Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne

[tristan]

The professional restoration of my 1971 GMC Jimmy "Project Checkbook" as seen over on the Blazers and Jimmys Projects and Builds Forum is near completion. I have turned my attention to my next project, my 1971, C-10 short wheelbase, factory 400 Cheyenne. The pickup has been in storage while the Jimmy project moved forward.

I bought the truck out of Arkansas but it was originally sold in Broken Bow, OK.

[tristan]

Just like my Jimmy when I got it, the C-10 is crusty and weary but it is also largely rust-free. One cab corner is shot but everything else on the body looks solid. However, the truck needs complete renewal both mechanically and in appearance. It was originally white/ochre/white/ochre, but some ochre-hater painted it black 20 or so years ago. Thank heavens he didn't shoot some over the SPID.

Phase I will be to make the truck roadworthy and safe and then I have some decisions to make regarding big ticket restoration items. Over the past few years I have ratholed away many parts for the truck and you can see some of my hoard in the bed. There's more elsewhere. A lot of this was bought off the forum, thanks guys.

I am also going to have the busted grille, smashed-in drivers side door and repop tailgate switched out for factory items from my stash in Phase I. They bother me a lot.

[tristan]

Here are a few interior shots with more parts storage. Some knucklehead changed out the original saddle interior for one in assorted shades of red. He did add a few nice extras like tilt and tach that I am going to keep.

[68Gold/white]

I've seen those seats swapped into 67-72 pickups, they fit, but not my deal...

Carry on!!! Saving an oldie is cool, extra cool if it has a rat motor in it!!!

[nds1968]

I'm in...

[Advanced Design]

Me too. Tagging along.

[tristan]

After waiting for a few months the C-10 is now on the operating table in the mechanical shop. I have asked them to do whatever work is necessary to make the truck safe and driveable. Since nearly everything mechanical is worn out that makes for quite a long and expensive list.

The entire brake system is being rebuilt, along with the exhaust system and front suspension. The original big block is in good shape and will be largely left alone save for a tuneup. A lot of peripherals like AC and the tach are also non-functional but won't be fixed at this time.

The truck came with a ugly set of rotted tires on ugly Rallies so both of those things are departing. I bought four nice 15 X 8 steelies from a Board member and had them sandblasted and painted GM white. New shoes for Thanksgiving!

[68Gold/white]

Very cool!!!
Glad you can financially afford to have others work on it and get to the "driving safely" stage...
I see it has a posi rear gear, don't see many of those...
I know where Broken Bow, Oklahoma is!!! LOL, beautiful part of Oklahoma

Looking forward to more progress, regardless of how menial it may be. I also like your wheel selection, for now...what size tires???

[tristan]

I think the tires are Goodyear 31s, but will check when I go over for a visit this morning.

A cousin came over to visit the patient in the hospital this morning. Jimmy is being cleaned up for a photo shoot today for an upcoming article in Vintage Truck magazine.

[tristan]

Paid a visit today to check progress. New tires mounted on the repainted 15 X 8 steelies, brake and suspension work is done and all engine maintenance is also completed. The new exhaust system is en route and should be installed early next week. The shop tells me the truck could be driveable in a week.

[tristan]

Once done at the mechanical shop, the truck is headed over to the body shop for repair or replacement of the drivers door, a new grille and a replacement original tailgate. I asked for some alternatives to clean up the crusty but solid undercarriage. One cab support is shot but everything else on the underside looks pretty good under the grime.

[tristan]

The exhaust system is going in the dumpster along with the dry-rotted original tires and roached-out Rallies, but I asked the shop to save the scarce and precious exhaust hangers.

[68bowtie]

What an awesome truck.

[72 tigger]

Looking forward to this Dave- very nice truck

[tristan]

Thanks 68bowtie and Kirk. I just saw 68's build thread and Kirk's fall leaves beauty shot of his K20 - fantastic trucks both! 68, have you ever seen any other SWB BBs, optioned up or not, besides yours and mine? I haven't and I look everywhere. My other unicorn is a SWB high optioned 67-72 K10 and I've seen more of them (maybe 4-5) than our particular variant.

[68bowtie]

I have seen a few out there. Maybe 8 or 10 ever. Certainly not common!

[ss454conv]

I have a GMC that is a very close twin to yours. Hopefully the attachment works.
Andy

[tristan]

Wow, nearly identical twins! Beautiful truck, thanks for sharing. Please point me to any past forum discussion on it so I can read up.

[68bowtie]

There are a few factory swb bb trucks buried in these threads:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=626806

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=616990

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421720

[ss454conv]

Sorry, I have not put a build thread together. I may try to do one in the future.

[tristan]

The truck is now driveable and has taken up residence at the restoration shop for some gritty but necessary work. The undercarriage has been power-washed and steam-cleaned so that the shop can determine if any rot was in process under 47 years worth of road gunk.

I am happy to report that rust damage is limited to two cab supports and one small area near the right rear support. The rusty areas have already been cut out and new cab supports and mounts ordered. It looks like one cab corner was cut out and replaced by some prior owner. As you can see in the pictures, the exhaust system and some other parts are going to be masked off, the remainder of the underside wire wheeled and cleaned, and then shot with black satin epoxy.

My C-10 is now flanked on the lifts by two 1960s Broncos, there goes the neighborhood.

[zicc1835]

ill take this ride too

[tristan]

The undercarriage cleanup is now complete except for some final touch-up. I didn't catch the product name but it is some high-tech rust encapsulizer/epoxy. The frame and cross-members came out very smooth and with a low luster. The wheel wells and bottom of the bed and cab have a rougher finish about the same as would be produced by U-Pol Raptor. At least all of it is now black rather than ferrous oxide red.

[tristan]

More. They bolted in the replacement drivers side door also but I was too witless to grab a picture. Those old shocks are functional but now look cheesy.

[tristan]

Here is a remembrance of things past. The paint shop is going to work up an estimate to return the truck to its original white/ochre/white/ochre configuration. I am leaning towards making this one a "fine driver" rather than a show truck ala my 1971 Jimmy, which I am petrified to drive. It would be nice to have one to zip around in without morbid worries regarding value degradation.