1972 Chevrolet C20 Cheyenne Custom Camper Special
The 28-Day
Challenge
Frame off. No shortcuts. Finished in 28 days.
The Story
A Bet. A Build. A Statement.
Every shop talks about quality. Fewer talk about speed. Headwaters Customs decided to prove both at the same time. Co-founders Mike and Clay made a bet: they could take a 1972 C20 Cheyenne Custom Camper Special from bare frame to finished truck — a complete, no-compromises frame-off restoration — in 30 days.
The rules were simple and unforgiving. Frame off meant frame off. Every nut and bolt would be addressed. The big block would be rebuilt in-house. The body would be stripped, straightened, and painted to show quality. No shortcuts, no farming out work, no cutting corners to make the deadline.
The engine is a factory 402/396 big block — rebuilt completely in-house by the Headwaters team. Behind it, a Turbo 400 automatic. The body got custom reverse hood scoops designed and fabricated in-house, giving the truck an aggressive stance that wasn't there from the factory. The bed received a custom wooden floor, hand-fitted and finished to complement the Shamrock green on pearl white two-tone paint.
The unveiling was set for the 4th of July, 2025. They finished on July 2nd — two days early. The bet was won. More importantly, a point was made: Headwaters Customs doesn't just build quality trucks. They build them on time.
Build Specs
What We Built
Engine
402/396 Big Block — In-House Rebuilt
Transmission
Turbo 400 Automatic
Hood
Custom Reverse Hood Scoops (In-House Design)
Bed
Custom Wooden Bed
Paint
Shamrock Green on Pearl White
Lighting
LED Halo Headlights in Factory Housings
Restoration Type
Frame-Off — Nut & Bolt
Build Time
28 Days — Finished 2 Days Early
Unveiled
July 4th, 2025
Build Gallery
21 Photos — From Bare Metal to Finished
Frame-off teardown begins — bare chassis
Chassis work in progress
Frame restoration underway
Frame and suspension work
Bare cab on rotisserie jig — passenger side
Bare cab on rotisserie jig — driver side
Cab in epoxy primer — body work underway
Custom wooden bed installed — shop interior
Wooden bed — dusk, Montana mountains in background
Wooden bed — night shot, warm lighting
Wooden bed — near completion, shop floor
Finished — in front of Headwaters Customs shop (golden hour)
Finished — in front of Headwaters Customs shop (morning light)
Finished — front 3/4 view at shop
Finished — front 3/4 inside shop, reverse hood scoops
Finished — front 3/4 inside shop, Shamrock green paint
Finished — straight-on front, LED halo headlights
Finished — driver side profile, full length
Finished — front 3/4 outside shop
Finished — straight-on front, outside
Finished — front 3/4 outside, golden hour