanted to buy it and store it at my place, I could probably find room for it...

LockDoc

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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If someone wanted to buy it and store it at my place, I could probably find room for it...

LockDoc

Well that goes both ways................. I'll help you unload the shop. A little black car comes to mind.................