Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Hello everyone. I finally decided to start my own build thread after several months of admiring some pretty incredible builds. I am a novice, to say the least, but am using this as an opportunity to learn as I go with my dad’s help (a lot of help!).

So a little background… I grew up around these trucks; my dad always had some form of a 67-72, whether it be a truck, suburban or blazer. I bought my first 72 c10 when I was 14, and my dad and I started a restoration in preparation for my 16th birthday. Well, like many know life got in the way, and after I was married it was time for that project to move on down the road.

Let’s fast forward, I got it in my head that I had to have another one and decided I wanted to make it my daily driver, and so the hunt began. I finally found a clean, mostly original truck in my price range and the voyage began.

So without further ado… let me introduce Gertrude, a.k.a. Gertie! :metal:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Looks like a very nice truck to start out with! What are your plans for the build?

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Here are a few more pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Thanks, dfwright!

The Plan

I would like to keep it mostly original, kinda shop truck meets grandpa’s Highlander. This is going to be somewhat of a slow process, as time and money allow. So here’s my list as of now (not necessarily in any particular order)… keep in mind this is my daily driver so I plan to leave the truck in driving condition as I tackle these projects.

• Basic tune up and overall inspection of all the major systems
• Get gas gauge working
• Rebuild carburetor
• Convert to SWB
• Remove gas tank from cab and install rear mounted tank
• Fix front grill
• Paint rear bumper
• Paint wheels and replace center rally caps
• 4/6 drop
• Replace front steering components
• Brakes
• Replace cab mounts
• Install drop center crossmember and auto trans crossmember for additional clearance
• Replace driveshaft center support bearing
• Rerun exhaust
• Clean and paint frame as well as undercoat bottom of cab and bed
• Replace interior pieces that are beyond repair (door panels, arm rest, seat cover, etc.)
• Recover seat with original Highlander Avocado seat cover
• Replace windshield
• Install 3 point shoulder harness seat belts
• Vintage Air
• Update sound system
• Replace below eye line mirrors with sports mirrors
• Convert to HEI
• Rust repair: The cab corners and rockers where done by PO but might need to be redone down the road. Front fender bottoms need to be repaired, and the door bottoms will need some attention. Other than some battery tray and core support rust the truck is pretty solid. I haven’t pulled up the carpet, but it seems solid from under the truck.
• As for the exterior: I’d like to keep the current paint (not so perfect patina look). I don’t believe it’s the original paint, but it is the original color combo. I did not like it at first, but it has grown on me. I am going to cut my bed sides and floor to keep the color.
• Repair dent in driver side front fender
• Repair, clean, polish and paint exterior trim, and eventually replace the bumpers and front inner and outer grills.
• Overall: Clean, repair, restore, and reuse as much as I can.

There will be much more, I'm sure, and my mind my change as I go, but that’s the plan as of this hour! :lol:

Comments, questions, suggestions, and advice are always welcome! This site has been awesome! :metal:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

So the first thing I did was rebuild my carburetor. It’s an Edelbrock 1406. I had never rebuilt a carburetor before, but after reading several posts here and watching some videos online I felt pretty confident to give it a shot. I have to say it was pretty straight forward, and quite frankly it was fun to rebuild.

So here are a few pics… (I cant find any after pictures, but it did look pretty sweet!) :metal:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Next major undertaking was to have it converted to a SWB. This was not something I really wanted to tackle myself so we had a local guy, who has been cutting and working on these trucks for a long time, cut my frame and floor. He did an awesome job! :metal:

My dad had some aftermarket bed sides that we put on it. I have since decided to have my original bed sides cut down so I can keep the original paint and look of the truck.

Here are some pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

More pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

More pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

and again more pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

I really like this truck with the special 2 tone paint and the highlander package. It looks like (heck may be the same one) one that was for sale down in TX that I saw. Nice work so far on it. And lastly, GO POKES!!

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Excellent Choice! I don't think you'll regret that. I have days I wish I had done the same. You are really making super progress! I am not sure you and I both have the same understanding of the word SLOW progress.... lol!

