New here, with new project

[Colby]

Hello all, I've been snooping around for awhile and figured I might as well register because I'm sure I'm going to have plenty of questions over the next couple months.

I just started tearing down my 73 Chevy Cheyenne Shortbox for a frame up rebuild.  This truck was purchased new by my Dad in 73', but he sold it to a guy in 77' when he purchased a new one.  I found it and bought it back from that guy about a year ago.  It has been sitting since 91'.  When I get it done, it will be my daily driver and I hope to be able to give it to my 4 year old son when he turns sixteen. 

My Dad and I will be doing the restoration together in his garage, so it should be a fun winter project for us.  I hope to have it done this spring as the snow goes away, but we'll see how it goes.  We have a pile of new parts including new doors, fenders, trim, all new rubber, new carpet, body mounts, bushings and many other things.  I will be cannibalizing my wife's 02' Denali and swapping the 6.0L and all the goodies over to the 73'.  Also hoping to do the one piece door windows, a rear slider, lift and 35" tires with 18" wheels.  We started the tear down last weekend and hope to have the frame ready to go to media blasting by next week.  When the frame is done, we will haul the body over to swap out with the blaster so that we can try to get the roller done and start mocking up the 6.0 before the body comes back.  Other than the blasting, we plan to do every stitch of work ourselves.

I look forward to getting to know some of you and appreciate the info that you put on this forum for guys like me to learn from.





Later, Shawn

[1982 Daily Driver]

Welcome to the site from South Carolina.

[mehunter1]

Welcome from Oklahoma

[pholliday1]

Welcome from from NY, Thats just a cool project good luck and keep us posted.

[blazing816]

Welcome from Michigan.....Good Luck!!!

[rhino]

It should be a great project. have fun with your dad. I put a lsx in my last project. there not that bad. dont forget to take those seats from the Denali. you can put them in the truck, Youll Probably have to move the tank to he rear though. anyway good luck.  Oh and welcome

[Colby]

Thanks for the Welcome guys.

Got the interior stripped, all the glass out and am hoping to pull the engine and drive train this week.  With any luck I'll haul the frame to the blaster on Friday.

Shawn

[bake74]

    I will be cannibalizing my wife's 02' Denali and swapping the 6.0L and all the goodies over to the 73'.

     Your wife does know about this correct.   joking, we will love to see your progress and help wherever we can.

[Colby]

     Your wife does know about this correct.   joking, we will love to see your progress and help wherever we can.
[/quote]

Am I supposed to tell her???  She might not let me.  A wise man told me once that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

[PromiseKeeper]

welcome from Ohio. Have fun with your Dad and take lots of pictures!

[pholliday1]

updates?

[Colby]

I have made some progress.  Here are some pic's.

Also, I found out that the truck is actually a 74' not a 73'.  I found my Dad's original warranty card in the glove box with his name and address on it from the day he bought the truck.

Got the rest of the front clip removed and the front and rear glass.


Took awhile to get the rear U-Bolts off.  Finally ended up just cutting them, which is fine since we have new ones with the lift kit.


Part way through the cab stripping.  I've got everything out except the column, wiring and heater box.


Finally got the cab free of the frame.


The cab is in great shape with no rust in the floorboards or the rockers.  The only spot that has an issue is a small hole in the right rear cab corner.


Pulled the engine, tranny and t-case this morning.  Got the cab off the frame and on to some saw horses.




I think I have about 1 more hour of pulling fuel lines, brake lines and a couple other random things and I'm through with stripping the frame.  I'm planning on loading it up on Friday and taking it to the blaster in Denver.


Thats it for now.  Still looking for some random pieces that I'm going to need.  Also trying to start thinking about colors.

I was just going to do a simple "make it look decent" restoration, but I think we've officially gone beyond that point.

Shawn

[rhino]

looking good

[bake74]

Also, I found out that the truck is actually a 74' not a 73'.  I found my Dad's original warranty card in the glove box with his name and address on it from the day he bought it.

I was just going to do a simple "make it look decent" restoration, but I think we've officially gone beyond that point.

Shawn

      Welcome to the 74 club.   . 
      It seems like we all start off on just getting it running right and looking decent, but those of us who love our trucks just can not stop making them better.

[pholliday1]

Yea.... Your done for, its a sickness/ in a good way.  looks great!