Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jchav62 · 02-20-2008, 04:30 AM

Well as many of you know, last weekend we went down to Las Vegas to pick up the latest project. She needs alot of work, but it will be done. It's a 73 Cheyenne Super 10...It has a 350 with a th400, positrac rearend, factory tach and a cool stance. I have the sheet metal for the front already. Work on it will start probably this weekend or next if all goes well... I have a few questions...I was looking at the options list..Turns out this truck originally came with a 454. It came with every option available, I think..the list is full...454, th400 trans, A/C, Power steering, positrac, tachometer, trim package, the works.

My questions for the gurus are:

1-How common was it back then for a half-ton, shortbed truck to come with a 454?

2-What gear ratio might I have?

3-Rare or not?

Here's some pics of the load-up...Thanks! -jc

abebummy26 · 02-20-2008, 06:00 AM

Looks good to me. how bout a pic of the glove box?

**old Rusty C10** · 02-20-2008, 09:50 AM

looks like alot of work but hey these trucks are a labor of love

jchav62 · 02-20-2008, 10:08 PM

Any gurus want to take a stab at these q's?

1-How common was it back then for a half-ton, shortbed truck to come with a 454?

2-What gear ratio might I have?

3-Rare or not?

andresco50 · 02-20-2008, 10:34 PM

Few rusty... It's lowered???? Woow a 454????

jchav62 · 02-20-2008, 10:55 PM

It's lowered a little...about 2-3". It has a 350 now, but according to the build sheet, it originally came with a 454, th400 tranny, and a positrac rearend...

Jonboy · 02-21-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchav62

Any gurus want to take a stab at these q's?

1-How common was it back then for a half-ton, shortbed truck to come with a 454?

2-What gear ratio might I have?

3-Rare or not?

I had a 73 SWB with a factory 454. I don't know how common it was, but I would say it might be desirable. I think it would be more common in the earlier years, as I think it was dropped as a 1/2 ton option around '78 or '79. I think 3.31 (or something similar) was the standard ratio, but mine had the "Optional Gear ratio" on the fenderwell sticker, and they were low. Like 4.10 low. There are a lot of 73-74 pecularities, as you have found with your dash bezel. My 73 had a cardboard dash cover, instead of the padded vinyl. (mine was a custom with few options. It had 454, TH400, gauges, optional rear, and a lighter. That's pretty much it.). The rain gutters were optional on the very early trucks. Since your truck is pretty much loaded, I would think it would be a pretty desirable truck. Another thing to keep in mind it that by '73, the 454 was only somewhere around 235 HP, so it was no barn burner. That is pretty easy to fix, though.

jchav62 · 02-21-2008, 12:37 AM

Thanks for the info, Jonboy. I'm learning a lot about these 73's and 74's. I know the truck is a little beat up, but it's the project truck I've had with original build stickers and mostly original parts, minus the 454. The trucks I've had before were all Frankenstein's...including my 62. With the 73, I think I'm going to make it close to original...I'm gonna run it with the 350 it has now but I'm gonna keep my eye open for a 454 to build for it... I know the smogged down, big blocks from the early 70's weren't barnburners...but I'll build one with a little power...

**Captkaos** · 02-21-2008, 05:36 AM

BBC were more popular in the beginning when gas was cheap, but I would say it is a keeper. 73-74 trucks are pretty much unique in comparison to the later models. There are several things that won't interchange. BBC's with SWB wasn't as common as LWB, but they are out there.
All a 73 454 needs for more power is a bigger came, they came with oval ports.

The BBC was discontinued after 1979.

84 400 · 02-21-2008, 08:00 AM

Cool project! this should be a nice one to watch and cool to hear a "stockish" build

**slepysal** · 02-21-2008, 09:20 AM

Glad your trip went good. Im looking forward to seeing the build !

jchav62 · 02-21-2008, 09:59 PM

I hope it all comes together good. It has been so far and we haven't done much work to it yet. Just rounding up parts. I scored at the junkyard yesterday. I got a perfect hood off of a '74...Cherry!! With the hinges I paid $35! That same truck also had a pretty nice set of door panels, got em both for $15! I know they are not the "Super" door panels, but they were too nice to pass up and I can run those for awhile. What's the dye/paint everyone uses to paint their plastic and vinyl parts?
I also got a few parts from my brother-in-law...He had a pretty nice 73/74 "Super" grille that has the chrome on it, with '454' on it...he also had a tailgate that was pretty staight. From LMC, I got the headlight bezels and new grille trim... now all I need is some time now...

