Forty Years with My Truck

[rpatowers]

I’m the original owner of my 72 short bed step side 4 x 4 and this June will mark my forty-year anniversary with it. I was just 17 when I got it and I'll be 57 in May.

I got my truck in June of 1972. I had just finished by junior year of high school and I’d been working summers and weekends since I was 14. My dad bought my truck for me ($4,200) and I promised to pay him back - which I did. I turned over every paycheck I made to him for the next three years - I just kept a little bit for gas and beer! On the first day of my senior year I drove my new truck into my high school parking lot wearing my new block jacket. Boy, I was Johnny Potatoes! Life just doesn’t get any better than that!

After about a year I put on new tires and chrome rims with baby moon caps. The tires were Armstrong Norsemen (anyone remember those?). I cut and sold firewood in those days (among other jobs) and my truck got quite a workout. I cut wood on a local ranch and I’d load up the bed with green oak, put the truck into four-low, and drive out of the most ungodly-steep places. I’ve also hunted deer a lot (I mean A LOT) with my truck, and I’d bet there’s been over 100 deer hauled in it over the years.

The next thing I put on my truck was a roll bar. I think the brand was “Hobart”, but I may be wrong. Lots of folks put roll bars in their trucks beds in those days – you just don’t see that any more. Then I lifted the truck about 3” by adding more springs in the back (better for those heavy loads of wood) and blocks in the front (I’m not kidding). My truck kept that suspension for about 25 years, until I put in a 4” leaf spring lift about 10 years ago.

Early on I installed a Franz old filter. Those were a filter in which you installed a roll of toilet paper as the filtering element. You were supposed to just change the paper and add a quart of oil every 1000 miles. Other than that, you never were supposed to change the oil. I wonder about the soundness of this practice now, but my oil always looked new and my engine continued to work without problems until it reached about 150,000 miles. Then I had it rebuilt

I’ve had lots of different tires on the truck over the years. During college I had “Concord Deserters.” After that I used Armstrong Tru-Tracks several times. The last two sets were the ubiquitous B. F. Goodrich All Terrain TA Radials. I also had white spoke rims on the truck for awhile – not a good look on my truck.

About then years ago the truck was looking pretty sad and I decided to restore it. I didn’t do a frame-off restoration, but I did quite a lot of work. I first got the frame straitened (I took out a stop light in 1978 (Jack Daniels for breakfast) and the frame had been tweaked a bit ever since). I replaced worn-out body bushings. I installed a Chevy 350 crate engine, a new radiator, and had the transfer case and transmission rebuilt. I put in a new suspension with a 4” lift and Rancho shocks. I had the truck painted inside and out in its original color, which is GM 518 medium green. I had the bench seat re-upholstered and put on a new set of TA radials and the aluminum rims. I’ve kept the truck indoors since them and I must say the old boy still looks pretty good! I’ve continued to use my truck for hunting and general hauling so it has its small dents and scratches, but my truck was made to work and it still does!

It’s now time for me to put more money into my truck. I need to do major work to the brakes and steering. I also want to install some bucket seats (which will be more comfortable for my old back). I’d love to do a frame-off restoration but can’t afford it at this time and, when it really comes down to it, it doesn’t really need it.

Anyway, there’s the story of the life and times of me and my truck. I thought maybe some of you you would enjoy it. I will never sell my truck. I tell people I will be buried in it! I will have one life and one truck!

[rcrahn]

Wow! Great story....Please post any pics you have of it over the years....
This is priceless....

[Billhilly]

Great story! I too would like to see some photo's over the decades! Have you been in the Hayward area the whole time?

[rpatowers]

Here's some pictures. Hope you like them. They're a bit dark, but I hope they will work.

[rpatowers]

Billhilly: yes, I've been in Hayward all of my life.

[BLAZERMAN]

Great story, sounds like you and your truck have been thru a lot together! I cant imagine a 17 year old being able to buy a 4x4 truck these days and paying it off themself... times have sure changed!

[special-K]

I really enjoyed reading your story. That's what it's all about. GM really got it right with these trucks.I have never seen a vehicle with more original owners hanging on to them for so long...like forever. They haven't made any improvements over these trucks that make them any more useful than these. I know so many owners that these were the last truck they ever bought. I wish I could say I still had my first '72 I bought in '73. But,I can say I've always had at least one ever since I had that one.
I love everything about your truck. I just had to sell my '71 K/10 SWB Stepside that I had planned to do up just about like yours. Yeah,I remember the L78-15 Armstrong Norseman. Then came the 11-15 Rhinos...the biggest tire out for years. How about those Gates Commandos? Huh? It was years and years before we got to run on a set of radial off road tires and it was the BFG A/Ts that changed all that. I think your truck would look good with wagon wheels. You gotta put it all in the proper time perspective. Although aluminum slots would have been the killer choice! Man,I remember getting about 20,000 out of a set of tires. My how things have changed. Hey...didn't the last post end the same way?Are we that old yet?

