TXTruck's 72 C20 Custom Camper

[TXTruck]

Hello, my name is Patrick and this is my truck. She's a 1972 Chevy C20 Custom Camper. I bought her back in March of 2011 and have enjoyed her as a daily driver ever since.



Here are some stats:

• 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne 20
• Long bed, Fleet side
• 3/4 ton
• 350 cu in V8
• Edelbrock Performer 600 cfm carburetor
• HEI distributor
• TH350 Automatic transmission
• Dana 60 rear end
• Front disc/rear drum brakes
• Power steering
• Power brakes
• Factory air conditioning
• Tilt-steering
• Split rear window

The original ochre paint job was replaced some number of years ago with the turquoise and white you see here. Of course, the paint job has seen better days as evidenced by the peeling throughout. Looks to be a bit of bad prep-work before the re-paint.



The C20 Custom Camper package brings a 3/4 ton towing capacity thanks to big 8-lug wheels, heavier springs and stiffer shocks. A factory equipped front stabilizer bar helps to stiffen the suspension and help tame body roll.





The steering wheel appears to be from a late 80's or early 90's Chevy truck. It looks out of place in a classic truck and it was one of the first things I wanted to replace, but I have to admit that functionally it has grown on me and so it will stick around while I devote time and money to other parts of the truck. Almost all the gauges (speedo, tach, fuel, temp, oil pressure) work perfectly with the exception being the battery gauge, which always reads in the middle.



The original radio is long gone, replaced along the way by a Pioneer 25 watt x 2 (15x4) shaft-mounted AM/FM cassette deck. The center dash speaker is intact but not connected, and instead sound is delivered by 2 Kicker i690 Impulse 6"x9" speakers mounted in the doors (there is also a dual 6" truck box behind the bench seat).



The aluminum wheels look good on the truck, and the height of the tires really work well with the 3/4 ton suspension. The spare tire is still located under the bed, held in place with a heavy-duty ratchet strap (which the previous owner tells me is essential for lifting the tire into place without giving yourself a stroke). Aside from fairly new mufflers, the exhaust looks every bit of it's 40 years of age.



The heart of this beast is the venerable Chevy small-block 350 backed by a TH350 automatic transmission. At one point in the truck's life, the cab-mounted gas tank was removed and the fuel system was converted to propane. The gentleman I bought the truck from converted her back to gas with an Edelbrock Performer 600 cfm carburetor. The bed-mounted propane tank was replaced with a 17-gallon RCI aluminum fuel cell mounted in an aluminum truck box.

Well, that does it for the introductions. She's a great truck and I have already made some minor progress on her over the past year. As I get time, I'll post more on what I've done and what I plan to do.

- Patrick.