C30 question

[va72longhorn]

I’m having a hard time determining whether or not the three spoke steering wheel is original to my 72 C30. I know the 1972 model medium duty trucks (C40, C50.... ) had the three spoke that the pickups carried in 67 and 68, which is the same one in my 157” wb, that started out as a cab and chassis.
I looked in the GMHeritage site and the 133” C30, for the Longhorn, is all I see listed under CE30’s. I did see where the base C&C’s for the campers are in the pickup section. I don’t see a rear axle listing on my SPID or build sheet, so am I to assume it’s a standard medium duty rear? I thought it was a HO72 with 5:13 ratio, but I’m not 100% sure. According to the chassis mounted camper section, I’m running a 5:43, since my GVW is 14,000 with a 11,000 rear.
Are the cab and chassis C30’s, longer than the 133” wb, considered medium duty trucks?
Where would I find the GM listing for specifications and options for the medium duty’s?

[StingRay]

My 69 C30 came with a normal 2 spoke half ton wheel. Yours sure looks like an original truck. Anything is possible.

[va72longhorn]

What’s the wheel base and GVW on yours, Stingray?

[special-K]

I have never seen the three spoke wheel used, from factory, in any 10-30 series 69-72. I think the previous owner replaced the original with a 67/68 that holds up better than 69-72. The one used in medium duties from '67 till the body change (maybe even longer) is the exact same style as the 67/68 10-30s but is a larger diameter and were cast in color, same as 69-72 10-30 wheels. The diameter is bigger than 67/68 and smaller than 69-72

[va72longhorn]

I knew my neighbor, Tim, would have some insight. As you can see, this is a color keyed wheel. I’ll double check the diameter today.
Is there an easy way to verify my rear axle?

[TALLone71]

a friend of mine had a 72 c30, and it had the standard 2 spoke wheel...that sure is a sharp truck!..and hello from a fellow Virginian, I was in Culpeper about a month ago, twice in one week, moving 2 tractors for my son.

[va72longhorn]

Thank you, sir! Its always nice to meet more and more neighbors on here. I’m down your way quite a bit. In fact, I’ll be in Doswell most of the weekend
Yeah, the PO freshened it up back in 2004 when he bought it from the OP’s estate, so he could have changed the steering wheel out. It’s actually a Custom Deluxe equipped truck which I think is rare in a 157” dually. I’d like to get it back to its originality, or at least close.
The next project is to determine the rear. Being a 14k GVW truck, I’m hesitant to change the axle gearing. May have to start saving for a GV OD once I get the cab the way it should be.

[CG]

My 72 C30 has the standard 72 two spoke

[va72longhorn]

Is that a 157” wb, CG? What’s your GVW?

[jumpsoffrock]

My 1972 GMC C3500 was originally a 133" 9000 GVWR SRW truck and has the pathetic remnants of a two spoke steering wheel.

I wish i could find an affordable OEM replacement. My truck has manual steering.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

My 1972 GMC C3500 was originally a 133" 9000 GVWR SRW truck and has the pathetic remnants of a two spoke steering wheel.

I wish i could find an affordable OEM replacement. My truck has manual steering.

What color steering wheel are you looking for?

[va72longhorn]

I’ll be in the same boat if I run across an affordable blue two spoke.
I tried doing some research to see if the 157” wb’s came off the same assembly line as the 133” ones, since the frames are heavier. It almost looked like the 157” C30 frame and the C40 were the same but I can’t find anything concrete for an answer.

[jumpsoffrock]

Originally Posted by lolife99

What color steering wheel are you looking for?

Not gonna lie, I don't care, but it looks like theres not a lot of selection of usable not-so-bad 69-72 wheels for reasonable prices. They want north of $100 for a 50 year old worn and cracked wheel, no way.

[CG]

Originally Posted by va72longhorn

Is that a 157” wb, CG? What’s your GVW?

Sorry, yes. 157" WB Cheyenne Super. Tilt wheel with black steering wheel.

