[papa's_68]

I've got a nice duramax for a daily driver but have been needing a good old wood hauling truck/hunting truck so I picked up this '76 K20 that has D44, 14 bolt FF, 350, th350 to a 203 t-case for $1,400. It's not a bad truck as it does run pretty good and I bought it knowing it needed some things. The biggest thing being tires. Not cheap either as its sitting on 315/75R16's. I also knew it was going to need some steering and suspension attention. These things werent a big deal to me since I have some good connections on getting good used parts for cheap. So, I brought it home and me and my dad tore into it. Someone did a nasty job of lifting it. They had stock springs front and rear with a 3" block under the front springs, and a 3" Ford block on the back. They also used some jacked up U-bolts. All 4 shocks were blown as well. So I picked up a set of 4" lift front springs off a friend, and a brand new drag link off of him as well for practically nothing. Then went to a local 4wd shop and got 4 new shocks for 4" lift, 4" lift steering arm, spring bushings, and all new U-bolts. Installed new seals in the front axle, and repacked the bearings. Replaced some ball joints, a tie rod, new front brake hoses, and new driveshaft on the rear. Put it all back together and its a night and day difference! Really tightened this old truck up!
My dad has a part time conversion kit for the 203 we are going to put in it and I'm getting a set of Ford high boy lockouts off of my cousin. To finish it off I'm going to buy a steering stabilizer, 4" blocks for the rear and new U-bolts, get some new M/T's on it and call it good for now. So, would anyone else have popped on this truck for $1,400? I at least know what I got now, since I've tore into it.