Project '67 Clone SWB

[JayB331]

Hi everyone. A couple of weeks ago I bought a 1972 K10 SWB. The truck was delivered to me on 10/29. I bought the truck sight unseen and was very happy with the results. I have big plans for this truck and decided to share my project with y'all. First a little history on the truck. It was originally a 1972 plow truck. The previous owner bought the truck in '06. He told me the cab was in decent shape but the rest of the body was toast. He did a frame off and put new floors, cab corners, and rockers in the cab and ditched the rest. He found a '67 front clip and bed in Iowa and rebuilt the truck (PO owns a paint and body shop) and did a jam up job. It was built as a driver, not a show truck and is the truck I've wanted all my life. It's titled as a '72 because of the VIN, but it looks like a '67. He even put a '67 steering wheel in it. The truck is completely rust free except for 7 bubbles smaller than a pencil eraser in 4 areas, which I'll be taking care of soon. I'm installing carpet this weekend and will post picks.

[swamp rat]

Subscribed!

[68_Shortbox]

Very nice truck! I am looking forward to hearing what your plans are for it.

[JayB331]

Started on the carpet. Here's a couple of pictures before I started

[JayB331]

Old floor mat removed. Floors look good

[JayB331]

Sound deadening material down and ready to be trimmed

[JayB331]

Time to trim the shifter cutouts on the new carpet. This being my first carpet install, I was a little nervous about cutting it out, so I made a mock up floor hump with some 2X4's and a 4X4 and laid the new carpet over it. Then I lined up the old floor mat over the carpet and cut an X in each shifter cutout and trimmed the holes after I installed the carpet

[northern 85]

Nice truck!

[JayB331]

Finished up the carpet this morning

[swamp rat]

Looks good! Nothing to it huh!

[nbrfd007]

Nice

[JayB331]

Got my fender emblems and trim rings installed. Also swapped my tires around so the letters face out.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by JayB331

Got my fender emblems and trim rings installed. Also swapped my tires around so the letters face out.

Much better!

When i bought my new BFG's about 4 months ago i had them put on white letters out (of course) and some stupid lady at the tire shop said "Yea back when white raised letters were in" Blah Blah Blah...... All i could think was how stupid she was, cars are one thing, 4X4 trucks are a different animal.

[JayB331]

Raised white letters were made to be seen!

[67chevy1series]

The emblems were a much needed touch!

[JayB331]

When I first drove this truck, I noticed a little bit of slop in the driveline. Couldn't tell if it was in the rear end, transfer case, or transmission. So the week I got it, I changed all of the fluids and when I pulled the rear diff cover off I found the source of the slop. The pinion gear was worn pretty bad. Knowing it needed to be addressed, I decided this was a good time to do a gear swap. So I ordered new gears and a new carrier for the rear end and got my buddy Johnny to do the swap this weekend. Out came the 3.73's and in went 3.08's. It's like driving a new truck now, no slop and the engine really likes the new gears cruising down the highway.

[bhammer]

Sweet looking truck!! Is that the stock ride height? I have a 72 GMC SWB 4x4 that is in the process of a frame off rebuild. It sits at a good height now but I really like how yours looks. If it is not stock what did you do to it? Thanks for the posts, keep it up. I'll put some updated pics of mine up soon.

[JayB331]

Thanks for the props bhammer! The previous owner put add a leafs on the truck when he did the restoration back in '07. It's got about a 2" of lift over stock.

[JayB331]

Bought a nice used aluminum intake from forum member ScottH last week and got it cleaned and painted. I'm planning on doing an engine build after the first of the year so I'm gonna wait until then to install it

[JayB331]

Decided to rebuild the Quadrajet yesterday. It's only been 30 years since I dove into one of these so after some internet home work and quick read of Doug Roe's book Rochester Carburetors I was off to the races. It's amazing how thing come back to you. Took me about 3 hours from start to finish. Wish I had taken a pic if it before I tore it down. It was a mess.

[CUSTOM/10]

Hey Jay ;

Awesome looking truck, I love SWb 4x4's..... I'm on my 4th one now.
You mentioned the truck is about 2.75 inches over stock, and in one picture it looks like there are blocks under the front springs ? If so you probably should plan on getting those out of there and put in lift springs. Blocks in the front can cause issues.

Gary

[JayB331]

Good eye Gary. The PO put those in when he resto'd the truck in '06. I plan on getting some 2 1/2" lift front springs in the near future.

[JayB331]

OK, getting ready to start my engine project. Got a couple of thing left to do and I'll be pulling the engine in the morning. I'll post pics as it progresses

[JayB331]

Got the motor out this morning. Cleaned up the engine compartment and pulled the intake and one of the heads. Finding a few surprises. The PO couldn't remember much about what he did when he rebuilt the engine, but he told me it was a .030 over engine. I pulled one of the heads and what did I find? .040 pistons! Doesn't surprise me. He told me it had 3.08 gears in it but it had 3.73's. I guess I'm just weird, but I can tell you detail about every motor I've built, and I built my first one in 1978. Oh well, no harm I guess. I'm getting ready to watch some football. Can't wait to see what else I find when I get deeper in the motor.

[swamp rat]

Yea i have the playoffs on my mind a bit too.