1972 Sierra Grande brought back from the dead

[JQ-72]

I picked this up last week after spotting it on FB marketplace. The good : one family owned truck with 106K original miles. Totally unmolested with original paint. The bad : when owner died, the truck was drug out of the barn and sat outside for 8 years. I gave it a good cleaning, installed a clean gas tank, gave it new points, plugs and wires and some new tires. The 350 came right back to life but TH350 needed 3 quarts of fluid before she would pull. I drove it about 5 miles and it runs pretty good.
Joshua

[JQ-72]

After

[Chevyland]

I’m digging that !
Nice save

[jocko]

wow, looks GREAT!

[Bones72Super]

Nice!!! Good job cleaning it up and getting it in running condition

[rustytruck50]

Now you went & did it...Don't make me not like you!
'Jus kidding It looked great before you cleaned it up, but now it's like a completely different truck! Nice score!!!!

[Tuff Gong]

Love it. Nice find.

[matthew.mcmullin]

I keep waiting for something like this to happen to me.

I'm glad that you found it. Gives me hope.

[vics stuff]

Sweet truck.nice options also.
Vic

[special-K]

What a transformation? So this has the '72 interior Qs? I see a '72 interior, but the '71 mirrors on the doors are messin' with my head. Is the tailgate handle chrome? I imagine the VIN is CCE1

[35boulder]

Agree, nice save.

[JQ-72]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the comments. I wish this truck could have been saved several years ago. Both door bottoms and rockers have some rust where it sat so long. Bed floor has a little rust too.
Tim - Definitely a 1972 model. VIN is TCE142... The mirrors are aftermarket, not original GMs. Notice in the before pics how rusty they are (factory mirrors were aluminum and stainless). It was a very early 72 model - blue sticker on door and the date codes I’ve located are Aug. 1971. It does have the stainless cover on the tailgate handle. Here’s what’s got me puzzled : it lists parchment trim on SPID, but it’s got black seat belts. Their date codes match the rest of the truck too.

[Austinjay]

Love seeing this kind of stuff. Thank you for posting

[OldBlue70C10]

Good morning from LA, that's lower Alabama. I see you're from Killen. I all the way in the other corner of the state, near Florida and Georgia. I love seeing this post. My Mother finally agreed a while back to give me my Grandfather's truck. It's always been in the family, and my Dad had started fixxing her up, then he became ill. And it has sat for over 10 years, much like the one here in your pictures. He passed away a 4 years ago, and and it took a while, but now she's mine. but I have got to get her out of her grave, and back on the road. i hope my luck is as good as yours with the engine and transmission. I have alot of faith in that old 350 sbc to crank, but I am worried the TH350 may have seals that have have hardened, and may not wanna shift. I hope with a little fluid and some running, it works like yours did. Your post gives me some hope. I love seeing these old beauties resurrected from their grave and put back into use.

[Chevyland]

Originally Posted by JQ-72

Thanks guys! I appreciate the comments. I wish this truck could have been saved several years ago. Both door bottoms and rockers have some rust where it sat so long. Bed floor has a little rust too.
Tim - Definitely a 1972 model. VIN is TCE142... The mirrors are aftermarket, not original GMs. Notice in the before pics how rusty they are (factory mirrors were aluminum and stainless). It was a very early 72 model - blue sticker on door and the date codes I’ve located are Aug. 1971. It does have the stainless cover on the tailgate handle. Here’s what’s got me puzzled : it lists parchment trim on SPID, but it’s got black seat belts. Their date codes match the rest of the truck too.

I believe the black belts are original.
I have different colored exterior supers that have parchment interiors.
Some have parchment belts and some have black.
Can others please chime in on what they have.

[rjs53]

Can't believe the difference in before and after. Very nice truck! I'm amazed the family parted with it.

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice find and a great save. Nice truck.

[morepwr]

Very cool!

[briank]

Looks great! What did you use to clean it?

[68 P.O.S.]

Wow, great work! Looks fantastic

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Chevyland

I believe the black belts are original.
I have different colored exterior supers that have parchment interiors.
Some have parchment belts and some have black.
Can others please chime in on what they have.

X2. My 72 super has a parchment interior with black belts, and they are original to the truck.

[special-K]

I've had '72 Cheyenne Supers with Parchment interior that had black dash pad, A/C vents, carpet, and seat belts.

[lil hoodlum]

Man that looks great. You did one heck of job on it.

I even liked the before but the after looks amazing.

Also as was asked before, what did you do to clean it up?

[elorenzof]

Beautiful! Great story with great pictures. Cant wait see the continued progress.

[JQ-72]

As far as cleaning - I gave it a thorough cleaning with dish soap and warm water. I tried the CLR trick on the rust bleed through but I never can get that to work. I gently wet sanded the rusty areas with 1000 grit sandpaper. I hit the hubcaps with a Brillo pad. I sanded the rusty mirrors with some mild sandpaper, finished up with a wire brush then hit them with some white epoxy spray paint.