By Ron Ceridono – Images by Chadly Johnson
We all know looks can be deceiving. The transformation of this Chevy pickup goes a long way in proving that point. This project began when a customer, who prefers to remain anonymous, delivered a solid, original 1972 Fleetside pickup to MetalWorks Classic Auto Restoration in Eugene, Oregon. The instructions were simple enough: Convert this C-model, two-wheel-drive longbed truck into the ideal example of a shortbed, four-wheel-drive K-model. Granted, the owner’s instructions were simple enough—the task to be completed was anything but.
As we detailed in the Dec. ’24 issue of Classic Truck Performance, the MetalWorks crew started rebuilding the truck from the ground up. A new Roadster Shop RS4 four-wheel-drive chassis replaced the two-wheel-drive original. Up front is a Currie high-pinion Dana 44 axle; in the rear is a Currie high-pinion Dana 60—both are equipped with 4.11 gears and Detroit Truetrac limited-slip differentials. Driveshafts front and rear were provided by Tom Wood’s Driveshafts in Ogden, Utah. Suspension uses Fox Race Series coilovers and bumpstops along with sway bars at all four corners. Baer brake calipers with drilled, slotted, and vented rotors on both ends are activated by a hydroboosted Wilwood master cylinder. The new chassis rolls on 17×9 Raceline Monster Beadlock wheels rapped with BFGoodrich KM3 35×12.50/17 tires.
Under the hood of the reconfigured pickup is a Chevrolet Performance Parts LT4 from MetalWorks’ inventory of crate engines. Equipped with an Eaton supercharger, spun by a Wegner front drive system, the all-aluminum, 376ci V-8 cranks out 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Ron Davis supplied the aluminum radiator and the intercooler for the supercharger that fit into the modified original core support. MetalWorks’ fabricators created the intake system that uses a K&N filter and the stainless steel exhaust pipes that connect the Ultimate four-tube headers and Flowmaster 50-series mufflers. Auto Trans Design was responsible for building the beefed-up 4L80 overdrive automatic transmission that connects to an Atlas two-speed transfer case.
Before bodywork began the factory sheetmetal was chemically stripped to remove all the paint, primer, and rust. Despite the fact that the truck was in excellent condition, some corrosion repair was necessary to the bottoms of the doors, rocker panels, and cab supports. In the engine compartment new firewall panels were fabricated to eliminate all the unnecessary factory holes and the inner fender panels were modified to clear the shock towers for the coilovers. Turning their attention to the exterior the fuel filler was shaved as the stock gas tank was removed from the cab in favor of a rear-mounted stainless steel replacement from Tanks. Fuel is now added through a filler behind the left rear taillight. Next came the types of attention to detail that MetalWorks has become famous for, making every surface arrow straight, ensuring all the body panels fit together perfectly and making the door gaps even. Other body mods included minor trimming of the front fender openings for tire clearance, removing the stake pockets from the replacement short wheelbase pickup bed, and filling the holes in the top rails.
With the bodywork done the bare sheetmetal was thoroughly cleaned then given four coats of PPG epoxy primer. Next came five coats of polyester primer/surfacer applications that were block sanded until all the surfaces were laser straight. Finally, three coats of basecoat in the original Hawaiian Blue and Frost While color combo were applied followed by five coats of clear. To complement the exterior color the inner surfaces of the bed were covered with Raptor bed liner that was tinted blue, then a Pro Tech aluminum toolbox and custom spare tire mount were added.
As this was a two-wheel-drive truck, an original four-wheel-drive trans tunnel was installed to clear the transmission and transfer case. The dashboard was modified to accept a touch screen stereo system that includes a pair of 6-inch subwoofers behind the center console is a custom enclosure. A Dakota Digital RTX gauge package replaced the original instruments and the fuse panel for the American Autowire harness was hidden in the glove compartment. For comfortable cruising regardless of outside temperatures a Vintage Air climate-control system was added.
Jon Lind in Springfield, Oregon, gets credit for covering a rare pair of factory bucket seats and the center console in black leather. He also installed a headliner to match. To keep the interior cool and quiet, the doors, along with the floor and firewall, were covered with Dynamat insulation before the black loop pile carpet was installed. Topping the stock shifter–equipped steering column is a leather-wrapped GM cushion grip steering wheel.
The last step in the assembly was the installation of the factory badges and replacement trim from Mar-K. Typical of MetalWorks’ attention to detail, the side trim was aligned with a laser to make sure it was perfectly straight from one end to the other.
With MetalWorks conversion from longbed, two-wheel drive to shortbed four-wheel drive, the results shown here can only be described as stunning. The Roadster Shop chassis works perfectly on and off road, the supercharged LT4 is not only potent but reliable enough to be driven every day with no fuss, and the fit and finish of the bodywork is as good as it gets. We’d say the trans4mation is complete.
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
