Project "Keeper"
 

Those who know me know I don't tend to hold onto trucks for long. After I sold off all my projects I decided that I deserved a driver. I've worked on several of these trucks and never owned a driver for more than a few weeks one time years ago. After a few months of searching and some deals missed, I finally found a "Keeper".

I wanted something that I could use around the house, fix up a little, and would be fun to take to cruise ins. Not a show truck and nothing too expensive. Since I plan to use this as a truck, I wanted a longbed and was open to C10's and C20's. I also figured if I got a longbed, it wouldn't cost as much up front, wouldn't be worth as much when I'm finished with it, and I wouldn't be inclined to sell it ;)

Three days ago I saw this ad pop up on the local craigslist. I immediately emailed the seller and got a response the next morning. They were out of town and just got home this afternoon. I arranged to look at the truck this evening and had a price in mind. After looking it over, it was what I expected and I made an offer and we settled on the price I wanted :chevy:

Drove the truck the hour home with a mix of 35-45mph country winding roads, and 70mph interstate. Didn't miss a beat the whole way. We have a driver! :metal:

It's got several things to fix on it, but that's what I enjoy about these trucks. I honestly like working on them more than driving them. It's taken me time to realize that and this one will be a fun project I can use as I improve it.

Here are the pictures from the Advertisement:

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The remainder of the pictures:

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Things I plan to fix initially:

A/C- it's all there, hoses look great, compressor looks good, a/c box looks good, fittings look good...but the fan's not working. May just be a fuse..and likely low on r12- probably will convert but may get some r12 and see what it does first...

Power steering- whines a bit when turning from a stop and was low when I test drove it. Will see if it works itself out with the added fluid or I have a new pump or several used ones I can swap in....

Passenger mirror is cracked- I believe I have a NOS one out of the box I can swap- mirrors are super clean otherwise with almost no surface rust on the arms...

Gas gauge isn't working- all other lights and gauges are working. Going to check the wiring and then take the carpet off the gas tank and make sure the connection is good...then will check the sending unit and if not that, will check the printed circuit and gauge itself. I have one of everything in case i need to replace anything...

Master cylinder is crusty/rusty. Brakes work great but I don't like the way the master looks so I'll wire brush/wheel it off and paint it a cast gray color.

Tailgate band is missing letters- (they're all there but not installed)- I am going to decide if I want to add woodgrain to the lower moldings- I'm leaning that way now.... will order a new black or woodgrain tailgate band.

Add a radio- I have a period correct AM/FM- thankfully the radio hole hasn't been hacked.

Ticking exhaust-headers have leaks at the primaries...heard it as soon as I fired it up for the test drive. may weld up but since they are simple block huggers and finish is coming off anyways (and more would come off to weld) I may just buy a new set (around 140 shipped on ebay with ceramic coating-less if I go with black)
Locks- need to re-key everything to match the ignition or replace everything together. It's got the lock for the glovebox door too...

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Future plans:

Put a cheyenne super tin/woodgrain glovebox door cover and matching woodgrain on the cluster- I just like the way it looks with the woodgrain door panels.

Swap the billet wheel out for a wood wheel (corvette style)

Add woodgrain on the lower molding- I am definitely leaning this direction and would do a woodgrain tailgate band to match of course

Fix the minimal rust- the worst spot is on the firewall around the A/C box as is typical on these trucks. Also a small bubble spot on the outer skin of one door and on the back of one fender.- At that point, I'll sand out the one run in the finish and get extra paint to paint the wheel covers blue (late 72 or 73-up covers with yellow in them currently)

Detail the engine bay- fresh paint and cleaning with wire minimizing (it's relatively clean now but I like to hide as many wires as possible)

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Long term wants/dreams:

Either 15" or 17" Cragar or torque thrust wheels

Upgrade the 350. It's got good power and torque but there is always room for more power ;)

That's about it....my real long term want is a roadster blazer and that's the vehicle I'd go crazy with. As I mentioned...this is a Keeper. A nice driver I can use and tinker with. :chevy:

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Nice truck

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Looks to be in great shape !

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Thanks, it's not a show truck but a very nice driver for sure.

Here's a picture of the SPID. The tach was an add on but I knew that at first glance because it was aftermarket. The tilt was also added (thankful they did) it is a factory tilt and was painted body color (which I prefer) instead of correct satin black.

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Went out earlier to roll up the windows...realized I hadn't even touched the windows since they were already down when I got there...thankfully they roll up and down very nicely. Very happy with my purchase so far! :chevy:

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Sweet! "Keeper"......oh yes!!!!!

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Good solid 'ol truck. Enjoy!

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Thanks, gathered up a bunch of parts for it and spent about 4 hours last night looking for ideas. Going to start a thread to ask about woodgrain vs black and another idea I have for the truck (two tone white between trim with white roof- drip sealant is cracking and needs re-done but no rust yet)

Also planning to add a wood wheel- I will sell the one that's on it.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Njc2WDc1MA...t!g~~60_12.JPG

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Very nice truck! I suggest keeping with R-12 for your A/C :)

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Thanks, that's what I'm leaning towards. Just need to find a local source since online they require certification to purchase....

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Try your local swap meets ;). I picked up five cans last weekend at Pomona to add to my stash.

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We don't have the car culture like on the west coast. The swap meets here are basically flea markets... once a year we have super chevy which used to be good....used to be... ;) But I already missed that this year anyways. Will try contacts (BMERDOC and my A/C guy) and craigslist.

