Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

The professional restoration of my 1971 GMC Jimmy "Project Checkbook" as seen over on the Blazers and Jimmys Projects and Builds Forum is near completion. I have turned my attention to my next project, my 1971, C-10 short wheelbase, factory 400 Cheyenne. The pickup has been in storage while the Jimmy project moved forward.

I bought the truck out of Arkansas but it was originally sold in Broken Bow, OK.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Just like my Jimmy when I got it, the C-10 is crusty and weary but it is also largely rust-free. One cab corner is shot but everything else on the body looks solid. However, the truck needs complete renewal both mechanically and in appearance. It was originally white/ochre/white/ochre, but some ochre-hater painted it black 20 or so years ago. Thank heavens he didn't shoot some over the SPID.

Phase I will be to make the truck roadworthy and safe and then I have some decisions to make regarding big ticket restoration items. Over the past few years I have ratholed away many parts for the truck and you can see some of my hoard in the bed. There's more elsewhere. A lot of this was bought off the forum, thanks guys.

I am also going to have the busted grille, smashed-in drivers side door and repop tailgate switched out for factory items from my stash in Phase I. They bother me a lot.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Here are a few interior shots with more parts storage. Some knucklehead changed out the original saddle interior for one in assorted shades of red. He did add a few nice extras like tilt and tach that I am going to keep.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

I've seen those seats swapped into 67-72 pickups, they fit, but not my deal...

Carry on!!! Saving an oldie is cool, extra cool if it has a rat motor in it!!!

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

I'm in...

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Me too. Tagging along.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

After waiting for a few months the C-10 is now on the operating table in the mechanical shop. I have asked them to do whatever work is necessary to make the truck safe and driveable. Since nearly everything mechanical is worn out that makes for quite a long and expensive list.

The entire brake system is being rebuilt, along with the exhaust system and front suspension. The original big block is in good shape and will be largely left alone save for a tuneup. A lot of peripherals like AC and the tach are also non-functional but won't be fixed at this time.

The truck came with a ugly set of rotted tires on ugly Rallies so both of those things are departing. I bought four nice 15 X 8 steelies from a Board member and had them sandblasted and painted GM white. New shoes for Thanksgiving!

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Very cool!!!
Glad you can financially afford to have others work on it and get to the "driving safely" stage...
I see it has a posi rear gear, don't see many of those...
I know where Broken Bow, Oklahoma is!!! LOL, beautiful part of Oklahoma

Looking forward to more progress, regardless of how menial it may be. I also like your wheel selection, for now...what size tires???

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

I think the tires are Goodyear 31s, but will check when I go over for a visit this morning.

A cousin came over to visit the patient in the hospital this morning. Jimmy is being cleaned up for a photo shoot today for an upcoming article in Vintage Truck magazine.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Paid a visit today to check progress. New tires mounted on the repainted 15 X 8 steelies, brake and suspension work is done and all engine maintenance is also completed. The new exhaust system is en route and should be installed early next week. The shop tells me the truck could be driveable in a week.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Once done at the mechanical shop, the truck is headed over to the body shop for repair or replacement of the drivers door, a new grille and a replacement original tailgate. I asked for some alternatives to clean up the crusty but solid undercarriage. One cab support is shot but everything else on the underside looks pretty good under the grime.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

The exhaust system is going in the dumpster along with the dry-rotted original tires and roached-out Rallies, but I asked the shop to save the scarce and precious exhaust hangers.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

What an awesome truck.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Looking forward to this Dave- very nice truck

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Thanks 68bowtie and Kirk. I just saw 68's build thread and Kirk's fall leaves beauty shot of his K20 - fantastic trucks both! 68, have you ever seen any other SWB BBs, optioned up or not, besides yours and mine? I haven't and I look everywhere. My other unicorn is a SWB high optioned 67-72 K10 and I've seen more of them (maybe 4-5) than our particular variant.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

I have seen a few out there. Maybe 8 or 10 ever. Certainly not common!

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Attachment 1839784


Attachment 1839806

I have a GMC that is a very close twin to yours. Hopefully the attachment works.
Andy

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Wow, nearly identical twins! Beautiful truck, thanks for sharing. Please point me to any past forum discussion on it so I can read up.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

There are a few factory swb bb trucks buried in these threads:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=626806

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=616990

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421720

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Sorry, I have not put a build thread together. I may try to do one in the future.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

The truck is now driveable and has taken up residence at the restoration shop for some gritty but necessary work. The undercarriage has been power-washed and steam-cleaned so that the shop can determine if any rot was in process under 47 years worth of road gunk.

