Need advice: Restoration of 72 Cheyenne Super SWB BB

[VA72C10]

Well...it's kinda a BB SWB....It was in fact originally a LWB.

It is, from everything I can tell, a true Cheyenne Super. It has the cheyenne super, bb, etc codes on the SPID. It has the right things (woodgrain glovebox, door panels, and dash, cargo light, headliner, etc....

It was converted using the leafs (also on the spid) and posi rear (on the spid) onto a shortbed frame because the longbed frame had tweaked frame horns. It has the correct 72BB mounts. A 71 402 with a TH400 (30K on rebuild on both and very clean inside) are included.

Original options are super high as seen on the SPID. The buckets/console, tach and AM/FM are long gone....but the rest is there. And I have the buckets/console and tach....and could get an AM/FM of course.

Trying to decide if it's something I should part out or restore. I know the value of the parts....and I know a rough idea of what it will take to get this one on the road. Right now it's a cab mounted to a painted frame with rally wheels. NOS core support with aftermarket fenders (I will put good originals on). Pass door rust free drivers has bubbles in outer skin. Will need cab corners, 2 cab mounts, inner and outer rockers, and two spots on the floor fixed. It has NO bed right now. But I will either get a nice original, fix the one I have, or use a repop complete bed (already have parts of it)

My questions are:

Keep in mind I plan to sell this when completed...

1) Since it's not a true SWB BB Super....but is a true BB Super...that's now a SWB....should I restore it 100% or do a resto-mod (not wild...just not 100pt restoration-slight changes). I'm leaning towards resto-mod so that I can use modern BB pulleys/brackets and A/C, the rally wheels, and paint it the color of choice, and put a nice sport bumper on the rear instead of the step on the spid .
2)Truck was originally white...and I want some opinions on whether to leave it white or paint it a more popular color (black, red, or two tone blue and white)
3) Guestimate on value if I do restore it 100% (minus being a swb) vs. restoring with paint color of choice and modernized bb/sport bumpers.
4) wood bed floor or steel...
Well...here are the pictures...any and all advice appreciated. And if there are any red flags on this please let me know...

[72BlckButy]

Resto-mod IMO...

[70cst]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Resto-mod IMO...

X2

[dirtball]

I would build it to what I liked, not try to re-create/restore an almost original

[PHAT TONY]

If it's in your price comfort zone; buy it and finish it your way (and sell it when it's almost done lol).

[RCbowtie69]

SWEET!!!!

[lolife99]

Building to sell or keep?

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Resto-mod IMO...

Originally Posted by 70cst

X2

Originally Posted by dirtball

I would build it to suit my taste.

Thanks guys. I agree...just wanted to make sure that wouldn't kill the value. I know it will never be close to the value of a true swb bb super....but any edjumacated guesses on value if restored with the BB, tilt, tach, buckets, console, headliner, woodgrain, new side trim?

And another question (also added above) Since I don't have a good bed yet...do you think I should do a sweet wood bed or metal???---keeping in mind resale potential and marketability...

[vectorit]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Resto-mod IMO...

But I'd paint it in a color that came in that year - other than the basic colors like white or black. Personally I love the variants of green in the late 60's and early 70's, but that's just me... To me, the old school colors really set off these trucks!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Building to sell or keep?

Sell

Originally Posted by RCbowtie69

SWEET!!!!

Thanks...I thought so too...

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

If it's in your price comfort zone; buy it and finish it your way (and sell it when it's almost done lol).

I was thinking of that...wonder if I should get it all together and ready for paint and let the next owner decide the color....another decision....

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by vectorit

But I'd paint it in a color that came in that year - other than the basic colors like white or black. Personally I love the variants of green in the late 60's and early 70's, but that's just me... To me, the old school colors really set off these trucks!

I really like this color combo also....as well as the circuit rider's colors...

[Hubscrub]

resto mod, white is super sweet and like said above some of the old colors is cool i'm tired of seeing red especially on any thing old (i own two red trucks but never again!) and a wood bed is sharp!

[70cst]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

I really like this color combo also....as well as the circuit rider's colors...

What is interesting is when these trucks came out I was 18-20 yrs old and I "hated" green. But now in my old age I luv green trucks.

