New guy from the other side of the pond - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Eric Black '72 · 02-26-2018, 01:02 PM

Hi guys,

My name is Eric, I'm based in France and I've owned a black '72 for a few years. Got it over from New Hampshire. It's a longbed rigged with a 454.

I don't know what it was originally, the glovebox tag was scratched off. It now looks like a Cheyenne, with the right trim and all.

Of course, the 454 was a swap, but it came like that when I bought it so I don't know much about the engine. The TRW code suggests a 1978 motor, not exactly the most exciting year for those engines, but it does the job. The TH350 works fine.

No big issues with that truck. Some rust under the radiator, a leaky steering box, the transmission shifter is loose (no need to depress it to shift) and that's about it. Nothing really serious.

All in all a good truck to drive around. And not so common here in Europe.

English is not my mother language, so please be cool with the Frenchman, he tries hard !

flashed · 02-26-2018, 01:33 PM

Welcome ,nice truck .

**vetnat** · 02-28-2018, 12:50 AM

Great looking truck! And your written English is exemplary

lux · 02-28-2018, 02:24 AM

The truck looks great and I bet a lot of people in France stop look as you drive by.
How much do you pay for gas over there ? I'm sure that 454 costs a lot to drive.

NF6 · 02-28-2018, 06:37 AM

Welcome Eric!

Beautiful truck man! When I was in France, I rarely seen American vehicles. It must be really unique over that side.

My first language is Arabic, the guys here don't care about your English as long as you got a truck, lol.

Regards,
Naz

CANUCIT · 02-28-2018, 08:09 AM

Welcome Eric

Eric Black '72 · 02-28-2018, 10:13 AM

Hi guys,
Thanks very much for the welcome.

@Vetnat : thanks a lot. Just give me enough time to write some really confusing stuff. I know I can do it !

@lux : yep, you can say that again. Gas is about €1.50 per liter. That's about $6.93 per gallon. So driving that thing here really is a statement about how much one likes classic american steel.

Parts are the worst : buy a thermostat for $30, add $30 for shipping, $35 for the customs flat rate to take care of your item, then the customs tax, plus the 20% VAT on all of the above... and that thermostat suddenly becomes a luxury item.

But then I guess everything comes at a price. Driving a classic american car or truck here is quite something ! You should see the way people look at it when they hear the rumble of the old 454... Many of them think I'm just

@NF6 : True, they're not that common. French people have a pretty poor opinion of American cars in general. That's because they don't know them, I guess.

02-26-2018, 01:02 PM	#1
Eric Black '72 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Brittany, France. Posts: 0	New guy from the other side of the pond Hi guys, My name is Eric, I'm based in France and I've owned a black '72 for a few years. Got it over from New Hampshire. It's a longbed rigged with a 454. I don't know what it was originally, the glovebox tag was scratched off. It now looks like a Cheyenne, with the right trim and all. Of course, the 454 was a swap, but it came like that when I bought it so I don't know much about the engine. The TRW code suggests a 1978 motor, not exactly the most exciting year for those engines, but it does the job. The TH350 works fine. No big issues with that truck. Some rust under the radiator, a leaky steering box, the transmission shifter is loose (no need to depress it to shift) and that's about it. Nothing really serious. All in all a good truck to drive around. And not so common here in Europe. English is not my mother language, so please be cool with the Frenchman, he tries hard ! Last edited by Eric Black '72; 02-26-2018 at 01:38 PM.

02-26-2018, 01:33 PM	#2
flashed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canton ga Posts: 12,729	Re: New guy from the other side of the pond Welcome ,nice truck .

02-28-2018, 12:50 AM	#3
vetnat Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Moose Jaw, SK Posts: 510	Re: New guy from the other side of the pond Great looking truck! And your written English is exemplary __________________ 1961 GMC half ton, short step, Canadian model. Just starting work on it.

02-28-2018, 02:24 AM	#4
lux Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 306	Re: New guy from the other side of the pond The truck looks great and I bet a lot of people in France stop look as you drive by. How much do you pay for gas over there ? I'm sure that 454 costs a lot to drive.

02-28-2018, 06:37 AM	#5
NF6 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 36	Re: New guy from the other side of the pond Welcome Eric! Beautiful truck man! When I was in France, I rarely seen American vehicles. It must be really unique over that side. My first language is Arabic, the guys here don't care about your English as long as you got a truck, lol. Regards, Naz

02-28-2018, 08:09 AM	#6
CANUCIT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: JOPLIN MO Posts: 59	Re: New guy from the other side of the pond Welcome Eric __________________ 1962 chevy short and wide 2015 z71 1967 SS Chevelle

02-28-2018, 10:13 AM	#7
Eric Black '72 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Brittany, France. Posts: 0	Re: New guy from the other side of the pond Hi guys, Thanks very much for the welcome. @Vetnat : thanks a lot. Just give me enough time to write some really confusing stuff. I know I can do it ! @lux : yep, you can say that again. Gas is about €1.50 per liter. That's about $6.93 per gallon. So driving that thing here really is a statement about how much one likes classic american steel. Parts are the worst : buy a thermostat for $30, add $30 for shipping, $35 for the customs flat rate to take care of your item, then the customs tax, plus the 20% VAT on all of the above... and that thermostat suddenly becomes a luxury item. But then I guess everything comes at a price. Driving a classic american car or truck here is quite something ! You should see the way people look at it when they hear the rumble of the old 454... Many of them think I'm just @NF6 : True, they're not that common. French people have a pretty poor opinion of American cars in general. That's because they don't know them, I guess.



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