1971 Cheyenne Work Truck

[Lanman1972]

Well here we go! Bought this a couple weeks ago as a father son project. Removed the bed today to get the rust repair started. Drove it home from work about 8 miles with the fully functional tail lights! Hah! Anyway, 1971 Cheyenne, 95k miles, 350, a/c compressor missing, really bad headers, roof markers, and PO installed Buddy Buckets.

[rsgt]

Looks like a real nice truck.

[Lanman1972]

Fairly routine first day. Removed the front end body components and assessing the rust damage. Doesn't appear to to bad, better than my Highlander. More updates coming. I'll get the interior stripped in the morning.

[Lanman1972]

Pretty much what I expected to find. I removed the tank and welded in some braces. Cab supports are completely gone, I think those are the worst part of the rust repair. Did a quick test fit of the new rocker on the driver side. Completely disassembled the doors except for the latches and hinges, makes them a little lighter when test fitting before final weld in. Speaker cutouts behind the seat really irritate me. More to come!

[Lanman1972]

More pics

[72 tigger]

Looks like you're off to a good start- nice truck & color

[Lanman1972]

Made some progress today cutting out the rust. Tacked the kick panel and rear pillar for location. Got the front cab support removed, I'll work on the rear tomorrow and hopefully get the floor extension piece tacked in. Tomorrow is also cleanup the work area day!

[tucker69]

Welcome And good luck... love them seats... work looks good so far... Casey

[aka-aj]

Love the truck. I know there at least dozen I know of These era trucks around town. Even a 4x4 being restored. keep up the progress

[Lanman1972]

Passenger side is tacked in and door hung. Rocker needs to move up about a 1/4 in the rear and an 1/8 in the front. I'll need to trim the in rocker/floor extension piece. Everything is going good. The passenger door had a bad gap at the rear before I started so trying to correct that, and get all the gaps better. Still waiting for the cab corners and rear supportss to arrive from Wes at Classic Heartbeat, apparently they are swamped with door seal orders. It's been 3 weeks.

[Lanman1972]

Today I got the rocker, fender and door gaps fixed. Worked on burning in the floor extension. Front cab support was a battle, but got it out of there and the new one in place.

[Lanman1972]

Made some progress today with the cab corners that arrived. I cut a little higher than I like to for the corner but I wanted to look at the rear of the floor. The floor shows signs of rust on the top surface. I did get the front cab support tacked in and holes drilled. I did some shopping for roof markers and found these smoke colored lenses with an amber led light, got a ways to before we're ready but oh well!

[flipper58]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Looks like you're off to a good start- nice truck & color

Can't agree more. Especially on the color.

[Lanman1972]

Took a break from rust repair to patch the speaker holes behind the seat, still have 6x9 holes in the doors to get done. Plans are to finish the passenger side rust repair this weekend.

[Lanman1972]

I decided to replace the floor section where the rust was coming through from the cab support.

[riddinlow99]

coming along nicely

[Lanman1972]

Little more done.

[Lanman1972]

Passenger side is finished for now. Door alignment and gaps came out very good. Moving onto the driver side in the morning.

[72 tigger]

You're doing a great job!

[Farm Shop]

Great work!

[Lanman1972]

Update!

[Lanman1972]

More! Drivers side is taking about half the time. Gaps all look good.

[Lanman1972]

More done today! Finished some of the welds on the floor, cab corner welded on and gaps are good.

[Lanman1972]

Guy up the street stopped by and asked if I wanted some rally wheels, $100 for the set.

[Lanman1972]

Wheel pic.