Finally...
 

Since moving to PA, and my health taking crap on me, I've finally gotten around to getting the wife's truck back up and running. I bought a junk truck 5 years ago for the engine, and had a rebuilt transmission installed last year. I just had both axles gone through and everything looks great. I also had the transfer case rebuilt when the transmission was done. Everything involved in the driveline has been taken apart, serviced, and put back where it all belongs. 5 years and less than 4000 miles ago, the entire front end was rebuilt, and new brakes were put on all four corners.

What's next? I have steel patches to repair the bed wheel arches, and some sanding and filling to do on the driver's side front wheel arch. When that is done, a simple bed liner spray on the bottom, and rattle can primer on top, will be in order.

After that, it's a matter of tires, and she's done.

You can't deny, her stance looks great. The shop that did the differentials and balanced the drive shaft has said the same thing that other mechanics have said...they want first refusal rights if I ever sell the truck. It's a Utah truck, so the frame is very solid and straight. The only rust on the frame is surface rust. I "painted" the frame in grease after our first winter here, then it sat for nearly 5 years on the side of the house. It rides like a truck should...harsh and stiff.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...psel2wehne.jpg

Hey, JP! Great to see you posting again! What's going on with your Spring ! ?

The nice thing...I'm still under $2500 total investment, counting purchase price. Total receipts since I bought it show I'm sitting at just over $2460. I've moved the cut off point to $3500 before I quit putting out money for parts and such.

Nothing...they're as they should be. I just had the bushings replaced on them right before winter set in.

Spring, as in this Spring of the calendar year! :)

Oh...LOL It's not going too bad. My e-liquid company is taking off. I'm now carried in 4 states and 9 vape shops. Business is booming there. I'm also a silent partner in a local vape shop that will have it's grand opening next weekend on it's second location. Business in the vape industry is strong and only looks to grow stronger.

Life is going well for me now...weight is dropping, health is improving, passing out spells are less than they've been in previous years so far. All is good...How's things with you, my friend?

I thought you were talking about the truck. My step son saw the photo, and asked what the spring perches were...he's used to coil spring front suspensions. LOL

Glad to hear things are looking up for you John!

Looks like a good solid truck project!

Darn good to read, jp!

Aw, heck......I've been on and off the road this late Winter early Spring a lot! Taking excursions of up to over a month, and looking forward to several more this year! Heading to Houston, Texas this week. Oklahoma next! Just returned from the Deep Southern Delta region/States two weeks ago. Stay in the loop here! :)

I like those old Fords. Which engine?

It's a 302/M5OD combination. Not too common in the F250, and even less rare in this truck with 4X4. It was more common in the F-150, 4X2...this is why it took me so long to locate a replacement transmission. The original transmission broke at the flange on the integral bellhousing.

Nice bricknose. I am surprised to see the M50D in there. I have it my truck and its pretty good but if it ever grenades I am throwing a ZF in there. I put F250 springs in the front of my truck and that puppy rides rough now. I'm not sure I would do it again.

I put monroe progressive springs in the front of a one ton rated suburban and it rode like a caddy!

It's a rare combination, that's for sure...

I'll admit the ride is anything but comfortable...but it does what it was designed to do. My older brother and dad both bought F-150s in 1991, brand new. Both trucks still ride like Cadillacs compared to this. It will rattle your gizzard loose

In time, I may put a custom front and rear bumper on it with winches fore and aft. Other than that, it's going to stay as stock as possible. Heck, I didn't even make it a dual exhaust...stock single out.

There for awhile, I didn't think I'd ever have the ability to do anything to the truck. SWMBO would gripe about it, talk about selling it, and I'd pay to have something else done, only to have it sit again. I definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel now, with only an oil pan and drive shaft balance being the last mechanical things to be done. Once those are done, it's only some body work, bedliner and rattle can paint til I call it done.

Today, the sliding window latch came it...the first time we've been able to lock the rear window since I bought the truck.

I've got to sand down the whole cab and get it under primer before we start on the bed. When I start the bed, we'll pull it and do the one mod that I've been dying to do to it since I bought it...put a Bronco fuel tank in the rear. I'm running with the smaller tank, since the previous owner deleted the rear tank many years ago. With the Bronco tank installed, I should have no issues, other than pain in the wallet, with carrying a bit over 50 gallons of fuel.

My goal on this is to be under $3500 total...and I'll have a truck that many would be envious of.

f250.

Sold my little bad ass d44 from a 78 I scored in Jan.

I now got the big bad ass one, KP. They sure do require lots of moneeeeeeeeeee to outfit with all the good stuff:(

If I ever hit the lottery I could just have dynarape build a all new one from scratch.