1972 4x4 Short Bed Project "Seven-Deuce"

[yfs200p]

Originally Posted by bhammer

Hey looks amazing!!! I am in the process of doing a 72 GMC Shortbed 4x4 right now, I am working no the suspension and your truck has the exact lift I am looking for. I'm sure this has been asked before but what exactly did you do to the suspension to get that lift? I saw you said it is a 2.5" lift, did you use aftermarket leafs? front? rear? I'm about to order some parts to get mine together and this is exactly what I want. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Brian

Unfortunately I dont have much info on what brand my lift is. I only realized it was lifted once I found a thread that listed other guy's fender measurements. Check out Dan's thread, there is a bunch of great info and pictures there.
--> http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=620627

[Camo]

Truck looks awesome nice progress!

[JimJones]

Just re read the whole thread again. Thanks for going to the trouble to post all of this. It is a real inspiration for me to keep slipping those $100 dollar bills away every payday. Love your truck keep us updated

[yfs200p]

Had a good day out with the truck on Saturday. There was a car show a few towns over so I busted my butt getting the last bunch of things finished up so it would be roadworthy. I did a temporary bed floor out of 3/4" birch plywood. I have the 1x8" oak boards but just didn't have the time to fully install them. I think I'll run it with the plywood bed floor for the rest of the fall, and make a winter project out of the oak. I stayed up late Friday night and then got up early Saturday morning to tackle the punch list of things that needed done. Like a rear wheel cylinder that was leaking, new battery terminals, radiator overflow, door panels, fuel fill, heater core hoses, right inner fender skirt, rear bumper, and a few other things. I was quite busy but determined to get to that show. Well I made it there and home without any problems. I had a lot of compliments and thumbs up along the way which reminded me why I took on this project in the first place. It's still not finished but I'm damn close, and it is so gratifying to actually drive this thing. I probably put over 100 miles on it this weekend. (that's another thing, the odometer that I rebuilt only works when it wants to, gets hung up for a few miles when rounding the next 10).
Here are some pics
First time reunited with the tailgate



My 'temporary' wood floor


Showing off at the Water Mill, NY classic car expo (parked next to my Uncle's 1966 F100. Cool truck, but not my style)




On the way home, stopped off at a bar for a quick adult beverage with a good friend. First time I parked it anywhere in public. Good thing I found a secluded spot!



Then finally stopped by my dad's house to show it off to him, he hadn't been by the shop to see it in a few months, and I was dying to keep cruising. LOL



I have more exhaust pics for those who asked, I'll get them posted in the morning.

[birdistheword]

Looking really good.

[ryanmctee]

Congrats on a job well done. Enjoy your truck!

[Bladeboy1998]

Hello, I am a new member here,and I just want to say great job on the truck! I love it. I was wondering if this would be a good first car project for my son. He really wants a 67-72 Chevy, he likes the blazer the most. We both do all the mechanic work on our cars, but never a frame off resto. Any updated pics?

[coopdog]

what a nice looking truck,

[nuke1]

Love the truck. turned out amazing. great job

[yfs200p]

Bringing this thread back to the top....

I don't have much new to report but a few more recent pictures. I did finally get the mirrors hung on there, I put a couple hundred miles on the truck without them and finally couldn't stand not having them anymore. So I mustered up the courage to drill the holes and I think they came out pretty good. I would not recommend trying that without a good quality step drill bit. If I remember, I put about 600 miles on the truck over the fall. Man, it sure is fun to drive but the only problem with having it on the road is it kills your motivation to do those finishing touches.

Here's what I have left ( that I can think of right now):
-Purchase and install Upper and lower body side moldings
-Install radio antenna
-Install wipers
-Install fan blower motor
-Route defroster hoses
-Engineer and figure out fuel fill situation
-Mill, drill, clear coat oak bed floor boards
-Remove bed, install red oak boards
-Hook up reverse light switch
-Change oil, check everything after 500 mile shakedown
-Front diff cover leaking
-Change front locking hub dials to NOS pair
-Replace U-joints on front driveshaft and install
-Install carb spacer to try and correct hard starting when hot
-Figure out some type of LED blue strobe lights for F.D. responding

This winter would have been perfect to get some of that done but with all the snow, I had to keep room in the garage to get another car in. So I put the cover on the old girl around Xmas time and haven't looked at it since...



Here are a few shots from days past, of much warmer weather with salt-free roads!



Here is a cool before & after shot, October 2010 vs. October 2014





Ran into a buddy of mine while checking out the waves at Main Beach, East Hampton. He's got a really nice 86 SWB k10. That's all for now, hope to start picking off that list soon!

[mjensen]

Truck looks great! I love that '86 too! Two of my favorite styles right there!

[Bladeboy1998]

Love it! We need updates! And more pics of that beauty

[18Z]

Can I ask if you don't mind, what you paid for the original black truck?

[yfs200p]

Originally Posted by 18Z

Can I ask if you don't mind, what you paid for the original black truck?

I paid a little more than I should have, but it was less than a mile from my house, and there just aren't any original 4x4s around here, especially SWB. I gave $2500 for it.

Here are a couple updated pictures. It's been running good, I use it as my weekend cruiser up until they salt the roads usually sometime late December. I still have not finished the wood bed, I just cant seem to find the motivation for that. I did have some time to get all the moulding put on, that really finished it off.
I did bring it on the beach a few times this summer, the 4x4 works great. 4-Lo, 2nd gear and you just creep along. Its nice to drive right past the tough guys in their diesel F350's that are sunk up to the axles in the sand. The only bad part is the salt air and sand getting everywhere. I don't think I'll be bringing it on the beach much more as i don't want to start seeing rust rear its ugly head again.
Oh yeah i took home a "best of show" trophy this summer as well. It was a memorial car show for a local teenager who took his own life a few years ago. It was a young crowd with mostly trucks, and I was thrilled to have been chosen as the best looking one there!

[FlameOut]

She sure is purdy! Looking at yours is making me motivated to get back to work on mine (also a '72 K10 SWB) Thanks for posting your purchase price. Mine was about the same condition. I paid $1600 but now have around $9000 into it.

[CUSTOM/10]

The truck looks awesome !!! The moldings realy give it a finished look !
Congrats on the trophy !!!

Gary

[18Z]

Thanks for the price, that is one beautiful truck you have! great job.

[Dieselwrencher]

The mouldings look great on there! Congrats on the trophy too!