[Stocker]

That's a great story and a beautiful truck you have there! Brought back some memories of my 35 years with the old war wagon....

I had forgotten all about Franz filters. In the mid-sixties I was working part-time in a service station and a guy showed up with a Franz demo. He never could get it to work at all and my boss finally sent him on his way.

[Chevymaniac]

That was a awesome story. I loved the history between you and your first truck. It's nice to see you still have it and are not afraid to use it for what it was made to do. Plus the truck still looks great after all these years. I have not beed around the block as long as you, but my first set of wheels was a 69 GMC 910 2wd long box. It was a beater and had a 267 small block. Ever since than i have fallen in love with these trucks. My most current one is a 72 shortbox stepside 2wd that i will be converting to 4wd. I have told my wife numerous times that i want to be buried with my truck too.

[Zoomad75]

That is a great story. I love the hear about folks that have kept their first ride. My Dad has kept a 57 Chevy since 1958 and a 65 big block Impala he bought new in 65. I can appreciate one kept in the family because of Dad's rides. I can remember he and I taking the Impala to a car show when I was in high school and ran into somebody else that still had their first car they bought brand new. It had a neat hang tag for the rear view mirror inside that read: The last owner of this car was GM. That tag would be just right for your rig. Congrats on the 40 years!

[Newtz67]

Great story and a beautiful truck! Thanks for sharing!

[rjsdad]

Great story and beautiful truck! Wish I had my '71 Blazer I had in high school still.

[coops714x4]

VERY NICE looking truck, and a GREAT story, reminds me of my Grandfather, he bought his very first vehicle in 1949 a 3/4 ton long bed ford, that was his first and ONLY vehicle. he passed away in 1972 and was still driving it the day before he passed.
I remember riding in "old red" when I was a young child watching him shift gears, occasionally he would let me stand in his lap and 'drive' out in the pasture of his farm.
I want to thanks you for sharing your wonderful story with us, and bringing back the memories of my grandpa and his 1 and only truck. May you and your 4 wheeled companion share many more miles together. Coop

[rpatowers]

I'm glad you all enjoyed my story. Thanks for the kind words.

[special-K]

So,how much did you say you'd take? (sorry,but a guy can try can't he?)

[RastaRobb]

I'm with the rest--fantastic story. It doesn't look like it has hauled much wood lately, but it has earned a much deserved rest. Here's to 40 more years!

[argonaut]

That is a sweet pickup, and a great story. The best part is that you're always used the pickup for its intended purpose: as a truck! It seems that a common new vehicle these days, like a pickup, just doesn't have the longevity and staying power of the classics. Simple technology and thick sheetmetal.

I wish I could have owned my pickup since it was new, but sadly I'm not nearly old enough for that . But once I finish the restoration on my K10 I hope to keep driving it until the end.

[allchevy58]

Great story. I do remember the Armstrong tires. Didn't last long on trucks, they lasted for ever on CJ's. Was the brand of rolbar Hickey? I had Hickey brand pushbar and rollbar on my 77' K10. Don't remember the Franz oil filter kit, my wife's 54' Belair has that style from the factory. Could be made by Franz. She has a cartridge in it to replace the roll of toilet paper.
Good looking truck, sounds like you have used it and enjoyed it at the same time. By the way, how many plots do you think you need to buy to be buried with your truck?

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

What an awesome story! Thanks for sharing that's pretty neat. Nice looking truck still looks like it's in great shape for the age and wear and tare it's had. Hope you both get another 40 years together
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[Ledslinger]

Great story. I'm 57 also and have had my 1961 GMC Suburban 4WD since 1978.

I had studded Norseman tires on the back of a 1966 Nova wagon. I bought them from a friend who had them on a Caprice. They just fit in the wheel wells of the Nova. It would go anywhere in the snow.

[71veronica]

Awesome story man. i know ill be keeping my first truck(1971 GMC) also til the day i die.

[Tucson38]

Thanks for posting. I've had my '85 GMC for 27 years now, purchased new. I'm trying to catch up to your record, check back in about 13 years!

[Husker]

Thats cool. Nice looking truck.
Ron

[DirtyLarry]

Neat story and great looking ’72! Not many people can say they have owed a vehicle for 4 decades.

[turp mcspray]

Great story! Thanks for sharing. I have several vehicles that I have owned for 20+ years, none of which were purchased new. Don't ever sell it!