I scored this truck for $500.00 at the time it had a blown tranny but it had a sweet running rebuilt motor, and it's smog exempt here in California so decided to pick it up and as an added plus it came with a true dual exhaust with an old set of glasspacks and catalyctic converters which actually sounds good. I aquired a tranny from Pick'n'Pull for $125.00 and got it running. Will make improvements as soon as finances allow. Currently it has a rochester 2bbl which I will soon swap out for a 4bbl Quadrajet and maybe an Edelbrock performer intake. As you can see the interior needs the most work. I plan on just throwing in a carpet, doorpanels, and replacing all the missing nick knacks. The outside needs a little bodywork but for the most part its all there, and the cab is fairly sound with minimal rust although I see a rockerpanel replacement in the near future, I will probably rattle can it in flat black 'till I can afford to send it out to the bodyshop, I don't know what the previous owner was trying to do with the purple to silver fade? I don't know about you guys but I love those vintage 15x10 U.S. Mags which came with the truck a matching set of four none the less. I plan on polishing them up and keeping'em.

UPDATE: 4/15/2008 Well the latter half of 2007 was kinda rough for my truck that junkyard tranny bought the farm, so I replaced it with a Autozone rebuilt unit hopefully that will last a little longer, however I did drive the thing for over a year without problems so I can't complain about my $125.00 investment. I had to replace the radiator which was expected so I wasn't surprised, decided to upgrade to a four core bigblock radiator which BTW is not exactly a bolt on because the radiator support,fan shroud,and upper brackett are different then smallblock equiped trucks so if you're contemplating the same upgrade beware you will have to fab some custom bracketts. I also had to replace the battery and the starter which is no big 'cause it's a common maintanence issue on a truck this age.

Alas I did'nt get a chance to do any cosmetic improvements last year because all my money went on keeping it roadworthy. About the only toy I was able to pick up for it was a autometer 5" monster tach which looks awesome, and a co-worker hooked me up with a tilt column. Right now I have the steering box and steering linkages removed the plan is to splice another section of frame to replace the damaged section as it is too far gone to try and fishplate. I'll post pictures of the carnage & the repair when I get to it. From what I understand this is a fairly common problem with the '73-'87 trucks and hopefully some of you will take interest.

                             My new project stay tuned as time and finances allow I will post new pics.

                                                                              New tires in back.

                                                                       That purple haze has to go!

Mostly stock but that will soon change. By the way anybody know if block hugger style headders will fit?

Minor surface rust from a leaky heater core that I will powersand right off. Also replaced the bench seat with this one from Pick'n'Pull which I will eventually reupholster in black.

I replaced the hood with this one from Pick'nPull because the old one was buckled in the middle. I think a billet grille would look right at home. Also I will replace the mirrors with the smaller sportier ones.

         Not a cherry but a few sheet metal parts and body work and I think she will clean up nicely.

                                                               The frame damage pretty bad eyh?

                                                             I think it's too far gone to try and repair

It appears that the truck had suffered extensive damage in a prior collision and a section of frame had to be spliced on my plan is to cut the frame along the old weld and aquire another section of frame and splice it on.

Well here is the damaged section removed and the newly aquired replacemtent it took some considerable trial fitting and grinding due to the fact some hack had a shaky hand with the torch and it was not a straight and square cut.

I think it was a good call to just replace that section of frame since it is so far gone. Upon closer inspection it appears that it had previously been rapaired and apparrently it was a rather poor repair, it was only a matter of time before it failed again. Speaking of poor repairs this poor truck needed desperate rescue from it's previous owner due to the number of hack jobs and half ass work performed.

I took a trip to my local Pick'n'Pull with my trusty sawzall and fetched a section of frame, now it's just a matter of comming up with the funds to have it towed to a local welding shop. It shouldn't cost too much since I've already done most of the work and all they have to do is lay some beads, hell if I had a welder I'd do it myself but I live in an apartment complex and that would be out of the question.