The torch is passed.

[timjt]

Drive it and enjoy it in this condition while you can. Great looking truck.

[JohnC]

Originally Posted by special-K

This is an awesome story.Thanks for sharing.It's not the first of it's type to be told.something about these trucks are cherished by their original owners.Many a 67/72 truck has been the last truck for it's original owners.
I wouldn't change a thing.With these trucks being such a fad they are being modified to where it's hard to find them original.All the things you want to change had been just fine to your uncle for 43 years.If you must do these changes,I suggest waiting till he's passed on.At least I'd ask his feelings on them.after all,he "gave" it to you.I like to see such original truck kept original.Now,adding the original power brakes would be keeping it '68 original.Just not to this particular truck.It's not like the same thing couldn't have been done before the truck ever left the lot.
The main advise I'd give is sit tight and let it all soak in.Keep checking out this sight and absorbing all the info and options.You will better form your opinion on just how you want the truck.As always,it's your truck to do what you want with in the end.Enjoy that thing!

Great advice right there. Especially the soaking in, and not doing any hasty changes. Getting your uncles input will also make the truck more sentimental to both of you. As many will say it is only original once. Just enjoy it, and fix things that need to be fixed for safety. Other than that enjoy driving around in the truck that you wanted for a long time.

[tk-mpl]

WOW, that is so cool..... I wish I got a hand me down like that.... Just the though of the memories that you have shared with the truck is cool.

Now drive the truck for a bit and then make it your own....

[big_al_71]

Congrats.....get it right and drive the heck out of it..

[burkeens]

Wow -- thanks to everyone for the great ideas, including about "paint jail." I guess I was being a little hasty in rushing out to get it repainted. On second thought, I think I will do as most everyone is suggesting and just drive it for a little while, get a feel for it and enjoy it as is. I've ridden many miles in the cab and on the rear wheel wells as a kid, but have rarely driven it before now. Mechanically, it is in good shape. I should have mentioned that my uncle is a mechanic and ran his own wheel alignment shop for about 40 years. This truck used to wear sideboards with his shop name in it. He recently went over it for any mechanical issues and then we had an independent shop go over it a second time. So it is in good mechanical shape, and just took traveled 120 miles from KY to TN with no problem (excecpt we realized the dash light is out). I am keeping it garaged, so hopefully that will help keep it in good shape. Thanks again for all the great suggestions.

P.S. As some of you have suggested, I will certainly keep my uncle in the loop on any repainting, etc. It will always be his truck (and my aunt's truck) as far am I concnerned even if I hold the title. I would be great to have a project to work on together, even if we have a few miles between us.

[burkeens]

Oldblue1968chevy:

My aunt's name for this truck is "Old Blue", so I appreciate your screen name. If you're ever around Nashville, we will have to get the two Old Blues together.

[BarryB]

Wow nice truck. Like stated before drive it, take care of it. I would upgrade the brakes, possible put a set of different wheels. then call it good. I wouldn't get rid of the originals either. I'd put those up just in case you ever wanted to go back to original.
Just be sure to keep it maintained and garaged when not driving it.

[matthew20061]

That is a very cool truck, love the patina on it, I wound definitely not repaint it as it looks like such a great survivor truck!

[burkeens]

Wow nice truck. Like stated before drive it, take care of it. I would upgrade the brakes, possible put a set of different wheels. then call it good. I wouldn't get rid of the originals either. I'd put those up just in case you ever wanted to go back to original.
Just be sure to keep it maintained and garaged when not driving it.

Thanks very much. I like those ideas, but I plan to keep the original wheels and caps. I know rally wheels would look better to some, but I always remember this truck with these wheels and these caps. I just want it to be like I've always known it. (My uncle has the original caps he's going to look up for me. The guys at his shop bought the full wheel caps for him as a Christmas present the year he bought the truck, I believe. That's the only wheel cover change I might make some time, since it would be to the way he bought it new.)

[oldblue1968chevy]

Love it man! Gonna be @ GG this year with it?

LEAVE IT ALONE CHANGE THE LEAST AS POSSIBLE DETAIL IT OUT AND DRIVE IT!

More pictures please!

[So.Cal.Super]

Like everyone has said,

Mechanical, Buff, clean, fluids, tires, etc.

Then take a weekend off, drive it back to your uncles in TN, slide over into the passenger side and let him drive it around for a few days with you. Get him to talk about old stories with the truck, Probably will make his year.

