Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

At least you had a rack for the conoe...lol. How did you do on gas?

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

About 10mpg

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Not bad mileage, Blue runs about the same.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

After my trip I noticed the coolant leak around the thermostat housing has gotten worse. It has been on my to-do list for a while, and it made me think it's time to check a few more things off. Here's what's coming up:

- New thermostat housing and radiator hoses
- Rebuild and swap in the extra steering column I have
- Get horn working
- Replace wiper motor, washer pump hoses, and switch
- Upgrade to hydroboost brake booster
- Rebuild rear driveline
- Clean out cowl and install debris screen

Attachment 2155050

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Sounds like you're gonna be busy.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

No turning back now (no turning at all now). Today I removed the vacuum brake booster and the steering column. I also replaced the thermostat housing.

Attachment 2155340

Attachment 2155341

Attachment 2155342

Attachment 2155343

Attachment 2155344

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Yeah, I'd say you're pretty much committed now. I hope the hydroboost goes easy. Are you going tilt wheel on the column?

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

No tilt. I picked up a cheap used column that was the same color a while back. I took it apart the other day and ordered parts to rebuild it. About $150 total cost for parts (horn parts, signal parts, bearings, shift indicator and optic cable).

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Great build and info here Jim, I missed the reason you went to a twin shifter setup on the TC, your truck is a lot like my 71, tia

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Thanks. The twin shifter has easier shifting and it gives you RWD high/low, FWD high/low, and 4WD high/low.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Thanks Jim, that's very interesting, great build man.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

The Hydroboost bracket from CaptainFab showed up yesterday so I worked on fitting everything to the truck today. The bracket interferes with the steering column firewall bracket a bit so both parts needed grinding. The knurl on the Hydroboost studs did not quite fit through the holes in the new bracket so I drilled those holes out to 1/2". And the studs were about a half inch too long so I cut them down.

Attachment 2155783

Attachment 2155784

Attachment 2155785

Attachment 2155786

Attachment 2155787

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I am still not sure how I am going to fabricate the brake pedal linkage. Having the steering out is sure a big help though.


Attachment 2155788

Attachment 2155789

Attachment 2155790

Attachment 2155791

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I pulled the rear driveline out and took it up to High Angle Driveline in Paradise. He told me to change the u-joints and grease the slip joint. I have a lot of respect for a business that will turn away a customer and not charge for unnecessary work.

Attachment 2156965

Attachment 2156966

Attachment 2156967

Attachment 2156968

Attachment 2156969

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

That should smooth out some vibration..Nice shop to give advise.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

LMC order showed up, so I got my steering column all put back together.

Attachment 2157714

Attachment 2157715

Attachment 2157716

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Nice!

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Got some more done today:

- Reinstalled rear driveshaft
- Cleaned leaves and dirt out of the cowl
- Replaced burnt windshield washer hoses
- Replaced windshield wiper switch (much improved!)
- Tested windshield washer pump (no good)
- Worked on Hydroboost brake pedal linkage

Attachment 2158041

Attachment 2158042

Attachment 2158043

Attachment 2158044

Attachment 2158045

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I think I have almost everything I need to finish up the Hydroboost. My friend that works at a local hydraulic shop made pressure lines for me, and I have a piece of return line that will work. I just need to get a "T" for the return line.

I also had my custom brake pedal adapter welded today and gave it a quick sandblast and paint. It bolts on so any future booster r&r won't require fabrication. (I made a few extra ;))

Attachment 2158603

Attachment 2158604

Attachment 2158605

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Amazing truck - it looks good as it is. I like what you've done...
We have a 72 K 4sp and will watch what you do. i'll start a build post one of these days. Curious of the lift removal (i will have mine stock), so wondering about tire size (thinking 31 x 10.5) with stock leaves at both ends. Curious about the internal gas tank and it's future. also, wondering how deep into the bones of the truck to go. I can remove the cab, take all the suspension off, the engine/tranny/diffs... and end up with a bare frame to start upwards. how necessary is this? Also, are you rebuilding diffs, t-case, tranny, or hoping 50 years of age still holds true? Trying not to make a 5 year project, but wanting a solid runner. I see function before fashion. Maybe you too.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

whoa. Nice to see but didn't see that there are 17 pages of updates. I'm so behind now...But like the color, eh?