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Actually, came across your old truck ledzepp....dark blue and white...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/c.../radio_036.jpg

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and a longbed... http://images.customclassictrucks.co...river_side.jpg

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Okay, can't get carried away here...thinking since the truck already has the new black woodgrain moldings I'll order the black tailgate band and not paint....I do like the look...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...5&d=1327497030

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Truck looks to be very nice and the issues mentioned are minimal and some what easy to fix.

Just don't get carried away with it...

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Definitely have to keep that in mind. I've torn all my other trucks down to bare frame at some point...this one won't get that same treatment...just fixing/improving one thing at a time....

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You have a nice looking truck Jonathan.

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Looks like a real nice truck for a keeper. You won't find any in that condition around here.....

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Thanks!

Thanks, as mentioned, it's got a few rust spots but overall is very clean. It's the best I've found in this area. Only truck I've had that's been cleaner was one I got from out west. It's a two owner truck, original owner re-painted it and put new seals on the doors and windows and refreshed the interior about eight years ago. Previous owner kept it in a garage until very recently and did mechanical improvements. So it's just a really nice overall solid driver truck now.

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Great looking truck, glad to see that you have it.

Dwight

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Thanks,

Decided to order a black tailgate band to match the trim instead of adding woodgrain to the exterior. Keeping it simple... Waiting for a price from one person before ordering one from the truck shop.

Found my AM/FM radio that looks similar to the stock radio but isn't exact...likely going to use that since I already have it but still considering one I saw on ebay that has more power and the correct knobs...

Found the NOS mirror for the broken passenger side. Also found another pair on ebay NOS in the box for relatively cheap so I bought those as well :chevy:

Looks like it'll be later in the week before I can work on the truck. Had to move it today and it's amazing how enjoyable it can be to be able to jump into a truck that hasn't started in a couple days, pump the gas a couple times, start it up, let it warm up for a few seconds and run it down the street...windows roll down and up like butter...just need to get the power steering squeal fixed. Going to open up the pump and turn lock to lock to see if it was air from when the fluid was low. Next up will be the A/C

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Great truck!
I'd like to find one in the same condition.

What ever happened to the swb truck project you were building for another board member?

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Thanks, been looking for months.

I sold it and most of the parts and reimbursed the board member a few months ago. I just didn't have the time to finish a frame off project....when I first started I was working for myself. A lot of my contract work dried up and I got recruited by my present employer at around the time I was struggling to find more contract work.

I tried all I could to complete the project as promised and purchased a second truck project further along to try to accomplish it, but lost my body shop contact and have been working long hours/traveling a lot more than I planned so the project would have taken years and the buyer didn't want to wait and I didn't want to further disappoint them. In the end, I sold what I could and broke just short of even on the parts and wasn't paid a penny for the countless hours I'd invested in the project (actual building, commute to the body shop (over 60 hours alone there) and planning/buying parts/picking up parts) ...but things all balance out....I've found some great deals in the past on parts and trucks. :chevy:

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Itching to work on this thing....been spending time at night looking for parts I don't have and a little time going through what I already have so when I get time I have parts together...

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Found some more parts this evening and did my second work on the truck (first was checking fluids and adding ps fluid ;) )
Took off the yellowed/cracked dome lens cover and installed a loose NOS one I had and a LED bulb I bought from a board member years ago. Man what a difference in light! I was going to add courtesy lights but I don't need them now. The PO also installed a dimming rearview mirror with map lights so I have those if needed also. But they don't even show up when the LED dome light is on! :chevy:

After that LED success and finding a single LED tail light assembly I got for free by accident years ago with an order and was told to keep it. I jumped on eBay and found another single for $22 shipped. Will swap those in when the second one arrives.

Only other lighting change will be swapping out the side markers if they are originals (they look perfect). Will sell those and install an aftermarket set I got cheap with other parts with clear fronts and red rear (after I glue the trim rings back on). I don't like yellow lenses...unless I was doing a 100pt resto. Just one of those things..... I will also change out the turns in the bumper for clear lenses with silver bulbs that flash yellow.

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My wife noticed this dragonfly on my antenna yesterday. Got a surprisingly good picture with my iPhone.

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Swapped out the passenger side mirror with my NOS mirror head :chevy: (date code April 71)-paid $10 shipped for it off eBay a few yrs ago. Forgot to get a picture of the new one....will get that later...

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Took a pic to show how clean the mirror arms are. Also notice the rubber is new in the windows, doors, and vent windows. That's a huge bonus to me!

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Here's a picture of one of the two bad areas on the truck. Both corners of the drivers door showing bubbles. Just in the outer skin. Door bottoms are solid. Passenger door is solid.

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Took the rubber floor mats out and straightened up the belts for an interior shot. Carpet can use a little cleaning and I need a radio (going am/fm). I ordered a glovebox door and bezel with woodgrain from csm today :chevy:

But great door panels with woodgrain, great dash pad, love the seat cover, and belts are nice.

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Nice 'keeper' Johnathan :chevy: , and great dragonfly shot. :metal:

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Defiantly going to make a nice ole truck:metal:

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Interior looks great!

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Johnathon I'm glad to see you got a real keeper for you. I have an am/fm/cb with mic and antenna if you are interested.

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Thanks!

:agree:

Thanks! So nice having a clean interior to start with. Last two projects I restored the interiors in cost me 1200-1500 for the interiors and I searched for deals and did most of the work myself :waah:

Thanks! and thanks for the offer but just wanting am/fm (factory preferred or I'm getting a new aftermarket one that looks close on ebay for $279)