Chevy truck- How far down the rabbit hole do I go?

[Dantilla]

My dad purchased this truck brand-new.
It has been in the family since day 1. Very low miles for its age, but some pretty hard miles.
All original. As far as I know, the valve covers have never been off.

It is now mine, time to freshen it up. I will use it as a normal work truck, driving it on a regular basis.
I’m thinking of setting the original engine & tranny aside, and getting a new Vortec crate engine and overdrive transmission.

This series of Chevy trucks, from 1967 through 1972, have seen values rising quickly.
Perfect examples are bringing in 50k at auction.
I do not want a perfect example. I want a solid, nice-looking work truck.
Do I:
Just drop a new engine/tranny in it, and squirt it with shiny paint?
Take it down to the bare frame, and build a new truck?
Where is my “just right” in the middle?

[look 171]

I had a 72 Gm one ton, Long Horn 8.9" bed back in college. Almost exactly like yours, but it had leaf springs and 4 head lights. I blew a hole on the side of the 350 and someone bought it from me right there and then.

They are thirsty. I had intake, exhaust and 4br carb on it so it jammed. My mpg also jammed to about 7-8 mpg. Drove allover the western US in it with my girlfriend. My was painted, the interior was very nice, no tears on the seats and the metal dash was painted over by me.

I think you are on the right track with the new engine and tranny. It will wake up the truck for sure and save fuel at the same time with the modern 5 spd. Personally, I would paint it because I really dislike that rusted or they call it patina look. Install AC too if possible. If I were to do it all over again, that would be the way to go along with rear disc brakes. One thing I have to ask is the difference between an LS engine compared to a Vortex 350? One product more tq (for turcks?), the other more HP?

[oldE]

A fifty year old family heirloom!
If you are going to work the truck, to the engine and transmission, I would add:
u-joints , axle seals and new brakes and lines.
I second the "I hate patina", so do a decent re-spray.
This might be time to rebuild the box floor.
On the inside, you'll want new floor mats and at least have the seats rebuilt. I used to hate those seats after a half hour or so.

Best
Les

[pavulon]

How far down the rabbit hole? Way, way down. It’s a connection to your dad.

[billybek]

Looks very solid and a great starting point with family history.

I like the idea of a vortec transplant. Maybe a 6.0 that makes about 300 hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque.

I also like the idea of a brake upgrade.

Going through the difs, trans and transfer case probably wouldn't be a bad idea either. I am all for spending other peoples money!

That would be a good looking truck with some new paint on it.

[masraum]

Decent repaint.
Mechanical freshening of engine and drivetrain (I like the crate motor idea, especially if you can go the route of something with fuel injection).
seats and interior - comfy and in good shape, but it's a work truck, so don't go crazy.

Keep it looking like a mostly original but well cared for vehicle, ie, no crazy paint, no crazy seats, no crazy stereo.

If the brakes are good, then fine, leave them, but if you get a power upgrade and the brakes are just OK, then you may want to upgrade. There's probably some sort of upgrade that involves swapping stock parts from another car/truck so you can buy stock parts when things break.

[Seahawk]

A friend of mine owns this website: https://www.stovebolt.com/

The site is great and the knowledge base there Pelicanesque.

[asphaltgambler]

Really depends on what your end expectations are. There is something to be said about leaving the outside just the way it is. But doing a LS swap with trans is a good choice. I've owned/ restored 17 of the 68-72 series. I could probably tell you what size / diameter of every fastener on that thing.

[Brown747]

Nice truck and history. It will go another 50 yrs! I saw this one at the Narrows car show 2 yrs ago. Restored and painted by owner on Fox Isl.

[asphaltgambler]

Has the right wheels for that. One of very few that look good other than the OE steel sport wheels

[fanaudical]

If it were me, I'd be going pretty far down that rabbit hole. I like the idea of building a modern drivetrain into an older body vehicle. As long as it's apart - paint it, redo the interior, add amenities like AC and decent stereo, a little sound-deadening, etc.

[Scott Douglas]

Just want to say, that is a cool truck.
Good luck with your plans for it.

[look 171]

I might even have all the stainless bed fasteners I never got to install in mine. I milled the wood bed myself with the idea of it being a nice clean truck. I needed it to make money to tuition and build my business. I never had the time to switch out the Stainless hardware. Let me see if it still there under my parent's basement. If I find it I will send it to you. I have all the off set SS washers for it too.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Brown747

I saw this one at the Narrows car show 2 yrs ago. Restored and painted by owner on Fox Isl.

