New guy with a 72 3/4 ton 4x4. Have some questions! *pics inside!*

[JMC_72]

Alrighty guys! I recently received my 72 from my dad as a gift and have a lot of plans for it. It has been in my family for about 20 years but I really don't know much about these trucks lol. I believe the truck is a custom camper or camper special(not sure on correct terminology here). Any insight here would be greatly appreciated. If it is what's the main difference between it and a normal 3/4ton? How can I figure out what the gearing is on the differentials? I believe the rear is an eaton but am not 100% sure. I have no clue what the front is. It has a 350 and TH400 but all the trucks I've ever seen have a TH350, soooooo I'm unclear on if the transmission is original to the truck or not. Anyway.. Here's a few pics

Btw, If my questions seem like common ones on the forum I apologize and assure you I have been googling and searching lol. I'm just coming up short on some answers.

[jocko]

WELCOME to the forum. What a nice truck! To answer your questions -
It has an eaton rear.
It is not a custom camper.
It has a RARE paint job (med over dark blue) (GORGEOUS) - and WITH the paint stripe option in lieu of bare or upper belt molding.

Camper wiring is just that - wiring for a camper on back, includes a little pigtail. A "Custom Camper" (correct term thru 72) would have the Z81 code on the SPID. All that gives you is the Custom Camper script nameplate above the door handle (on a 72 - on 69-72 it was on the fender, as in "CustomCamper20"). See pic below. You had to have a few heavy-duty options selected in order to get the Custom Camper option, but selecting it didn't give you those add-ons, per se.

All K10/20 came with TH350 if an automatic was selected, so the TH400 probably isn't original. No biggee though.

Also, note the the SPID calls out that your truck is a Custom Deluxe (a step up from the Custom - which is what is displayed on your fenders). It would have different door panels than the ones installed (see pic below). So, is the glovebox door and/or SPID original - or are the fenders non-original - or have the "deluxe" trim holes under the Custom been filled in during a previous paint job? Curious!!

I'm also suspecting the doors have been swapped (they lack the 72-only vent window screw on the inside) - the ones you have are pre-72. So, perhaps the fenders and doors were swapped as well. Or something else. Not a biggee, it's a family gift - HOW COOL IS THAT!?!?! Hang onto it. Perhaps your dad knows some of the history of the body changes over time?

Great truck - what are your plans?

EDIT: btw, the last pic of the white truck shows the correct seat cover for your truck also.

[JMC_72]

The body of the truck is all original. Whoever painted it the light blue only painted the exterior and inside the cab but left the engine bay, inside the glovebox and ashtray the original blue.

As for plans I wanna get the rust all cleaned up and get it painted. I keep going back and forth on keeping the 350 in it or swapping it for a twelve valve cummins. I wanna make this thing something I can drive on a regular basis and have no issues towing my car to the track on the weekends or a camping/hunting trip.

[JMC_72]

I was wondering about the doors cause I've only found those metal door panels for pre 72's. As far as my dad told me the truck was all original other than paint. He was only the third owner I believe but there are so many unknowns because we've only had the truck for half it's life.

[Stocker]

Welcome! Looks like a good clean straight truck, and family history is a plus. As mentioned, the doors are pre-1972. Good chance the gears are 4.10s. Jack up the rear, in neutral with parking brake off. Rotate a tire one full circle and count the driveshaft rotations.

Incidentally, the no-spin inside that Eaton is not very common.... they can be hard to come by. Same goes for the front tow hook, they are out there but are expensive. Hard to see if you still have that.

[JMC_72]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Welcome! Looks like a good clean straight truck, and family history is a plus. As mentioned, the doors are pre-1972. Good chance the gears are 4.10s. Jack up the rear, in neutral with parking brake off. Rotate a tire one full circle and count the driveshaft rotations.

Incidentally, the no-spin inside that Eaton is not very common.... they can be hard to come by.

I can't believe I didn't think of that trick.. I've even done that on a buddies mustang to help him figure out his car had 4.10's

Are the eaton rears any good? Parts themselves hard to come by?

[jocko]

Originally Posted by JMC_72

I was wondering about the doors cause I've only found those metal door panels for pre 72's. As far as my dad told me the truck was all original other than paint. He was only the third owner I believe but there are so many unknowns because we've only had the truck for half it's life.

