At some point in time, we've all been in the situation where we wanted something different than what we actually had. Whether that translates into a particular job, type or size of television, or wife or husband, we have the choice to make due or, depending on the severity, do something about it! In the case of a pickup truck, unless it's a family heirloom, the effects of not wanting aren't so drastic, but more importantly, it's quite easy to address-you either unload it or modify to your liking.
For Bill Long, it probably wasn't so much a matter of "not" liking his '72 GMC, rather it was more a case of liking the front-end treatment of the '67-68 Chevys much more. And unlike the huge effort required to make a shortbed big-window out of a longbed small-window, addressing the frontal styling, unlike certain domestic issues, is a simple swap. As you can see, though, Bill did a lot more than just change the hood and grille on his half-ton.
While the underpinnings on the GMC didn't experience any type of wild makeover-other than Early Classic Enterprises dropped springs and spindles-the drivetrain is anything but what the truck originally came equipped with. For starters, the stock rearend was swapped for a 9-inch from Currie, complete with their big-brake upgrade and a limited-slip 3.89 third member. Further forward, a Turbo 400 was rebuilt (with help from Bob Massey), but minus the tailhousing, as a Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive was hung from the rear. Completing the lineup is the 620hp offering from GM Performance Parts-the brute-force ZZ572 big-block, which not only looks right at home in the '72, it gets the job done quick-like if you know what we mean.
When it came time to make the '68 Chevy parts "blend" with the '72 GMC parts, Long handed the truck over to Marvin Doke at First Class Collision in Grove, Oklahoma. After all the bodywork was complete, the sheetmetal was covered in Spies-Hecker Victory Red (an '03 Chevy truck color). With no side trim used, the truck relies on new bumpers, portions of the grille (all from Kenny's Trucks), and the 17-inch Coddington Smoothies to help break up the red sea.
The final portion of the G-10's buildup, its inner sanctum, features a few items that Bill is particularly proud of. If you take a close look, you'll see that while looking somewhat stock, the dash panel, glovebox door, and radio faceplate are actually all the handy CNC millwork of the owner. The aluminum bezel houses Auto Meter carbon fiber-faced gauges, while the radio fascia keeps a Kenwood head unit secured nice and snug. As for the upholstery, it was put together by Larry Gray at Gray's Auto Trim in Bill's hometown of Joplin, Missouri. The bench seat is stock, the door panels are RodDoors, and everything has been covered in cream-colored leather. A Lecarra Mark 9 wheel atop an ididit column, floor coverings from Auto Custom Carpet, and a Vintage Air system complete the package.