Craaaap, could've sworn they said 22.5... Would installing 22.5s mess up the speedometer, or even make it more accurate?
I was also left with a spare visor mount: I'm gonna put on a driver's side visor, over the door, if I can.
I suspect the 9k to be correct. Remember; this is a grain truck, it would only see a few hundred miles a year. My grandpa was a farmer, and his(and my dad's)method of repair was "fix it so it works another week." Of course, if it's "working", why change it?
The V8 wasn't the only indicators of a half hearted repair: the alternator was connected to the system with romex - residential wire. The rear hitch was welded on using a stick welder, and they went too cold, yet again. The wiring on the back was crimp on connectors, electrical tape, and whatever bits of wire that could work. The interior paint has brush strokes; they took the seat out, and the rest was slathered. The door panels, strike plates, and hinges, had more random hardware than original fasteners. The truck got flooded at some point: their response was drain the engine and refill. They neglected the rest. The transmission needed everything but the gears replaced. The lift power assembly literally floats between the frame(it is held in position by the pump's driveshaft). This truck most likely led a light use, but brutal life. It is rather common to find grain trucks which barely hit 100k, and many others fall short. They tend to suffer from lack of use(the hoses are rotted and cracked; brakes seize to the drum; bad gas; the oil drains from the top end, resulting in increased wear, etc.).
I want to restore and upgrade this truck, and keep it until I retire. An ambitious goal to be sure, since I'm only 22 years old. It will be a general hauler.
The pictures you see of the truck surrounded by others, were taken at the lot I bought it from. Considering the rest of it, it was either original, or was replaced within the first few years.
