Ellie Lou the 72

[fecklessgadfly]

This build may take a while, and there might be weeks between posts, but I wanted to document it. At least for myself, so ya'll get to see it, too.

This truck has been in my life since birth. It's my grandfather's, and he parked it in the 80s when the transmission went out. I've finally convinced him to pass it on. So, once we get our car hauler ready, it will be making the one hour haul to my place (or at least the shop where my father teaches).

The name comes from my Grandparents. Their middle names were Eldon and Louise.

She's a 1972 Cheyenne with auto, air, and a 350.

The plans, at the moment, are:

-Get her running solid (runs with gas poured in the carb)
-Fix the transmission
-Clean her up
-Repair rockers and other rust spots.
-Drive her.

So, here's Ellie Lou, as she sits.

[Tquillen]

Magnificent truck. Keep the updates and pictures coming as often as you can!

[geunther]

Factory air Cheyenne...nice. looks all intact, bonus.

[fecklessgadfly]

Originally Posted by geunther

Factory air Cheyenne...nice. looks all intact, bonus.

Yeah, it's all there, it just needs some TLC.

[fecklessgadfly]

Originally Posted by Tquillen

Magnificent truck. Keep the updates and pictures coming as often as you can!

Thanks, I'm hoping I can get it moved soon.

Here's a few interior pics that I have. I've cleaned it up a bit since these were taken.

[fecklessgadfly]

Well, I finally got a break in schedules and made the trip to haul the old girl closer to home.

She rode well, and is now at my Dad's shop where we'll be working on her.

Grandpa hated to see her go, but hopefully she'll drive back under her own power soon.

The missing trim pieces are in the cab. It's a pretty complete truck.

We've got a lot of rust repair coming. I'll get detailed pics later in the week.

[Low Elco]

Not a bad start!

[fecklessgadfly]

Went out over the weekend and documented some of the worst spots on the truck. Places that need the most work. Also, My Dad and Son installed a new steering wheel while the boy was spending the night at his grandpa's. So far, we've got four generations involved in this restoration.

[68Gold/white]

I like your plans!!!
I'm not one that cares much for cutting the frame and all the lowering stuff, to each their own, it's still a free country!
The 72 is the pinnacle of the 67-72 pickups. Nicer interior stuff, disc brakes, 350 engine was in most...
The carb will need work, www.cliffshighperformance.com is the place to get carb kit and parts. His deluxe kit is $79.95, sounds pricey but includes parts NO ONE else puts in kits! Plus his parts are ethanol compatible, I don't know of anyone else's that is! Cliff can send you the EXACT parts to tailor your carb specifically to your specific use, especially with todays modern gasoline formulation. He can build your carb if need be, of course that's more $$$.

Fix the rust and other details, and DRIVE IT!

Waiting more work!

[towbar]

Got my carb kit from Cliffs....excellent kit! Got the throttle shaft bushing kit as well, carb runs like new. Highly recommend!

[fecklessgadfly]

Thanks for the suggestions. That's exactly why I'm posting here. I'm pretty new at this and need all the advice I can get.

I'm not a big fan of the lowered look either. I want a truck that can still function as a truck. I don't want it to be so custom that you can't tell it's the same truck my Grandfather drove. I love that history. I want to keep it there, but I also don't want to fall through the floorboards.

[fecklessgadfly]

Door logo idea mock-up. Any opinions?

It's the name of my AV business.

[kehstr]

That logo looks perfect!! It really fits the truck!

[Will Rotten]

I'm slowly starting on my grandfathers '72 GMC. So I'm following your thread. Mine is half way across the country so it will be a slow process.

[webberjames95]

in for this build

[fecklessgadfly]

Been months since my last post. Progress has been slow (too much paying work at the shop, so no room for this to get in). But we have been working.

We hadn't been able to get it to run right. I was told it ran with gas in the carb, but we couldn't get it to. So I pulled the carb off for a rebuild.

I wanna know who poured hamburger grease in my Quadrajet.

[fecklessgadfly]

Also pulled the carpet up, found some more rust, but not as bad as I was expecting. Found one of my grandpa's hammers under the seat.

[fecklessgadfly]

Once we rebuilt the carb (first time, not as hard as I thought), we got it reinstalled and it ran briefly. We're going to replace the plugs and wires next, maybe a distributer. We found out the fuel pump works, so that's good.

I've also replaced a few vacuum lines and other piddly little things.

[fecklessgadfly]

Well, it's been way too long on posting here. Between life, flooding (not us, but the area), winter, and everything else I've made very little progress. Hoping to get back at it in the next few weeks.

Spent some time this week working on the door panels. They're rough to the point of being past repair. Very brittle and flaky, but I'm not making a show truck and they are original. Not willing to spend the price for repops, especially with all the issues I've read about on here.

So basically, I pulled off trim and woodgrain. Then scrubbed off 30 years of "sitting." Planning on spraying these with some refinisher from Corvette America.


Hopefully we'll get the new spark plugs and wires on this weekend (the last wires were too short). Still got plenty of work to do. Gotta remember to take pictures when I'm doing it, too.

[68Gold/white]

I have bought those door panels used. They are around. I'd keep going the direction you are going, and use them, as you have said...

Be very careful on your carb, where the fuel line attaches to that large inlet nut, Those older Quadrajets can strip easilt there...but Cliff can fix that too!!! if needed.

I had crap in a Quadrajet of mine, also. There was NO way of moisture getting in carb. I still wonder what it was, looked just like yours...I think it was old old gas with a little moisture, and from sitting...

[fecklessgadfly]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I have bought those door panels used. They are around. I'd keep going the direction you are going, and use them, as you have said...

Be very careful on your carb, where the fuel line attaches to that large inlet nut, Those older Quadrajets can strip easilt there...but Cliff can fix that too!!! if needed.

I had crap in a Quadrajet of mine, also. There was NO way of moisture getting in carb. I still wonder what it was, looked just like yours...I think it was old old gas with a little moisture, and from sitting...

I've caught myself keeping an eye on that inlet. I've been pretty gentle with it so far, so I think it's ok. I ordered my rebuild kit from Cliff. It had everything I needed. Thanks again for that suggestion.

I agree with you on the old gas and bit of moisture, I think that's what it was.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

[fecklessgadfly]

I'm going to have to add some more pictures soon, but I just got my spray and my new armrests in to rebuild my door panels. Big thanks to Mane's Truck parts for help and phone calls to get everything worked out (the bank shut off my debit card for "suspicious charges").

Anyway, once I can get to the paint booth, I'm going to spray these old fellows and see how look. I'll update when I can.

[fecklessgadfly]

Ellie Lou is running.

Gave up on attempting to rebuild the Quadrajet and swapped over to a new Edelbrock to get her going. (Yes, Quads are great, but my rebuilding skills aren't there yet)

She's running off a click-clack Mr. Gasket electric pump right now, going to try and see if the old mechanical one is working soon.

Checked the brake fluid today, still full after nearly 30 years!

Debating on whether to get the TH350 rebuilt or swap in a 700r4.

This build has had a lot of stumble steps, but I feel like I'm making real progress now. Hoping to get it off the trailer and into the shop soon.