1972 Super Cheyenne Build Thread

[super72bb]

Hi All,

I have been meaning to start a build thread for a very long time. Short of posting the odd photo in the past I haven't shared much during my build so here it goes…

I just want to say thanks to all of you who have helped me throughout the years. This board has been an excellent resource for me and I hope that the info and photos that follow will be beneficial to those of you who are building your own dream machine.



This is a polaroid snapshot on the day I bought the truck, May 15th 1998. I rescued it from a farm in the northern US. It is actually a Chevy but the previous owner had installed the GMC fenders and Rad support. It had all the AC, the 402BB / TH400 Trans, tilt column and bucket seats. The body was mostly a shell and it came with about 10 cardboard boxes of random fasteners and parts.

[super72bb]

I brought the truck home and it sat in my garage for many years untouched as I purchased all of the needed parts to start the build. I think this is the most critical part of any full build… having the patience to wait. That and knowing what direction you want to go with your build. I have changed my mind a few times during this build and every time I did it cost more money.

I wanted to build a 1972 Cheyenne Super Shortbed which was well equipped with as many factory options as possible. Because these trucks were so fantastic I made the decision to build it back to more less stock. Short of the stance, wheels and tires, and internal parts in the enine and drivetrain, this is pretty much all what came back in the early 70's from the dealer.


Here it is sitting in the garage as I was collecting parts…

[super72bb]

I didn't have much luck with repro body parts at the time. I think that the quality is probably much better today than what I found at the time.

I purchased NOS fenders, rad support, inner fenders, and I even found a set of NOS box sides from the guys at "The Truck Shop" in Crossville Tn.

[super72bb]

The time came to blow it all apart, I removed the body and sent it to have it media blasted. I removed the engine and trans and had them sent for rebuild.

I had the frame put in a JIG to ensure it was true before blowing it completely apart.

[super72bb]

The frame was in excellent shape aside from these plates which were welded on the aft sections of each frame rail.

A little cutting and welding some new pieces back in and it was as good as new. See the before and afters below:

[super72bb]

With the repairs on the frame complete and the frame found to be true out of the JIG, the chassis was sent to the body shop to have the stripped body panels fitted to do all the alignments.

I wanted all the factory flaws corrected, countless hours were spent correcting the panel gaps. We smoothed many rough areas from the factory including inside the stake pockets, removed tooling marks inside the box and removed the factory weld dimples etc.

[super72bb]

The doors were cut at the top fwd corners and rejoined to even the gaps in the door openings. Both front fenders were cut along the top edges to even the gaps along the hood line. You could imagine my surprise the day I walked in the shop and saw both of my GM NOS fenders completely cut along the top edges.

[super72bb]

The entire body panel alignment started from the cab. Even though the rocker panels and cab corners were solid in the cab, we elected to replace them to get the alignments and panel gaps corrected. Once the door gaps and alignments were good we moved out from there, the cowl, the fenders and hood etc until all the alignments and gaps were good.

[super72bb]

With all the metal work complete the body was removed from the chassis again. The body panels stayed at the body shop, they were block sanded and prepped for paint, each panel was painted individually.

I had the all the chassis components sandblasted and powder coated. I got everything home and reassembled it all. I would say this was the most enjoyable part of the build for me.

[super72bb]

More powder coated parts and assembly.

[super72bb]

Here is a picture of the rear trailing arm finished. I used a polyurethane based sealer to put a permanent finish on the gap.

[super72bb]

Eaton posi installed. As a word of advice, make sure the bearing surfaces are masked off really well before powder coating the rear end housing. The stuff is murder to get off!

[super72bb]

Wheels on. I used gold anodized Grade 8 hardware for the assembly. All the bolt heads are aligned the same direction (not that anyone would ever notice ha ha).

[super72bb]

With the 402 fully rebuilt, I finished it with good ol POR 15 engine enamel. This paint has got to be the best on the market for painting an engine yourself. The finish is still just as bright today as the day I layered it on.

A wanted to keep a stock look so I kept the factory manifolds, I did have them ported and polished for what it was worth. The engine builder said it would probably make a solid 375 hp as is and if I wanted to ditch the original manifolds it would push it over 400hp.

[super72bb]

Chassis now complete ready for the body.

[super72bb]

A good friend of mine (a fellow board member) is a very talented cabinet maker among many other things. He hand selected the 1/4 sawn Oak wood, stained and finished it for me. It is spectacular in real life, the photos don't do it justice. He left his mark on my old truck and I will be thanking him for years to come. Thanks Darren!

[super72bb]

Loaded up at the body shop coming back home.

The tires in the photo have been replaced since this picture. I found the tires didn't fill up the wheel wells the way I had hoped they would so I replaced them with the next bigger size.

[super72bb]

This is as far as I am now. Still needs upper chrome, interior and wiring. Front grill and install the remaining items in the engine bay.

I am planning to go another inch lower in the rear and another 2 inches lower in the front.

[lolife99]

Very very nice. Thanks for sharing.

[super72bb]

A few more pictures. This is as far as my seats have got since they were recovered.

[bbcmudtruck]

Spectacular build!

[super72bb]

It's alive! Click the link to hear how it sounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIQW...ature=youtu.be

[super72bb]

One more idling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXbW...ature=youtu.be

[Ol Blue K20]

Very nice build, it's beautiful!!

[tommys72]

Beautiful truck! Nice work