Here are some more pics of that beauty.

https://showroom.auction123.com/vehicle_selling_solutions/inventory/11537/1972/Chevrolet/K20/CKE242J154454.html

[vash]

Straight down the bunny hole. Don’t do it up like the black one.


Go factory restored. Maybe not the drive-train. Oh, modern AC. . Keep the wheels.

[RANDY P]

There is no middle.

You just keep finding little things you 'improve' on, or fix until your wallet is empty. My own 89 this year:

- new 700r4
-3.73 motive posi ( old rear broke on way to dump, LOL)
-Full Sanden AC conversion
- now working on repaint (isn't good enough)
-full rebuild of braking system (just, because)


This is on top of already a recent GM crate motor, full suspension w/ Bilstein and correct lowering pieces.

The kicker? I just wanted a 'nice driver'

Recent


Day I bought it

[RANDY P]

If I notice something out of whack in any car I own, no matter how insignificant, I fix it.

Someone who doesn't like cars can get away with middle, 'good enough', etc. To car guys being 'good enough' like like being kind of pregnant. We are programmed so it's all or nothing.

[Mr. Merk]

Since it's a family heirloom survivor. I'm on the side of preservation and using it as a truck.

If it ain't broke....wait until it is and then upgrade it, but not so much it isn't your dad's truck anymore.

Keep the wheels! You may be shocked what a good professional detailer/gloss enhancement does to it. Embrace the patina.

I like driving improvements that can't be seen, like throttlebody injection, internal engine work, and updated lamps (Koito H4) from Daniel Stern.

[Dan J]

1) Do no harm
2) Don't do silly sh&t
Great looking truck

[Dantilla]

Thanks for all the input, guys.
I'm pretty familiar with these trucks. I sold this one a few years ago, since Four-wheel-drive is mandatory where I live now.

Since these trucks are so popular, parts availability is excellent.

Originally Posted by billybek

Maybe a 6.0 that makes about 300 hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque.

I had a 2001 Chevy with the 6.0. That would be a good upgrade for this truck.
I may stick with a Vortec 5.7, but both the 5.3 and 6.0 are excellent options.

Originally Posted by masraum

.... especially if you can go the route of something with fuel injection.

Fuel Injection will be mandatory.

Originally Posted by Seahawk

A friend of mine owns this website: https://www.stovebolt.com/

The site is great and the knowledge base there Pelicanesque.

Wow. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Brown747

... Restored and painted by owner on Fox Isl.

I used to live on Fox Island! My first house. If there was ever an "Ugliest house on Fox Island" contest, if my old place didn't win, it would definitely be among the finalists.

Originally Posted by look 171

I might even have all the stainless bed fasteners I never got to install in mine. I milled the wood bed myself with the idea of it being a nice clean truck. I needed it to make money to tuition and build my business. I never had the time to switch out the Stainless hardware. Let me see if it still there under my parent's basement. If I find it I will send it to you. I have all the off set SS washers for it too.

Wow. Are the Pelicanheads the greatest, or what?!

Originally Posted by Mr. Merk

... but not so much it isn't your dad's truck anymore.

It isn't my dad's truck anymore.
This will be the biggest struggle. One look around my garage will tell you I usually don't give a rip about originality. My car/truck, I'll do what I want.
This one is different.
I really like the two-tone paint like the Hugger Orange/White one I sold.
(Useless trivia tidbit: Chevy's Hugger Orange is indistinguishable from Porsche's Tangerine)
I don't care for the "Patina" look. The truck will get fresh paint.
It will get sprayed the solid blue, but I may add the white down the side as a vinyl wrap, so it could be easily peeled off someday, and turned back towards original.
In getting ready to upgrade the other truck, I already have a refurbished dash with factory tach, I already have the wheels that will go on it that I bought for a '68 3/4 ton I also used to have, and still deciding on what transmission.
This truck has the standard 350 with Turbo 350 tranny. Do I keep it an automatic, or convert it to a manual tranny?
I've got an NV4500 sitting in storage, the 5-speed manual tranny that would be perfect. Granny gear 1st, overdrive 5th.
Of course, it gets a bit more complicated doing the swap.

The truck will remain stock height. No massive lift. Just shiny paint, 17" Aluminum wheels with tires a bit wider than stock.
1971 is the first year of factory front disc brakes, so they may be adequate as is.
The exterior will look mostly original. It just needs the power and efficiency of a modern powertrain.


Decisions.... Decisions.....