Rusty76 and his '76

[rusty76]

Thanks.

[Ta2Don]

Life has a way of getting us and our projects sidetracked... Family first and honoring Mom is way more important...

You will get there!!!

[68Timber]

Work on it when you can and collect parts when you can. As long as you haven't sold it, right?

[rusty76]

Thanks fellas. I've been close to selling it but never did. Lol.

[Jrgunn5150]

I always tell people, doesn't cost a thing to keep it. Mine sat all winter, I have an F100 in way worse shape that's been sitting a year, and will sit at least two more.

Patience pay's though.

[rusty76]

It's funny but this truck has been the only truck I really have ever wanted. I've owned countless cars, trucks and a motorcycle. But I've sold every single one of them. I had nice comaro, sold it. I had a nice '87 V10 Silverado, 4x4 power everything and sold it. Had a great Dodge Dart Swinger that in some ways I still want, but sold it. This truck has really been the only ride that I miss driving. I've done so much crap in this truck and gone so many different places in this rusty pile of poo. This truck made me feel alive. It might not make much sense to some but it does to me. You got in it and drove it. No electronic crap to take a dump. It was easy to drive and fun. Sure it was a pain in the rear in the winter and when it rained, but honestly those days don't add up to the good days. Thanks for looking in and checking out my build though there's not a ton going on. Some how some way it's going to happen. Thanks again.

[rusty76]

So not really truck related but kinda kin to it. Been working in my garage today. My wife is shutting her business down this weekend so we had some stuff to bring home. Two of those things were two tables I built for the store. One eight foot long and the other six feet long. I figured when I built them I would end up using them in the shop. So better make them strong and hold storage as well. Pretty good investment if you ask me. I've got a few other things I'd like to do them. I'll be glad to be organized better and be able to use garage. Stayed tuned folks.


Well how do you rotate pics? Grr.

[LT7A]

Good luck man. Glad you kept it.

[rusty76]

Thanks

[lower50's]

Just read your revamp. Any closer to driving for your bday?

[rusty76]

Well I'd love to say I've been scootin around in this puppy but no. I will say change is coming. Thanks for looking in.

[rkn463]

Whe you do get around to putting it back on the road I highly recommend keeping the small block 400. It is a long stroke motor which means more torque and better efficiency than a shorter stroke engine. If you let it breathe freely and tune your carb properly it will get better mileage than a 350. I drove a small block 400 for years in a car and got the same mileage from it that I did with the stock 305 that it replaced and the power was amazing.

I hope to see some progress soon!

-Richard

[rusty76]

Yeah I loved the 400. It had so much torque and in a short wheelbase truck it would absolutely fry the tires. It only had a two barrel and long tube headers. The kick down linkage was never hooked up and honestly it never needed it. In all honesty I wished I had left the motor in the truck. But I was so eager to do something with my truck. I wanted it not to smoke and actually run right when it rained. I hated driving it when it rained. I never understood why it ran so poor when it rained. Otherwise it ran super smooth. Now the engine sits 30 miles away fully blown apart. Stupid me was just wanting to do something besides pushing it from one side of the yard to the other.

This brings me to some other thoughts. I have seriously considered selling it or using some of the parts to build another truck. I hate seeing it sit under my carport. What's stupid is I've accumulated right many parts over the years. Fenders, trim stuff and a few mechanical things. The truck needs a bunch. It needs a core support, hood, doors and something needs to be done about the bed. The cab support is rotted pretty bad and the rockers and corners have their concerns. My first thoughts most of this stuff is basically bolt on stuff. But then I start looking closer. I never intended on the truck being perfect but I would like for it not to be a total hack.

The suspension and brakes need love. The seat is toast. While I had really hoped to drive this thing for my 40th b-day I know that's pretty unrealistic. I've been searching for possibly another truck. I have never been so frustrated with my self like I have with this truck. I had really wanted to start working on it two years ago but life got in the way. I put it in the back of my mind and became one of those "some day" guy. My some day hasn't happened. I blame myself on that part.

