New Member, 72 Cheyenne 402

[TCONNELLY]

Hi,

New Member here. Just picked up this 72 yesterday from Delaware. Drove it 5 hours back to New York. I couldn't believe the amount of people looking at it and the thumbs up on the way back.

My wife wanted this exact truck. She advised me that if anyone comments on the truck, I should inform them that " It's my wife's truck and I am just borrowing it". As luck would have it, we found this for sale 10 minutes from my mothers house, in southern Delaware, on a trip to see her. It was sitting in front of a repair shop. The guy was going to bring it to Ocean City Maryland the following weekend, for a big car show. I knew I had to make a deal that day, so, that he didn't take it to the show.

My first project is to improve the handling. Any advise about the handling would be appreciated. I like the stock look, so, I don't want to lower it, Just make it more stable on the highway.

This fall I want to work on the engine. More power. From what I understand I need a set of closed chamber heads, to increase the compression ratio. I want the engine to look stock on the outside.

[72C20Highlander]

Very Nice.

[cooperhw]

Welcome from Arizona.

Awesome truck and story. Scoreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. (think world cup soccer)


As to handling. These trucks handled just fine when new so I would recommend installing all new Moog suspension ends and you may have to replace the steering gear box if there is too much slop.

[sboris]

Welcome!!!
Well your wife has great taste. Really nice looking truck. Not sure exactly what ya mean on handling. Body roll, loose steering, braking? I would start with some good shocks. Check to see if it has a sway bar. That can improve a lot.
If the steering is sloppy, check all your linkage in the steering as could be wore out. Gear box could be wore out.
All kinds of scenarios. Might just want to take it to your local car guy you trust and hoist it up and look it over. Ball joints, tires, brakes etc.
Could be out of alignment. Good luck.

[TCONNELLY]

Originally Posted by sboris

Welcome!!!
Well your wife has great taste. Really nice looking truck. Not sure exactly what ya mean on handling. Body roll, loose steering, braking? I would start with some good shocks. Check to see if it has a sway bar. That can improve a lot.
If the steering is sloppy, check all your linkage in the steering as could be wore out. Gear box could be wore out.
All kinds of scenarios. Might just want to take it to your local car guy you trust and hoist it up and look it over. Ball joints, tires, brakes etc.
Could be out of alignment. Good luck.

Thanks, sounds like a good place to start. I'll have my shop go over it, make sure everything is tight and the alignment it good. Then replace the shocks. Any advice on shocks?

[tommys72]

Happy wife, happy life. Very good taste she has. Nice truck

[5567Cruiser]

That truck is so nice that I believe it should be a fair weather truck, only driven on nice clear days without snow,rain etc. Great truck and check out Brother's Classic Truck Parts as they have lots of suspension upgrades that would give you the handling you desire. I hope your wife lets you use her truck once in a while!

[TCONNELLY]

Originally Posted by 5567Cruiser

That truck is so nice that I believe it should be a fair weather truck, only driven on nice clear days without snow,rain etc. Great truck and check out Brother's Classic Truck Parts as they have lots of suspension upgrades that would give you the handling you desire. I hope your wife lets you use her truck once in a while!

Definitely, going to be a fair weather truck. It's a good solid driver though, and I want to keep it that way.

[Boog]

Very nice. Your wife has good taste.

[hugger6933]

I'm gonna turn this around on you, you have good taste in picking a wife. Now feel better? Good. That is a real nice truck make sure like has been said the shop checks out the steering and stopping to be top notch then look for a huge sway bar to put up front if it doesn't have one. Jim

[Jonlopes]

That is a nice find. I love the color!!

[ho70]

I got one of them. Very nice. Yes the power is a bit lacking and i'll be watching to see what you do to your engine. Your also very lucky to have a wife with good taste, my wife's good taste stopped after she married me (lol)

[70LonghornCST]

Welcome to the site! Very nice truck, by the way...

[fartblossom]

See if your truck has the steering stabilizer, and replace it. Cheapest thing to do that can make a difference. If it doesn't, add the kit.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=133

[kingstrider]

Nice truck. Good thing I didn't see it first, that is very close to me lol.

[davepl]

Very nice!

First obvious thing is to go through and check all of the ball joints, pitman arm, idler arm, steering linkage, and ultimately the steering box itself.

If it doesn't have radial tires, switch. I don't know how those old people drove on bias ply tires.

These trucks drove OK when new, but they're not sports cars. Get it back in like-new mechanical shape with respect to steering and it should at least be controllable and safe!

Don't succumb to lowering it. The stance is perfect.

[Joesjunk]

Very nice find! And great colors. And the white wheels and hub caps top it all off.

[Sicklajoie]

That is one suhweet truck!! Congrats!
I put Bilstein shocks on my truck. They are firm but offer a nice ride.