September Truck Of The Month - Tennman's '71 4x4

[Project1970]

Tennman’s 1971 Chevy 4x4 Pickup


He’s owned this truck since 1981, and finally started to restore it starting in the summer of 1999. Being more dedicated than most of us are or even could be, he finished it in the fall of 2000! It was not a small project, either; it was a full-on frame-off restoration, and he did everything with the exception of the paint himself.


He couldn’t have picked much of a better truck to start with, since it is a factory 4x4 and an original shortbed. The 502 motor and Holley multi-port fuel injection – which allows this monster mill to get 13 or 14 miles to the gallon! - were bought new. Some other modernizations under the hood include a serpentine belt setup and twin electric fans. The interior is all new and has a tach/vacuum dash, the factory tilt column, and aftermarket A/C. It was a factory A/C truck but everything has been upgraded to modern parts. Tunes are provided by the mini disc player with a custom built neatly covered box located where the gas tank used to be housing a 12 inch sub woofer, two 6x9’s and a 500 watt booster.


This truck has an awesome paint job done with PPG basecoat/clearcoat. The whole frame was epoxied, primered and clearcoated as well. The LR side-marker light is also the gas filler cover, with a poly tank located where the spare tire used to be. The stock stake holes, along with the old gas filler holes, have all been welded up and shaved off to perfection. It has a three inch body lift and a four inch Rancho Softride suspension lift, with 35x12.50x15 BFG AT KO’s mounted on one of a kind 15x10 custom wheels.


All the running gear is factory. He added an automatic transmission cooler for durability, and a 1600 RPM stall converter to help drivability. As a result, the truck drives as good as it looks. He’s won awards at every show that he’s taken it to in 2001 and 2002, including with two “Best Paint” awards, one “Best of Show” and also “Best 4x4” at the Pigeon Forge GMC/Chevy Truck Nationals in 2001. On top of that, he drives this truck to and from the shows and it has around 2000 miles since the restoration.


Well, you can add one more award to that list – September 2003 Truck Of The Month! Congratulations, Tennman!