Great Work!

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Thanks, russgoodman! This is the one that was down in Texas. Been a good little solid truck so far!

Haha. Thanks, dfwright! I'll be honest, this is progress from the last year, so I'm playing catch up on my thread! :lol:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

We also removed the gas tank from the cab and installed a new rear mount tank from LMC.

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

some more pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

I decided to go with a simple filler so we cut a hole in the bed floor and installed a pop-up style filler from LMC. We did have to cut the crossmember to provide clearance. Everything went in pretty smoothly and turned out nice! :metal:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

I was pretty pumped when we finally put the bed back on the truck. I have much respect for the long beds but something about a SWB truck that's just awesome!

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

A couple before and after pics... :clap:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

I got the truck back to my house and started doing some cleaning and repair work to make ol' Gertie look even better running down the road. I had one broken tooth in my inner grill so I used a piece from another to fix it. I also gave them a good cleaning and painted them. Turned out pretty decent!

I plan to eventually replace the grills but the budget does not allow for it at this point. I also put a fresh coat of paint on the bumper to round 'er out.

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Here are a few more pics with them back on the truck.

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

I also pulled all the trim off the cab and gave it a good scrub.

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

My next major project was to install a 4/6 static drop. After researching and reading the numerous posts here, it only made sense to go with ECE’s kit. I have to say, other than shortening my truck this was probably the thing I was looking the most forward to. It gives these trucks such an awesome stance. Ideally I want it to be as level as possible. I plan to run the same tire size on all four wheels.

So, I started by scraping and cleaning 42 years’ worth of dirt and grime off everything on the front end.

We then got it up on the lift and started taking the front end apart, accessing what needed to be replaced. After confirming that all the front steering components were pretty worn, if not original, I decided to replace everything with Moog.

Here are some pics…

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

More pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

and more pics...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

I also replaced the front brake calipers, pads, brake hoses, wheel bearings, and had my rotors turned...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

more pics of the front end...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Some pics of the rear...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Looks great, this is going to be a fun truck I bet!

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

sorry my after pics of the rear are a little lackluster! :lol: But it was clean, black, and low! :metal:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Thanks, LEEVOON! That's the plan, make it a sweet lookin reliable driver, then Drive It! :metal:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

So here she is lowered! I am really happy with the way it turned out! :metal: I'd like to see the rear end come down an inch or so, to level it out. So we'll see after it settles and I get new tires where it ends up.

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

This pic is on pretty level ground. The others make the back end look higher than it really is.

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

A before and after...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Oh wow, that's great!

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Thanks, russgoodman, appreciate that!

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Well how about some updated… I now see how easy it is to let months pass without posting anything! Not a lot has happened in the past several months. A few minor items have been addressed, but mainly I have been parts gathering, planning, and fantasizing about everything I could do if I had deeper pockets!!!

So first up, I had my bedsides shortened and installed those. Funny how life works, I tried three times to make it down to my dad’s (where my bedsides where located); first time I just couldn’t make the three-hour drive in 20-degree weather with no heat. :waah: Second time I spent most of the day broken down on the side of the road. Bad distributor is what we caulked it up to, but I did get a new to me HEI installed, new wires, plugs, etc. so that was a blessing in disguise I guess. And the third time my fan clutch decides to fall apart. Luckily that was a quick fix and on the road situation. So the third time was the charm!

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

some more pics of the new fan clutch, and removing the bedsides...

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

while we had the bed off I decided to make some temporary modification to my exhaust. After lowering it, the pan-hard bar was rubbing against the exhaust making for a noisy ride down the road. So we cut it off right in front of the rear end and dumped it to the ground using an already bent section of what we cut off. Fixed my initial problem, but sure made it a lot louder in the cab... :lol:

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

more pics with everything put back together.... now for some touch up paint and to reinstall all the trim.

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

more pics....

Re: Gertie, the 72 c10 Highlander
 

Your truck is really looking good. If it was me I would play around with some paint and see if you could possibly blend the bedsides a little. I think it would come out well. Nice progress and nice truck.
Ray