Something for everyone

[wasteaway]

Well, I have been lurking here for awhile now and thought it was about time to introduce myself. I'll skip all the pleasentries and get to my story about my neighbors '71 GMC. The old bird bought this truck new and kept it garaged its entire 93,099 mile life. Since we are in the Northeast and salt is used indisciminately, the ususal rust areas developed. Sometime in the late 80's old George decided to put a halt to the rot and summund up a couple of gallons of bondo and a spray can or two of the closest green paint. I gotta say, the rot seemed to stop at that point. I've watched the truck since moving here in '88.

So, fast forward to 2005. I see the old girl sits more and more now (George lives directly across the road from me) and the registration was never renewed. By and by I find myself over at Georges to free up a frozen clutch, help with a dirty carb, that sort of thing, just keeping the old truck "ready" for when George needed it take it out for something. Finally, 2007, at age 86, George admits what he has known for a few years. With no power brakes or steering and a three on the tree, this truck has become too much for him to drive and he wants it gone by winter because he "needs the room".

Now, I've always been around to help my neighbor out with the things he "outgrew". Things like, climb the ladder and go in the upstairs window 'cause he locked himself out of the house. Cut back the heavy brush. Plow his drive each snowstorm. Trench a water line from his new well to the house. Climb on the roof and tar around the chimney. You know, the kind of stuff that you like doing because you know the guy appreciates it. But over the years he would try to pay me for these things and while I begain to see how he felt bad because he couldn't reciprocate, there is no way I would take money. So, you guessed it. George gave me his old truck. Now I felt bad. Like I was taking advantage of him. I said, "George, this truck has some value. Let me pay you for it. I feel like I'm taking advantage of you". His reply was, "I'm the one taking advantage of YOU. I want you to have it".

Now my goal is to do a frame off resto with a smallblock, auto, power steering and brakes and take the old codger for a spin before its too late. I gotta finish my barn (garage) first. Its close. Some interior work left and then stock it up for the teardown. Before its all said and done, you guys are going to help me build this sucker.

So I got a truck. You guys get some pics.