All Original 72 Dilemma

[Crappie Hog]

Greetings to all! New to the forum here and I must say what a gold mine I stumbled on to. Ive been looking around the forum a bit and you guys are doing some fantastic work and doing great builds and plenty of help to one another here.

My Dad had a 72 Cheyenne that looks exactly like the one board member 70cst has and boy did I love that truck. And have regretted selling it some 20 plus years ago every since.

Getting to my dilemma I recently purchased a one owner 72 Cheyenne with 41,000 original miles. That had been stored in my friends shop for some 24 years. No cancer what so every and all original right down to the owners manuals and the extra set of points and condenser in the glove box.

Now I have longed and dreamed of the day that I would get another 72 and do a full build from the frame up. Big Motor / Suspension / the works. Now my dilemma is the more I look at my all original 72. The less I have the heart to start building the Hot Rod truck Ive dreamed of.

Has anyone done a complete rebuild and then regretted destroying an all original 72 pickup truck.

[72 Super]

Hi and welcome to board! I personally wouldn't cut up or modify a mostly original truck. Bolt on type mods are ok as you can always go back and remove them. Everyone has their own opinions but in the end you have to do what makes you happy. You have Avery nice truck there as it sits from what I see in the pictures and I would drive it!

Ray

[Joesjunk]

On man that's a nice looking original truck. I hate to see one like that cut up or modified. I send you a PM, I live in Independence. I would like to see it. Thanks, Joe

[Crappie Hog]

Originally Posted by 72 Super

Hi and welcome to board! I personally wouldn't cut up or modify a mostly original truck. Bolt on type mods are ok as you can always go back and remove them. Everyone has their own opinions but in the end you have to do what makes you happy. You have Avery nice truck there as it sits from what I see in the pictures and I would drive it!

Ray

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

On man that's a nice looking original truck. I hate to see one like that cut up or modified. I send you a PM, I live in Independence. I would like to see it. Thanks, Joe

Thank You very much for welcoming me to the board 72 Super and I see you understand my dilemma. Bolt on mods and pulling the original engine and storing it is what a friend of mine suggested also.

Joesjunk Thank you also for your welcoming me to the board and I responded to your P.M.

[cypressbog]

Welcome and Very lucky find right there. Please don't modify it.

[Trevor]

That is one sweet looking truck ! and Welcome to the coolest club going !

I've sworn myself one rule when it comes to my own '71 all-original Super-Custom; "No irreversible modifications permitted !"

I view these all-original well-equipped survivors as every bit as valuable an automotive time-piece as I do a '63 Corvette coupe, '70-1/2 Z28, '65 Shelby Mustang, '70 Hemi Superbird ... etc.

I say there's plenty of 'unloved' plain-jane specimens to still be found, modify at will on those, respect the survivors and leave them as they are.

[sangell]

Welcome to the board, cool to see more KC guys here. My son and I bought him a close to original (aftermarket wheels, dome light, and fuel tanks) 71 factory big block A/C truck. It was high miles and not as straight as yours. We are modifying it to fit our wants as it's our truck. With that said yours being the condition it is I would say if you want a hot rod, modded C-10 sell this one and buy a different one. This one is too clean, I know I couldn't cut on it.

[Crappie Hog]

Originally Posted by cypressbog

Welcome and Very lucky find right there. Please don't modify it.

Thank You for welcoming me cypressbog and I see now that Im not alone in my dilemma and so far I like what I'm hearing from you all.

Originally Posted by Trevor

That is one sweet looking truck ! and Welcome to the coolest club going !

I've sworn myself one rule when it comes to my own '71 all-original Super-Custom; "No irreversible modifications permitted !"

I view these all-original well-equipped survivors as every bit as valuable an automotive time-piece as I do a '63 Corvette coupe, '70-1/2 Z28, '65 Shelby Mustang, '70 Hemi Superbird ... etc.

I say there's plenty of 'unloved' plain-jane specimens to still be found, modify at will on those, respect the survivors and leave them as they are.

Thank you also Trevor and every thing you said from coolest club going to original well equipped survivors has lifted my spirit tremendously.

[In The Ten Ring]

I am of the same view but I'll go further. I'm a bit of a gun collector (as you might guess from my forum name). When a gun has mismatched parts or even has been reblued, value drops sharply.

You may be excited now about what you want but if you use a real survivor for that, you'll regret it later and so will your wallet. Save this thing (or sell it) and get something better suited to turning into something it didn't leave the factory as.

[Crappie Hog]

Originally Posted by sangell

Welcome to the board, cool to see more KC guys here. My son and I bought him a close to original (aftermarket wheels, dome light, and fuel tanks) 71 factory big block A/C truck. It was high miles and not as straight as yours. We are modifying it to fit our wants as it's our truck. With that said yours being the condition it is I would say if you want a hot rod, modded C-10 sell this one and buy a different one. This one is too clean, I know I couldn't cut on it.

Thank You sangell I really do feel like I shouldn't do anything Id regret later. And I'm diffidently thinking that I should find another truck to do a build on.

[Crappie Hog]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

I am of the same view but I'll go further. I'm a bit of a gun collector (as you might guess from my forum name). When a gun has mismatched parts or even has been reblued, value drops sharply.

