Big Bertha/ Tonka/ Real Life Tonka Toy

Chevrolet

C-10

1960

0

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Shorten chassis, upgraded to 350, cam, and small chambered heads, headers 3” compete exhaust to 8” stack
2024 car showing season won several awards including a best in show. Conversion done in 4 months, and maybe $1000 for conversion 
Highlight I’m prod of is patina painted bed for $35 in rattle can and acetone lol.
Originally a 2 ton grain truck still worked until 2022. 30,xxx on clock
Added another 400-600 car showing during 2023
Running driving true work of art from factory.
Tear down, removal of cab from original chassis
Front clip, and bed and the prized hood.
Cab in temporary location for final chassis with upgrade power train

Mods

1960 c60
Getting a chassis upgrade with highway gears, disc brakes, power steering and brakes, and diesel/allison

Build story

Start life in 1960 as a cab and chassis in NE Kansas. Grainbed added after repaint to IH red and white.
Served its life hauling grain at harvest until ‘22 when gentlemen decided to upgrade harvest hauling operations.
Drove home in March of ‘23 stuck in low range on rear end, 1.5 hr later she got home
Original 283/ sm420 with 2 speed axle 6.42/8.70 gears. Still sporting widow makers and drums all 4 corners. And bonus torsion bar suspension with only 39,xxx miles.

Car showed it ‘23 adding 400-600 miles and at one point with listed above I hit 75 mph (only concern is the rpm’s) but she ran.

Nov ‘23 tear down for bed conversion.
Cut frame down, moved axle/spings forward 4’. Added step side bed,
Upgraded to 350 with small chamber heads, 3” exhaust header to 8” stacks.
Lots miles during ‘24 car show season. And won many trophies and even best of show.

Truck started as dark green and paint IH red and white. 64 yrs of paint fade was hard to match. Step bed was originally green as well, was making patina match was the thought. After many different tries I found a rattle can for bed color and mixture of linseed oil on cab, I almost matched the patina look.
Best part—- painted bed and patina look for $35.

2024 Nov tear down
Getting conversion to bus chassis, with all the loads of modern drivetrain/suspension/braking.
Goal to be on road by mid May. And under budget.

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