Score! 71 LWB 350 $750 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

brennecke · 03-26-2002, 09:36 AM

I just got my first old Chevy. '71 LWB with a nice running origional 350 and three on the tree. No holes in the bed, no rust at the cab corners, just rusty door bottoms and rockers. The grill is intact, and all the brightwork is there. Even the glovebox with the origional owners manual is all there. Totally straight, one dent in the passengers front fender, and a hole in the brightwork around the grill.
I drove it home over 400 miles after an oil change and a new set of tires! Alignment was good, brakes work great, and no play in the steering! I am very excited.
My only question is where to start working on this truck (what to do first)? I have a garage, and it will be a fine daily driver, but do I replace the doors or buy bottom doorskins? Should I start taking the cab and bed off to replace bushings etc? Do I want to scrape all the surface rust off or wait til it's ready to paint?

lukecp · 03-26-2002, 10:31 AM

Sounds like quite a deal! I would look around some junkyards for some doors before you go and fix the rust on yours. You never know, you may find a rustfree one in good shape. If not, it isn't too hard to simply replace the door bottoms. If you sand off the surface rust, you will be exposing bare metal. If you want, you can get rid of the surface rust and give it a coat of spray-can primer until you are ready to do a real paint job. Good luck!

------------------
Lucas

drop_shift@hotmail.com

My Daily-Driver: '72 Chevy LWB Custom/10. Rebuilt 350, 300 HP thanks to a few go-fast goodies. Ochre with a white top. Future plans include a frame off restoration, and maybe a blown 383.

71402BB · 03-26-2002, 10:45 AM

Cool, nice find! I too would look in the junk yards or keep an eye out on the parts board for doors! you can usely find south western parts like doors fenders and such preety cheap cause there are tons of them down there! good luck with the truck and have fun!

------------------
71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's

72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!)

68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE with built 350 4-speed 4.11's and posi

brennecke · 03-26-2002, 11:51 AM

Are there any common problems that I should look for? simple mods that are a real must for a daily driver? I was thinking about softening up the suspension and maybe adding power to the brakes. It has the coil spring rear and front discs.

[This message has been edited by brennecke (edited March 26, 2002).]

71402BB · 03-26-2002, 11:53 AM

common problems as in what? Rust, machanical other?

------------------
71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's

72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!)

68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE with built 350 4-speed 4.11's and posi

brennecke · 03-26-2002, 12:55 PM

Mechanical. I can see the rust.

barn9 · 03-26-2002, 01:14 PM

I got my '71 eleven years ago, and it was a good clean truck, in about the same condition as your new one. I just took my time and fixed or replaced anything that needed to be done as I could afford it, and as time allowed me to work on it. After I was happy with all mechanical aspects and got front end in A-1 shape, I put on a set of wheels and nice tires. Then I started on the interior, and finally a new paint job. I'm still running the original BB with 175,00 miles, and it runs like a champ. So, unless you're just in a hurry, drive the truck and enjoy it, you have plenty of time to fix it up. After all, it's a Chevy, it isn't going to fall apart like a f**d would!

------------------[*]'71 Cheyenne, 402BB[*]Winfield, KS[*] http://barn9.freeservers.com[*] steer50@hotmail.com

03-26-2002, 09:36 AM	#1
brennecke Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Missouri Posts: 469	Score! 71 LWB 350 $750 I just got my first old Chevy. '71 LWB with a nice running origional 350 and three on the tree. No holes in the bed, no rust at the cab corners, just rusty door bottoms and rockers. The grill is intact, and all the brightwork is there. Even the glovebox with the origional owners manual is all there. Totally straight, one dent in the passengers front fender, and a hole in the brightwork around the grill. I drove it home over 400 miles after an oil change and a new set of tires! Alignment was good, brakes work great, and no play in the steering! I am very excited. My only question is where to start working on this truck (what to do first)? I have a garage, and it will be a fine daily driver, but do I replace the doors or buy bottom doorskins? Should I start taking the cab and bed off to replace bushings etc? Do I want to scrape all the surface rust off or wait til it's ready to paint? __________________ Never tire of doing what is right II Thess. 3:13 Northeast Missouri 71 LWB original 350 3/speed Soon to be 500