You may be excited now about what you want but if you use a real survivor for that, you'll regret it later and so will your wallet. Save this thing (or sell it) and get something better suited to turning into something it didn't leave the factory as.

Thank you In The Ten Ring its great to hear that so many of you have A heart when it comes to these old trucks. I was really hoping that I wasn't alone in dilemma

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by Crappie Hog

Thank you In The Ten Ring its great to hear that so many of you have A heart when it comes to these old trucks. I was really hoping that I wasn't alone in dilemma

I thought I was the only one!

When I first got interested in getting my truck fixed up (some 20 years ago) I wanted to put in a V8, 4 speed in floor, chrome it up. Now I am totally different. I want to keep it as original as I can. I think it was my time as a gun collector, and member of Parallax Bill's Curio and Relic Forum, that changed me. Any mention of "sporterizing" was deleted and the member could be banned.

Besides, if you bump a chromed bumper, trip to chrome shop. If you bump a painted bumper, can of spray paint.

Any changes done to an all matching, all original firearm = major value lost. No one with any brains is going to pay big bucks for a sporterized (bubba job) whatever. I'd say it's the same with trucks.

I hope the original poster does keep this thing intact. If he simply must have a truck to change, there are plenty on CL for that task. If he cannot keep them both, someone on here would buy an intact truck lightning fast.

[67ChevyRedneck]

It sat for 24 years doing absolutely nothing. If you plan to actually use it, make it what you want.

I definitely would not touch the body, that is NICE, but if you want to lower it with springs/spindles, do a motor/trans swap, go for it.

[DBK81]

My thoughts are if you want to pull the motor, do trans swaps, modify suspension, why not flip this one for a nice little profit and find something that isn't quite so prestine/original, buy it and do your mod's for the same price? Just a thought. At the end of the day it's your truck and you are free to do with it as you please, no ones opinion matters but your own.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by 67chevyredneck

it sat for 24 years doing absolutely nothing. If you plan to actually use it, make it what you want.

I definitely would not touch the body, that is nice, but if you want to lower it with springs/spindles, do a motor/trans swap, go for it.

x2

[Ed F]

Welcome to the forum and that's a great truck you found. My feeling is that they are only original once. As soon as you change things it's no longer original even if you save the parts to re install later. It's a little bit like having a truck that grandpa bought originally or having a truck LIKE the one grandpa bought. There are more non original trucks around than original ones and owners have been making them their own for decades. My selfish preference would be to keep this one the way it is and find an already modified truck for your project. Bottom line is that it's your truck to do what want with. What ever you decide, keep us informed and keep the pictures coming please.

[GASoline71]

Welcome aboard.

I wouldn't hesitate for a second to make it into a hot rod.

Gary

[Crappie Hog]

Originally Posted by DBK81

My thoughts are if you want to pull the motor, do trans swaps, modify suspension, why not flip this one for a nice little profit and find something that isn't quite so prestine/original, buy it and do your mod's for the same price? Just a thought. At the end of the day it's your truck and you are free to do with it as you please, no ones opinion matters but your own.

Originally Posted by Ed F

Welcome to the forum and that's a great truck you found. My feeling is that they are only original once. As soon as you change things it's no longer original even if you save the parts to re install later. It's a little bit like having a truck that grandpa bought originally or having a truck LIKE the one grandpa bought. There are more non original trucks around than original ones and owners have been making them their own for decades. My selfish preference would be to keep this one the way it is and find an already modified truck for your project. Bottom line is that it's your truck to do what want with. What ever you decide, keep us informed and keep the pictures coming please.

DBK81 and ED F Thank You guys much for the feedback and I have had thought along the lines that you guys are saying all along. It really helps to know that Im not alone with thinking whats best to do with this truck for me.

GASoline71 and leddzepp I really appreciate your thoughts on the matter also. But I really think I'm leaning away from doing anything to this truck and searching for another.

[jocko]

Exact same truck as my very first 72... Just less rust. Ok, a LOT less rust (yes, my right bedside is about to fall off, but hey, I was only 17 and lived in the salt belt of NW Indiana... pic is after a bath with the PO1s off and hideous, yet on sale, whitewall tires ) I'd keep it original - but it's not mine! Ha. Enjoy it, whatever you do.

[geunther]

Welcome. Even if I was a guy who did not have a soft spot for the originals, I would say the same thing, don't cut apart that truck. If your going to cut one apart and replace everything, you just as well start with one that needs everything replaced.

There is a place for both the originals, and the all out customs. I like em both. But the originals are always getting more scarce.

[dads longhorn]

I agree with most folks on here... Keep it original. Mod something else that's already been messed up

[engineer_gregh]

Please don't modify that truck. Put it up for sale and take the proceeds and apply them to a truck not so original. I think you'll be surprised just how much that truck will bring.

[jerry moss]

Originally Posted by geunther

Welcome. Even if I was a guy who did not have a soft spot for the originals, I would say the same thing, don't cut apart that truck. If your going to cut one apart and replace everything, you just as well start with one that needs everything replaced.

There is a place for both the originals, and the all out customs. I like em both. But the originals are always getting more scarce.

100 % agree

[67swb72klb]

Nice!!! I would like to have that kind of dilemma

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

100% original huh? Well, if it were me it would remain that way. I prefer an HEI though. But if you change your mind, guys like myself are interested in parts.