After moving back to Ohio to care for my mom, I've decided to take over her garage...she no longer drives, and only uses it as a room to store a pair of freezers and a spare fridge in, among other things.

Since doing so, I've replaced the power steering pump, power steering lines, shocks, sway bar bushings front and rear, front prop shaft, brakes, tires, muffler, and a few other odds and ends on my wife's 1989 F250 LD XLT Lariat. I'm getting ready to finally start on the bodywork. A friend of mine and her husband talked me into taking it to a local cruise in, where I ran into some old friends from my younger years. We've begun hanging out on the weekends, setting our vehicles up in the same spots at the local cruise in and enjoying just seeing each other and talking about our vehicles.

3 weeks ago, I was talked into entering the truck into a larger show, with prizes, plaques, and the like. Bear in mind that the wheel wells are still rusted on the bed, the cab corners need replaced, both doors require minor patch work, and the fenders need some time with the body hammers. This truck is nowhere near being ready, in my book, for competition of any sort. It's just an old truck that I've been working on for 9 years, when physically able, and it's used to haul the heavy things that my Explorer just isn't capable of. In short, it's an old work truck that is in progress.

At any rate, I was talked into entering her into competitions, and I went along as a joke.

Today marked the 3rd real outdoor show she's been in. As usual, we had some folks walk by, turn up their noses at the old truck, and walk past. Today, however, the crowd had a different buzz about them. There were the standard goody two shoes that walked by, but there were more folks walking by, and asking why I entered the truck, what work I've done, and the back story on the truck. I answered all the questions, told the stories of broken fingers, stitches, late nights, cursing rants, and completed each one with how much my wife appreciates the work I do, when I'm able to, and that I'd do it all over again for her if she asked me to...because she's been right by my side, handing me ratchets, wrenches, hammers and beer anytime I've asked. To me, spending the time with my wife as I work on her truck makes it all worthwhile.

Well, at 3pm, the show was ending, judging was completed, and they were announcing trophy and plaque winners. I had just loaded my wife's and my chairs into the bed of the truck, and was lifting the cooler of ice and water into the bed when my name was called across the PA system to come to the green canopy. I wasn't sure what I would be needed for.

It turns out that a lady that owns a local hot rod shop had been called in to judge the event. She had her entire shop of professionals out and about within the crowd, asking questions and inquiring about each of the vehicles. Most of the vehicles were store bought or special ordered...with only a small number of them built or in progress by their owners.

The owner of the shop had requested me to come to the canopy, where she informed the crowd what she had done...with her crew intermingling with everyone. She told the crowd that the heart of cruise ins and car shows has very little to do with buying a made car, or paying someone else to do the work. It had to do with building it yourself, the friends you make along the way, and the time you spend with your friends in the progress. I was then presented with a gift card for $100 at a local parts house, because she said our story was one that really meant something to her. Before I was allowed to walk away, I was also presented with the #4 spot in the Top 5 Trucks in the show, out of 22 trucks.

I was floored...but she went on to say that 3 of the judges were present when I offered to start the truck to let a friend hear how good it sounded...it's nothing more than a stock 5.0 through a stock exhaust...but it starts right up and sounds and drives like a brand new 1989 F250 should. She said that when the judges heard the amount of work I've done over the last 9 years to the drivetrain to get it to it's current point, that they all decided that I earned a spot in the Top 5.

There's not a mechanical system in the truck I haven't rebuilt, reconditioned, or replaced, except the transfer case...which thus far has proven itself to be quite solid.

I was quite taken back by the kind words the lady said to my wife about what I've gone through to get it right, and the compliments she showered on my wife for being there with me in today's heat, as well as being beside me whenever I have a wrench in my hand around her truck.

Today was a great day...and I won a nice plaque to hang on the garage wall, as well as collecting a small prize. In addition, I had two of the employees of the hot rod shop that lives nearest to me, offer to come by and give a hand in lifting the bed off in two weeks when I plan on prepping the frame before Ohio winters eats it away. They also offered to give me a hand when I go to weld in the wheel arcs and cab corners in another couple of weeks.

I love the car scene around here...they either love you or hate you, with very little in between movement. Luckily, most seem to appreciate and see the hard work I've put into this truck...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles