72 c10 getting in over my head

[dastuck]

This is my first post on 67-72chevytrucks.com and im a new member. I have been looking on this site for wisdom for a while and with your support i have finally decided to start a project. I got this truck when i turned 16 and drove it throughout high school and its been the farm truck ever since. After a few car shows and many hours of reading forums on this site and looking at these beautiful trucks reserected I finally got up the courage to tackle this beast. It a lwb 72 2wd with a crate 350. My goal is to have a swb pickup with rear disc brakes and either a zz383 stroker (my dads choice) or a big block (my choice) under the hood.

[dastuck]

The cab is in pretty good shape besides needing new doors or attempting to re-skin the ones i have. The bed will be new including a wood floor. I need to get new front fenders also. The only problem i have came across is the bottom of the frame where the rear coil supports attach are rusted pretty good along with the supports themselves. I plan on starting the project by cutting out that small section of the bottom of the frame and welding in a new piece along with boxing that area in after the repair and putting new support cups in. Its not going to be a fast project. I plan on buying one piece at a time and finding time to work on it when i get a chance. With work, the ball and chain, and bow season starting next week i dont see much getting done until archery season is over or my buck is in the freezer. I will attach pictures when i get a chance.

[Frizzle Fry]

Looking forward to seeing it!

[RunninLo]

Welcome.
it's tough to find a better source for info for these trucks. It's cool that you have history with the truck. It makes it that much more satisfying as you go.

[dastuck]

Well i finally have a day off so i thought i would post a few pictures showing what ive got to work with.

[toomanytoyz]

Welcome From Indiana.............

Cab Look's to be in Decent Shape, Good Start.

Rick

[72BlckButy]

to the board from Mid-MO!!!

[dastuck]

Thanks guys. Ya so far from what i can tell the cab is in pretty good shape, i need to patch a small hole in each of the floor pans and replace the cab supports and whatever else i find when i get the cab gutted and sandblasted. Ive got a few days off next week and plan to repair the frame where the coil supports attach and then get the rest of the cab, motor, and radiator support tore off the frame and start sandblasting the frame.

[see ten]

Looks like a great start! If you're wanting to go swb would it be easier to do a frame swap than to try and repair and shorten your lwb one? Odds are if it's got rust in one place it's going to be found elsewhere as well. I like the seat, is that a factory highlander cover? The truck also looks to be Medium Red, I'm a sucker for that shade as well! WELCOME to the board!

[brianthelion02]

Looks like fun!!!!!!!!Gotta love these trucks!!!!!!!

[1LoC10]

nice, def a great start

[dastuck]

I was thinking of doing a frame swap or setting the body on a 3/4 ton 74 frame and drivetrain i have setting out back but decided after getting a lot tore off the frame and rolling around on my back on a creeper checking every spot i could see or feel, that becides the small amount of rust at the rear coil support brackets the frame is in good shape the only frame rust is on the bottom of the frame and i can cut that out and weld in a new piece. I got the rear coils off today with the help of the torch and brakeover bar. Im going to get the rivets off next week and hopefully by the end of the following week i will have that area fixed and boxed in. I will try to post pics as i go.

[earl87gta]

from East Tn that looks like a good starting point you have there.

[dastuck]

Well i finally got some free time. Yesterday was my first day off of 3 and archery season started monday so i was out in the woods instead of working on the truck. I ended up with a nice 8 point first day of season, so i dont have to worry about archery season getting in my way. Here is what i got accomplished today. The first 2 pictures are the passenger side lower frame section and the others are my repair of the drivers side but both sides were about as bad. All i need to do now is box in that section of the frame to stiffen it up a bit.

[Thealien]

Welcome to the forum, nice truck. Your repair looks good to me.

[earl87gta]

Looks like your doing a good job to me are you going to dubble up on the back side over the seams? or box in the repaired area?

[dastuck]

I will be boxing in the rapiared area. I figured i would start my box in a few inches on the "stock frame" and cover the repaired area. I got the other side repaired today. Here are a few pics. The first is before repairs. The pictures arent the best since i rattle canned the bare metal after i was finished to help in rust prevention until i can work on it again next week. Im happy with the repairs thus far since i only used a high speed cutter, grinder, torch and eye ball.

[piecesparts]

After looking at your rusted areas and thinking about our discussions about the cups and the cutting of the frame. I would think about another frame as a foundation for your start. There are some trucks available in the local area, that are on the market as sources for this very thing.

[dastuck]

Buying another frame would take away from all of the fun and excitement (and frustration) of repairing this one. Are you saying you wouldnt trust my welding ability? The rest of the frame is in decent shape it was just these two areas.

[dastuck]

I picked up a TH400 tranny for my build, im going to have it rebuilt or try and rebuild it (havent decided yet) just to be safe and plan to put in a B&M automatic tranny shifter so i can have a little fun with the truck.

[piecesparts]

The TH400 tranny is a good heavy duty tranny, and if you plan to abuse the truck it will stand up to horsepower. The only limit to it is that it does not provide an overdrive for traveling on the road. If you decide that you want to upgrade to something that will give you some OD, look at a 4L80E tranny. Another option would be the use of an aftermarket OD unit behind the TH400.

The B&M shifter will let you get aggressive and not damage the tranny by slipping into reverse at 60 mph---done and had an exciting moment. Column shifters are the basic--in my book.

[dastuck]

I figure for my purpose and for the price of the tranny (free) i couldnt pass it up. I have thought about the lack of overdrive and the positive aspects of the TH400 out way the negative aspects. I may end up putting an aftermarket overdrive on it before im done though.

[dastuck]

Well i spent the last 2 days stipping everything out of the cab and off the frame. I have the cab setting on a small trailer so i can wheel it into the shop when i have free time to work on it. I have the cab setting on its back because i need to replace cab supports. The only thing left on the frame is the front suspension so its about ready to get cleaned up and shortened. I will post some progress pics when i get a chance.

[dastuck]

Well hear are some picks of the progress thus far. I just finished taking the front suspension off. The frame is ready for shortening. Now i just need some time and some guts to get it done.

[dastuck]

I may have found a donor frame which will save a lot of heart ache. Its still a long bed but If his dosent have any major rust then im going to take it over mine. I found some major rust on my front suspension crossmember and was going to replace it but if the frame im going to go look at on monday looks good then im going to go with it instead. If it not in good shape i have a new crossmember lined out for a swap. The frame im going to look at is actually a complete truck. Its a 68 with title. So hopefully i will be able to scavenge off some other parts for my build before sending it to the scrap yard.