Survivor Project Truck: 1972 Super Cheyenne 20

[matthew20061]

Here's my dad's latest project truck its a 1972 Super Cheyenne 3/4 ton was originally a factory big block/turbo 400 truck but in 2001 it had an engine fire and the engine was removed. The truck has been sitting ever since. The SPID says California Emissions so I would guess that is where it was from and someone drove it up here to Alaska in the late 90's (1999?). Anyways its almost totally rust free and the paint is baked off of it from the sun. Has sort of a patina look right now.


The grill started melting from the fire...

Hood is also warped

Trim piece for the door is inside

The rockers where protected with some giant diamond plate running boards that I removed.

Floor board on the drivers side front corner has a small hole

Someone swapped the cluster at some point I think shouldn't it be woodgrain and possibly have a tach in the super cheyenne model?




The dash also got some fire damage






Plan is to do a complete restoration and place the restored body onto a perfectly sandblasted and painted 4x4 3/4 ton 1972 frame we have already completed with a 700r4 mated to a 205 transfer case since this truck is missing the big block, and transmission and other parts.

[re1]

Looks good,
keep the build pictures coming.

[leddzepp]

Tach is an option...I do not see it listed on the SPID. It should however have the woodgrain applique over the gauges.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Tach is an option...I do not see it listed on the SPID. It should however have the woodgrain applique over the gauges.

looks like a nice start for a project!!!

[treveiger]

Looks like its all surffice rust which is good! Do you have any ideas on what your going to do to it like paint, motor, keep trim and things like that?

[tanman722001]

Isnt a 400 a small block?Nice looking truck

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by treveiger

Looks like its all surffice rust which is good! Do you have any ideas on what your going to do to it like paint, motor, keep trim and things like that?

Yeah, we've definitely got ideas on what where going to do with it. My dad likes things perfect and original. I think we will use the original color scheme and colors on the truck, the motor will most likely be a SBC we happen to have a brand new 383 strocker motor so that might go into it. The transmission is a completely built 700-R4 mated to the factory 205 transfer-case. The frame is a 1972 3/4 ton that has been completely rebuilt and sand blasted and painted. The trim is an absolute must keep, although some pieces may need to be replaced. We may end up replacing the bed with a different long bed because this one has a lot of issues with the original wood floor where the other one we have has a metal floor. What we will be doing first is the tear down so we can remove the cab and start on it first and work are way out. Its parked inside the paint booth right now... to keep the snow off!

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by tanman722001

Isnt a 400 a small block?Nice looking truck

It was a big block... The rpo code L47 comes up as 402 Big Block, see below

1972 Truck 402 210 L-47 10, 20

[pat 70/71]

Sweet truck! looks like a keeper to me! have fun! cheers, Pat

[Vintage Windmills]

Very nice!. Even set up for 4x4 with the high hump from the Big block! Would be cool though if you had a 402 to put in it too match the badges and SPID. Love the patina on the SPID by the way since it doesn't interfere with legibility.

[special-K]

That's a great survivor,especially for Alaska. Good luck with the restoration. It looks like the instrument cluster was changed out to gain a tach which resulted in losing the woodgrain bezel. It's a shame "whoever" didn't just swap the original bezel onto the tach dash. I had a '72 K/20 that I put a SBC 400 in and put the 400 badges on. I thought that was pretty cool. Although that motor was never used,it looked original. And,if you think about it,it's more accurate than if it was original.

[FIREBALL]

Nice project truck you have there, Good luck

[matthew20061]

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Very nice!. Even set up for 4x4 with the high hump from the Big block! Would be cool though if you had a 402 to put in it too match the badges and SPID. Love the patina on the SPID by the way since it doesn't interfere with legibility.

That's exactly what we where thinking with the high hump, we happen to have a high hump from a 4x4 so it already has the hole cut for the shift to come though. It could still get a big block but were not sure yet, lol the patina on the SPID is from the fire! It definitely got hot!

Originally Posted by special-K

That's a great survivor,especially for Alaska. Good luck with the restoration. It looks like the instrument cluster was changed out to gain a tach which resulted in losing the woodgrain bezel. It's a shame "whoever" didn't just swap the original bezel onto the tach dash. I had a '72 K/20 that I put a SBC 400 in and put the 400 badges on. I thought that was pretty cool. Although that motor was never used,it looked original. And,if you think about it,it's more accurate than if it was original.

I don't think it was changed out to gain a tach because it doesn't have one right now, but somewhere along the line it lost the woodgrain bezel like you said someone swapped them.

[RCbowtie69]

nice project, keep pictures coming

[72 K20]

How is this project progressing ?

I found this while looking for information on changing my K20 from a 4 speed to a 700R4.