Said goodbye to my truck after 24 years

[MikeB]

Gave my 69 pickup to my son this week. I bought it in 1989 and used it as a daily driver on three separate occasions -- one time for almost a year. Another time during a Colorado winter using old school snow tires. The only time it ever let me down was when a battery died.

Bought a 55 Chevy sedan back in 2003 and didn't spend much time with the truck after that, except for basic maintenance. The 22 year old paint is looking bad, but mechanically the truck is in great shape. It has literally NO oil or fluid leaks. The mild 350 (~ 9 years old) has maybe 2,000 miles on it, and the TH350 which was rebuilt back in 1999, and resealed a few years ago, still shifts great. Front spindles & brakes are from an 86 C-10. Center link and tie rod ends from a 73 C10. Rear axles are drilled for 5 on 5. It still has a junkyard power steering box from a 71 or 72 truck I installed back around 1990.

I just sent my son a link to this site, because I know you all will be a big help. The first thing he wants to do is have it painted. It's gonna need some minor body work, and lots of sanding, because the 22 year old clear coat is flaking off. Can anyone here recommend a good paint & body shop in Western New Jersey, or East Central PA, preferably one that specializes in older vehicles? My son lives off HWY 78 near Clinton, NJ.

Pics of my truck taken 8-10 year ago. The paint is nowhere near this nice any more, but the interior now has a rebuilt seat, new seat cover, new belts, and new carpet.