1971 Cheyenne "One For the Road"

[19723DR]

Project One For The Road...

I made this rendering of what it will look like when it is finished, I know this picture is a short bed, but my original intentions were to make it a short bed, but the long bed has grown on me.



This April I bought this 1971 Chevy Cheyenne from a guy who lives around the corner from me. I wasn't too sure my wife was going to agree to the new project seeing as I wasn't quite done with my 'burb and this would be sitting for a bit before I could start...but she surprised me with a "yes" and I picked it up the next day. I started working on it a bit and came up with some ideas for the paint, wheels and stuff like that.
Originally, the truck didn't come with A/C but over the years it's aquired A/C through the doors and floor that I will have to fix.
Here is some pictures of shortly after I got it. Even the wheels make a big difference.

[19723DR]

I accuired a Vortec 4.3 from my cousin's '93 Jimmy. My cousin bought it from me six years ago and wrecked it three years ago (ahh, it was a good little truck.) Lucky for me he still had it sitting around his yard when I decided to put all this stuff in the Cheyenne. My brother and I basically stripped everything off of it that we needed. Engine, tranny, wiring harness, ECU, brake booster, ect. (Thanks Rob!)

[19723DR]

After stripping out the interior to see what the damage was, I'd say it's not good, but it could be a lot worse.

[semperfidoordie]

good looking project. even got some of the original trim on it. think it's going to be a fine piece of handiwork when it's done i'm subscribin

[19723DR]

Shortly after I pulled the engine, I got a call from my wife's uncle who was parting out a '70 GMC. I got some good doors, and other misc. parts. He also had a '70 Chevy drivers side fender and tailgate. I've just been spending time working on the door and fender. The passenger door looked pretty good but it was full of bondo.









I've just been taking a half-hour here and there, when ever I can fit it in really.
In the next little while I've got to buy patch panels to weld to the cab so I can get the cab at least headed in the right direction. I've never really done as many patch panels as this is going to require, but I'm always willing to get out of my comfort zone and stretch my limits.

[19723DR]

Originally Posted by semperfidoordie

good looking project. even got some of the original trim on it. think it's going to be a fine piece of handiwork when it's done i'm subscribin

Thanks man.
It came with all the original trim except for the lower drivers side door. But the drivers side door from the GMC had one on it.

[semperfidoordie]

nice

[Clyde78]

Just say the word and I'll grab my welder.

[19723DR]

Originally Posted by Clyde78

Just say the word and I'll grab my welder.

After pulling of the rocker panel I am going to need all the help I can get. The floor is in a lot worse shape than I thought. You'll have to see for yourself.

[Cyclone44]

Good luck with your build....Looks like your getting some good parts for it....

[19723DR]

Progress has been made...sort of. For the last three weeks I've been working overtime to pay for the parts for the thing.

Last weekend I did some work on the lower corners of the doors and I made some small patch pieces for the lower corners. I also welded some of the small holes. The outsides of the doors are almost finished, there are still some patch pieces for the inside of the doors that I need to work on.

Here are some pics:

[19723DR]

More:








These things are in pretty bad shape.

[19723DR]

This weekend was very frustrating because there was a lot more rust damage than I originally expected. I'll have to order more patch panels. On the bright side, I get to expand on my welding ability.







I have seen worse. Not by much, but thanks to this site, I've still seen worse.

[19723DR]

Originally Posted by Cyclone44

Good luck with your build....Looks like your getting some good parts for it....

Thanks, I have been lucky so far with all the parts from friends. I am trying to keep this on the low buck side.

[70LonghornCST]

Rust can be an evasive foe. I remember finding small rust specks poking their heads just barely above the paint's surface. After exploring, I found that the rust had spawned deep below and festered its way up. What appears as "not too bad" can often become a learning experience such as yours. You will do fine welding in those patch panels and will gain valuable experience in doing so. Besides, nothing can compare to the intrinsic feeling of acomplishment that one earns from doing a project such as this. Take your time, learn, and most important, enjoy the experience.

[19723DR]

During the week I removed the truck bed and decided to attack the cab's problems. I spent the majority of my weekend working on the right side of the cab. While I'm waiting for my parts I had to order, I thought I'd work on the inner rocker. I also cut the cab floor out. Hopefully my parts will be here by next weekend and I can have the right side put together.










I now see where my rust problems came from. It seems that the previous owner had the ingenious idea of cutting speaker holes in the kick panels, obviously we all know reasons why we don't do that. Check this out:

[19723DR]

Here is my inner rocker,



and what is left of my front cab support


70LonghornCST--I'm taking my time on this project; and yes, I am enjoying it. I tend to think of this project as being my anger management.

[72BlckButy]

Good luck with the project!

[19723DR]

quick update. The parts that I ordered showed up on Friday. So I spent some time on Saturday and Sunday and I installed my passenger floor, cab corner and rocker panel. Here are some pics.

[19723DR]

A few more









Next weekend I'll start on the driver's side.

[19723DR]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Good luck with the project!

Thanks, I realize that I have a long way to go, but this truck is going to be pretty sweet when I get it finished.

I'll feel much better when I can get rid of all the rust and I can concentrate on the suspention and paint.

[Clyde78]

I witnessed the ugliness in person. It looks much better with the new sheet metal.

[19723DR]

Originally Posted by Clyde78

I witnessed the ugliness in person. It looks much better with the new sheet metal.

Thanks, Matt
I'm glad you dropped my last night and had time to stay. I was starting to think something was wrong with that 350. I guess it was just the bad gas that fouled the plugs. New gas and plugs and it runs like a champ.

[19723DR]

I got a bunch of stuff done this weekend.
I did some body work on the cab corner, I got the door on and set. A few weeks ago, I ordered a new set of drop spindles-they finally came in last week, so today I decided to put in the drop spindles and pull the springs. I also cleaned up the A-arms and painted them black. While I was at it, I put new brake pads in on the front.

[19723DR]

I also pulled out the rear springs and I took the exhaust from the cherrybombs out. When I got done, I pulled it onto the street to clean up and it looked good, so I snaped a few pics. With in the half hour I got done, it started pouring rain and it will last through tomorrow.
Right now it is sitting on the bump stops and I've not yet made up my mind to go with static drop or air suspention.
I'm amazed at the difference of the stock hieght and just removing the springs. AMAZING what one day will make.






I had to put 2x4's in the A-arms so that my exhaust wouldn't scrape. I'm only about 3/4 inch off the ground.





This Cheyenne is starting to look like one of my projects.