Finally got the call..... Of course my wife was right here overhearing the whole conversation. Oops. He has restored a lot of military trucks over the years. He's owned this Ford for 'a long time'. Yes, it is factory, but a couple years ago he pulled the 292 and put in a 302 totally rebuilt and a 4 speed. It had been 3 on the tree. He says the engine has less than 100 miles on it. New brakes 2 years ago all new wheel cyls etc. I asked him how long since he started and drove it he said 6 months. Unfortunately I was in a huge hurry when I saw it and didn't look at rust condition etc. My 'no nothing employee' took the photos I have. The owner said "you aren't thinking this is a give-away, are you?, I have a thousand dollars into the engine"... But he understood it's still a project. I got the impression that it will be very reasonable for what it is. We are gonna meet at the truck and I bring some cash and we figure it out. Of course all negotiations were difficult since I hadn't remembered to mention it to my wife yet. Our situation might be somewhat different than most, as we got married at 55 and 60 years old and have seperate checkbooks etc. She's been ramping up her spending on the chickens lately in retaliation.......

 

Just how much scratch can that be?

 

OK Wally, you have a point, but I DID spend 3 weekends this fall building a new henhouse for her 'obsession'. Gotta admit it was pretty fun. But now it's special 'feather fixer' pellets, suspended watering system, self feeding system, heated water and now a heat lamp for when it's cold. She is actually very low maintenance, and I am very fortunate to have met her. Besides she is an excellent welder as well as a loving wife and was on the volunteer fire dept for 20 years and an emergency technition. God knows I need that! I am very careful not to spend too much time with trucks when she is here.

 

That is a fine hen house and portable too!
I hear ya, its worth the work of keeping them happy.