1972 SW Introduction

[70-K5]

Haven't been over to the pickup board yet. I've currently got a 1970 K5, 1989 K2500 GMC Suburban, and an 89 K5 with a full top conversion.

Today I fulfilled a dream to grab a short wide. It isn't pretty, it isn't straight, but it is 100% original and from the original owner. it is a 6cyl with a 4spd manual, 12 bolt rear end, power brakes and manual steering. The only thing that was changed is the review mirror, it currently has a sweet 'wink' mirror.

The rockers are rusty, the fenders have some pretty hacked up body work and the bed has been backed over a stump and smashed by a grappling hook while being used around a logging camp. It has the original transmission with over 400,000 on it and a touchy clutch. It starts right up and drives fairly straight.

My Dad and I plan on spending a lot of time and hopefully not too much money on a frame off over the next few years. He thinks it will be all fixed up and ready to drive in a few months.... he'll soon find out what I've been doing in my garage for the last 15 years, and why I'm still not done with either of any of my other projects.



I don't know if it is typical for a SPID to have such few items on it.




My idea is to swap in a mild 350/350, drop it a few inches and leave some meaty tires on 16-17 rims.

Any advice, tips or suggestions are always welcome!

[swamp rat]

Well, if you already have 2 other projects going then you should just pass that one on to me!

Nice platform for a frame off, keep us posted!

[oklalawnboy]

From reading your post, I was expecting a pretty torn up truck. Then I saw the photo. That is a sweet truck. I wish mine looked that good when I bought it.

[70-K5]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

if you already have 2 other projects going then you should just pass that one on to me! !

I've got three projects currently on the books! I'm kicking myself! I don't do drugs, I don't smoke, I hardly drink but I have a serious addiction!

Originally Posted by oklalawnboy

From reading your post, I was expecting a pretty torn up truck. Then I saw the photo. That is a sweet truck. I wish mine looked that good when I bought it.

It has typical rust, bed floor is actually pretty good, has some waves in it but no rust through. The sides are another issue, the grappling hook and stump have done some pretty severe damage to the sides. Has anybody used the LMC bedsides? They're $499 each but look like they'd cut down on a lot of prep time and piecing in the small patch panels.

I'm going to get it registered and insured today so I can spend some time cruising it around before we blow it into 1,000 pieces.

[70-K5]

Today I got the registration completed and added it to my Hagerty policy and it is costing me a whopping extra $6 a year! Hagerty is awesome! If you want a replacement cost policy check them out, they understand that if you have a nice ride you're less likely to do something stupid with it!

Here's some more shots of it in the driveway.










I cleaned out a ton of pine needles, good thing they didn't do any serious damage to the cowl!








Big ugly rear bumper...






Cargo net for sale!




There's rust along the back of the bed under the top lip of the bed. Strange place for a rust out...





Definitely has some rust in the rockers....




Dash is in good shape, floors besides the rockers are nice. Might not be able to tell but the steering wheel is completely gone.

[Mr Chevorlet]

That was nothing what i was expecting after reading the post also. that is a good canidate for restore or drive like it is.

[70-K5]

So didn't get pictures of the interior rust but it is weird, just surface rust, the windshield channel is perfect and despite the junky looking drip rails after digging into them I think they are going to be solid.

What I did find is some homebrew fuse panel? It is where I would expect to see the factory panel!




Wonder what the "4 Shakey" means, it was signed on the back of the instrument panel.




I think I figured out how I'm going to do my instrument panel.. 2 1/8" gauges fit in the factory outer bezel. I think that if the guts are removed a set of 3 3/8" speedo and tach will fit in the panel... The speedo will be set back from the bezel giving a little protection from glare and will avoid flashing the windshield at night.





This could probably be converted into a build thread. (if a mod is watching)

[stomper]

Love dem Hugger Orange trucks!

Check out the classified section for the air cleaner you need for the 6 w/ PB.

[70-K5]

I've got the original air cleaner, not going to be of much use once the SBC goes in...

[c10seth]

What do you plan to do with the old drivetrain?

[70-K5]

12 bolt should be reused, re-geared if necessary. One piece drive line will get modified to fit the new configuration. I've been looking Munci M20's and they go for good change on craigslist, might trade it for some local transmission work. Don't know what the market is for blown (as in broken) 250-6cyl motors. If I find that the numbers match and it is the original stuff I'll probably clean it up and park them in the corner of the garage.