72afr's '72 Short Step

[72afr]

Thanks guys! It's been a real joy to be able to get to drive this thing again. We've put the boat away for the year, so now I'll be able to drive it much easier. At least until the winter starts. Took a quick picture next to my daily this morning after taking the boys to school. Hard to believe just how much has changed over the 31 years between these two.

[72afr]

Just realized I never really posted any pictures of the interior. Most of this was done when we first put it together, but there's been a few updates recently.

New LMC carpet and sound deadener. Reused the old seat with a cover for long time until I got a new vinyl cover and redid the seat. New plastics throughout. Painted the green door panels to black. New dash pad and arm rests. We put in a convenience lighting kit and mounted a vanity plate under the center dash. Cleaned up the old heater control and new lighter. Pulled a set of seatbelts out of an early S10 that mounted in. I'm looking to swap these out to a more period correct set of 3pts. I just recently picked up a set of floor mats from Brothers, which seem a bit darker black than my carpet. I may look at swapping out the old (but basically new) LMC carpet to match.

[72afr]

Here's some more fun stuff I haven't seen on many other trucks here. In fact, I've only see the nomenclature plate on another ARMY C10 I found online.

Parts Data plate on the radio delete plate and Warranty (1 year, 12k mi.... just missed it) and Nomenclature place on the glove box door.

[raggedjim]

Cool stuff, I have a 68 short step with the nomenclature plate.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=816049

Rg

[72afr]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Cool stuff, I have a 68 short step with the nomenclature plate.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=816049

Rg

Thanks for sharing! Hadn't seen that thread. Glad to see some others out there!

[72afr]

Been playing around with some of the pictures from that late summer "photoshoot". Trying to fix some exposure, coloring, etc with the help of Google Photos, Snapseed, Pixlr.

[72afr]

Summer's back! I had to pick up the kids on their last Friday of school, so I decided to leave work a bit early and get the cover off the C-10 and cruise a bit before. I always get a bit nervous on the the first fire after sitting a bit, but after a bit of cranking, it fired right up. The spring has been VERY rainy around here, so I haven't had a good chance to get this yet out, but cruising weather is back on the menu.

[72afr]

Not much changing. Early summer cruising before it got ridiculously hot. Did happen across a milestone however.

[72afr]

First update to the thread and truck in a while. I've been getting a larger and larger puddle of coolant (water at this point) after driving around. So this weekend, we finally put on a new water pump. I guess 50 years was too much for the seals on the old one. Picked up a ACDelco pump and painted. I had previously ordered new radiator and heater hoses in anticipation of finally swapping them out. The factory lower hose was hard as a rock. New thermostat and painted housing. Nothing like putting lipstick on a pig... Gave the Little Red Cool Bus a wash for the kids' first day today.

Finally, a question for those who care to share. The engine in the truck is original to the truck with only 55k on it. It's long been an eyesore for me as it's the only area mostly untouched. We've added HEI and an internally regulated alternator, so it's not 100% original/stock. I've also been debating adding a cam. While out running it after the water pump, Dad was doing some 4bbl tweaking and flipped the intake lid. While not a new trick, it does lend itself to running better with a round intake. All of these things push it further and further from factory/stock, which the truck isn't really either at this point. I really want to get the engine bay looking better (painted engine and accessories, cleaned up wiring, etc). So, the question: Do I try to keep everything under the hood as stock looking as I can (knowing this truck will never win a concourse) due to the low mileage of the entire setup, or start finally making the engine match the rest of the truck (not stock, more fun)? Would these minor changes, in your opinion, push it out of the "stock" class at a car show (not that I'm worried about winning, but don't want to upset those in the stock class that truly dedicate their trucks to factory-like)?

[cornerstone]

My opinion is forget about "concourse" all together. I say doll that sweet thang up just how you'd like it. make the engine bay as pretty as the rest of it and call it done. Well, it'll never be done.... but, you know what I'm sayin.

[72afr]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

My opinion is forget about "concourse" all together. I say doll that sweet thang up just how you'd like it. make the engine bay as pretty as the rest of it and call it done. Well, it'll never be done.... but, you know what I'm sayin.

Hah! I'm under no illusion that it'll be up for any awards. Just hesitant about tearing into a low mile engine and making it "mine", I guess. Which sounds dumb when I put it into words.

[72afr]

Been absolutely slammed at work/vacations/weather/excuses and haven't had a solid chance to pull out the truck for the season. Until last weekend that is. Unburied it from it's winter hibernation to hit up a local Cars and Coffee and was greeted with a solidly dead battery. Used my lithium battery jumper to get it going and drove around for a bit to charge it. Rolled into the event and saw some clouds rolling in. Hop in to take off and it's again solidly dead and so is my jumper. Had to get the Mrs to come to jump it, but got absolutely dumped on before we got it going. Good news is the wipers work and got it "washed". Replaced the (2016!) battery this week and it fires right up. Funny how that works. The factory radiator overflow tank hose finally cracked after 50+ years and I replaced that as well. Had another "show" this weekend downtown. No issues this time.