Project "Back in Black"

[Tomahawk30]

Intro!!!

So as some of you know, I've had several 67-72 era Chevys and GMCs in the last six years or so. I'd owned a few different old cars before that, but never a classic truck. In the spring of 2010 I found a truck on the list of Craig's that I instantly fell in love with. Having recently been promoted at work, my awesome wife told me I should buy it as a reward for myself (partially because she's awesome, and partially because she was glad it wasn't a motorcycle)! So within a few weeks I was the proud owner of what I learned later was a pretty hard to come by combination: a 72 Cheyenne Super K10 shortbox. I knew basically nothing about the 67-72 trucks at the time, but it's been a passion ever since!

Unfortunately, about six months after I purchased it, life happened. The owner of the house we'd been renting for years passed away suddenly, and his children just wanted it sold ASAP. My father in law offered to buy the Cheyenne while we got our finances in order for the necessary mortgage, and the plan was to buy it back afterward. Instead, HE really liked it and started throwing money into it with the intent of doing a full restoration over time. He had a Goodwrench 290hp 350 installed, new brakes all around, new shocks, new steering components, new radiator, several new A/C components, and a whole lot of labor expenses. Eventually he got sidetracked and subsequently moved, leaving the truck sitting in a storage unit for the last few years. After moving halfway across the country (from Idaho to Kentucky), everything has finally fallen into place and about a month ago I bought it back!

Having been sitting for two years, there's a lot more to be done than I'd initially hoped. I started digging into it almost immediately with the intent of just getting it on the road for now, but the more I dig the more I want to do. My kickass brother in law Brent and fellow board member and family friend Bill got it running enough to load it up on the trailer, but it was struggling mightily when we unloaded it in Kentucky.

[flashed]

Cant wait to see pics .

[Tomahawk30]

Originally Posted by flashed

Cant wait to see pics .

Then you are in luck! Just edited the original post with a few pics. There's a whole album linked in my signature as well...

[Tomahawk30]

Mechanically some things are in great shape, others need some work. The new engine only has about 6 miles total on it, but still had the original points style ignition. Worse, a mouse appears to have taken a liking to the power wires from the distributor, so it immediately had to go. The transmission is needing a rebuild as well, which I'll probably just have the local shop do. They quoted me $850 to just drop the truck off and have the whole thing dropped, rebuilt, and reinstalled with a new converter.

So far I've done the following:

-new battery
-new rubber junctions on the fuel lines
-new Quick Fuel HR-670-VS carb
-new HEI distributor and 8mm plug wires
-regapped spark plugs
-installed a new mechanical fuel pump

Before I go any further, I'm replacing the gas tank and all of the hard lines. I ordered the tank and a new sending unit today from Sokyclassics, and I bought new line and the bending / flaring tools yesterday at the local parts store.

Pretty sure this needed replaced:

[Tomahawk30]

Side note:

Original air cleaner or chrome? Eventually I'd like to reinstall the charcoal canister (currently absent) so I assume I'd need something similar to factory for the vent line to the carb.

[Hart_Rod]

nice truck!

[Tomahawk30]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

nice truck!

Thanks man! She's showing her age, but we'll get there...

[Average Joe]

Cool truck. I vote aftermarket chrome air cleaner.

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by Tomahawk30

Side note:

Original air cleaner or chrome? Eventually I'd like to reinstall the charcoal canister (currently absent) so I assume I'd need something similar to factory for the vent line to the carb.

Very nice truck. I vote for original.

[Tomahawk30]

I need to get some updates posted! I'll snap some updated pictures and get them posted soon.

Made some progress after lots of busted knuckles and trial/error over the last few months. Ended up replaced the stock style intake with an Edelbrock, finally got the QuickFuel working pretty well (still a little bit of stumble, but its really close to gone finally), cleaned out the bed and the interior, and got it titled and registered in Kentucky. I really want to order a Fitech EFI kit, but that may have to wait until I get some other things finished.

I did order a new AAW Classic Upgrade kit from board member MCB Matt, and I'm looking forward to digging into that when things warm up a bit. After the Medium Olive 70 C10 I did (Sprout), the wires going everywhere in this one are driving me a little nuts. Can't wait to have it all cleaned up and nicely bundled. I find I'm getting picky in my old age...

For now, I'm trying to decide on a gameplan for the truck. I REALLY need to get the rear cab floor corners patched as the floor is significantly weakened near where the lap belts bolt down. From there, I'll probably start cleaning up the interior a bit and start looking for someone to do body and paint.

On the interior, I'm waffling between cleaning up the black w/ black/white houndstooth that I already have or putting together a saddle interior as I love the saddle tan in black trucks. On there other hand, I haven't ruled out going back to the original Dark Olive paint (minus the Medium Olive roof because that combo just has never grown on me at all).

As always, if ideas where money, I'd be done by now (and probably would have a mountain of spare parts!!!)

[Tomahawk30]

Got the truck out over the weekend to drive down to White House, TN for the Tennessee C10 club get together. Board member JCBlue and I successfully drove about 90 miles on Saturday with no issues to speak of, which was a huge relief for both of us! His newly finished truck is the red 72 C10, which is stunning in person. Had a great time and saw some beautiful trucks, and lots of board members met! Clearly I need to practice my parking... On the way back, we even spotted the Ochre 72 that I'd called about a few days before. It had sold, but its for sale again for $7500. Still a pretty nice looking driver! I have the phone number if anyone is interested.

[Tomahawk30]

Picked up some "new" shoes! Getting them cleaned up a bit and resprayed / cleared for now. Eventually I'll get them blasted and powdercoated, but this'll work for now.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/FfsDjr]

[Booya]

Those will look good on there...

[Tomahawk30]

Ya, I think so! How's things over your way? Haven't talked to you in quite a while!

I'm also talking to board member Grumpy Old Man about a new interior package. Thinking this would look good as a replacement for my Black w/ black/white Houndstooth. I'd dye my door panels to match, and get a headliner, dash pad cover, visors and seatcover w/ houndstooth made in the same tan material:

[Tomahawk30]

I do have a newer picture under the hood. Looks like I need to clean and paint the brake booster and master cylinder.... Probably pull a few of the brackets and get them powder coated as well. Hoping for a weekend with no rain to tear into the install of my AAW rewire kit.

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[Booya]

It has been a while, we are doing good. Got the 4X4 back in the shop so hopefully I can make some time for it.. The tan will look really good with the black..