Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

You are an exceptional father with an amazing son. Time spent together will never be forgotten.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Thank You, he is a great kid on that I will agree :). Me on the other hand there are many things I do wrong, I have high expectations of him and sometimes I let that go too far. I try my best but thankfully he has a great mother who happens to put up with me too. :)

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Got some of the wiring started, we made our own battery cables with some 1/0 and Alt-battery cable with some 4 gauge. The relays are for the fuel pump, two cooling fans, low beam, and high beams for the head lights. We ran new wires for the headlights with heavy duty plugs since we are stepping up to a modern style bulb. We have a few more connections to make and then it will be re-routed some, cleaned up then put into wire loom.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Exhaust exit flanges installed, passenger side exhaust is done. Air intake is done and coolant overflow bottle (not pictured) is in making the engine compartment done. Instrument panel is in, the red and black wires hanging down are buttons used to program the tach and speedo which I'll tie up out of the way.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

That's pretty great, I'm 19 now but at 17 my first truck was a '72 Cheyenne!

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Well it runs, has brakes, fuel filler door, etc. We had it up on jack stands to run it through all the gears, get engine up to temp, be able to look under it for leaks etc. Good news and bad new, good is it runs and has no leaks so far. Bad news is the trans is a mess, the forward gears all seem to work but reverse wouldn't go into reverse without holding the shifter to keep it there, I figured it was a reverse lockout issue but that is working as it should. So I googled it and read about needing to modify the reverse shifter fork to allow it to "engage" more which requires removing the tail housing so out came the trans. Once on the bench I placed a drain pan on the floor and removed the tail housing, there were parts laying in the bottom big enough that when they fell in the pan it splashed fluid out of the pan. The magnets were covered at least 1/2" thick of crap, the reverse gear bearing is gone. So off to Tick Performance for a stage 2 rebuild. Glad we found the issue now instead of later but it sucks, I'm bummed, Nick is bummed, this has wiped out the budget, etc. Nick's 16th birthday is 11/28 so that's my new goal of completion of this round, I want him to be able to drive it on his birthday at the latest.

We got the tail light filler door useable, while waiting on the trans I hope to get it cleaned up but I wanted to make sure it filled ok first.

The last picture is a small fraction of the crap that came out of the trans.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Well today my son Nick turned 16 and got to drive his truck to school. The drive train will need a few changes. The long one piece driveshaft didn't work out as about 68 mph it tries to shake the truck apart so we will be going back to a two piece setup, and the free Flow Master 40 series mufflers are too loud so we'll be switching them out for some Magnaflow 20" bodied ones or the 24" ones if they'll fit. The shifter tunnel was all Nick's design. We are taking it back off the road on Dec 10th to re-do the interior. We are doing new glass, weatherstripping, window seals, paint, dash pad, door panels, carpet, sound deadener, insulation, etc.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Nice work boys! Congrats on hitting the mark and look forward to the winter projects :metal:

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Thank You, I'm getting our list of interior parts together. I'm hoping to get some good work done over the Christmas Holiday as I'm off work the week between Christmas and New Years but Nick will be working on his Eagle Scout Project that same time so it will get priority.

I'm thinking at this point we are going to use a combo of spray in insulator and some mat product using the different products in different areas. I'm pretty decided on going with the newer style cut pile carpet with a mass backer and getting some bulk carpet to cover the back wall since the tank is not there anymore.

Plan is to have the interior, new driveshaft, 4.10s, and cruise control done by the first of March so it can start seeing some serious road time before the Power Tour in early June. We plan to have new wheels and tires on it before the tour also but that may not happen. My mother lives 2.5 hours away so we'll make some shake down runs to see her then I have a good buddy who lives 4 hours away so we'll step up to that at least once before we leave.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Just found this thread. We appreciate you being here, good dad with mad skills and determination. I had a feeling the one piece shaft was going to be a problem as I have a background in metallurgy and harmonics but I was too late to the party.
Folks like you make this place kinda special, thanks.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Well thank you very much, I try my best.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Hello from just across the state line! You and your son have done some great work! Oh, and I'm an Eagle Scout, too. :metal:

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Thank you. We pass through Harrisonville often as we own land that we hunt on just North of Urich MO.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Well after being on the road for only two weeks the truck is back in the shop/garage. The original plan was to redo the interior this winter however I got thinking that with the interior and glass removed this would be the best time to paint the truck, and if we were painting the truck now would be the best time to make the conversion to a short bed so we are diving in head first. Truck is getting a combo of spray in heat/noise reducer and hush mat, new carpet, door panels, all new rubber seals/gaskets, and glass for the interior. The exterior is getting new front fenders, short bed sides, bumpers, and paint. The body, interior from the glass up, and engine bay will be single stage satin black while the bumpers, grill, mirrors, door handles, and wheels will be gloss black for a little bit of accent.

