1972 Cheyenne Restoration

[CUSHE63]

Hello my dad and I are a couple months into this project and I decided to finally post some progress. It will be a resto/driver. Not going to be perfect, because we want to drive it and haul with it. 350/4bbl 350 automatic w/AC.

Enjoy,
Jon and Steve

[CUSHE63]

It will get new floors, rockers, inner rockers, cab corners, cab supports, lower doors (inner and outer), A pillars..... engine refresh/rebuild, go thru the transmission, mechanicals up to date...used rust free bed etc, etc.

Enjoy,
Jon and Steve







Forgot to get before pics but...

[CUSHE63]

Started on the rims.

Before





After

[CUSHE63]

Then came the frame/spring mount repairs. The springs are shot, the spring mounting cups are shot, the plates that are rivited to the frame for the spring mounts are rusty as all get out. SO.... we cut the rivits off, chiseled out the old rusty crap, then rebuilt the spring mounts. We also cut off the rivits that hold the frame reinforcements in place and fabbed a couple of nice frame reinforcements ourself. We also got rid of the parts truck after we cut all the good stuff off. We decided the old core support was toast so we fabbed some new pieces for the right lower corner.

Enjoy,
Jon and Steve







Grade 8 bolts and washers installed to replace the factory rivits. My dad welded the new reinforcements he fabbed for the frame rails. We also treated the rear frame with a rust inhibitor. Next up to install are the new rear lowering springs and shocks. We also ordered new cab and core support mounts.

[CUSHE63]

Next came the exhaust!! I decided on Thrush Welded Mufflers. We also bought a set of used Dynomax Headers...

Enjoy!

[IMG]http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee267/MI65...

I was really mad at myself because right after I turned the camera off, it let out a huge Uncle Buck style backfire!!!! Sounded like a shotgun! Wish I would have got that!

[CUSHE63]

Next came more disassembly:

[CUSHE63]

Pulled the engine and transmission, removed the driveshaft among other things:

[CUSHE63]

I Sandblasted the core support. And my dad got the battery tray assembly cut apart and prepped to weld the new tray in place. Here it is all stripped of rust and paint.







All of these parts got painted also:

[CUSHE63]

All primed up!



More stuff painted:

[CG]

Wow, you guys are really tackling a rusty truck. I dont think a lot of people would have bothered to try and save that one.

Lotta work but you guys are doing a really nice job.

[CUSHE63]

Got the grill all painted and polished too:

[CUSHE63]

Dad removed the old body mounts and jacked up the right side to install the new ones. Also installed the door we will be using. He trimmed up the cab corner and clamped it in place, along with the right rocker.

[CUSHE63]

Cab corner not the exact shape:

[VA72C10]

Very nice work so far. Truck is coming along great!

[72BlckButy]

Awesome work...!!!

[pat 70/71]

I'll never again complain about rusted panels!! You guys are doing a wonderful job. I'll follow along as you go. please post pics as you go! great job! ...Pat

[CUSHE63]

This was bought cause we got it pretty cheap..... and I (Steve) have been doing bodywork since I was 15 (now 46). I work in a dealership collision shop as a body/frame tech. We also opened a restoration shop on site and I do all the metal work for that shop also. So this is really pretty simple stuff to me.. I know most people don't like rust work.... but I enjoy it. Especially when it is replaced and not just covered with filler. Jon wants to follow in my steps, so I thought this would be a great way to show him some of the tougher jobs. We just got done with the right side and now the tough side is getting done. There was nothing holding the cab corner to the A pillar. The door gap was about 1/2 inch wide at the back.

We will be posting up more pics as we go. I will say this though... these aftermarket parts need alot of help fitting correctly. They sure look similar... but that is as far as it goes.

Enjoy our restoration, Steve

[GASWAGON]

Nice work!

[CUSHE63]

[POPO1984]

Looks really good man. i cant wait to get to those stages in my build

[CUSHE63]

We've come a long way since our last post....

From this:


To this:


Primed:


From this:








Lots of sheet metal replacement done here .......







Jon and Steve

[CUSHE63]

Then we tackled this mess :



With the help of a member here we got this:


















Enjoy, Jon and Steve

[VA72C10]

Nice work!!!

[mcbassin]

You guys are doing a GREAT job on that rust repair! I like that green primer. But most of all in the pictures you have posted, I love that shop! wow! I would love to have a place to work on our projects like that. Keep the pics coming.

[wancosc356]

Great progress on the truck! Can't wait to see more!