67-71 door panels and 72 door panels aren't exactly interchangeable - the crank sticks out further on the 72-only to accommodate the thicker 72 molded door panels. Your doors are pre-72 if they don't have the vent window screw. Again, great truck, would look awesome with the original paint job again!

[JMC_72]

Originally Posted by jocko

67-71 door panels and 72 door panels aren't exactly interchangeable - the crank sticks out further on the 72-only to accommodate the thicker 72 molded door panels. Your doors are pre-72 if they don't have the vent window screw. Again, great truck, would look awesome with the original paint job again!

Good to know on the doors! Thanks for the info. Just noticed you're in burleson, I work out of Alvarado.

[jocko]

I've been here all of 2 days! Ha. I just changed my location on this thing. Just moved from Mesa, been a busy summer.

[JMC_72]

Originally Posted by jocko

I've been here all of 2 days! Ha. I just changed my location on this thing. Just moved from Mesa, been a busy summer.

Mesa Arizona? That's a good lil move lol

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by JMC_72

Are the eaton rears any good? Parts themselves hard to come by?

They are tough as nails. I've heard some parts can be hard to find but don't know offhand which parts. I think bearings & seals are available, brake drums are not. I've owned mine for 37 years and had one pocket bearing (on the end of the pinion) replaced.

[JMC_72]

Originally Posted by Stocker

They are tough as nails. I've heard some parts can be hard to find but don't know offhand which parts. I think bearings & seals are available, brake drums are not. I've owned mine for 37 years and had one pocket bearing (on the end of the pinion) replaced.

thanks for the info!

[JasonLS1]

Those hubs are beautiful, don't ever change em out or sell them , amazing to see their still there

[JMC_72]

Originally Posted by JasonLS1

Those hubs are beautiful, don't ever change em out or sell them , amazing to see their still there

I think there may be something wrong with them. I'm unsure if they're locking or not when I put it in 4wd

[JasonLS1]

Easy to disassemble an check, do a search here. I know I've seen a thread or two about spicer hubs. I can find the link later and posit it

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by JMC_72

I think there may be something wrong with them. I'm unsure if they're locking or not when I put it in 4wd

The way you worded that, I have to ask (and no offense intended) -- you know they must be manually turned to lock in, right?

[JMC_72]

Originally Posted by JasonLS1

Easy to disassemble an check, do a search here. I know I've seen a thread or two about spicer hubs. I can find the link later and posit it

Sweet, will do.

Originally Posted by Stocker

The way you worded that, I have to ask (and no offense intended) -- you know they must be manually turned to lock in, right?

No offense taken lol. I do know they need to be manually locked.

[JasonLS1]

PDF to download, comes in handy.
http://www2.dana.com/pdf/5330.pdf

Forum link for detailed pics, VERY helpful. Not sure if linking to a different forum is allowed but here goes:
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/sm...?topic=22710.0

[72 Copper C-10]

Sweet truck!!! Those are some really cool options! Does it still have the tow hooks?

[JMC_72]

^^still has the hooks. Ones a lil bent, though.

Originally Posted by JasonLS1

PDF to download, comes in handy.
http://www2.dana.com/pdf/5330.pdf

Forum link for detailed pics, VERY helpful. Not sure if linking to a different forum is allowed but here goes:
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/sm...?topic=22710.0

Sweet! Thanks!! I have a Dana 44 front axle?

[Bigdav160]

It would have originally had a dana 44 up front. make sure to keep oil in that Eaton. Mine developed a pinion seal leak. It now has a later model 14 bolt rear axle.

[JMC_72]

Thanks!
I think it has a slight leak. I've been thinkin I need to pop it apart and reseal it.

[1972BlueC20]

Awesome score man! Cool truck!

Here is what the paint code that you have would of looked like from the factory (except for the white stripe), mine was repainted about 5 years ago but the paint was matched to the original.

[JMC_72]

That's beautiful

[PancakeMix]

Originally Posted by JasonLS1

Those hubs are beautiful, don't ever change em out or sell them , amazing to see their still there

Are they really that rare or special? Curious because the frame I'm going to start working on has them. They are in really rough shape. One doesn't spin free. Other one is chewed up, plastic broken.

When I did my K10, I had to replace the mismatched and broken, "set," that was on there. I went with some MM's and they been fine so far.