72 GMC K2500, short bed build

[randy500]

Sorry, i posted to the wrong forum, i have asked to have it moved


I bought this truck for parts to build my 72 K10. The K10 is a mess, needs a full body, no title and is buried in my backyard.
This is a complete good running and driving truck with a decent cab and nose.
I have a massive amount of parts for the k10 build including this truck.

The final truck will be a SWB 72 k10, Cheyenne Super, stock ride height, 30x9.5 tires, hugger orange and white with parchment bucket seat interior.

Bringing the K10 in the shop would really cramp things up so i decided to build this truck out and later drop this body and drivetrain on the chevy frame after i make some room and get the title for the k10.

Week before last i bought the cab rust repair panels and last week i ordered short fleet bedsides.
I have a new vortec motor for this build.
New LMC exhaust kit
New stock height 3 leaf front springs
Bucket seats
Tach dash
Tilt column and cushion grip steering wheel.
Parchment door panels and visors
And lots more.
As you can see it has pretty nice wheels and tires. The tires are about 29.5” tall and with the 4.10 Gears It should be pretty peppy with the vortec engine.

[randy500]

I will add all the trim for this look. Fixing all the primer spots, rust etc, probably paint the outer of the bedsides to complete the look.

I will build new cab and nose for the k10, just use the bed, engine trans, interior etc from this build.

I think this medium green is the worst color ever on a 72 but i will work with it for now because its a decent complete truck AND other people love this color.

[randy500]

I finished most of the RH floor and rocker repair this weekend. I have already fit the door with the rocker panel screwed in place, just need to plug weld the rocker on and move to the other side.
Needed kick panel, lower A pillar, outer floor, rocker panel and front floor support.

[DeadheadNM]

Parting out? How much for the wheels? Posted to parts board.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Parting out? How much for the wheels? Posted to parts board.

Eventual part out...build for now.

[randy500]

The tires are 70% and white letter which i love, i normally dont like k20 axles under a short bed but i got good rubber and wheels so I'm going to see how a swb looks with stock suspension height and stock wheels.
I have never seen one built like that.

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by randy500

I will add all the trim for this look. Fixing all the primer spots, rust etc, probably paint the outer of the bedsides to complete the look.

I will build new cab and nose for the k10, just use the bed, engine trans, interior etc from this build.

I think this medium green is the worst color ever on a 72 but i will work with it for now because its a decent complete truck AND other people love this color.

The K10 SWB cab I just got is/was that color. I hate it. But as you say people like it. Still, I’m going with something else. Haha.

[randy500]

The vortec engine, i have a spec and blueprint thread on it someplace here too.
I have it dressed out like a 1970 corvette, L46 350hp engine.

[randy500]

I havent been able to sell these buckets so might use them in this truck for a while.
I also have some black woodgrain door panels, dash and glovebox door.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by 69Tom

The K10 SWB cab I just got is/was that color. I hate it. But as you say people like it. Still, I’m going with something else. Haha.

Your the only person i have heard say they hate it too.

I will have an extra cab and nose when i move the parts the the K10, should be valuable and desireable, just not to me.

[randy500]

I just realized i posted this to the parts forum...sorry, asking to get it moved now.

[CG]

This truck looks like a tiny baby compared to your crew cab. And I like the color. And I've always loved that finished truck you showed with the full wheel covers. Full wheel covers seldom look good on 4x4's, but they look great on that one.

[Richard]

Good start on the build Randy. Should be nice. This must be the truck you needed the parchment interior parts for. The green is does not look to bad.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by CG

This truck looks like a tiny baby compared to your crew cab. And I like the color. And I've always loved that finished truck you showed with the full wheel covers. Full wheel covers seldom look good on 4x4's, but they look great on that one.

That truck does look good, classy with the whitewalls and full wheel covers. Been looking for pics of 2 tone med green trucks. Just realized today that one is 4Wd.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by Richard

Good start on the build Randy. Should be nice. This must be the truck you needed the parchment interior parts for. The green is does not look to bad.

This build is where the parchment parts are going.

[randy500]

Its all shortened up. I did a step cut on the frame like i always do.
I shortened the rear driveshaft myself, done tons of them, never had any vibration issues either.

I got it back together today and went for a drive.
Floors are all tacked in, rockers set in place with screws. I didnt weld them, because im doing a little sandblasting on the cowl and floor and without the rockers its easier to clean up.
I refit the entire body and it fits together pretty nice.
I put a decent used exhaust on it while i had the body off, no it has full exhaust with good mufflers that exit behind the rear tires.
While i had the body off i serviced the rear end, despite sitting for a very long time the rear end is in good shape inside, no rust or excessive wear noted.

[Richard]

That was quick. Looks good!

[cornerstone]

Looks like a nice one Randy! How much do you estimate this truck will bring when completed?

[randy500]

Originally Posted by Richard

That was quick. Looks good!

Thank you. Its been fun and i like the look too.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Looks like a nice one Randy! How much do you estimate this truck will bring when completed?

I have no idea what the value will be.
As i think i stated im using this truck as a place holder for all my parts which will eventually get put on my 72 k10. I dont really want a Short bed titled as a k20.

So why didnt i just do the k10 now?
The k10 is buried in my back yard, has been parked for 30 years, has title issues, i am unsure on the condition of the trans transfer case and differentials.


This truck runs and drives good, has new brakes and nice tires, wheels and hubcaps. So for now i will throw all my best parts at it, and drive it and enjoy it.
Later i will restore the K10 chassis and swap this body and drivetrain onto it.

[Corts60]

Great work man. Very clean.

[randy500]

I hate sandblasting but the cowl, floor and roof gutter needed it.
There are a few spots of rust pinholes in the cowl which i will fix with a combination of welding, 2 part urethane seam sealer and possibly 3m 8115.

Now i can change the color since the hard to sand parts are blasted.
Im leaning towards hugger orange but may go with light yellow like on my k10.
I may even go red since have it on hand. Of course upper and lower moldings with white in the center.

[randy500]

Added factory AC

[DeadheadNM]

Nice work!

[randy500]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Nice work!

Thank you, couple more pics of todays work.
Also filled in the dash holes, some dummy had a universal key switch mounted above the original one, first thing i did when i got the truck is remove it and repair the wiring harness. I just crimped on packard 56 connectors and put them in the original connector along with a good used switch, cant tell the wiring harness was ever hacked.

The radio opening on the bottom of each side has stress cracks, probably from a heavy radio with no rear support, the truck was originally radio delete so no rear support bracket was installed.

Also had aux tank switch hole which i filled.

Did you notice i mounted a shop light inside the cab? It really helps light up the inside while working in there. I hung it off short chains hooked to the visor holes.