Thanks Mr. Wendell and welcome to FTE.
Update time.
Been searching for an engine block to do the bottom end.
Found one at guess where.
It' a D4TE.
I took it to a new engine builder (cause I have zero time) north of LA. His name is Dustin Lee. He used to work for my brother at SCE gasket but decided he liked building engines better. He runs a digger in Top Dragster that runs 6.80 on a carb.
He's a great kid and loves talking engines.
We're going to try to build a 445 depending on how the block sonics out this week.
I'll keep you up to date on the build. Gonna try some new (to me) stuff (like coated bearings) and a roller valve train.
Pretty geeked on how it will turn out.

 

Sounds fun!

 

Well, well, well, look what showed up at the chromers' shop.
It's amazing how things fix themselves when you say, "not a dime more till you find it".
Can't wait to see a new engine in it.

 

Oooooohhhh! Shiny stuff .
Looks good Marc, can't wait to see it in the truck .

 

X2 of what Mike said!!!!

 

Hey Big Brother!! I think that would look even better on a black "76" HEHEHE

 

Hey Buford
Nice to see you posting.
Let me be the first to welcome you to FTE

 

I second that!....uhh, can you second a first?

 

You can

 

I'll 3erd that if I can....

Looks great Marc!

 

Hah
You can too.

 

Dang Marc, you get too many pieces of chrome jewlery and you will not want to drive it! Looks good though!

 

That's a good point to address. It's part of the overall plan that we all have to put together for our trucks.
I don't think I've ever laid out my plan for it on the thread.
So here goes.
First, this truck is to be driven as much as possible.
I drive it every day now and the only reason I won't drive it in the future every day is driving another truck.
I'm thinking of this truck as a hunting truck, so it has to do a lot of things.
It has to fly the freeway to get to where it's going then upon arrival it has to run trails and go straight up or down hills.
It has to have room for gear, coolers, fuel, trail necessities and be capable for everything.
So
It's getting a new 445 to 460ish engine depending on the sonic scan results
A 79 front end so that it has upgraded steering and brakes.
A new 435 tranny and a 205 transfer case that will be double sticked to take advantage of 2 rear wheel gear ranges.
Keeping the 3.54 gearing because of being able to have a lower two wheel range and at the same time cruise at 65-70 which is all I need.
I'm may leave the exterior in its "patina'd" state but it will be brand new and beautiful underneath.
Still trying to find a bed bar to make a rack out of for gear and lights.
The interior is almost done. Just have to finish the door panels.
So to answer dakota, oh yeah I'm gonna drive it. But I know how to wash it when it gets home.

 

Your hood has a little TOOOO much patina so it needs a repaint, but we can do really good "so so" paint jobs we'll just touch it up now and then.

 

WOOHOO!! Based on that, I can call the Pumpkin DONE .