Back in 2003, Chris Powell was working on a blue and white, factory big-block '72 Chevy longbed that was 'bagged, but having owned a '67 shortbed, the '72's length wasn't sitting too well with him. He put the word out that he was looking for a shortbed frame and box to convert the Cheyenne. One day, a friend of his called and said he found what he was looking for-it was even blue and white.
Chris burnt the floor on the way out of his house to get to his friend's shop and check out what he found. When he got there, a complete '72 Cheyenne Super shortbed was looking back at him. The Chevy ran and drove (not well) and was a decent survivor that just needed some TLC along with a few parts here and there. Having just bought their first house and a truck project of his own, which left his pockets a bit light, Chris offered his friend a trade for a set of 20-inch wheels and tires, which he accepted. Now he had to tell Jenn, but if you read about her truck already, you can guess how much "trouble" he was in. (Chris, she's a keeper!)
The stock 350 turned out to be in better than expected shape, and Chris soon sold his longbed project to buy a new 700-R4 from Jasper Racing as well as a TV cable and lockup kit from Bowtie Overdrives. Next, he rebuilt the 12-bolt with 3.73:1 gears and put in a new Auburn posi. Chris spent Thanksgiving of 2004 on his back with his welder fabbing up a new exhaust system with a tubing bender, straight sticks of aluminized tubing from Jegs, and a couple of Flowmasters from eBay. With Christmas around the corner, he told Jenn and his dad he wanted a set of Early Classic Enterprises 6-inch drop rear coils and 1 1/2-inch drop fronts. Chris bought himself the rest of the 4/6 drop kit using his Christmas bonus and money from side work. To round out the new stance, he dug up a set of 15-inch Rallye wheels.
Chris wanted to retain the survivor feel of the truck for a few years while upgrading it with nicer pieces than the ones in and on it. Finding all-original, decent trim for the Cheyenne Super was an uphill battle, but he got a nice grille shell from a guy who bought a new one. After a thorough interior cleaning, he replaced the haggard door panels with decent swap meet items, bought a new dash pad, reupholstered the bench with a new houndstooth cover, and installed a hand-me-down CD player.
Chris says it was a fun challenge to find good used parts that matched the truck without making it too nice. He does plan on a full redo at some point, but he and Jenn are too busy enjoying their new house, each other, and driving their C-10s-daily, that is!