Looking to buy 73-79

[Love2buildem']

Hey, this is my first time on this forum and I have some general questions because I am getting ready to buy a 73-79 pickup.

I know a couple things that I want like I want a short bed and I want 4 wheel drive. What I dont know is what to look for when I am buying this. I know a little about where to look for rust but not too much, and i would like to hear your suggestions for where to look for problem areas, and what to avoid.

I want this truck to tow with and to go play in the mud. I already have the engine ideas on what i want to do, but I know I am looking for something with a decent engine to get me around until i get around to building it.

The reason I want the 73-79 model is; I love that body style, and with the emission requirements in Virginia, anything past 79 has to meet all the emission requirements for that year, and i just really dont want to deal with that.

Just as a side not I am also looking at blazer/jimmys, I really like the removable top, but I'm gonna post a forum in the blazer and jimmy section, thanks for the help

Jeff