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Thanks MikeandCheryl. 31x10.5 tires will fit these trucks with stock springs. There's a thread on here somewhere about what tire sizes fit what lifts. Replacing the gas tank in the cab is relatively easy and inexpensive. Clean fuel is a great place to start working on the engine. How far you go really depends on your goals and what you start with.

Yes, this thread is a very long read. I started with a truck that needed everything fixed after a decade of sitting. Ochre is definitely my favorite paint color, it suits the era so well.

I will watch for your build! Cheers! :metal:

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Adapter looks good! Good idea making extras, someone else might want to try this..;)

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

More progress today putting together the Hydroboost system. Sort of a pain to take the inner fender off, but I had to trim it back where the pressure line goes into the steering gearbox. Bonus - it will make installing the steering column easier.

Attachment 2159093

Attachment 2159094

Attachment 2159095

Attachment 2159096

Attachment 2159097

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

It looks like it belongs there. Nice!

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I replaced the windshield washer pump today. What a weird mechanical contraption driven off the wiper motor.

Attachment 2159764

Attachment 2159765

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I got a new pen tablet so I sketched a picture of my truck tonight.

Attachment 2159813

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Nice job on the sketch and the ww motor, looks good

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

X2, I have never tried a washer pump or a sketch. I don't think my sketch would be recognizable.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Great looking sketch of your truck Jim, it has the 70's vibe look going on. Great work on the truck as always.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Thanks guys. Today I got the steering column back into the truck. I had to cut the connector off the new turn signal switch and change it to the connector for the AAW harness. I'm proud of my terminal ends which are usually a pain. I had to take the brakes off the firewall again to get the steering column gasket to fit. Then the brake pedal grommet would not seat on the firewall so I had to take the brakes off another time! A lesson was learned - bolt the Hydroboost to the bracket before putting both on the firewall as one unit.

Attachment 2160043

Attachment 2160044

Attachment 2160045

Attachment 2160046

Attachment 2160047

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I also put the cowl back on with a cowl debris screen and a new hood seal.

Attachment 2160048

Attachment 2160049

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Lift height and tire size looks good.tuff country 2" front and 3"+1" rear with 33s correct?

Looking forward to seeing how the hydroboost works out.

Just read the whole thread. Now i want to dust off my build thread and get some work done on it!

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Thanks, rickcdewitt. That is the correct lift/tire combo.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Today was a day of frustrating setbacks.

I started bleeding the power steering fluid, and my pedal adapter bent in half right away. I guess there is a lot more leverage on that brake pedal than I thought. The money spent on it was all wasted, and I refunded the money for the one that I sold. I need a new plan for pedal linkage.

Discouraged by the brakes, I figured I would get the steering wheel back on and the horn working. I assembled the horn parts, but still no working horn. So I checked under the hood and found power at the horn all the time. So I checked the horn relay and found it was super hot to the touch! I assume that my horn is bad since it does not work with power. But I do not know why the relay sends power to the horn all the time even without the horn button assembled.

Also, my new turn signal cancel cam does not work both directions even with the new turn signal switch. I cannot figure it out.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Unplugging the column turns off the horn relay (and thus power to the horn under the hood). Maybe I damaged and grounded the horn wire while assembling the column? I suppose I will have to take it apart to find out.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Sorry to hear all that Jim, we've all had days like that, you'll figure it out,
when I run in to a problem, I usually find the answer in this forum, good luck.

is it possible that your horn button is stuck down .....

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

X2 on check the horn button. I've had problems with the flat round spring grounding all the time. I thought you're adapter looked good. Back to the drawing board. You'll figure it out, I have faith in you..

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Couldn't sleep last night - colored in my truck drawing.

Attachment 2160367

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Nice.