Bringing my new baby home...

[DaSchlange]

Bought a new truck and bringing it home this Friday. It's a Super Cheyenne factory 454 big block short bed. Hardly anything original other than the body and the block itself, but it's exactly what I wanted. A "fixer-upper." I'm going to drive it around for a little while, but it will soon be put in a garage where I will build it from the frame up. I cannot wait to do this. I now have a 1971 short bed Chevy and a 1972 long bed Chevy. Coincidentally, one is the top of the line truck, and the other is the bottom of the line truck. Tell me what you think!





















G]http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee496/DaSchlange/New%2071%20Cheyenne/2010-10-05_13-34-48_428.jpg[/IMG]

[rich67]

i think i have a dash patch for you for $35 plus ship! true but also, nice buy dude. i will have 454 short bed also, but not factory. cool truck. rich

[DANTIP]

I love Big Block short beds but there is no such thing as an original 72 1/2 ton with a 454.

[too much stuff]

Looks like a decent truck. The engine is not correct, and doesn't appear to be a super either. Looks like it would be fun with the big block however...

[VA72C10]

looks like a very solid start!

[1968SWBBigBlock]

I think if you bought it for what you needed to it looks like a GREAT place to start.
It does not look like it has any cab sag which means the mounts should be good on the cab, thats a huge plus in my book
The 1st thing I would do is fix your fuel line - the cheap plastic filter parked right over the exhaust manifold tied in with rubber lines is a fire waiting to happen - not if but when.

Do you have any photos of the spid in the glove box?

[Shyguy]

Great looking truck with a lot of options, good condition to start with. Yes, drive it a while and get the feel of it.

I am sure the 454 is a newer engine since they did not come in our trucks, I think they started in '73 and newer.

I have a mostly stock '73 454 in my '71 lwb stepper and it has enough power to spin the tires. I am running an old compound 4 speed.

Enjoy your new truck.

[71 super]

The truck is exacly the same color as my first cheyenne. I have to agree with Eric, your truck is prob. a cheyenne ,but not a super. The emblems are in the wrong locations on the fenders and all of the woodgrain is missing from the interior. It also looks like it has the black lower trim that was used on custom deluxe models not the wood grain used on cheyennes and supers. It is a good start with plenty of options. If the spid is in place on the glove box look for either z84 (cheyenne) or ye9 (super), but my guess is if someone sold it as a super, the spid is long gone. Love the color and boy does it bring back memories good and bad (i broke my neck in mine). Good luck with it.

[DaSchlange]

Well all original or not, I still love this truck. I wanted something that I wouldn't feel guilty about fixing up the way I wanted it. For example the guy cut out 6 x 9 holes in the door! For speakers, which is fine, they are already there so ill just put some good ones there whenever I rebuild this bad boy. The label in the glove box is "there" but mostly faded off. And badly I might add. That's the first thing I did whenever I got into this truck because myself couldn't really believe that it came out with a 454 in it. But I didn't know whether to argue either way because I am young and just getting into these trucks. Like I said though, the holes, the rust, the trim doesn't matter to me one bit, it's all gonna change anyways. I just wanted a good short bed with a 350 in it, the 454 was a plus. I bought the truck for $3500 from the guy with two sets of wheels and tires. I was going to try him at $3000, but he said he had a kid on the way and that's why he had to get rid of it. So being who I am I just gave him what he wanted. I did have to wonder about the emblems though. They were "screwed" in, and I know that isn't right. So there's a couple of holes to patch up and grind down. I'll put the right ones in for my next emblem. Now from what I have read though, the 454s did come out in the heavy duty trucks didn't they? It's an honest question because I do not know. One other thing I'll point out, is that it isn't the original paint. It was flaking pretty badly so I know it didn't get done completely right. Then I looked at the vent on the dash...green. Like my green '72. He admitted that it wasn't original paint, which again, is just fine. But I do love this truck and I have no regrets of buying it. Funny thing is, now my dad is trying to talk me into selling my old truck back to him....haha!

[JOHNORO]

Congrats on your new "baby'' may it give you years of pleasure

[DaSchlange]

Haha thanks I'm sure it will. Funny how things work...that guy had a baby on the way, so that sent this "baby" my way...

[too much stuff]

I think the heavy duty trucks had the 366 or 427 tall deck big blocks.
Now you can sell your dad back his truck and have some extra play money for this one. Sounds like you did OK for that price...

[derek6787]

I sure hope she's good to ya

[DaSchlange]

She will be...she doesn't talk back, she just purrs....

[RCbowtie69]

nice truck

[gearys 5600]

Looks like a nice start. Congrats

[jacobriley]

Nice looking truck..... mirror image of mine (except mine is the 69 CST)

[1stimer]

Originally Posted by DaSchlange

That's the first thing I did whenever I got into this truck because myself couldn't really believe that it came out with a 454 in it. But I didn't know whether to argue either way because I am young and just getting into these trucks.

Congrats. Well...I'm old and just getting into these trucks, too. I was told mine has a 454, but I'm not sure. Good luck with your new baby.

[po_bird]

I beleive your fuel filter is backwards and 402 was the largest engine size until 73. You got a good buy especially if the 454 soild.

[DaSchlange]

Yeah the 454 is very solid. There are some bad rust spots in other places, but the motor was worth that in itself.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by DaSchlange

Well all original or not, I still love this truck.

You have said the magic words...if you are happy then that is what counts. Looks like a solid truck and the beginning of a new love affair.

[alsriv2]

Congratulations on your new truck. I hope it brings you years of happiness. Good job landing one with a 454 in it! Although not original to that truck, that engine will be a great build and will put some kick into it!

Al
'69 GMC 2500 Longhorn
'69 Chevy CST/10 396

[DaSchlange]

Well...other than not removing a few pieces of trim, which I still do not know why I have not, but I will probably do that tonight as well as take the heater box and blower assembly off as well as the internal air duct system. After taking MOST of the trim off and giving it a quick bath it still looks pretty good despite the rust spots and flaking paint. I'll post pictures of the inside later, I'm pretty well getting it stripped out. I re-bolted the seat since on the driver side back part it was busted through the metal so I just quick-cured that with big washers. The seat is much sturdier now. I have a faceplate on the way, soon hopefully from 71rustpile. Just trying to get this thing down to bare minimum but still in driving condition until I can get me a welder, air compressor, and a good area to work on it in.

[72 Super]

Looks like a nice solid truck, goodluck on your build.

Ray

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice truck, and nice score!