[VA72C10]

For fun anyone want to guess what a good price for the truck as is (without the bed and without the tach, buckets, console,and radio....everything else as shown including the BB and T400. (there is a hood also-not shown...)

[superchevy]

I wonder where the am/fm went? Everything else looks untouched.
Why replace with a stock AM and not an aftermarket AM/FM back in the day?
Lots of great options on this one...wow.
SC

[jerry moss]

it's sitting on a swb frame in the pics? the reason i ask, it has the correct exhaust hangers for a big block and they appear to be riveted not bolted to the frame. i know, i'm old and my eyes aren't so good anymore but it looks correct.

[redbaron69]

if your planning to sale i would build it to suite to "buyers" taste. what i mean is look and see what people say WOW about, there only original once. your more than half there with the SWB, bbc, super trim etc... if you were to keep it, build it so on a warm sunday evening drive, you are more and more happy and enjoy YOUR truck as each mile rolls by. just my .02 cents worth.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

For fun anyone want to guess what a good price for the truck as is (without the bed and without the tach, buckets, console,and radio....everything else as shown including the BB and T400. (there is a hood also-not shown...)

I'd guess $2000 - $2500.

Since you're doing this for resale, I'd go resto-mod too. No point in going for a full restoration on a short bed frame. And since the frame isn't right, no reason not to pick any color you'd like BUT since paint is a pretty expensive part of projects, you would most likely be closer to getting your money back leaving it unpainted.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ChevLoRay]

You asked for opinions; here's mine. In the world of musclecars, it's possible that some of those offered for sale are in fact, clones that are being passed as real. If the seller bought it from a builder who knew it wasn't real, and the buyer wasn't savvy enough to know....shame on the builder/seller. The person who bought it, and is now selling it, will not want a knowledgeable person telling him that it isn't what he thought it was.

So, if you build it as a SWB BB Cheyenne Super, and you don't have the SPID re-configured.....the serial number isn't going to give it away like the body style number on a GTO (for instance) would. There are people who can craft a new SPID sheet for you, using the correct VIN and type (10734), in lieu of the 10934 body type....and who would know? The portion of the VIN that is on the chassis shouldn't give it away, since it isn't the complete VIN.

It's a moral issue.

But, I'd build it like I wanted to build it. Until the truck hobby gets to the point that the muscle-car era vehicles have reached, it's gonna be a game of chance. If you have the build sheet, that's one thing. If you don't, that's another. Without the documentation to back up your claims that it is or isn't, then who would doubt what they see? If they see a SWB, BB truck, and the knowledgeable people see that certain "flags" are correct in supporting your claim, it'll continue to make people think that it is what it looks to be, while not actually being that. With the Right to Privacy laws, the chance that a buyer would be able to find previous owners who would say that it was a LWB, your chances go up in the charade.....if that's what it is.

The hobby values a SWB over a LWB. A big block has more cache, than a small block, which has more cache than than a six. The Cheyenne and Cheyenne Super packages are deemed more desirable than a plain-jane variety. Options add to the bling factor. So, it's all up to you and what you want to build. I wouldn't be able to afford it, so it doesn't matter to me. The restomods are what we see in the magazines anytime we read where the owner started with a LWB and now has a SWB. No hiding that from the buyer who looks at it and is told that it was in such and such magazine.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by superchevy

I wonder where the am/fm went? Everything else looks untouched.
Why replace with a stock AM and not an aftermarket AM/FM back in the day?
Lots of great options on this one...wow.
SC

My guess is the guys selling it took it out with the buckets...they have a LOT of these trucks. I'm just glad they left the BB Mounts and tilt (and glovebox door)

Originally Posted by redbaron69

if your planning to sale i would build it to suite to "buyers" taste. what i mean is look and see what people say WOW about, there only original once. your more than half there with the SWB, bbc, super trim etc... if you were to keep it, build it so on a warm sunday evening drive, you are more and more happy and enjoy YOUR truck as each mile rolls by. just my .02 cents worth.

Sounds good. what is your "wow" look?

Originally Posted by Zoomin

I'd guess $2000 - $2500.

