1972 Custom/20 Custom Camper with Avocado Plaid

[ApacheIvan]

Well I thought I should start my own build thread. My dad bought this truck in 1972 and put a Tiltin Hilton 8.5 camper on it and we traveled all over the country in it. Dad passed in 97 and I inherited it. We bought it in San Diego and it lived the first half of it's life in California. We brought it to PA where it deteriorated very quickly from the elements. I did my best to keep it original but in 2005 I ran into some financial struggles and sold it for a dollar to my uncle in PA who did a frame off restoration on it. Needless to say the guy who did the restoration on it ripped him off and took a lot of its character. Rebuilt the engine fixed all the rust and put a better bed on it, then painted it the original green and painted the top silver and took all the chrome off Took all the original AC out from under the hood and took the second tank that came with the truck. In 2015 my uncle fell ill and could not keep up with the truck and asked if I wanted to buy it back, which I did in a heartbeat. Since then I have been putting back everything that was robbed off the truck, AC is back, all original. Found most of the badges (still looking for the Custom Camper for doors). Will be buying the best side trim I can find. (Lower wood). Here are a few pictures that you probably have seen scattered around the forums.

The first is one of the only pics I have found when it came home in 72

In front of the camper is my 1960 Morris Mini Minor, which I still own as well.

More pics to follow.

[ApacheIvan]

Its voyage home from PA. Now in Dallas as I put it all back together.



SPID



Engine now with AC all back in order, thought I was going to go to R134, but I am going to evacuate it all out and put R12 in it. Wrong muffler for that, but just does not blow very cold with the stock condenser.



Seat is done




Dash is done, scored the AM/PB original radio for 30 dollars shipped. Works great. What a pain to get that all back in.

[ApacheIvan]

Paint is next. I added the 8/350 badges, Found the Custom/20 and Deluxe badges. Anyone ever get these badges on without taking the fenders off? Also, these fenders were new when it was painted last time and there were no pre-drilled holes for the emblems. Can someone measure from the top of the fender to the top of the badge and then from the door to the back edge? I need to figure out exactly where to place these.

[ApacheIvan]

More of the interior! It came out really nice!

[SCOTI]

Nice truck!

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Nice truck!

Thank you, My dad bought it in 72 and I am slowly putting it all back to original. The interior and under the hood was first, next is paint. Where in Dallas are you Scoti?

[Vandy5]

Love the seat! I have one as well and its damn near my favorite part.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice truck! It's too bad the guy removed all the emblems and trim. It's cool you were able to get your Dad's truck back too!

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Vandy5

Love the seat! I have one as well and its damn near my favorite part.

Mine too! I just redid the seat. Dad always wanted the plaid back and back in the 80s you could not find them. I found one here in Dallas with the original scrolling and had to get it. carsinc.com has them as does swclassics.com. I may buy another just so when I wear this one out in 10 years I can recover it again

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice truck! It's too bad the guy removed all the emblems and trim. It's cool you were able to get your Dad's truck back too!

I was dumbstruck to see it stripped of all its character. The guy who did the work probably had 3-4k in left over parts he sold off. Oh well, like you said, I am blessed to have it back and what was taken can be replaced. I have the Custom Camper badges to find and all the side trim is reproduced so once I paint it I will put it all back the way it is supposed to be!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by ApacheIvan

Thank you, My dad bought it in 72 and I am slowly putting it all back to original. The interior and under the hood was first, next is paint. Where in Dallas are you Scoti?

Edge of Garland & Dallas.

[Dieselwrencher]

I'll have to dig, but I bet I have the Custom Camper emblems. I bought several off here when I was doing my 72. Now to see if I can where I hid them.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I'll have to dig, but I bet I have the Custom Camper emblems. I bought several off here when I was doing my 72. Now to see if I can where I hid them.

Dude, are you vying for sainthood? Already a savior of totaled trucks..now a finisher of my faith

Dale

[Dieselwrencher]

LMAO, no. I just hoarded a lot of small parts that are easy to lose. I'll dig around tomorrow and see if I can come up with some. I think I know where 2 are.

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

LMAO, no. I just hoarded a lot of small parts that are easy to lose. I'll dig around tomorrow and see if I can come up with some. I think I know where 2 are.

Very cool, let me know what you have, I need both sides but will buy whatever I can get my hands on..

[Vandy5]

Originally Posted by ApacheIvan

Mine too! I just redid the seat. Dad always wanted the plaid back and back in the 80s you could not find them. I found one here in Dallas with the original scrolling and had to get it. carsinc.com has them as does swclassics.com. I may buy another just so when I wear this one out in 10 years I can recover it again

Right! I'm super cautious with mine, would defiantly have it redone if something happens to it. Far to much character, that and the highlander hub caps! Glad you're getting the family truck back to its glory

[ApacheIvan]

Originally Posted by Vandy5

Right! I'm super cautious with mine, would defiantly have it redone if something happens to it. Far to much character, that and the highlander hub caps! Glad you're getting the family truck back to its glory

Highlander hubcaps? I don't think dad ever had those. The wheels were white with the dog dish caps..Looking at your pic, the caps on yours are the "Highlander" caps?

[Vandy5]

I could be mistaken but i believe someone had told me these were the ones that came on the Spec Promotion B but i notice yours if a Spec Promotion C

[Vandy5]

but then again the deluxe wheel covers are listed on the SPID as a different line item

[Dieselwrencher]

I don't believe those hub caps were put on the C20s from the factory. I've seen on this board where a guy bought a highlander truck from an original owner family and they said the dealer used trim ring adapters to put the highlander caps on that truck which was a C20.

I found part of my stash. I have 1 more side of custom camper but they each are missing a stud.
.

[ApacheIvan]

It is a little scary to drill virgin holes in a fender. But I think I did alright.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Vandy5

I could be mistaken but i believe someone had told me these were the ones that came on the Spec Promotion B but i notice yours if a Spec Promotion C

PA1 Deluxe Wheel Covers were only available on the half ton highlanders packages. PO3s were normally seen on the C20s. The one's on Dale's truck are PO3s, but from a 73-75 3/4 ton. Original 72 PO1s have a blue bow tie with an outie/convex center - and are chrome plated rather than stainless. However, the 73-75 PO3s make excellent replacements for the original 72s with a little bit of True Blue Krylon paint - and are less prone to splitting on the edges. The convex/concave difference is almost unnoticeable when black paint is on the centers correctly. Some members actually punch the later concave PO3s out to resemble the 72s almost identically once painted. Also, to the later post regarding the PA1s being listed on the SPID, that's normal for something that was part of the highlander package trucks - for instance, a C package with a/c and tilt, etc would still have those separate options listed on the SPID, just like the wheel covers if it had them.

[ApacheIvan]

I always thought my truck had the blue centers, not sure where these came from. The wheels on the truck were always white too, I have a feeling someone swapped out wheels, hubcaps, even the doors I don't think are original. I cant find any holes for the Custom Camper badges. My uncle's mechanic I think had another 72 that he robbed parts off of. I want my blue caps back.. Jocko you are a wealth of information!

[ApacheIvan]

Newest add to the family truck. Getting some of its original character back! DF2 mirrors change the entire vibe.



Also restored hubcaps. I think these are '73 dog bowl yellow bow tie. Changed them to blue.







The caps came out nice, a lot of work but worth it. Straightened and restored. Looks good from 5 ft

[Chevy Fan Always]

Very nice solid looking truck!