03-26-2002, 10:31 AM	#2
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Sounds like quite a deal! I would look around some junkyards for some doors before you go and fix the rust on yours. You never know, you may find a rustfree one in good shape. If not, it isn't too hard to simply replace the door bottoms. If you sand off the surface rust, you will be exposing bare metal. If you want, you can get rid of the surface rust and give it a coat of spray-can primer until you are ready to do a real paint job. Good luck! ------------------ Lucas drop_shift@hotmail.com My Daily-Driver: '72 Chevy LWB Custom/10. Rebuilt 350, 300 HP thanks to a few go-fast goodies. Ochre with a white top. Future plans include a frame off restoration, and maybe a blown 383. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

03-26-2002, 10:45 AM	#3
71402BB now thats a true COON DOG Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Franconia, NH Posts: 1,977	Cool, nice find! I too would look in the junk yards or keep an eye out on the parts board for doors! you can usely find south western parts like doors fenders and such preety cheap cause there are tons of them down there! good luck with the truck and have fun! ------------------ 71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's 72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!) 68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE with built 350 4-speed 4.11's and posi __________________ current project 67 402BB stout th350 3.08's with a locker. Plan on tubs 18.5's out back! (thanks Burnsman!) 71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's ( was crushed by a tree, bed sold, motor pulled) was my first truck!... oh well... 72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!) 68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE work in progress, soon to have 250-I6 with a 3-speed on the tree 4.11's and posi ( currently sitting in back yard tarped awaiting time, $$$, and lots of love!) 67 1 TON- work truck 396 sm 420 4-speed, flat bed 4.57 gears "big red" (my first landscape truck, very rusty and crusty! but still gets the job done when needed!)

03-26-2002, 11:51 AM	#4
brennecke Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Missouri Posts: 469	Are there any common problems that I should look for? simple mods that are a real must for a daily driver? I was thinking about softening up the suspension and maybe adding power to the brakes. It has the coil spring rear and front discs. [This message has been edited by brennecke (edited March 26, 2002).] __________________ Never tire of doing what is right II Thess. 3:13 Northeast Missouri 71 LWB original 350 3/speed Soon to be 500

03-26-2002, 11:53 AM	#5
71402BB now thats a true COON DOG Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Franconia, NH Posts: 1,977	common problems as in what? Rust, machanical other? ------------------ 71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's 72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!) 68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE with built 350 4-speed 4.11's and posi __________________ current project 67 402BB stout th350 3.08's with a locker. Plan on tubs 18.5's out back! (thanks Burnsman!) 71 SWB Stepside, was a 250, now is a 402 Big Block with 4 speed and 3.73's ( was crushed by a tree, bed sold, motor pulled) was my first truck!... oh well... 72 LWB 4x4 350 4-speed 3.08's posi wearing army olive drab green (SOLD!) 68 BURB 50TH LOOKALIKE work in progress, soon to have 250-I6 with a 3-speed on the tree 4.11's and posi ( currently sitting in back yard tarped awaiting time, $$$, and lots of love!) 67 1 TON- work truck 396 sm 420 4-speed, flat bed 4.57 gears "big red" (my first landscape truck, very rusty and crusty! but still gets the job done when needed!)

03-26-2002, 12:55 PM	#6
brennecke Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Missouri Posts: 469	Mechanical. I can see the rust. __________________ Never tire of doing what is right II Thess. 3:13 Northeast Missouri 71 LWB original 350 3/speed Soon to be 500

03-26-2002, 01:14 PM	#7
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	I got my '71 eleven years ago, and it was a good clean truck, in about the same condition as your new one. I just took my time and fixed or replaced anything that needed to be done as I could afford it, and as time allowed me to work on it. After I was happy with all mechanical aspects and got front end in A-1 shape, I put on a set of wheels and nice tires. Then I started on the interior, and finally a new paint job. I'm still running the original BB with 175,00 miles, and it runs like a champ. So, unless you're just in a hurry, drive the truck and enjoy it, you have plenty of time to fix it up. After all, it's a Chevy, it isn't going to fall apart like a f*d would! ------------------[]'71 Cheyenne, 402BB[]Winfield, KS[] http://barn9.freeservers.com[*] steer50@hotmail.com __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.



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