Rusty76 and his '76

[IWanna49]

I'm in! Love the story behind the truck. It's always cool to have something that's floated around in the family.

In the mid 80's I helped a guy with tobacco/hay and he had a 78 square body, maroon and white (also our school colors) with chrome Cragars on it. Always loved that truck (as teenagers we got to drive it in the fields) and anytime I see one like it it brings back memories. As does yours!

Greg

[rusty76]

Thanks for stopping by. I've always thought the story behind the truck is important. I've got so many stupid memories with this old truck. So more to come soon.

[77K10Silverado]

Subscribed!

[rusty76]

You da the man. Thanks for looking in on my ole chevy. Nothing to post but soon.....I said slow.......

[rusty76]

Well things are still slow and hot. Nothing to write about just yet. We got a new computer so now I have to relearn everything to just be able to post pics and so on. So it may be awhile. So hang in there with me.....in the mean time check out my other thread on here about low buck builds on the site. It's in my signature and is well worth the reading.

[rusty76]

Here I am by the by the truck thinking I need to be working on me truck.

[rusty76]

Here's one for you.

[68Timber]

Are you taking the bumpers off? Replacing or refurb?

[rusty76]

I've got another front bumper that's in much better shape. I'm also keeping the bumper guards as well. I've got another lower valance as well. Luckily years ago I salvaged several parts from several trucks. Was able to keep up with them through moving and all.

[68Timber]

10-4. I was enjoying the patina but thinking about a steel wool rub-down and wondering what was behind the brown. That's a cool picture though. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

[rusty76]

The ole truck pretty rusty and one fender doesn't match. I like the patina look but it's going to take a little love for it all to. I have three nice front fenders that are all black. I'm not going to paint the truck black though. I may try and match what I can and fake it as best as possible. It won't be easy. I've got ideas and thoughts on this old truck. Picked up a pressure washer from my uncle today to help clean up the ole truck. Really needs a light washing and good scrubbing in the bay. I'm working towards my dream just slowly. Very slow. Lol. Thanks for checking in.

[Ta2Don]

Finally looking in... Good looking 76... I learned to drive in my Dad's LWB straight 6 three on the tree no power anything truck when it was about 3 months old...
I am along for the ride, no matter how slow!

[rusty76]

Thanks for looking in. This thing is going to be slooooow build. But I think you'll enjoy it brother.

[77K10Silverado]

So what's next bud?

[rusty76]

Well I hope this here weekend I can get off early and get to cleaning up around the truck and using the pressure washer on me ole truck. All my days have really run together here on me lately. Been busy with work, but I'm hoping this weekend I'll actually do something, lol. Thanks for checkin in.

[rusty76]

So today I did a little bit with the ole boy. Gave him a bath with the pressure washer. It needs to be gone over by hand and done right. Still tons of dirt left hanging out I'm also going to need to clean out the engine bay as well.

[rusty76]

One more for the road

[rusty76]

So it's story time with me ole truck. One of the first things my uncle bought or replaced on this here truck was the hood ornament, the one in the above picture. He bought it at the dealership in town. The original was pitted real bad and the chrome was flaking off. So he removed the old one and put the new one on. Case closed. Well sort of.

When I got the truck I had to do several things to it. It was completely drivable at the time but the radiator leaked, heater core was bad and needed shocks. Short beds ride rough.... I started driving the truck immediately. I drove it to work every day to both jobs. Everyday I drove it through the snow, rain and whatever the weather Gods presented for me. I enjoyed it a lot. It had tons of power compared to the econobox I was moping around in.

After about six months the hood latch would let loose. Scare the crap out of me. Make me think the hood was going to smack the windshield then I'd loose control down a hill into somebodies house. Lucky that never happen thanks to the secondary latch system. I worked on the latch and every week the hood would pop up. Messed with it and messed with it. Felt like taking the hood off. So one day after playing with the hood I inadvertently
turned the hood ornament sideways. Now the thin side was going with the flow of the air over the hood and not against it. Would you believe me if I told you the hood never popped open again for the exception of the time I didn't get the hood closed....Silly truck.

[77K10Silverado]

Good work! Dig the hood ornament.

[rusty76]

Thanks. The pressure washer is the handy dandy in this one. Lol.

[rusty76]

Every now and then life decides to throw a curve ball. Hopefully soon I can get going on this thing. Right now family is more important though the truck has been family to me for many years. However I did fetch a some of my spare parts from my mothers place the other day that had been in storage or hiding. Inch by inch.

[Oberon67]

I think your sweet spot in the motor department is in the big six/small eight range. I know you didn't ask me, but in your place I'd be torn between going with a 292 tall-deck six, or a 283 SBC.

[rusty76]

I really thought heavily about going with a straight six. I can get the parts and so on, but honestly probably the most efficent and cheapest way for me to go is with a V8. Which I have the parts to put one together for the most part. Even though my 400 is in pieces at the moment. I really wanted to go a different route than most. There are several LS swaps, small blocks and big blocks and so on but ultimately it comes down to cost and availability. I've got tons of thoughts on drivetrain and so on. I just need to keep everything in check. My money is super tight right now. I'll work it out somehow. Pork and beans, pintos or sandwiches I'll work it out. Thanks for looking in.

[rusty76]

So here's what's been really going on with my rusty pile. Honestly not much. I was able to go and get my two front fenders I stashed away years ago and the lower grille valance. I've still got to go get my front bumper which is in a lot better condition than the one I have now. I've been scouring CL for a hood, might have a lead.

The other part of this story is what has mostly held me up, life. If all good intentions are just that then I'm king at it. Last October I was ready to go. I had a plan and I was going to get this thing running, well life stepped in. My mother had fallen on hard times, and still much is, and I really felt I needed to watch my step while help her handle her financial affairs. A cool truck is nice but seeing your mother sit in the cold isn't. Long story short my mother made some bad decisions that translated into one of those, "Can we talk?" phone calls. I had no idea what was going on. No idea. Life is funny like that. I knew and know that the road ahead will be challenging and I decided to concentrate on taking care of family first and I'll get around to my truck sometime. Sometime has been sometime for sometime now.

I haven't given up yet. I'm gathering when I can and making plans to get what I can when I can. My plans are still to drive this thing in December for my 40th Birthday. Thats been my plan for a long time. How I will get there is still up in the air. I've thought about buying a donor truck and using the drivetrain to get the truck moving and other scenarios. Still either way I'll figure it out. Like always.

It all seems like doom and gloom, but I don't see it that way. I hope to get on this thing soon. Really soon. I'll keep you posted and I hope that you take the time to check out my low buck build threads for some side meat as well. Find the link in my signature. You'll like it if you are here. Take care and have a great day.

Matt

[Oberon67]

Eh. If you'd built a truck instead of helping your mom we wouldn't have thought much of you.

At least I wouldn't have. Well done, sir.