[special-K]

You say 14,000 GVW. Is that how it was registered or is there something that states that on your truck? There was a C/30 option for a heavier rear axle, which was the medium duty HO 110 with 10-lug wheels. The front got the same pattern 5-lug hubs. I believe it was the 13,000# axle option, but can't recall for sure. Maybe it was 11,000#. I have a cab from a truck with that option I could check. Those trucks had the emergency brake on the driveshaft and the brake booster was under the cab with a breather up through the floor between the seat and driver door. I'm sure the C/40 chassis would be different, as those used the medium duty straight rail frame with solid beam front axle on leaf springs. They had the medium duty sheet metal.

[va72longhorn]

Hey Tim
Yeah, the plate on the door jamb shows 11,000 on the rear, 3000 on the front with a GVW of 14000. The truck weighs 7900 lbs, empty, so by the numbers it should be a 2 ton truck as I’d doubt I could ever load it with more than 2 ton that it wouldn't overload the rear. It’s a 8 lug rear with 16” wheels. It came factory with the 16” setup. The parking brake is in the rear drums. I’ve never known the truck to spin. Is there something you see in the build sheet or is there something I can find on the truck itself to identify what rear axle was used? If I go by the spec sheet, because it’s a 14k GVW, it should be a Custom Camper model with a 5:43 rear.
I thought I had read where the 157” frame was more stout than the 133” longhorn frame. But I also know that the CC’s for the chassis mounted campers were subject to the same options as the Longhorns on the 133”. I wouldnt think a C30 intended to receive a commercial body was eligible for the same options, but I haven’t had any luck finding that in writing. Given that and the fact that two different factory stake beds were available, I can only imagine it was a very busy assembly line if all the C30’s were run with the C20’s and C10’s.
Hence, after all this rambling at 3:30am, you can see why I had the initial thought that GM might have ran a separate assembly line for the CC’s, that were intended for Commercial use.

[rs74]

Looks like a pretty clean 72.

[va72longhorn]

Thanks, RS. It actually is. The original deluxe fabric seat cover is under that vinyl cover. Pretty well documented truck. Spent most if it’s life on a small farm just south of Lynchburg, Va. I got it from the second owner, who freshened it up in 2004 just after buying it from the estate of the OP.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

Not gonna lie, I don't care, but it looks like theres not a lot of selection of usable not-so-bad 69-72 wheels for reasonable prices. They want north of $100 for a 50 year old worn and cracked wheel, no way.

I have a wheel I would sell but it has a crack at the hub and several in the rim.
The problem is,… it costs about $30-$35 to ship one.
This wheel came out of a well preserved 70 stepside that I owned. But it still has cracks.

[StingRay]

157 like yours. 10K gvw.

Originally Posted by va72longhorn

What’s the wheel base and GVW on yours, Stingray?

[StingRay]

2 tons technically overloads it. I've had my 10k gvw truck at nearly 15k and hardly knew it was there. Drums being the weak point braking was a little off. As actual farm trucks they would always have been overloaded. When I haul the odd load of gravel we just look at how much the suspension droops. When weighing out on the scale it's like oh damn. Handles it beautifully. I have a later 14 bolt with big brakes and a classic square body 1 ton disc front clip for it that will bring its capabilities up remarkably. Just have to get to it some day.

Originally Posted by va72longhorn

Hey Tim
Yeah, the plate on the door jamb shows 11,000 on the rear, 3000 on the front with a GVW of 14000. The truck weighs 7900 lbs, empty, so by the numbers it should be a 2 ton truck as I’d doubt I could ever load it with more than 2 ton that it wouldn't overload the rear. It’s a 8 lug rear with 16” wheels. It came factory with the 16” setup. The parking brake is in the rear drums. I’ve never known the truck to spin. Is there something you see in the build sheet or is there something I can find on the truck itself to identify what rear axle was used? If I go by the spec sheet, because it’s a 14k GVW, it should be a Custom Camper model with a 5:43 rear.
I thought I had read where the 157” frame was more stout than the 133” longhorn frame. But I also know that the CC’s for the chassis mounted campers were subject to the same options as the Longhorns on the 133”. I wouldnt think a C30 intended to receive a commercial body was eligible for the same options, but I haven’t had any luck finding that in writing. Given that and the fact that two different factory stake beds were available, I can only imagine it was a very busy assembly line if all the C30’s were run with the C20’s and C10’s.
Hence, after all this rambling at 3:30am, you can see why I had the initial thought that GM might have ran a separate assembly line for the CC’s, that were intended for Commercial use.