Since you're doing this for resale, I'd go resto-mod too. No point in going for a full restoration on a short bed frame. And since the frame isn't right, no reason not to pick any color you'd like BUT since paint is a pretty expensive part of projects, you would most likely be closer to getting your money back leaving it unpainted.
Posted via Mobile Device

you're close on price. I am seriously considering getting it together and ready for paint and then advertising it...see what the market is....and if it doesn't sell for what I want then I'll paint it...

Originally Posted by jerry moss

it's sitting on a swb frame in the pics? the reason i ask, it has the correct exhaust hangers for a big block and they appear to be riveted not bolted to the frame. i know, i'm old and my eyes aren't so good anymore but it looks correct.

Yes, it's on the SWB frame. I noticed the exhaust hangers also. I think they were riveted.....so this frame also was for a truck with a BB i'd assume...

[STOCKISH]

I bet I can guess what you paid for it! I wont guess, but I would build it as a resto mod. No need to try to do a 100 point resto when it wont ever be 100% original anyway. Build it as you would want it built. That way, when you get ready to sell it, if the market isnt there you will be more than happy to just keep it and drive it yourself. Of corse, if you part it, PM me, I will be right up!

[VA72C10]

I definitely wouldn't hide it even though with the frame being correct for a bb...and having the correct parts...then it will be awful close to the real thing................


.....but still not. I would never pass it off as such.

I am considering having Chipflyer make me a new SPID sheet and put it on a super nice restored glovebox door. BUT..... I will keep the original and when I go to sell it I will take a picture of the original and right from the start note that it was converted from LWB to SWB....the right way!

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

You asked for opinions; here's mine. In the world of musclecars, it's possible that some of those offered for sale are in fact, clones that are being passed as real. If the seller bought it from a builder who knew it wasn't real, and the buyer wasn't savvy enough to know....shame on the builder/seller. The person who bought it, and is now selling it, will not want a knowledgeable person telling him that it isn't what he thought it was.

So, if you build it as a SWB BB Cheyenne Super, and you don't have the SPID re-configured.....the serial number isn't going to give it away like the body style number on a GTO (for instance) would. There are people who can craft a new SPID sheet for you, using the correct VIN and type (10734), in lieu of the 10934 body type....and who would know? The portion of the VIN that is on the chassis shouldn't give it away, since it isn't the complete VIN.

It's a moral issue.

But, I'd build it like I wanted to build it. Until the truck hobby gets to the point that the muscle-car era vehicles have reached, it's gonna be a game of chance. If you have the build sheet, that's one thing. If you don't, that's another. Without the documentation to back up your claims that it is or isn't, then who would doubt what they see? If they see a SWB, BB truck, and the knowledgeable people see that certain "flags" are correct in supporting your claim, it'll continue to make people think that it is what it looks to be, while not actually being that. With the Right to Privacy laws, the chance that a buyer would be able to find previous owners who would say that it was a LWB, your chances go up in the charade.....if that's what it is.

The hobby values a SWB over a LWB. A big block has more cache, than a small block, which has more cache than than a six. The Cheyenne and Cheyenne Super packages are deemed more desirable than a plain-jane variety. Options add to the bling factor. So, it's all up to you and what you want to build. I wouldn't be able to afford it, so it doesn't matter to me. The restomods are what we see in the magazines anytime we read where the owner started with a LWB and now has a SWB. No hiding that from the buyer who looks at it and is told that it was in such and such magazine.

[ItsRandy]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Thanks guys. I agree...just wanted to make sure that wouldn't kill the value. I know it will never be close to the value of a true swb bb super....but any edjumacated guesses on value if restored with the BB, tilt, tach, buckets, console, headliner, woodgrain, new side trim?

And another question (also added above) Since I don't have a good bed yet...do you think I should do a sweet wood bed or metal???---keeping in mind resale potential and marketability...

Rest-mod and wood. I am stuck on how far to go with a build myself...
Posted via Mobile Device

[leddzepp]

I'd "slightly" modify it. A serpentine setup would be sweet! Even though not an "original" SWB, if restored to mostly original would bring 15K+ IMO. I would go with a popular original color for the year, keeping the upper/lower trim, Cheyenne badges, etc...in essense, a "clone" Original looking high optioned trucks bring the bucks.

[67chevy1series]

it said it had an am/fm but there is only a am in the dash what is up with that?