Meet Loretta - Bagged 71 LWB -FINALLY got one!

[wild4wheels]

We all see those "Check this out on Craigslist!" posts you see on the board. I occasionally look depending on the location, price etc. This particular night I was feeling pretty low- I had been looking for a long time. I either had money and couldn't find what I wanted, or it was already sold, or get there and get the "Oh, I forgot to mention that______________(fill in the blank). Or it was just more than I could afford. I wanted to pay cash but also was keeping in mind that whatever I bought, it had to run, I wanted to bag it and I wanted original patina(..when in Rome!)

So this particular night I was having a couple of cocktails, surfing the board, still licking my wounds from a couple of shortbeds that I had missed out on- and I see a "check this out in Las Vegas!" post. I click on it ...and it was love at first sight. I look and the ad on craigslist was like 2 days old. I really figured it was gone. I printed out the ad so I could show the wife an example of what it was I was looking for. Now it was like 11 pm - I said screw it and sent a text message the seller to see if it was still available. Said a little prayer-"Please Lord, please Please PLEASE!!!!!"

Fast forward to the next morning, I'm on my way to pick up the wife and I get a call from the seller. We talked for about 30-40 minutes and I bought it over the phone. 2 days later I was on a plane to Vegas with a few simple hand tools in my checked bag and a pocket full of cash and dreams of a better life... er, sorry..scratch that last part, ANYWAY, Drove it back to Phoenix.. by myself(dumb) had a few problems on the way home which I will discuss when I get a Build thread going but just doing little things to make it mine.

[wild4wheels]

Enough talk, I'd like to introduce you to Loretta...

[wild4wheels]

Just pictures with my phone

[wild4wheels]

Pic 3

[tommys72]

Nice truck, that patina is sweet....looks good
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[74baggedbug]

Looks good
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[Mint68]

That patina is great, really makes for an awesome truck!

[JointTech]

new grill and shell be perfect.

[BB72CHEVKT]

Sweet truck.

[rcrahn]

I can just picture a patina sign on each door "Dave's Real Estate".....
JK, so what are your plans?

[wild4wheels]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

I can just picture a patina sign on each door "Dave's Real Estate".....
JK, so what are your plans?

Ha! I need to replace the wood in the bed real bad- I thought about using old metal real estate open house or listing signs to cover it temporarily

[weever82]

Looks great! Hope to see it at one of the local shows!
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[leddzepp]

Very nice, love the stance.
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[wild4wheels]

Thanks for the comments! Cool part is I bought it not only from a fellow board member but also an American hero as a fighter pilot of our armed forces! He was absolutely fantastic during the sale- and after - talking me through things on the way home.
Plans now that she is running good again is to 1st to get it through emissions- I need to reroute the exhaust.
My to do list is long but I will cover most of that in a build thread eventually but really I want to drive the snot out of it- I'm going to it run ratty for a bit then probably CLR and buff it maybe. Someday if I am feelin sassy, it may be converted to a short bed but I we will see..- I'm just so stoked right now to just have a truck again!

[black_sheep454]

Love it
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[CMACDONALD1]

Really nice truck!

[tommys72]

Someday if I am feelin sassy,itmay be converted to a short bed

Don't do that, you'll mess up that patina
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[Dinos63]

very cool !! congrats!!

[70blackfish]

looks good...................

[71chevswb]

Great truck!! Probably the coolest longbeds I've ever seen! After seeing those pictures, I know exactly how i want my patina lwb to look when I get around to working on her. Gotta stay focused on my swb build for now!

Good luck with the truck, and I can't wait to hear/see more about it.



PS. Did I mention, killer truck!! LOVE the patina.
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[thelonerife]

Thats a nice looking truck as is

[Square_78]

Welcome to #teamlongbed! That's a sweet truck and the LWB makes it even cooler because cool looking long beds are definately rare. I can't wait to see the specs on it and some more pics. How much was it listed for? How's the interior?
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[50bomb]

COOL!

[wild4wheels]

Wow- Thanks for the compliments! I'm happy to continue to improve what Ryan started. I'll get interior shots posted- still getting the holes drilled for the seats and then carpet down.
I got rejected at the emissions test last week because of the exhaust dumping right in front of the rear axle. Exhaust shop didn't want to cut it up- and neither did I - (1), it's not in the budget right now to redo my exhaust how I want it and
(2), it's beautiful 2.5 inch welded Magnaflow exhaust off of long tube headers. I ended up fabbing up some cheaters out of some flex 2.5 inch with some clamps ..hehe...looked so purty coming out right behind the rear wheels- I had the bags dropped so they didn't even give it a second look. Passed!!! I'll unclamp the ghetto setup and save them for the next test!

[Daaaanz67]

Love em long and low welcome to the lb club hope you'll reconsider citing it down nice truck.
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