1972 Chevy Crew Cab “Denali”

[ShortbedClayton]

Gonna start this new build thred by saying thanks for allowing me to become a member of such an awesome 67-72 family. As a new member I’m amazed at how helpful fellow members are and the level of respect shown from everyone is so cool. I been dreaming this new build up for over a year and I’ve seen numerous crew cab builds on here. Read them over and over again as I think the concept is so cool so I decided to build one myself.. The goal is to build my crew cab to look like somebody when into the Chevy dealer in 1972 and ordered the “Denali” of the day. Want to retain a full factory looking 3/4 ton 4x4 crew cab shortbed loaded with as many factory options as I can. Will have a small amount of lift and tires no bigger than 33s. First step for me was finding a suburban locally that wasn’t too far gone. In Pennsylvania where I’m at they are few and far between let alone a decent one... in January of 2018 I purchased my starting point... 1972 GMC suburban that was bought new in coatsville by a plumber. He ran his plumbing business out of it for 25 years before selling to the guy I bought from.. Nothing fancy here 350, three speed. The original protector plate was still in the glove box. The PO swapped in a 350 turbo trans and daily drove it for 10+ years. He said the water pump went out so he parked it but forgot how long.... that’s the spot where I bought it from... As far as rust goes your typical rockers, front mounts, floor section above front supports. But I was amazed at how solid the roof is above the windshield. The barn doors are straight and rust free so I will be selling them at a later date... The doors were also suprisingly solid.... Build progress will be kinda slow but hoping to hit it hard this winter....
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[1971Stepside]

Welcome. Looks like a great start. These crew cab builds amaze me in the amount of metal work required.

[Getter-Done]

I am subbed for this build.
Hope to start my CC build soon.
Will it be a 3 door or 4 door?

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

I am subbed for this build.
Hope to start my CC build soon.
Will it be a 3 door or 4 door?

Thanks. Defiantly a four door! I feel if you go thru the work to putting a cab back on why not put a fourth door.
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[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Welcome. Looks like a great start. These crew cab builds amaze me in the amount of metal work required.

Yes sir. Gonna be a learning process for sure.. but worth it in the end
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[ShortbedClayton]

Haven’t really started any major modifications quite yet. After a quick water pump fix the burb was running and driving under its own power. Immediately park it in the shop to begin tearing it down. Removed both passenger side doors and starting removing all the rust. Installed new front support and a floor section. Bottom of the A piller was kinda bad shape so replaced a piece of that. After fourtty some years of life on the road you wouldn’t believe how much debris gets packed down inside the cowl Pannel. Spent a few hours cleaning that out. Moved to the B piller and started working some new metal in there. Made sure to throw a brace in there as I didn’t wanna loose any shape... that’s about all the farther I’ve went to this point. But I figured it would be in my advantage to fix most of the rot and rust before starting to really form the crew cab. In the mean time I’ve slowly been collecting parts for this build. When I’m done with this project I want to get as many factory options so that’s what I been searching for the last few months. My doner truck for the rear cab section is an old abandoned project of mine but long story short it’s a 1970 C10 CST. Loaded up with a few good options... but the windshield area was too far gone so she will serve great purpose in the crew cab... Don’t wanna drag this out to long but what I’ve got so far for parts is a solid drivers door for the fourth door, factory tach dash with wiring harness, the AC parts will be from the doner truck and a few weeks ago I scored my personal favorite 1972 “extreme” bend tow hooks!!

[ShortbedClayton]

More photos of parts for the build and the spid sheet of the doner truck. Can tell a little back story on that if anybody really want me too. Bought a 1972 k20 frame out of the local junkyard. Got a cab light roof section for the top skin...

[Getter-Done]

Wow
You have the parts.
Now it is just / How the Puzzle will go together.
I like that 4wd cab truck.

[jimer1964]

Clayton you better put those hooks in the safe! Looks like a nice project. Sweet nova!

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by jimer1964

Clayton you better put those hooks in the safe! Looks like a nice project. Sweet nova!

Bought a whole truck just for them. Hooks are gold
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[71blksuper4x4]

Good luck on your build, they take awhile. I like the idea of a GMC Denali version.

[ShortbedClayton]

Not much progress made lately. I did get my cab light roof skin harvested. Spent most of the weekend driving all over picking up parts for the build. Got a set of bucket seats, another tach dash with air guage, two center consoles, and am/fm radio and som other misc. parts... super stoked to finally have bucket seats!
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[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by ShortbedClayton

Not much progress made lately. I did get my cab light roof skin harvested. Spent most of the weekend driving all over picking up parts for the build. Got a set of bucket seats, another tach dash with air guage, two center consoles, and am/fm radio and som other misc. parts... super stoked to finally have bucket seats!
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[Getter-Done]

Great parts harvest.
Real bucket seats.

I like the Hat cab lights the best.
That is going to look Good.
My truck currently has the Yankee 77 cab lights.
I will (use) those.

[feller]

I'm in to watch

[ShortbedClayton]

Update on build progress since I haven’t in a few months. First and foremost it’s mid winter her in PA and I got in my usual winter blues but to brighten my mood I took advantage of some fresh snow to get some pics of my 1971 K10 shortbed.. I was thoroughly pleased and ended the day with big smiles. This was the first time this truck seen snow since I bought it 10 years ago at the age of 13. I’m sure the old lady I bought it off of would be quite impressed with the results but I think she has since passed...( honestly I was to young to pay attention as to where I was going when me and dad picked the truck up so I don’t know where her house even was) anyways figured I’d share my “snowshoot” with my fellow board family.... last pic is the day I brought it home I think August 2009
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[ShortbedClayton]

But back to crew cab. No much foreward progress. Got passenger side front rocker I n place. And decided it was time to cut... a sawzaw made quick work of the suburban and at this point there’s no going back.. but I was pleased because I could already picture a 4 door...
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[ShortbedClayton]

Next is harvesting the parts of the donor truck. Lifted the cab off of that and started to strip the parts I need. Most of all the interior pieces from this truck will be going in the crew cab such as under dash wiring and all ac stuff. Hoping to use some blue interior pieces as well because I’ve now decided to do a factory medium blue and white cheyenne super.. I decided that stripping the cab would be easier with the cab back off so that section was removed. Next plan of attack is to completely strip the suburban interior so I have raw steel to begin constructing the crew cab..
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[landarts]

Love the crew cab project in for this one. Also love the 71 K10, what color is that?

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by landarts

Love the crew cab project in for this one. Also love the 71 K10, what color is that?

Thanks. It’s off a 2013 GMC Denali all terrain. I believe the name is red diamond tint coat.
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[cst204x4]

Nice project, keeping the cruise of the cst for the crew?

[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by cst204x4

Nice project, keeping the cruise of the cst for the crew?

Thanks. I’m undecided right now but I’m leaning towards 4 speed big block. I love shifting gears and the cruise is set up for auto small block.. hoping to go big block... all the cruise stuff is in a box in the attic... rare parts these days
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[goldenburb]

Love your built so much
I’m in the collecting part stage for my cc. Can you share the cutting measurements? Thanks

[Getter-Done]

Any Updates?













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[ShortbedClayton]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Any Updates?

Sorry for the gap in posting been super busy working. I have been making some slow progress but I’m really trying to work a little each night after work.. I’ll post up some updated pics












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