I am happy to report that rust damage is limited to two cab supports and one small area near the right rear support. The rusty areas have already been cut out and new cab supports and mounts ordered. It looks like one cab corner was cut out and replaced by some prior owner. As you can see in the pictures, the exhaust system and some other parts are going to be masked off, the remainder of the underside wire wheeled and cleaned, and then shot with black satin epoxy.

My C-10 is now flanked on the lifts by two 1960s Broncos, there goes the neighborhood.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

ill take this ride too

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

The undercarriage cleanup is now complete except for some final touch-up. I didn't catch the product name but it is some high-tech rust encapsulizer/epoxy. The frame and cross-members came out very smooth and with a low luster. The wheel wells and bottom of the bed and cab have a rougher finish about the same as would be produced by U-Pol Raptor. At least all of it is now black rather than ferrous oxide red.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

More. They bolted in the replacement drivers side door also but I was too witless to grab a picture. Those old shocks are functional but now look cheesy.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Here is a remembrance of things past. The paint shop is going to work up an estimate to return the truck to its original white/ochre/white/ochre configuration. I am leaning towards making this one a "fine driver" rather than a show truck ala my 1971 Jimmy, which I am petrified to drive. It would be nice to have one to zip around in without morbid worries regarding value degradation.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Driver plan sounds good

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

A few more taken with better lighting.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

That’ turned out really nice.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

The C-10 is back at the mechanical shop for some additional work. Here is the replacement salvaged driver's door loosely bolted in, the rebuilt tilt steering column from Tom Garris, and the salvaged new grille installed. Those raccoon headlight bezels gotta go next.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Here are a few interior shots plus a few of my parts stash. Although not on the SPID, I am upgrading to tilt steering, tach, dual horns, AM/FM factory radio and bucket seats with console. I spent a lot of time, energy and money tracking down, buying and refurbishing these old period factory parts and, although not 100% purist, I want to use them. They are reversible additions if some future owner is offended by them.

I don't think I will be reusing the headliner and bench seats shown. It looks like some PO had the original saddle door panels and arm rests spray painted red.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Nice additions!

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Nice, do you think you'll be able to drive it this summer? Does the AC work?

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I'm hoping but it might be touch and go. I had a confab with them Friday and they have a pretty big backlog in their body and paint shop. The truck is mechanically perfect now including the AC so it is going back to the body shop for the bucket seat conversion and paint prep.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Looks like I will have to change the name of my project to "Napoleon Blown-a-part." The teardown for body work is proceeding quickly. There had been a plastic bed liner installed and I had feared the worst underneath when it came out, but the bed looks relatively clean. The shop is going to media blast everything back down to bare metal. A fellow board member's cab is right next to my truck so I hope they don't mix up our parts unless his are better. :-)

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Looking good Dave, did they find any unknown problems like rust or...

Oh by the way I secretly marked all of my parts. lol

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Nice lil project.

What paint did you use on the frame?

And what hub caps are you planning on using?

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

Hi Zoomin, it is some kind of epoxy chassis paint. I will try to get the name for you next week. I am going to run stock full PO1 wheel covers on my steelies.

Well, the bed, exterior of the cab, doors, core support, cowl, hood and fenders have now all been removed and media blasted. It is almost like archeology where you get to see what lay beneath the crappy black paint, bed liner and other problem hiders.

The cab looks OK although the drip edge is full of blasting media and I couldn't see what is under it. The rockers look good and it is obvious that the cab corners have already been replaced by some PO. The back of the cab is banged up a little but it looks easily fixable and won't be visible anyway.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

The bed is a mixed bag. The ribs aren't banged up and the bedsides and wheel wells look very good. However, there are some scattered pinholes along the tailgate edge and a few mysterious holes near the drivers side wheel well that will need to be patched. Nearly the entire edge of the floor at the front of the bed is a bit raggedy. The shop is going to reblast it to see if there is a bigger problem lurking there.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

The doors and fenders are blasted and will get some love later on. One of my bucket seat frames needed some metal repair.

Re: Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne
 

I might have them take the cab off too since I am wrestling with how to repaint the firewall. That way I will have all of the black paint off and all problem areas will be revealed. Don't know if it is cute or something out of a horror movie but it looks like the fan is reaching out to give someone a hug.

The blue cab and parts belong to another board member whose project is farther along the evolutionary continuum. The beautiful Marina Blue paint reminds me of a 1963 split-window Vette the shop sold last year.