02-20-2008, 04:30 AM	#1
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... Well as many of you know, last weekend we went down to Las Vegas to pick up the latest project. She needs alot of work, but it will be done. It's a 73 Cheyenne Super 10...It has a 350 with a th400, positrac rearend, factory tach and a cool stance. I have the sheet metal for the front already. Work on it will start probably this weekend or next if all goes well... I have a few questions...I was looking at the options list..Turns out this truck originally came with a 454. It came with every option available, I think..the list is full...454, th400 trans, A/C, Power steering, positrac, tachometer, trim package, the works. My questions for the gurus are: 1-How common was it back then for a half-ton, shortbed truck to come with a 454? 2-What gear ratio might I have? 3-Rare or not? Here's some pics of the load-up...Thanks! -jc Attached Images __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4 Last edited by jchav62; 02-20-2008 at 04:32 AM.

02-20-2008, 06:00 AM	#2
abebummy26 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Haven, MO Posts: 1,243	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... Looks good to me. how bout a pic of the glove box? __________________ -Lincoln 1987 GMC S15 (soon to be a chevy clone) 2.5l, 4 speed, no ps, no pb, no ac Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver. Spoken by Cletus the hillbilly I like stickers... a whole bunch.

02-20-2008, 09:50 AM	#3
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,316	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... looks like alot of work but hey these trucks are a labor of love __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

02-20-2008, 10:08 PM	#4
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... Any gurus want to take a stab at these q's? 1-How common was it back then for a half-ton, shortbed truck to come with a 454? 2-What gear ratio might I have? 3-Rare or not? __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4

02-20-2008, 10:34 PM	#5
andresco50 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeworth, Fl Posts: 633	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... Few rusty... It's lowered???? Woow a 454???? __________________ 2001 silverado 2wd 2003 silverado 4wd 1975 scottsdale c10 (project)

02-20-2008, 10:55 PM	#6
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... It's lowered a little...about 2-3". It has a 350 now, but according to the build sheet, it originally came with a 454, th400 tranny, and a positrac rearend... __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4

02-21-2008, 12:37 AM	#8
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... Thanks for the info, Jonboy. I'm learning a lot about these 73's and 74's. I know the truck is a little beat up, but it's the project truck I've had with original build stickers and mostly original parts, minus the 454. The trucks I've had before were all Frankenstein's...including my 62. With the 73, I think I'm going to make it close to original...I'm gonna run it with the 350 it has now but I'm gonna keep my eye open for a 454 to build for it... I know the smogged down, big blocks from the early 70's weren't barnburners...but I'll build one with a little power... __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4

02-21-2008, 05:36 AM	#9
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... BBC were more popular in the beginning when gas was cheap, but I would say it is a keeper. 73-74 trucks are pretty much unique in comparison to the later models. There are several things that won't interchange. BBC's with SWB wasn't as common as LWB, but they are out there. All a 73 454 needs for more power is a bigger came, they came with oval ports. The BBC was discontinued after 1979. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

02-21-2008, 08:00 AM	#10
84 400 Sb 400 club Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NH / MA Posts: 2,746	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... Cool project! this should be a nice one to watch and cool to hear a "stockish" build __________________ 1984 chevy c10, built 400sb,.(SOLD) 77 K10 Project / daily driver "The Grinch" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=318363 1956 Willys Wagon (327 chevy) Project (Now Buick 225) 1980 Corvette L-48 4 speed 1992 Mustang GT built 5.0 5 speed 1985 C10 LWB Sold 1982 K10 SWB plow truck Parted out 1986 D30 M1028 fire brush truck Parted out

02-21-2008, 09:20 AM	#11
slepysal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Jose NOR*CAL Posts: 3,080	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... Glad your trip went good. Im looking forward to seeing the build ! __________________ 1960 Apache long bed fleet L6 250 Clifford intake 2 bbl carb. Langdon cast headers with dual exhaust and bellflower tips. T-5 5 speed, power steering and power disc brakes. "Over, Around or through it... "

02-21-2008, 09:59 PM	#12
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Re: Picked up the '73 from LV...pics and questions... I hope it all comes together good. It has been so far and we haven't done much work to it yet. Just rounding up parts. I scored at the junkyard yesterday. I got a perfect hood off of a '74...Cherry!! With the hinges I paid $35! That same truck also had a pretty nice set of door panels, got em both for $15! I know they are not the "Super" door panels, but they were too nice to pass up and I can run those for awhile. What's the dye/paint everyone uses to paint their plastic and vinyl parts? I also got a few parts from my brother-in-law...He had a pretty nice 73/74 "Super" grille that has the chrome on it, with '454' on it...he also had a tailgate that was pretty staight. From LMC, I got the headlight bezels and new grille trim... now all I need is some time now... __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4 Last edited by jchav62; 02-21-2008 at 10:00 PM.



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