1969 GMC stepside where do I start ?

[mikey531]

This will be a long story...

I have spent the last 5 years looking for something to satisfy my I guess midlife crisis. My son and I raced a GMC pickup in the American now Allstar Race truck series for 3 years resulting in the 2002 Championship. We raced all over the Northeast. I tried to sell the racetruck for 3 years with no luck and finally traded it for a 2005 Harley Sportster with 1400 miles. After a year I discovered I was not biker material. So I tried to sell the bike.. I finally traded it in 2007 for a 1994 92000 mile Corvette! Well I then discovered I am too old and fat to climb in and out of a Corvette. I have spent the last 2 1/2 years trying to trade for a Nova or a Chevelle or anything with 2 doors V8 and a 4-speed but would consider automatics. I missed out on some decent cars because they didn't want to trade or I felt my vette was worth more than what they were asking. So I kept looking..then I saw this:

http://1969gmc.shutterfly.com/

It immediately brought back memories of my 1971 Chevy short box fleetside with 250 and 3 on the tree! I wanted that truck ! My girlfriend reminded me of all the cars I have looked at over the last 3 years this was the first time I said I really wanted this. So I now own this 1969 GMC. (I still have to sell my corvette though..) I have owned many pickups over the years everything from a 1966 stepside shortbox, my 1971 Chevy, I bought new a 1975 Gentleman Jim ( I bet not too many remember that truck !) a 1974 3/4 ton long box, 1987 fleetside short from Custom trucks of Texas, a 1998 ext cab 4X4 and my weekend driver a 2000 GMC 4X4 ext cab 3 door. Now back to my original question. This truck shows 55000 on the odometer and from everywhere I have looked I have no reason to not believe it is original. It was a 6 auto but had a 350/350 installed and lowered 2 inches. Some of the paint is original but it looks like it did have rocker panels put in. So it has paint that has faded at different rates over the years. I got it registered and took it for a short drive, the speedometer is off about 7 miles an hour, the radiator has a pinhole, the timing is off, and it is running way rich, all things I can fix myself. I want to install a tach but not sure if I want in dash or old school clamped to the steering column, The truck also had radio delete so I want to stay stock looking for that and I have a power antenna I was thinking about using, or a antenna that it is hidden. I know the truck needs paint and I want to kill any potential rust. Maine roads are not real good for man or vehicle! I did talk to a company about sandblasting? they use a media that is like baking soda. The interior is light blue (same as outside) with dark blue door panels. I have been thinking of two tone with both blues, now I just have to decide on how I want it painted. I will find pictures of my other trucks. So I guess I am looking for comments and advice and will post a lot more questions as I get going.
Thanks
Mike