71' (gonna be) a one of a kind custom

[71' Custom]

Starting from the beginning, I bought my 71' from a friend of mine about 4-5 years ago. He showed me acouple of pictures of it and told me it wouldn't run and when it did run, the transmission wouldn't pull either. He said he was asking $1500 for the truck.
So I convinced him to bring it up to the dealership that we both worked at. (he is a technician and i work in parts) He brought it up and the first thing that caught my eye was the V8 400 badge on the front fender, my excitement was soon shattered when I opened the hood and saw a 350. I did, however, notice it had an Edelbrock carb on it. However, It did still have the 400 trans in it.
So while he was inside working I went and got the keys from him then grabbed a jump box, a flat head screw driver, and a couple of quarts of trand fluid. I turned the two adjustment screws on the carb all the way in and then backed them off 2 1/2 turns then put some trans fluid in the trans. Then I hooked up the jump box to the battery. Went and turned the key and it fired right up, put it in gear and it kicked into gear. I promptly shut it down and went inside and told him I would give him $1000 for it. He took the deal and he said he would drop it off at my house.
When we got to my house, he started wandering how we were going to get the truck up my inclined driveway. So I went and started up the truck, drove it off the trailer, and drove it up the driveway. All the while his jaw is on the ground.

[71' Custom]

more pics

[71' Custom]

Now, the truck origonally had a wooden bed that had sence rotted away ans had sheet metal welded in place, and the frame was covered in red mud. After cleaning up some spots on the frame i found almost no rust. So about a year ago I started tearing it down to the frame.........

[71' Custom]

Now, the headers, transmission, and exhaust you see I changed out after I got the truck. Hooker Supercomp Headers, Pypes Performance Exhaust, and a Transco 700R4 trans

[67cheby]

looks like a really clean truck !

[71' Custom]

Yeah, aside from the mud and muck, the frame and cab are in exelent condition!

[71' Custom]

At this point I was considering cutting the frame to make a short bed, however, working in parts for the past 16 years you hear repeadly to never cut on or drill a frame. I know it can be done safely, and I will eventually have to drill a couple of new holes in the frame, but I will be leaving the frame like it is.

[71' Custom]

About this time I started thinking about having the frame sand blasted and powder coated. It was just a matter of what color...........

[71' Custom]

So, a little more background.....
For a while I was using this truck as my daily driver so the engine that was in there just had to go. So I built this engine for it.........

[hydrojunkie]

Truck looks super solid. That new motor looks bad arse. Your going to have a real nice build.
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[STOCKISH]

Cut that thing in half and make a short bed, you'll be glad you did! Truck looks killer, going to be a great build!

*The PO was a "tech" and couldnt put trans fluid in it to make it move, LOL!*

[67cheby]

love the look of the motor !

[71' Custom]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

Cut that thing in half and make a short bed, you'll be glad you did! Truck looks killer, going to be a great build!

*The PO was a "tech" and couldnt put trans fluid in it to make it move, LOL!*

I know, right? I laughed at him for weeks about that. lol

[71' Custom]

Well, more about that motor.....
It was a TBI non-roller 350, I put the cast iron GM Performance Vortec heads on it, Edelbrock multi-port injection system, MSD distributor, Hooker Supercomp Headers(dispite the headers in the picture), Crower Cam, Comp Cams Roller Tip Rockers, and ended up putting a serpentine belt set up on it.
Now my neighbor had an 84' K5 and he blew up his motor, (was a GM performance crate engine that he apparently "forgot" to change the oil).
So I bought the truck off of him for $1500 and sold the blown engine for $500. But, I bought the truck so I could really start working on the 71'.
A couple of pics above show the K5. They were the origonal owners, never had it off the road and never removed the top either. Really clean truck.
So I pulled the motor out of my 71' and put it in the 84', still driving the K5 now. Thinking of selling it though, I keep wanting to do some work to it too then I have to remember what my real project is.

[71' Custom]

I was wanting to build a more "modern" motor with that one. I have changed my mind now though, the motor I am going to build for the 71' this time is going to be a ZZ383 block with the fast burn aluminum heads with an Edelbrock E-Tec supercharger. Go big or go home, right?

[71' Custom]

So one of the first undertakings I wanted to do was to build my own custom insturment cluster..........

[71' Custom]

decided on putting green led's in the lights, that may have to change though

[71' Custom]

a couple close ups.......

[71' Custom]

I went round and round in my head on different color schemes, I knew I didn't want any chrome anywhere on the truck. So, I ended up with black and blue, I know, not a real origonal idea. I am just not the type to go with crazy outlandish colors.............

[71' Custom]

Hotchkis suspension all the way!!!

[71' Custom]

Well, that brings up to date. The next step is going to be the lower control arms. Unfortunately, Hotchkis thinks their lower control arms are made of gold.

[hydrojunkie]

I like your color scheme. I think it looks great.
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[sgaylord]

Good progress
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[STOCKISH]

When you said color scheme of blue and black I was thinking body color. Didnt expect to see that. I actually dont think I have ever seen a blue frame before. Keep up the good work.

[71' Custom]

Thanks everybody, any comments, sudgestions, and questions are welcome