OUT OF RETIREMENT

A BARN-FIND CHEVY C30 WITH A SECOND-GEN CUMMINS, CHASSIS, AND AXLES

- MIKE MCGLOTHLIN

You don’t have to look very hard to find fans of Chevrolet’s iconic ’67-’72 trucks, but if you’re lucky enough to bump into Jeff McCord—owner of LinCo Diesel Performance and someone who knows his way around diesel swaps—you’ll find a one-of-a-kind ’68 parked in his stable. It’s not the familiar 10-series, but in deciding to convert a C30 1-ton into a four-wheel drive, Cummins-powered workhorse, Jeff has built something truly unique. Thanks to having a P-pumped 5.9L take-out engine, an NV4500, and an entire ’95 Dodge dually to pull parts from, it’s no wonder the project unfolded the way it did.

A TRUE BARN FIND

When Jeff first spotted the C30 abandoned in a barn back in 2014, it had long-been retired from its days of hauling building materials for a St. Louis area construction company. Unfortunately, the truck’s rockers had been resting on the shelter’s dirt floor for some time, rendering them (and much of the rest of the cab) irreparable. However, after sourcing a salvageable ’72 model year cab all was forgotten, and luckily the original doors, fenders, grille, and front bumper were all retainable.

LESS IS MORE

As a C-series enthusiast in virtually every way, Jeff held true to his belief that the truck should remain as era-specific as possible. That meant the original body panels were treated to Scotch-Brite and clear coat rather than a full-on paint job. The Cummins’ valve covers were bead blasted and the intercooler piping left raw rather than shot with flashy paint or powder coating. And finally, for a bit of character as well as a glimpse into the truck’s workhorse past, even the arm wear at the top of the driver side door was left alone.

EASY-BREATHING 12-VALVE