Love the look of the 60-66 trucks. Classic lines and so on. My heart just hasn't totally been into this truck. I have learned to put myself on the back burner like this truck. I am tired of driving a toaster every day. While my daily is great everyday it just isn't fun to drive. More like a snore. Don't get me wrong great gas mileage and the cops don't pay you any mind. I know all this sounds stupid and maybe I should go spend some time with it. Who knows right? Thanks for looking in and the thoughts.

[rusty76]

I went back and read over that post this morning and there in front of me was my own enemy. I've had this truck since at least 1997. I bougt it for 1500 bucks with strong intentions of having a cool truck. I knew then it needed work but in my young eyes I saw a old truck that had been in my family for a very long time considering what had happened. My wife always asks me when am I going to do something about it? When I was ready to really get cracking on this truck I had to put a roof on the house. Then things went south with my mom and then her car went to crap. It seemed everything had been working against me. If life doesn't get in the way or challenge you you'd never get anywhere.

In all honesty I don't know what to do. I really hate walking outside seeing it rust away but at the same time I'm still that same kid who used to crawl out under it in the ditch and change the oil.

[Matt Man]

Honestly if you were to sell it what realistic price would you get for it? The truck is paid for, increasing in value and was in your family. I haven't seen pictures of the rust, but unless it needs a cab swap I wouldn't sell it.

I thought the same of my truck when I got it, the truck was such a pile at the time. I would keep it, maybe try to stop the rust from spreading for now.

[rusty76]

I will spending some time with it this week. I will take an stronger assement of what's here and go from there. It might not be as bad as think. But my mood has been every where. Thanks.

[rusty76]

So I took a few pics of what I'm dealing with. I know the fenders doors unbolt and so on but I'm apprehensive of what to do. Here I'll let some of the pics speak

[rusty76]

I've hunted for a set of doors for this truck and it's like hunting for hens teeth. 73-76 doors are super hard to find. For me at least. Now if you want 77-87 doors have you pick. What really makes all this hurts is not being able to weld. I guess I just need to get a welder and learn huh.

[68Timber]

Rust is the least of your worries, honestly you don't have to repair it. But if you do it should come last. Get it running and driving including whatever brake and suspension repairs/maintenance it might need so it's safe and reliable. The interior is easy to freshen up, it's just lots of detail work. Make the first goal running and driving though so you can enjoy it some and work on the rough edges over time.

[rusty76]

It's funny how the interior isn't horrible. The dash pad is awesome in this truck. The door panels are ok and even the original carpet is ok. Just the seat foam is crap. I have to say I'd at least would like the front end to look halfway straight. With the bumper mashed in and the core support racked it just looks like crap. I'll figure it out. Thanks for the words and following along.

[Matt Man]

If it makes you any better here are some pictures of my crappy interior when I got it. Trust me it was way worse in person. Seat is no big deal to redo.

[lower50's]

I agree with 68Timber Just make it safe and running start driving it and work on it when you can.

[rusty76]

I appreciate every thing. I'm often clouded by my own sight.

[tinydb84]

Buy a cheap welder and get some scrap/drops from a metal shop and start welding. Its a skill that is very versatile and useful. Don't worry about how your truck looks. Get it running and driving and I am sure your motivation will go through the roof.

I've been learning (welding, body, paint) as I have been building. Its a long process and I have been redoing my old work. I'd kill to be able to actually drive my truck.

[cknfrmr]

Just read through your build. Man I think its a real life struggle how it goes build. I feel your pain. My thoughts are stick with it dude. I NEVER hit my goals due to life. Man your taking care of your family when they need you. That truck has family memory in it from the past plus the future memories you will make. There are a couple of 40s. 41,42,43,etc. Don't get rid of it unless you have to. There is not another one like it with its history. But that's easy for me to say I'm not in your shoes.