72 C10 SWB -- Project "KISS"

[Mapearso]

As in "Keep it Slightly Better than Stock"

Just picked up a 72 C10 --
*Short Fleet
*A/C Cab
*Soft-Ray Glass
*Original California Black Plates. Per the VIN, CCE142Zxxxxxx, I believe it is a Cali Z code Fremont built truck that came with a V8
*Possibly a 402 BB, now a 454 BB (Details unknown but TBD) mated to a TH400 Automatic

Other options and SPID pics soon I hope. Someone, not the PO, painted over the SPID so I'll have to try and remove the paint without losing all the info.

PO says it was a Central California county work truck??... It has a couple of spots of red/orange under the current white paint job. It also looks like it had the "elephant ear" mirrors but they were removed and door holes were filled and painted?

While it's not the unmolested Cheyenne Super SWB with a big block and buckets I reaaaaalllly want, it is a solid project which I can bring in line with that dream if I choose to (AKA a clone).

But my vision for it right now is pretty simple. Fix what needs fixin', tune what needs tunin', clean what needs cleanin' and all the while drive the snot out of it.

I'm thinking it's already got a nice drop and stance. Once I go thru the running gear, I'm planning --
*TBD staggered 15" wheel setup (Torqs? Chrome Rallys?)
*Upper and lower trim
*Stock 72 grill
*"refresh" the interior, with more stock bits (new gauges, 3 spoke custom grip wheel, radio delete, etc.)
*I'm not planning on painting it, just doing the best with what's there

I've done a bunch of 66-67 GM A-Bodys (most recently a 66 Skylark GS Convertible with a built Buick 455)... But this will be my first 67-72 Chevy Truck (I do have an 89 Silverado RCSB tho...). Thanks in advance for checking out this thread ... and for the help along the way

Some pics as it sits right now

[Mapearso]

A couple more

[Mapearso]

Couple more

[Mapearso]

Wow. No love for such a nice little truck??

So I took delivery last night. It was a CL buy, seller unknown, sight unseen, all the stupid s#*t you're not supposed to do. But it was an original CA black plate truck with known history and the price was way right so I rolled the dice.

Thankfully, it appears as straight and rust free as the seller claimed. It was late when I finally got to checking it out, but my first impressions were all pretty good. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to be done to get it to where I'll be happy, but so far ... not too shabby.

What I am most disappointed about right now is that they painted right over the SPID. I'll check under the seat fir the build sheet this weekend.

What I am most excited about right now is how cheap the respray job on it is. It appears that they didn't even scuff the original paint. Why would I be psyched about a crappy respray -- because underneath is what I am pretty sure is the OG Hugger Orange paint. If all goes according to plan, I'll be stripping off the white and bringing it back to original.

More this weekend.

[flashed]

I like it ,Im in .

[Mac93]

If it indeed was a county truck, I imagine they kept it in great running and driving condition (probably got some dings and scratches from being a work truck though). Any significant amount of rust that we can't see from the pictures? Sounds like you have a great direction! Keep us updated with pics and progress.
Dave

[Mapearso]

Thanks guys.

Only rust I've found so far is a little bubbling in the right front fender cup

The bed, bedsides and tailgate are ding and dent free. there's just a small ding under the right tail light

I guess I''ll know more as far as whether the rockers and cab corners are original or repaired when I get the cheap paint off

Only other thing I'll add is that I forgot how cramped the cabs of these trucks are. The bench seat was recently recovered but I'm gonna have to open it up and take an inch or so of foam out of the back to give myself some more room!!

More to come

[68bowtie]

glad you found a project! did you find a build sheet behind or under the seat by chance? if it's the original seat it could have one and you could reproduce the SPID...

[Mapearso]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

glad you found a project! did you find a build sheet behind or under the seat by chance? if it's the original seat it could have one and you could reproduce the SPID...

No build sheet behind seat OR gas tank... Must have disappeared when the PO went thru it... Bummer

[Mapearso]

Quick update. Been slowly gathering parts to get it where I want to be.

But before I did ANYTHING my first priority was to try and squeeze some more room out of the cramped cab.

I'm 6'5" and these trucks aren't too roomy, so job #1 was to try and get myself comfy

First step was to modify the pedals to get a little more legroom.

I was reading build threads one night and saw member Rockcrln's pedal mods, so I tried to copy those ...

[Mapearso]

I figure the pedal mods bought me a couple inches.

Then I took the bench seat and the gas tank out and cut away the panel above the tank and below the window. I know that got me another inch and a half

[Mapearso]

So with that extra room to play with, I wanted to do something slightly custom..

So I went to the junk yard and got a couple of 70s Chevy Van low back buckets ($20 each, half price day!!).

I figured they would tuck right into the "notched" area where the panel used to be... and they do. Stuck so 2 bys and 1 bys under there to get the right height

I'm going to recover them, but before I do I will also shave an inch or so of foam out of the seat back to try and get some more space...

[Mapearso]

(HUGGER ORANGE Anyone....)

[Mapearso]

And since I am going with buckets. I needed a console...

Before --

[Mapearso]

And after...

(I have a chrome insert that goes where the ashtray and seat belt holders are that I have some ideas for.. Need to clean it up first)

[rusty76]

I'm watching

[Andy4639]

Thanks for posting this maybe of some help for me to decide. How does the back window feel now? Does it seem weak at all.

[Mapearso]

...

[Mapearso]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Thanks for posting this maybe of some help for me to decide. How does the back window feel now? Does it seem weak at all.

The corners, which as you can see are still in the cab, seem to maintain the structural rigidity / integrity...

BUT... I have a slider, not a one-piece window..

AND.. I haven't stomped on it...

OF course the REAL test would be if something were to happen (ie an accident)...

BUT let's hope that doesn't happen

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Mapearso

The corners, which as you can see are still in the cab, seem to maintain the structural rigidity / integrity...

BUT... I have a slider, not a one-piece window..

AND.. I haven't stomped on it...

OF course the REAL test would be if something were to happen (ie an accident)...

BUT let's hope that doesn't happen

Yes I don't want that to happen either. I have the slider to. Can you get some pictures of it from the door sides for me just to see what I'm going to be facing. Also is there a reason you cut the whole center section out of it?

[Mapearso]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Yes I don't want that to happen either. I have the slider to. Can you get some pictures of it from the door sides for me just to see what I'm going to be facing. Also is there a reason you cut the whole center section out of it?

Sure -- I'll take some more pictures

I just didn't like how it looked so I took out the whole center section

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Mapearso

Sure -- I'll take some more pictures

I just didn't like how it looked so I took out the whole center section

My idea is to extend the center down to the floor. This should help with rigidness also.

[swamp rat]

i'd say you rolled the dice well, nice start for a project. I'd give a lot of concideration to boxing in the area you cut out to regain some rigidity, good idea on the center section being extended to the floor.

[rwade]

I like the room in cab idea on the back wall, don't think I've seen that one before.

Wade

[Mapearso]

Originally Posted by rwade

I like the room in cab idea on the back wall, don't think I've seen that one before.

Wade

Thanks. Just seemed like it was worth a shot...