72 SWB STEP "Army truck" Budget Build

[WIDESIDE72]

Here are some pics of a 72 SWB step I picked up a while back for $500(!). No engine/ trans, but the SPID says it was a 350/ TH350, PB, PS no AC truck. I am guessing it was Army originally. The firewall and inside of one fender is still olive drab green. (The other fender has been replaced at sometime.) The interior metal is silver and looks original. The PO had a velour seat, "headliner" (similar to a Cheyenne, but no trim) and door panel inserts made. I am thinkig of painting it a late model dark emrald green metallic, for two reasons. #1 is I have a set of pretty nice green Cheyenne door panels and seat belts that I plan to use. #2 is you don't see many green trucks any more. I plan to make it a driver with a 350/ 700R4 that I have in the barn. I have a tilt and tach for it as well. I found the SPID pretty interesting.

[WIDESIDE72]

Superbowl weekend I got the front clip removed and power washed the front frame rails and firewall and the 350 engine I plan to use.

[WIDESIDE72]

Pics above are before cleanup. I forgot to take pics after cleanup. I also need to take pics of the freshly resealed and painted engine with front PS pump and alternator brackets mounted and engine attached to the 700r4.

[WIDESIDE72]

The truck that the engine came out of was a 71, but according to the casting #, it is out of a 74 model. The PO installed it using the post 73 LWP and related accessory drive. I have accumulated almost everything to convert back to swp, such as water pump, ps pump and brackets and alt mounts. I forgot that I couldn't run the 8" balancer with the SWP PS pump... Vauto Zone has one for $51...

[WIDESIDE72]

This will be a "budget/ driver build" using as many of the parts that I saved from trucks I have parted out over the last few years. I have a PERFECT ds OEM fender already primed by the PO and a very nice chrome front bumper from of one of the trucks I parted, a very nice ps fender with only a couple of pinholes in the front cup that I bought locally for $75. The radiator support has a few pin holes that I plan to fill with my MIG welder. I also have a very nice "driver" grill surround from my brothers 72 Cheyenne.

[WIDESIDE72]

I am looking for an original "driver quality" or repro chrome rear sport bumper. I can buy on at the Decatur swap meet for $149, but if someone has one for less than that locally, or will ship one for less, please let me know.

[WIDESIDE72]

For the time being, I plan to paint the firewall and inside the front fenders whatever color I decide to go with, install them and get the truck road worthy. About the only body work I see so far is installing new rockers and repairing a dent in the top of the cab. I have an almost new windsheld with stainless trim, and a rear sliding window with new rubber from a truck I parted out. I plan to pull the glass when I paint the truck, buy a new windshield rubber with groove for stainless trim and install the glass and trim after paint.

I recruited my dad to cut the boards for the bed using his table saw, and reuse he stock strips if possible.

[WIDESIDE72]

The main "out of pocket"expense I see so far:
Dark green& white Cheyenne Super Houndstooth seat cover $325
Dark green dash pad $65
Dark green arm rests $40
Paint supplys (eventually) $500 (+?)

Currently, the dash is silver, and appears original. I plan to paint it the same green as the exterior.
The truck will be a little odd with the blue exterior and green interior... but "oh well"...

[WIDESIDE72]

This weekend I also pulled the aftermarket outside mirrors. It looks better already. I have a pair of "driver" sport mirrors off my dad's 71 GMC that we pulled. I also pulled the LWP PS pump that was still attached as well.

[Hook'em]

I live just down the road on 1431. Can't wait to see the truck running around town.

[lax54650]

good start

[lks dcvn]

I was going to wait every 5 mins for a new post - figured the truck would be done by then.

Does it have the "Govt VIN thing" on the door frame - in another build thread - somebody showed a picture of the 'Air Force' badging on the truck.

[fishingjred73]

Looks like a good solid truck Steve!

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

I was going to wait every 5 mins for a new post - figured the truck would be done by then.

Does it have the "Govt VIN thing" on the door frame - in another build thread - somebody showed a picture of the 'Air Force' badging on the truck.

Not much progress, yet...I will post some pics of the engine soo. It is nothing special...

No govt tag on this one anywhere I can see.

[arkie726]

She's a beauty!

[lks dcvn]

The U.S Army Marketing option on the SPID is good enough to document it...I will see if I can locate a picture of the other one I saw - might have been an air force truck - if I recall correctly.

[HuggerCST]

Nice truck! Especially for that price. I had one very similar to yours that was also a Army truck. I sold it to my brother in law, who is a Army vet. He painted it drab green inside & out. I've never seen some of those options, Chipflyer may want to see that.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by HuggerCST

Nice truck! Especially for that price. I had one very similar to yours that was also a Army truck. I sold it to my brother in law, who is a Army vet. He painted it drab green inside & out. I've never seen some of those options, Chipflyer may want to see that.

I find the listing of a cigarette lighter twice and the coolant overflow very intersting. I have been researching the overflow, but not the lighters.

[WIDESIDE72]

We had SNOW in austin today! Luckily there was not any ice on the roads (YET)...

[AustinScott]

wow, nice man... and so many people so close to me, I live off the 1431 as well, we should get together sometime.

[WIDESIDE72]

One of these days I will wise up and quit fooling with these trucks and build a garage. I have a "barn" that is about 12'x30' that I need to get all of the clutter out of...The pad where the truck is sitting was intended for a 32'x 60' pole barn. I have the posts and trusses. In the Spring, I am going to contact a few companies about putting it up with a roof. With 12' high sides and no walls, it will be a welcome addition in the Texas heat. Here a a couple of pics of the engine/ trans. Nothing special.

[WIDESIDE72]

I wasn't working on the truck out in the snow, BTW. I just had time to uncover the engine and take a few pics of it and the truck with snow before it got dark. Right now, due to the fact that I get home around 5:30, I'm not able to work on it except for the weekends. A shop would fix tha as well. Not sure how the wife would like that, though.

[WIDESIDE72]

I finished cleaning the engine compartment frame section and firewall Saturday. I rattle can painted the frame semi gloss black and the firewall olive drab green today. It was a little windy for painting. I probably lost as much as what stuck! I also pulled the trans crossmember to clean it up. I figured since I was going to have to take all 8 bolts out to slide it back for the 700r4, I might as well take it out, clean it up and paint it.

[WIDESIDE72]

I plan to order some of the goldish/ silver paint from Eastwood for the PB booster.

[WIDESIDE72]

I feel that the rad support is salvageable. it looked really good when it was still in the truck. It looked good when I got it out. it looked OK after I cleaned it up. I tacked a few holes up on the passenger side, but need to cut a patch piece and tack it in.