Almost every 4x4 we've stumbled across has a story. Some are good, some are boring, and some we just don't want to hear. But we think the tale behind this '74 Chevy Cheyenne is especially cool, since the truck is a father-to-son hand-me-down.
In our opinion, an old 4x4 is really the only real gift that keeps on giving. This classic 4x4 started life as the Kine family hauler, taking the boys on Cub Scout camping trips and then becoming pop's work truck. After its retirement from the workforce, the old weathered Cheyenne became a different kind of family adventure machine-a hard-core trail rig.
Nothing fancy here, yet it...
Nothing fancy here, yet it has everything a hard-core four-wheeler needs, right down to the three stick shifters for the 5.1 StaK Monster transfer case, and the Cobra Classic 29 CB. What more could a guy ask for?
The Chevy sat idle around the homestead for a while until Matt Kine laid claim to it. The Cheyenne still had the original high-mileage engine, work ladder rack in the bed, and factory axles and suspension. After a few hot laps around the block and an attempted trail run or two, Matt figured it was time for a change. He worked his way through a few different suspension modifications, made some custom body modifications, welded the tubework, and then bolted in a big-block Chevy engine. After two years of work the truck morphed into a functional and dependable trail rig, with nothing pretty or shiny on it-except of course for the ingenuity and exceptional craftsmanship that it took to build it.
Tech Specs
1974 Chevy Cheyenne
Drivetrain
Engine: Chevy 454ci big-block
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: StaK Monster three-speed
Front Axle: Dana 60, Detroit Electrac Locker, 35-spline shafts, 5.13 gears
Rear Axle: 14-bolt high-pinion, Detroit NoSpin Locker, 5.13 gears
Suspension
Front: Tuff Country EZ-Ride leaf springs with ORD greaseable bushings and front shackle hanger kit
Rear: Tuff Country EZ-Ride 64-inch leaf springs with 2.5-inch ORD shackle flip kit
Tires & Wheels: 38.5x14x16 Super Swamper TSL Bogger, 16x10 Street Lock
Other Stuff: Disc-brake conversion, Guardsman pinion guard, HD driveshaft with 14-spline long-travel yoke, 1350 U-joints, Holley 770-cfm Truck Avenger, Holley RPM intake, Hooker Super Comp headers, Millen high-flow oil pump, ACCEL HEI and super coil, dual Optima RedTops, Warn M12,000 winch, VIAIR constant-duty onboard air
The original front axle was...
The original front axle was immediately ripped out and replaced with a well-built junkyard Dana 60. The axle was fitted with 5.13 Yukon gears and a Detroit Electrac for selectable traction. The suspension is a combination of Tuff Country EZ-Ride leaf springs, 14-inch Fox 2.0 Emulsion shocks, and an Off Road Design front hanger kit and greaseable shackles. The high-steer system was added using a PSC conversion kit and hydraulic assist.
The extensive tube, cage,...
The extensive tube, cage, and exo-cage work was designed and carried out by Matt and a couple friends in his garage. That's a lot of late-night cold beers! The homemade high-pinion Corporate 14-bolt axle was another ingenious creation of Matt's. The axle was fitted with a Detroit Locker for dependable traction, and a 5.13 Genuine gearset. The Cheyenne was originally a shortbed, but not short enough. So 14 inches of frame were removed, making the Cheyenne much more nimble on the trail.
Most of the time we feel every...
Most of the time we feel every vehicle in America needs one of these engines: a 7.4L 454ci big-block. Not just because of the horsepower, but because just saying "big-block" sounds cool. The engine is fed by a 770-cfm Holley Avenger carburetor and an RPM intake manifold. A set of Hooker competition headers helps the big-block breathe easier, and two Optima RedTop batteries keep everything charged and the winch running strong.