71 and 72 difference

[SoTexClassic]

I have owned several c10s 68, 69 and 70. Now own a 71.. Someone very close to me owned a 72 but can't figure out what the difference is between them (71 and 72).
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[72 K20]

Door panels, rear view mirror, doors. Those 3 Came to mind right away,,, there's more !

[Scott>72-GMC]

The 1972 models were virtually identical to 1971 models, with the only change being the rear view mirror was glued to the windshield instead of being bolted to top of the cab, and metal or vinyl-covered flat door panels were no longer available; all trim level door panels were molded plastic with integral armrests and wood grain inserts on Cheyenne and Sierra trim levels. For restoration, it should also be noted that the door and window cranks were slightly longer due to the molded plastic door panels, and the vent windows were now secured with a single screw on the inside of the door, thus differentiating it from the 1971 model year.
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[rs74]

This was just posted in another thread from a member.
Tells of the differences.
http://www.pattson.com/maych/67_72_chevy.htm

[slikside]

Great thread. Have often wondered the same thing.
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[SoTexClassic]

I see ...thanks this very good info guys.
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[Scott>72-GMC]

I should say what I posted was for gmc sorry but interesting to compare the two
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[72 K20]

I have 2-C20's and the K20,, both c20's have black grilles and the K20 has a silver grille.
I also have a 71 C20 parts truck and that grille is/was silver.

With the 71-72 grille's in mind,,,, was silver the factory color for both years ? All models ?

Thank You !! Tom

[jocko]

yes, silver both years. Only difference between 71 and 72 grilles was the grille surround - 72 had black paint on the grille shell just outside the headlight buckets and 71 had the same + a full surround strip of the whole grille shell that was black. (the latter is not normally on repop grilles, and it has worn off many of the originals). I'll see if I can find a pic to illustrate.

[jocko]

1st pic=71
2nd pic-72

[72 K20]

I see it now !!!! Thank you Jocko!

So the black grille's are just a "preference" of certain owners.
It really changes the appearance of the front !!

Have a great day !!! Tom

[sameyrasmea72]

For the purist, a 71 would have a disk brakes sticker on the tailgate.

[ZOOMY]

The mirror mount on a '71 was on the inner roof panel which had a stamped steel raised area for it.

[jocko]

sameyrasmea - I am curious - I have an original paint 71 tailgate - it came with my 71 super, but was removed for most of its life because it carried a camper.

I always thought 71's had the disk brake sticker on the tailgate, but mine is a late in the model year production truck (as all 71 supers were) and mine doesn't have that disk brake sticker.

Am curious if those disappeared sometime during the model year. I always assumed they were on for the whole year because it was the truck intor year for disks, but I've seen several 71s without the sticker (always assumed they were remvoed in a resto process and not added back in) but now I own one and it has no sticker and never did. It is the tailgate from the truck, even though it was removed for a long time.
Anyone??

72K20, yes, if someone has a black grille, it was painted that way after it left the factory. I used to like that look as well, but I prefer the way it was born now. Here's a pic of a 72 I owned back in the 80's. I lacked common sense (and money) in the 80s. I'd like to think I have slightly more common sense now, wish I had more money!

[Graham57a]

They also changed the glovebox emblem on a super. 72 had the scroll behind the word super, 71 did not. I also know some late 71 trucks had 72 emblems, might be the same with the disc brake sticker
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[sameyrasmea72]

Originally Posted by jocko

sameyrasmea - I am curious - I have an original paint 71 tailgate - it came with my 71 super, but was removed for most of its life because it carried a camper.

I always thought 71's had the disk brake sticker on the tailgate, but mine is a late in the model year production truck (as all 71 supers were) and mine doesn't have that disk brake sticker.

Am curious if those disappeared sometime during the model year. :

That's a good question. I assumed all 71's had the sticker, but maybe not. It is nearly impossible to remove a 40 year old sticker, but maybe when they were new they might have been easier to remove.

[jocko]

Good point. After posting, I went out and looked at it much closer. Am positive original paint on the gate - and I looked real close to see if someone peeled it off when it was newer, but couldn't find any trace.

The main reason I'm asking is because when/if I ever get around to restoring this old thing, I would actually like to add the disk brake sticker back on (probably the opposite of most folks). I suppose I could and it would be techncially "correct" even if the truck didn't come with it. But, then again, there are so many other things NOT correct on my truck that it really wouldn't matter either way

Another interesting observation on my truck - it has the scroll-backed Cheyenne Super emblem on the glove box. Graham, you are absolutely correct in your comment (71=plain/72=scroll), so I'm wondering if after a certain point in 71, they just started using 72-specific parts. Not unheard of, but my truck was a late May 71 build date, and it has no disk brake sticker and does have the scroll glovebox emblem. Hmm! Interesting. It is clearly original in both cases.

[too much stuff]

I was also on the assumption that all the 71s had the disc brake sticker on the gate. Nothing to back it up however. As far as the glove box emblem, i have seen more 71 doors with the scroll than without. I wonder if it was a plant thing that got the emblems without scroll. The 71 emblem (no scroll) is actually hard to find.

[jocko]

interesting. I have to admit, I've never seen a non-scroll emblem on an actual truck. I am guessing it would have to be a very "early" mid-year to get it and they fairly quickly changed over to the scroll pattern. I have only seen them for sale/catalogs, etc. Maybe LMC just made an accidental run of the part and forgot the scroll, and so invented a whole new "original" part that never existed... Next thing you know, it's urban legend and we're all searching for one. (I'm just kidding LCM guys, I do love y'all...)

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by Scott>72-GMC

... the vent windows were now secured with a single screw on the inside of the door, thus differentiating it from the 1971 model year.
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The screw actually hasnothing to do with the vent window, it only helps tie the inner and outer door together to keep the "skin" from cracking, as earlier models were prone to do.

On a related note, I am mid way through a 72 swb stepside restoration. I removed and bagged the door screws and ferrules. After paint, I polished them and reinstalled. Later in the day I noticed that the passenger side had been "pierced" by the end of the screw, denting the outer skin and cracking the paint. It never occured to me to watch it, as it was the same screw I removed. I removed both screws and they are the same length. I installed both of them using a #2 hand phillips screwdriver. ???

[1972BackInBlackC10]

72 was the first year for the new clam shell style big block mounts 72 yr only engine stands for the big block not sure sure if they changed the style of the clam shell style motor mount in 73 or not

i may be wrong but was 72 also the first year for the am/fm radio or was it available in 71 as well?

tailgate handle one was chrome and one had the stainless cover, i believe 72 had the stainless tailgate handle cover someone correct me if im wrong

[Graham57a]

Backinblack you are correct. On a 71 Cheyenne super the tailgate handle was chrome, on a 72 it was a stainless cover. And jocko I also have a later build date 71 super and it has the scroll on the glovebox door. It is also lacking the disc brake sticker
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[WIDESIDE72]

Big block 72's also had a unique one year only alternator bracket
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[SCHRUMGMC]

I always wondered what the Differance between the Year Models were, Great information that I needed .Thanks

[72 K20]

Wideside

I did not know the alt brackets were different.

Do you have any pics of the differences ? I'm curious as to whether the brackets on my C20 BB are correct.

Thank You ! Tom