Chevy truck suspension

I was under the impression that 62 Chevy trucks had torsion bar front ends under them while later had coil springs. I bought my truck being told it was a 62, but it has coil springs. I understand that it is a popular idea to swap for a 63 suspension particularly for lowering due to the crossmember. Have tried to research a little, but how do I tell exactly what I have?

 

what's the VIN? (on a stainless steel tag spot welded to the driver door hinge pillar)

take some pics of the truck, including the suspension, let's see what you have

 

Hope these pics are of some help. VIN 2c154s145211

 

Sorry here they are

 

that vin is 1962, so the cab is probably a 62 cab, if the tag hasn't been messed with.

 

notice the cab mount is a piece of angle iron welded to the frame? looks like the frame was changed out. See if there's a VIN stamped on the frame, on top of the frame rail, drivers side, somewhere between the front bumper and the firewall.

 

Havent got any pics of the truck as it sits right now, all my pics are of it when i first bought it 3 years ago. Got it running good, with the help of you guys, and looking to get started on suspension and redoing body work, as i did just enough to get it one color

 

The 62 truck will also have an X frame originally. If yours is a ladder type, the cab has been changed. Like Squirrel posted too, the front cab mounts on the 62 are a good bit further apart than they are on a 63.

Here is a 62 cab on a 63 frame. Notice the cab mount bolts fall well outside of the 63 frame mount pads.

 

Yeah that angle iron, lucky find on ebay is what i"m chalking it up to. Learning experience! 5s129535 on the frame

 

I wonder if that isn"t a late 60's to early 70's frame! My buddy on here Fletcher62 has a 62 on that style of frame if you look him up on my friends list you can look at the pictures of his frame and i bet they look pretty damn close to the same!It seems it was a common swap.

 

I think that VIN on the frame means it's a 65 frame, it sure looks like it

 

That could be beneficial due to availability and pricing on those year parts. Just as long as were not going the other way!

 

yeah, the later parts are definitely easier to get! but it does help to know what you're buying parts for

 

The front suspension is 72 or earlier. In 73, the control arm bushings became rubber rather than the steel screw in ones like his frame has.

Closer look at the pictures show the front brake hard lines are behind the crossmember which makes it 70 or earlier frame. When they went to disc brakes in 71, the brake lines were moved to the front of the crossmember.

 

Hey Slickster your buddy's frame does look like mine. Going by what you and Ayers say, could possibly be up to early 70's. I guess 67-70 parts would probably work. Would like to get these numbers on the frame decoded like Squirrel said to know exactly. If anyone can help 5S129535

 

from what I know of how the vehicle identification numbers and partial serial numbers stamped on the frame work, it's a 1965 frame. Both the frame and your cab were built in St Louis ***embly plant.

 

I knew the wealth of knowledge on the hamb could figure it out.