1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne

[A.W.Gonya]

A few years ago I let my 1968 C/10 CST move on to a new home. After a year or so I got the itch again to have another old truck, I found a 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne by accident on Craigslist. The current owner was in the process of parting it out, If I hadn't stepped in, Old Blue was headed to the crusher.

I suppose this was a real barn find, and a real adventure bringing it home on a trailer that was "almost" big enough.


In November 2012.

The owner kept the 4-bolt main 350, and the exhaust manifolds, flywheel, most of the brackets...etc, but I was able to get the TH350 and the intake manifold that came with the truck.

Summer '13 found this 350 on craigslist, numbers make it a 69-7? something "010" block, correct enough for the truck.


Everything that was easy and common about these trucks twenty years ago is now scarce as heck... it took months of digging, trading and e-baying to find all the correct stuff. But almost every engine part is now correct to the truck.


One step closer, just found the proper air cleaner last week, and another set of exhaust manifolds.


So that's where we are at today, hopefully she will be running soon.

[C-Wade7]

Pretty much my favorite truck body style made. I had a '69 and '72 and now have my father in laws '68 his dad bought new. After he passed I got it home but have too many irons in the fire to get to it. It has a 454, turbo 400 and a zoom lock 4.56 rear end. Mean as hell to about 65 them it gets to winding up pretty tight.

[FWurth]

I really liked the 69 and 70 GMC s that I had over the years. They were the first really fully equipped with the creature comforts in pick up trucks. The only problem they had and the reason I didn't keep them is that the fuel consumption was poor. I think that can be blamed on the weak and easily worn out torque converts that GM used at the time. It worked ok for about the first 70000 miles or so then it would loose enough efficiency that the mileage would slowly slip. At the time every one blamed the carb and the fuel but later a transmission rebuilder proved it to me. Wouldn't mind finding another in decent shape. F.J.W.

[Andrew Mackey]

My '88 Silverado Barn Door R-20 Suburban has the 454 with the 400 trans. Bullet proof combo. It gets 10 on a gallon, wether towing 3 tons on a trailer or just me in the drivers seat, it don't care. Sure is a torque monster though, it maintains speed no matter what the angle of climb. one thing I wish it had - a Rochester Quadrajet carb. The factory fuel injector does not let the engine breathe especially on acceleration. A quad would give better milage with light loads, and plenty of power under throttle. air pollution BS did it in

A.W.Gonya, looks like you are getting along with the resto just fine. How are the body panels and interior? Suspension? make sure to look at the ball joints, they are known to come apart, if severely worn. Relay rod and idler arm wear can make for sloppy steering as well (been there-done that). keep us posted!
Andrew

[A.W.Gonya]

With the truck needing new lines, shocks and a new exhaust system, along with un-doing some previous modifications I got some help today and we pulled the bed.