My first older truck 72 4x4 long box

[440H]

Hi guys, newbi to the forum from Colorado. I have wanted an older chevy truck for a long time (high school) 1981 grad. my dad had a 2wd truck and I remember giong everywhere in that thing.
Well being in Colorado with snow I opted for a 4x4. now that I have it and its snowing I sure hope I didn't make a mistake selling my 2006 gmc serria SLT 1500 HD quad cab 4x4.
This truck rides like a dump truck, and steers where IT wants to. with the 396ci it gets like 10 miles to the gallon, and, well you get the picture. don't get me wrong I love the style, and the truck as a whole. just guess I got a little spoiled with the newer one and forgot some of the things about dads..
where to start, for dependability and reliability, and then ride quality.. can that be created with an older rig.. I am more familiar with muscle cars from the 60's and how to upgrade them but I don't know squat about this 4x4 suspension or a BB 396..

[PHAT TONY]

Swap in a small block motor, maybe an overdrive tranny and live with the ride quality; it's what you get with a 40 year old 4X4. I had an '04 4X4 that rode WAY nicer than the '98 I drive now, and both blew my '72 4X4 out of the water for ride and gas mileage. Neither looked near as nice as the oldy though!

[Stocker]

Welcome to the boards. You might get slightly better fuel mileage with a small-block, or it might be about the same at 10 mpg. Plenty of guys love the extra power (and sound) of a BBC.... you might get more bang for the buck with an OD transmission. Do you know what gear you have?

It won't ride or steer like a newer truck but it shouldn't be that bad, either. You might have worn steering components, bad alignment, bad shocks.... if the springs are shot, they could be bottoming out. New Softrides will help a lot.

That's a very nice-looking truck. These rigs are pretty reliable (and relatively easy to work on) so I'd just do all the regular maintenance stuff and enjoy it. You might want to swap out the distributor for an HEI so you don't have to fool with points anymore -- they're kinda hard to reach.

[440H]

Thanks guys for the tips and warm welcome.
The back story is 396 rebuilt 3500 miles ago, trans 1500 ago, transfer case 2600 ago or there abouts, oh and the front and rear diffs were serviced during that time.
It has an HEI dizzy, some kind of alum intake and a Holley carb, fires right up but sounds like an old deisel (no offense) for a few seconds then quites down.
Runs rough sounds like its missing about 1500-2000 RPM. guy said the rockers should be adjusted and heads re-torqued after break-in 3500 miles ?? sound right ?? has some kind of old coil over shocks up front and air shocks on the back. don't know what gearing
but he said it was not 4.11 more like 3.73 tachs about 2200 rpm at about 40-50 mph.

[Mister-B]

Dude, you need to have the right frame of mind to drive one of these. It's an experience. There's a reason they didn't come with a clock, and a reason why I purposely won't install one, even though they are readily available. Relax and enjoy it.
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[440H]

I get ya, my other cars are a 64 Rambler American, and a 67 Pontiac Lemans. I love the old stuff. just want it safe,sound and reliable.

[Secret Squirrel]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

Dude, you need to have the right frame of mind to drive one of these. It's an experience. There's a reason they didn't come with a clock, and a reason why I purposely won't install one, even though they are readily available. Relax and enjoy it.
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+1 MPG is not why you buy these trucks, I will say when my kids hop in the truck with me to go run around town that old Chevy truck of ours gets at least 27 smiles per gallon!

I grew up in the back of a 67 short step. Pops threw a camper shell and carpet kit in the back and thats where all us kids sat (the original SUV). We called it the tow truck because eventually it would need to pull each and every other vehicle we had home.

You can put a newer 350 motor (96, 97, 98, etc in it and have a 300,000 mile motor that gets decent mileage depending on your gears. I had a 94 suburban that ran forever and got 20+ mpg on highway. Buddy of mine has a 94 Truck, his 350 has 250,000 miles and still thumping along. I think it was 95 when they switched to the vortec. The 99's had some issues (leaking intake I think). Good thing is these motors are a dime a dozen. You won't win any races, but it will be reliable.

[440H]

I too remember the days of kids dogs and everything else in the back of dads truck.
and vacations with the topper on..
I can live with the mileage I guess,I bet with a better intake and carb, an overdrive trans, and less gearing I can get to my four wheel cruiser I'm looking for...

[Secret Squirrel]

Yes sir, good memories are priceless!

[noco-k5]

A well tuned Q jet would help but you will never get mileage especially here in CO with our crappy gas. The first thing I did with my 70 Blazer was go through the suspension new springs (2 1/2 Tough Country Lift) shocks and tie rods. Still rides like an old truck but much better than before. I wouldnt replace a newly rebuilt engine or transmission but thats just me.
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[Malamute]

I think the truck looks great. I would never want a truck like that for my daily driver but it sure would be fun to use for trips to Lowes, for a Sunday drive in the mountains, etc. I never did see that one pop up for sale locally, where did you buy it?

[Husker]

Welcome. Get the front end allighned. Might help
Ron

[PHAT TONY]

Originally Posted by 440H

Thanks guys for the tips and warm welcome.
The back story is 396 rebuilt 3500 miles ago, trans 1500 ago, transfer case 2600 ago or there abouts, oh and the front and rear diffs were serviced during that time.
It has an HEI dizzy, some kind of alum intake and a Holley carb, fires right up but sounds like an old deisel (no offense) for a few seconds then quites down.
Runs rough sounds like its missing about 1500-2000 RPM. guy said the rockers should be adjusted and heads re-torqued after break-in 3500 miles ?? sound right ?? has some kind of old coil over shocks up front and air shocks on the back. don't know what gearing
but he said it was not 4.11 more like 3.73 tachs about 2200 rpm at about 40-50 mph.

Sounds like forged pistons, never had to re-torque heads, coil over shocks=rough ride; maybe installed to compensate for added weight of the big block.
Wish I had my '72 4by back....

[68350]

I saw that one on craiglist for a while. it looked like a really nice truck in the pics. who rebuilt the motor?

[440H]

Got it from Montana after several long talks with the owner,we agreed on a price and I had it
transported down to Colorado.
I don't know the name of the shop that did the rebuild.he forgot to send those receipts with the truck. An older gentalman in his mid 60s. I have no reason to think he would lie about it.
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[Lemield]

Hi 440H...I'm close by in Arvada....nice looking truck! My K20 rides like a dump truck too!

[440H]

Hi Larry,good to meet ya, may see ya at a swap meet sometime.
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