Author Topic: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special  (Read 4694 times)

Offline BADGE73

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1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« on: June 30, 2020, 06:54:39 PM »
Hi Fellas! This has been a long time coming for me as this square body was my Grandpa's. He left it to me when he passed away many years ago and I have just now been able to unearth it and bring it home. He was the only owner of this truck, bought it brand new in 1973 with the camper shell and all. Unfortunately, camper has been long gone. My Grandpa and I were extremely close, he was head county mechanic and the Fire Chief for over 30 years. I grew up on his lap, driving this thing up and down the canyon to get the mail with him.  This restore will be a long process, it won't be to wild as I want this to look just like it did in 73 when it rolled out the doors down in Fremont, CA. Currently all I have done is clean it, flush the entire coolant system, change the rear differential fluid and put in a new thermostat. More to come...

 
« Last Edit: June 30, 2020, 06:58:59 PM by BADGE73 »
"Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved."

Offline Mike81K10

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2020, 07:26:31 PM »
Look forward to your progress on your sentimental build.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2020, 11:08:01 PM »
Congrats on your project and progress!

Please keep us posted, we love seeing things come together!
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline BADGE73

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2020, 02:20:34 PM »
Also, I am no mechanic. So aside from the internet and the mountains of manuals, service guides and schematics. I will most certainty be reading this forum and asking questions. For the most part, it looks like everyone is really helpful around here.
"Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved."

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2020, 04:07:27 PM »
Yeah, for the most part no one's really cranky, until one fails to read the advice given and blathers nonsense... ::)

I just read the build sheet, came with some nice options!

Looks like the only thing missing is the A/C compressor, which, if I lived in western WA would only go on a few times a year.

Regardless, I would restore it if possible. Perhaps using a smaller unit. The stock units were oversized IMHO.

You'll be glad for those few hot days.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline BADGE73

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2020, 05:20:37 PM »
Yeah, for the most part no one's really cranky, until one fails to read the advice given and blathers nonsense... ::)

I just read the build sheet, came with some nice options!

Looks like the only thing missing is the A/C compressor, which, if I lived in western WA would only go on a few times a year.

Regardless, I would restore it if possible. Perhaps using a smaller unit. The stock units were oversized IMHO.

You'll be glad for those few hot days.

No problem here listening to advice! Yea the A/C compressor was taken out by my grandpa after some issues with it. He just capped it off and never fixed it. Because I want to use this as an everyday driver, I will be looking at options for A/C and a smaller one seems ideal.

My next item I am tackling this week is the temperature sending wire or at least I hope that is why the temp gauge in the cab isn't working. I already put in a new switch, however the wire is chewed, tapped and corroded. Any advice? Or know a quick link on here to read up on?
"Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved."

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2020, 11:55:56 AM »
Good call on the A/C.

With the ignition on ground the sender wire, you should see the needle jump.

That means the gauge is working, if not, look for B+ to the gauge.

You'll find the search engine on this site very effective, there's a lot of stuff posted about troubleshooting gauges.



1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline macr0w

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2020, 11:35:55 AM »
Love that truck.
Nicely optioned.  8)

Offline BADGE73

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2020, 06:55:51 PM »
Good call on the A/C.

With the ignition on ground the sender wire, you should see the needle jump.

That means the gauge is working, if not, look for B+ to the gauge.

You'll find the search engine on this site very effective, there's a lot of stuff posted about troubleshooting gauges.

Johnny Boy, it was indeed a bad gauge. Replaced with a new one from   and all is good again. However now I have a leak coming from the lower nipple on the coolant overlow tank. Almost a daily driver again!
"Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved."

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2020, 08:50:19 PM »
Awesome! One down!

I bought a '71 Kingswood Wagon, SB400/TH400/Limited slip rear end, tow package for 80.00 in '80.

Guy was filling up at a station I worked at, threw his hands up when the 'brand new EXXON battery was dead again!!

After the transaction, I looked at the battery, they had set it on a sharp screw, and it wore a hole in the bottom.

I took a hot tip carving tool, melted some similar plastic into the hole, filled it with acid, and drove it till I sold it a few years later.

Try that on your tank... 8)
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Mike81K10

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2020, 01:43:20 PM »
I bought an 07 Tahoe that was an FBI Vehicle at auction. The plastic reservoir tank under the alternate battery tray on the drivers side by the grill had been used for special equipment (that was removed prior to the auction) and it had a decent size hole that was apparently from a screw that had mounted the equipment. It was extremely difficult to replace so I cleaned up the hole and used JB Weld (for plastics) to seal it.

That JB weld worked like a dream. Very sold fix and that was about 1.5 years ago. Still good as new for a cheap and easy fix.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin

Offline BADGE73

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2020, 04:44:27 PM »
Sorry fellas, I didn't make things clear on this. It is just leaking from the hose part that connects to the nipple end under the coolant overflow tank. I bought a new hose and clamps today, hoping that does the job!
"Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved."

Offline bd

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2020, 06:40:43 PM »
Check the plastic reservoir nipple for casting ridges.  Casting irregularities can cause a new hose to leak as well.  You may need to smooth it out.
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline BADGE73

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2020, 12:05:18 PM »
UPDATE: Local auto parts store came through and the new hose and clamps worked much better than the OEM ones. No more leaking and today I am driving it as my everyday driver finally!

Parts:
Prestone Hose 24"x3/8"
Part # RT0308

"Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved."

Offline Mike81K10

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Re: 1973 Cheyenne C20 Camper Special
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2020, 08:12:47 PM »
Congrats!
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin