'72 Cheyenne K10
 

I just bought this '72 Cheyenne K10 from a friend today! As you might guess, it's been sitting in the woods nearby for more than a decade. It started life as a 2wd, and the previous owner restored and converted it to 4wd many years ago. He dropped it off the trailer this morning and I spent a little time with it today. It's beat to hell and was covered in spider webs, but a battery and some gas in the carb had it trying to start. I don't know exactly what I want to do with it yet, but it's a cool project! :chevy:

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Cool find! I’ve enjoyed watching your other build so I’m in to watch what you do with this one as well!

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Cleaned up the cab and engine compartment a little. At least now I can see what I'm doing. Oil, coolant, and brake fluid are topped off. Now I need to get some good gas to the engine and get it to fire up. Not sure if I should go ahead and pull the tank out or try to get it running temporarily off a gas can first.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I hooked it up to a gas can, cleaned out the fuel pump, and replaced the filter, and... it runs! Pretty good actually. I just have to get the gas tank cleaned out and hooked back up. :metal:

It acts like the parking brake is stuck on, so next step is to figure out why the wheels don't roll.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Im in to see more , rear brakes are probably rusted up

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Some video of it running for the first time in years - https://youtu.be/YXoU3suSfGE

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Congrats. Nice save.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Front calipers were rusty crusty and stuck. I freed it up so the truck rolls, but they will need to be replaced. The locking hub doesn't seem to work on the driver side.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I got the Tommy Lift to work! Still gonna take it off since I have the original tailgate. Yes, those are bullet holes in the passenger bedside.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Id love to find a Tommy Lift like that up here.

Cool project!

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Original tailgate is back on the truck. Needs a bumper.

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More photos

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Nice project; I don't see much rust on that rig--I assume always an inland Socal truck?

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I don't know how it survived so well. It was buried under pine needles in Cohasset (Sierra foothills of Norcal) for the last decade.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Still working on title for this old beast. DMV wants a weight certificate, so I'll tow it to the public scales next week. Good excuse to use the C20 Deluxe.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Take out as much weight as you can. DMV will charge for every pound every year on the reg..

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

yep, take that tow hitch off and even the tailgate

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Nice, sounds good!!

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I got it down to 4060lbs. No seat, gas tank, or battery. Probably could have gotten it under 4000 if I took the tow hitch off. I plan to get rid of that anyways, so I really should have.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

:uhmk:

Yet another example of why I love TEXAS.;)

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I won't have to take my trucks in for inspection. Ever.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Plans are starting to come together for this truck. First step is take out the 2" body lift. I don't like the way it looks, and I don't need the extra lift because I only plan to run 33" tires. Brakes, steering and suspension components will be restored, it will get new wagon wheels, and I'll find some bucket seats at the junkyard. I need to do a tune-up and oil change, and it will probably get a new carburetor.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Cool truck. Not a good enough reason to live in CA, imo. Besides, if registered as an antique in Texas, there is no safety inspection. Texas safety inspection is actually not a big deal. If you cant pass it, i agree that the vehicle shouldn't be on the road. They only inspect for all lights to work, working wipers, horn decent brakes and tires. No emission testing on vehicles 25 years old and older.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I have determined that the truck currently has 2" Tuff Country EZ Ride front springs, and 3" blocks in the back, as well as a 2" body lift. I am tempted to replace it all with a 4" suspension lift. Body lift comes out for sure.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

For what it's worth, he (and I), live in Northern CA. Completely different from what most people view California as, and definitely nothing like San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Silicon Valley ect.

Unfortunately, we fall under the same government that these areas (azz hats), put into office.

I keep waiting for Nevada to re-align the State and reach down to pick us up! LOL!

Pat

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Title is in my name! I wasn't going to invest too much effort or money on this thing until that was done. What a pain when the previous owner doesn't keep paperwork. Now I can get to work! :chevy:

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Body lift is out! Looks much better.

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I pulled the rotten steering components out this morning. New parts are on order: Red Head steering gearbox, Off Road Designs tie rod, Moog drag link, and front brake calipers/pads/hoses.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Made some progress today. I installed the new power steering gearbox, pitman arm, and drag link. Still waiting on delivery of the ORD tie rod and a new steering coupler. New 15"x8" wagon wheels showed up, and I picked up a set of BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM2 tires (33x12.5R15).

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Damn, the front brake hoses were a royal pain! Took me 2 hours just for the passenger side. The 15/16 nut on the inside of the frame rail requires a huge wrench, plus the other brake lines and fuel lines are totally in the way.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Tires and wheels on the truck -

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Nice work on your truck. I’m really digging it.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I read on here that the ORD tie rod and tie rod ends that I ordered will not fit on this truck, so I cancelled that and ordered some Moog tie rod ends from Summit Racing.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Steering coupling is back together. Still waiting on tie rod ends from Summit. One of them shipped from Texas despite my cart saying they were all shipping from Nevada 1-day ground.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

After dropping the body, I notice the distributor is hitting the firewall. It needs to be replaced anyways (looks like it might have been on fire!), but I am hoping that I can get it out without lifting the body again. Maybe I can break the cap.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

I got the cap off, but there are more melted wires than I thought. Might explain why it runs poorly. Considering the other wiring issues, I think the safest and best option is to re-wire the entire truck.

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Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Looking nice! I might have good oem wire harnesses from my 72 blazer that I swapped for new.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

Thanks! I just ordered an American Autowire complete harness kit, and new distributor and plug wires.

Re: '72 Cheyenne K10
 

They do good work from my experience and USA made :flagw: