Introduction + VIN code

[domeier]

Greetings, all you GM truck gurus. I've been reading the forum for years, but wasn't a member until today. Great, great, great website.

So. I know my 71 Chevy K(C)-10 is a little different than when it left the Fremont plant (about six miles from here,) but I didn't know it was *this* different. According to the vin decoder, (as far as I can tell anyway,) it started out as a fleetside 2WD - is now a 4WD stepper. I'm curious about a couple things:

1) Paint code 534, white/med olive and black vinyl trim. Anyone have a photo of that scheme? Love to see it.

2) It was built with heavy leaf springs at the back as an option. I've never seen a 2WD SWB with leafs. Can't imagine why anyone would ever want to do that - and pay extra for the privilege?

I'd like to put it back to 2WD, but if I was to do that, I guess the best move would be to buy a banged up SWB with coils all around and then transfer my everything onto that frame. Of course, I'd like to do lot of things... like buy a private island or take Mila Kunis to um... a movie. Maybe someday. Maybe not.

Anyway, it's a sweet truck. 330 hp crate 350, turbo 350, ps, pb. It'll pass anything on the road except a gas station. Only bad thing is the ride. It's stiff as a donkey cart. The wife calls it the "pee truck," because that's what you have to do as soon as you've gone a mile. Oh well.

I have some other questions about wheels that I'll put in a different thread.

Paul Domeier
San Jose, CA

[71swb4x4]

Leafs all around is the way all 4x4's were.

127" wheel base is a long bed too.
Has your frame been shortened? Is it even the original frame?

[71sierragrande]

Either the frame was cut, or the cab was swapped.

[Longhorn Man]

ce141z607519
C 2 wheel drive
e v8
1 1/2 ton
4 cab with bed
1 1971
z freemont cali plant
607519 build number.
Some plants used 500001 and other plants used 800001 as the first truck off the second assembly line at there plant.

[domeier]

Pretty sure the frame isn't cut. Must be a different frame. Just gets more intrestinger and interestinger.

[Longhorn Man]

If you look on the top of the drivers side framerail under the hood just back from the steering gear box, there should be a partial VIN stamped there. With any luck, someone will post a photo I took 9 years ago or so and posted pointing out where it is. (I lost most of my truck pics in a computer meltdown) See if that matches the last half of your VIN.

[70cst]

Hey domeier ... and from Ohio. By the way... we luv pictures

[yuccales]

Thats a good looking truck!

[70cst]

Originally Posted by 70cst

Hey domeier ... and from Ohio. By the way... we luv pictures

I should say lots of pictures

[domeier]

Thanks and hello back to all. I love this old truck. Had to do some economic downsizing earlier this year, which meant I had to choose between the truck and my '98 Z28. It was a hard call, but the truck won. The truck has a new engine and trans, and it's Godawful easier to work on than the Camaro was. Someday when I'm rich again, I'll buy another Camaro - and I'll pay some fool to work on it for me.

Here's the vin off the frame: Looks like 07164328... which ain't not at all the same number on the cab, so that explains some of the mystery. I'll take some pictures and put them up after I give her a good bath.

Thanks again for the nice comments.

Paul

[71swb4x4]

Are there shims under some of the body mounts? I wonder if that's a 73+ frame.

[domeier]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

Are there shims under some of the body mounts? I wonder if that's a 73+ frame.

I took some pics this morning. I know the front end is from a '75, as I just replaced the tie rods and they matched to '75 K10. The rest of the frame? Hell if I know.

Paul

[domeier]

some more pichers...

[Longhorn Man]

You may want to take that air filter off and throw it away.
I'll let you prove it to yourself as to why.
Go out and pull the filter off. Now stick your noce in the center of the filter on the inside. Do you smell that raw fuel?
Now, with the filter still removed, grab the throttlw and pump it once or twice... like you are starting it in the morning when the morot is cold. Did you see the fuel spray, or even splash upwards?
All it takes is the smallest of backfires.... even just a hickup through the carb, and it'll ignite and go up in flames. On top of that, there is no flame arestor (most all aftermarket filters fail in this department). So you have a fuel soaked thin sponge, and a backfire, and nothing to stop the flames except maybe your HOOD.
I heard these warnings, I ignored them, and ended up with the burned paint of shame on the hood.

[domeier]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

You may want to take that air filter off and throw it away.

I wondered if anyone would catch that. That pic is from 2002 when I bought it. The engine pics I took this morning didn't come out too purty, so I used that old one. That flamethrower air cleaner went straight to the garbage can. I'm wit you, bruddah.

Here's what it looks like today. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to finishing the air-con install.

Paul

[Longhorn Man]

awesome!