This past weekend was getting the interior and glass gutted then some rust repair done. The roof header panel was worse than we thought so we put in a patch panel. While the old piece was out we took the time to clean up what we could and paint on some rust encapsulator and then used the Eastwood inside frame spray on stuff in the rest of the roof. The panel is not done yet but getting closer.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Good job man! It's funny how things snowball when you start tearing it apart. It's so much better to do everything at once if you have patience, garage space, the finances to buy parts, and a lot more drive!
I'm in the same boat, it's all torn apart, so now is the time! I'm just trying to decide where my "for sure limitations" will be before I start putting things back together.

Things i've decided to cave in on while it's torn apart: fixing/painting whole
frame, fixing/painting whole body, suspension bushings etc, wiring, etc.

Things i am still on the fence about during my build/ls swap: turbo lq4 build or NA lq4 build, cheapo $1,000 airmaxxx air ride.

All in all, I love what you've done so far. You are clearly much more experienced than I, so I'm learning as I read yours. I wish I had the metal working skills and experience you have, but I'm a absolute novice there.

question: your top bed rail near the cab.......what happened to it? it looks bent in the middle.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Well as we got more into it we found more issues and being that I suck at body work we went with a new from clip including a core support. We got the new parts "fitted" as best we can then blew it apart to cut the frame down. We have decided to have the cab and doors blasted which will happen next week sometime. The new bed parts will be picked up in the next week or two which will included short bed sides, tail gate with the embosed CHEVROLET and a new header panel.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Thank You, your truck is super cool. We plan to do a single 78mm turbo on the 5.3 in the next year or so.

While the body is off and since we have the material laying around we are going to make tubular cross members for the rear three and new rear shock mounts and a new adjustable track bar.

The rear bed header panel is bent and even has five holes in it, I'd say it lived a hard life. We will be replacing it.

This is my son's truck so the turbo is his call, if it were me I would do a NA bigger cubic inch LS like a 408 or along those lines.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

We got the frame cut down, the exhaust will pass through the frame in the same location so it's getting an oval fish plate on the inside, 4"x.120 wall DOM sleeves, and straps both top and bottom. I ordered the bed header, Chevrolet stamped tailgate, and bedsides today to be picked up early next week.

We have a decent amount of 2"x.120 wall DOM laying around and we both prefer tubular cross members over stamped so we made some.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Got the exhaust pass through and c notches done, the frame cleaned up and painted, having removable cross members sure made it easier. It'll be back to a roller tonight and tomorrow the bed comes in to be assembled as a short bed.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Got the cab, doors, cowl, and trans tunnel back from the blaster and all of that cleaned up and in epoxy primer. The new short bed got assembled but then taken back apart simply because its too heavy for the two of use to move and it takes up less space in pieces. A picture of Nick cleaning up the paint gun.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Projects with the kids are always awesome

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Just been working on sheet metal replacement and getting the cab/doors ready for paint, they have been blocked with 400g and we are hoping to finish up with the 600g this week, then its onto the front clip. Got some parts back from powder coating, wheels, vent window frames, mirrors, and door handles.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Cab, doors, hood, and front fenders are ready for paint. Hoping to have the bed ready by the weekend. Got the tires mounted on the new wheels yesterday.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Wow! Sounds like you will have some exciting pictures to show not to long from now!

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

what color are you painting it?

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Satin black.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Things are moving along, paint is done and we are close to finishing up the front and rear suspension upgrades.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

are you not going to do A/C on this truck?

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Not right now, maybe down the road.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Getting closer, hoping to get it to the alignment shop tomorrow afternoon. We are leaving on the Hot Rod Power Tour Sat June 10 and doing the long haul.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Wow what a transformation. Your son must be so excited to start driving the truck again. I hope to do something like this will by son some day. He is 6 right now so I have a few years.

Your doing a great job and he will remember this Forever.

Nick

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

what satin paint did you use?thinking of doing the same to mine.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

I used UreKem from thecoatingstore.com

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

It's not quite done but it's close. My son and I are leaving long hauling the Power Tour starting Saturday. Total trip will be 1800 miles for us.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Some pics of the truck on the Hot Rod Power Tour, ended up at 2208 miles.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

A few more

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Nick's truck won "best truck" at the Street Car Takeover show over the weekend.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Nice transformation! Gotta be proud of a trophy, too!

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Enjoying this build - aside from all the obvious work, I see lots of nice little touches.
I like the look of your radiator. Whose is it? and how do you like fit, finish and function? Looks like a Griffith performance fit?
Thanks.

Re: 1971 C-10 Cheyenne
 

Thank You.

It is a Griffin, when I bought it they were called direct fit but now when I look at my order history at Summit Racing it says performance fit. It is a combo unit with the fans set up for the LS swap so both inlet and outlet are on the passenger side along with a port for the steam vent. I did have to modify the upper mounts by raising them .5".

It has been in the for about 4000 miles.

As for fit and finish I sent the first one back due to poor fit at the filler neck. I've used Griffin in offroad trail rigs and they are ok. I like Ron Davis radiators better but for this application the Griffin is doing great so far.

What I've seen with the Griffin units cracking or splitting is having them mounted to rigid in these trucks as they flex so much the radiator needs to be able to move around.