Papa's Truck

[Jwood70]

So, I have been in love with my Grandfathers (my Papa) truck my whole life. It is his 1979 Custom Deluxe. It has always lived in his basement and averages traveling about 500 miles a year (yes I mean 500 miles a year). As I have gotten older, Papa and I have had many discussions about what direction to take the truck. For a while, we leaned towards a small block swap, but we both decided that the 250 is plenty enough engine for cruising and the occasional trips to get gardening supplies. Being equipped with the integrated head, we wanted to swap on a non-integrated head and call the engine bay good.

A month ago, Papa was diagnosed with Leukemia and after undergoing chemo, is not responding well at all. In the hope that he will somehow recover, I have decided that I am going to take his truck and turn it into what we have been talking about.

Last weekend, I was able to dig up a head, intake and exhaust manifold as well as a carb. Soon, they will be making their way to the machine shop to be checked and cleaned up. I have never undertaken this kind of work before and welcome any help anyone can give to swapping the heads.

Once the engine is done, I am thinking that the replacement of the grill and some trim is going to happen. Beyond that, I don't know, so we are all in the same boat there.

Thanks for stopping in and here are just a few pictures of what I am starting with.








And yes, that is 75,569 (Papa bought the truck in 1984)