Man that's just such a good looking truck and I love the FD on the side, definitely keep it!

 

More pictures

 

Wow what a great find and beautiful truck. Paint is amazing not to mention over all condition. Love the split rims. My first 77 HB I bought back in 79 had split rims. Hadn't seen one with them for many years after. Thanks for all the pics

 

Thanks for the compliments, Pictures make it look better than it really is. Mostly original paint driver side fender and bed side where painted some time long ago. Passenger side bed side in lower rear corner behind tire has some rust. Minor dents here and there and holes in roof from light bar. I am very happy to have been able to bring this truck back to life.

 

Those imperfections add character and offer a glimpse into the trucks history and makes us ponder how it got that way. It would be a sin to restore and paint the exterior. Up until a year or so ago both my wife and I were of the mind set that vehicles showing their age should be restored, painted etc to be cosmetically acceptable in public and generally that opinion is shared by many hence the rapidly declining number of unrestored vehicles out there. I've done concourse level restorations so it was in my blood to restore. I heard someone say "nothing has erased more history in old cars and motorcycles than restoration" and the more I think about it the more I agree. Certainly no question there are vehicles benefit from cosmetic restoration and we all like beautifully restored subjects but for some vehicles due to originality, make/model, rarity, special interest or whatever its better to leave them as they are for future generations. I had been seeing the trend grow with people showing original patina vehicles but hadn't bought into that concept. My philosophy changed when I found the truck in my signature. Wife convinced/threatened me to leave it like it is on exterior as that characterizes its history and use as a WY ranch truck battle scars and all and that's what I'm doing. We have been both surprised and entertained by the amount of interest it creates wherever we take it. Of course some probably look at it like an old piece of crap but that's Ok with us. Just the other day within 1/2 hour of each other we had the ultimate in flattery when a guy wearing Chevy shirt and another who pulled up in a new big Dodge truck wanting to buy it.

 

nice floor mat , brand ? where purched ?

 

Even the dog matches the truck! Good color combination and the collar even matches.

Paul

 

Dennis carpenter, I think they make them too. Second one I have installed quality product just like original.

 

at first I thought the wheels should be white like the stripe.
I actually like them the color they are better now that I got to see the pics..

 

Massey Ferguson grey from agria supply

 

I've never been lucky like that! Don't blame you one bit for jumping on it.

 

White would certainly have been a legitimate color for that truck. But as soon as I saw the gray color you chose I knew it was a perfect gray for the Orange color. Even with the white highlights already, the gray was going to be a good combo.

Paul

 

Damn that gives me even more motivation to get mine prettied up. Was gonna ask if you sleep ? It went from barnyard to bada$$ in no time, good work.

 

Thanks, one project at a time still lots to do. The trans leaks from the front somewhere will probably just replace the pump seal and converter seal. Got most of the lights working this week. Installed new flasher and bulbs. Had to use the later style taillights and sockets could not find the original style with the steel backing plates. Replaced a couple of fuses and got most everything working. Pulled the cluster to fix bulbs big, surprise it is rotten so I ordered one from dc along with headliner. My dad installed the radio and glued down the dash pad cover. Trying not to go overboard on this project $$ but I have said that before.

 

Installed the radio and and repaired the instrument cluster backing plate. Finally got the interior back together for the most part. Still need to patch holes in roof and install the headliner. Also started fabing up a rear bumper.