P.S. Have fun with it.

[Gobbles]

That is a fantastic truck, congrats man. I don't think it needs repetition but I like it the way it is, I would leave it stock height too! Perhaps Wheels and tires but definitely leave the paint.

[legendary]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

What a beautiful original truck!

As TMS posted above...

1 - get it running and driving straight
2 - Buff the 'original' paint
3 - drive it and enjoy it!

You will get a 1,000 different opinions on what to do with the truck, but for me, as original and as solid as the truck really is, I would leave the original paint (it's only original once). I would then consider upgrading the brakes for functionality purposes, leave the tank, lower the truck and drive the wheels off it!

Also, think about all your options and make a plan because changing one thing will affect other upgrades you do in the future.

We need some more pics!!!

On this truck +71.
At least until you are just really, really bored with it.
Then sell it to one of us
That way, you are keeping it in the family! (technically)

[Joesjunk]

Great story and great truck!

[cam.man67]

Great story!

If it were me, I'd leave that beauty alone. The wheels are great, brakes will be fine, just drive it!

[Classic Heartbeat]

I would ask,
What is it you like about the truck? Is it the style, or the memories of the truck?
If it is the style, make it yours. Do to it what will make you enjoy the truck more.
If it is the memories, then leave it like it is. Just maintain it like most everyone is saying. Because if you change it, you won't have the same warm and fuzzy feelings about it. WES

[BP68]

Cool story and cool truck. Post more pics, we love pics. Not the same era, but my uncle bought his 93 silverado new and it is mostly stock except the vortec motor I put in when the motor went. (Original had loose oil filter adapter and blew oil out, eventually started knocking)(second motor was a free used motor from a friend that ended up being pretty worn and eventually burned #3 exh valve) I freshened up a 96 Vortec long block, installed a GMPP intake, a higher fuel psi spring and a diff fuel pump.
My uncle is grinning ear to ear. Gets bettery fuel economy and has more power.
Anyway, the truck comes to me when he can no longer drive, or decides to sell. It is stayin in the family.

[burkeens]

Post more pics, we love pics.

I don't have any more pics of the truck handy right this second, but here is the original bill of sale, in case that's interesting. My uncle and aunt still live at the same house they lived in when they bought the truck, so all the papers have been sitting in a file cabinet untouched for 43 years. I felt nervous opening up the sales folio because I did not want to wrinkle anything. I will take more truck pics later. I am new to this, so is there any certain thing I should take a photo of? Thanks.

[dan76]

Good story.........it's a keeper just as it is.

[Zoomin]

I would keep almost everything the same except for any of the rubber gaskets and rubber fuel lines. I'd go ahead and replace the windshield and rear window gaskets even. The idea is to find any rust and get rid of it now. Leaving it alone will only allow it to spread and get worse. You should also check the caulking along the drip rail too.

There's some things, like the dash pad for example, that I would replace with a used one that looked aged, but without the cracks - that way it remains "original", but is an improvement. That kind of thing can be done relatively inexpensively.

Are the sideboards still available? I think those would be cool to have too.

Congrats on your new truck!
Posted via Mobile Device

[oldblue1968chevy]

Zoomin is right on the money..

Any updates I freaking love this truck, what my truck looked like before the repaint by PO's

[wilbilt]

Congrats on a fantastic example of what these trucks are. A beautiful truck.

Upgrading the brakes in the name of safety is certainly worthwhile, but I would leave the rest as-is. 3 on the tree is awesome. I had a C-10 years ago that had been the victim of a cheap floor shifter "upgrade". I rebuilt the column for a few bucks and found some original linkage. It was great. Nobody wanted to borrow it, because nobody knew how to drive it, LOL.

[oldblue1968chevy]

So is the original motor a 307? Mine had the standard v8 for 68 and I think 307 was bottom of the line sbc.

Mines the 3ott and everything its my backround pic, got more pictures??

[71meangreenc10]

I need some Uncles like that .....

Nice truck....


Smitty

[prairewolf]

Cool truck, .... I am biased but I will say it anyway .. Long
boxes rock. ......... and there are rust points on these trucks that should /could be looked at. .. debris/junk collects in bottom of front of front fenders, the cowl has a drain that is suppose to drain I think if cleaned out from leaves etc..... and just my opinion but the lower cab corners should just have a small hole drilled up from bottom that can drain. ...again, Cool truck...

life is good, kent