Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

Well as many of you know, last weekend we went down to Las Vegas to pick up the latest project. She needs alot of work, but it will be done. It's a 73 Cheyenne Super 10...It has a 350 with a th400, positrac rearend, factory tach and a cool stance. I have the sheet metal for the front already. Work on it will start probably this weekend or next if all goes well... I have a few questions...I was looking at the options list..Turns out this truck originally came with a 454. It came with every option available, I think..the list is full...454, th400 trans, A/C, Power steering, positrac, tachometer, trim package, the works.

My questions for the gurus are:

1-How common was it back then for a half-ton, shortbed truck to come with a 454?

2-What gear ratio might I have?

3-Rare or not?

Here's some pics of the load-up...Thanks! -jc:ito::chevy:

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

Looks good to me. how bout a pic of the glove box?

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

looks like alot of work but hey these trucks are a labor of love

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

Any gurus want to take a stab at these q's?

1-How common was it back then for a half-ton, shortbed truck to come with a 454?

2-What gear ratio might I have?

3-Rare or not?

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

Few rusty... It's lowered???? Woow a 454????

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

It's lowered a little...about 2-3". It has a 350 now, but according to the build sheet, it originally came with a 454, th400 tranny, and a positrac rearend...

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

I had a 73 SWB with a factory 454. I don't know how common it was, but I would say it might be desirable. I think it would be more common in the earlier years, as I think it was dropped as a 1/2 ton option around '78 or '79. I think 3.31 (or something similar) was the standard ratio, but mine had the "Optional Gear ratio" on the fenderwell sticker, and they were low. Like 4.10 low. There are a lot of 73-74 pecularities, as you have found with your dash bezel. My 73 had a cardboard dash cover, instead of the padded vinyl. (mine was a custom with few options. It had 454, TH400, gauges, optional rear, and a lighter. That's pretty much it.). The rain gutters were optional on the very early trucks. Since your truck is pretty much loaded, I would think it would be a pretty desirable truck. Another thing to keep in mind it that by '73, the 454 was only somewhere around 235 HP, so it was no barn burner. That is pretty easy to fix, though.

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

Thanks for the info, Jonboy. I'm learning a lot about these 73's and 74's. I know the truck is a little beat up, but it's the project truck I've had with original build stickers and mostly original parts, minus the 454. The trucks I've had before were all Frankenstein's...including my 62. With the 73, I think I'm going to make it close to original...I'm gonna run it with the 350 it has now but I'm gonna keep my eye open for a 454 to build for it... I know the smogged down, big blocks from the early 70's weren't barnburners...but I'll build one with a little power...

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

BBC were more popular in the beginning when gas was cheap, but I would say it is a keeper. 73-74 trucks are pretty much unique in comparison to the later models. There are several things that won't interchange. BBC's with SWB wasn't as common as LWB, but they are out there.
All a 73 454 needs for more power is a bigger came, they came with oval ports.

The BBC was discontinued after 1979.

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

Cool project! this should be a nice one to watch and cool to hear a "stockish" build

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

Glad your trip went good. Im looking forward to seeing the build !

Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions...
 

I hope it all comes together good. It has been so far and we haven't done much work to it yet. Just rounding up parts. I scored at the junkyard yesterday. I got a perfect hood off of a '74...Cherry!! With the hinges I paid $35! That same truck also had a pretty nice set of door panels, got em both for $15! I know they are not the "Super" door panels, but they were too nice to pass up and I can run those for awhile. What's the dye/paint everyone uses to paint their plastic and vinyl parts?
I also got a few parts from my brother-in-law...He had a pretty nice 73/74 "Super" grille that has the chrome on it, with '454' on it...he also had a tailgate that was pretty staight. From LMC, I got the headlight bezels and new grille trim... now all I need is some time now...