It looks really good from 25 ft but looks like it spent quite a bit of time on salty Michigan roads judging by the frame and under the cab. There is some bondo in the body/doors for sure (looks like wasn't well done and starting to crack/pop), but the original floors look to be already patched in spots and cab corners and body mounts look solid enough to not need replaced. The previous owner was a "thick bondo and lots of paint" farm tractor restoration style guy. There are a lot of those around here! First use will be as a dump truck around the property. I plan on digging a pond next summer and cleaning up the property (previous owner left several junk/brush piles about) a bit then maybe next winter or the following convert this over to something more road worthy. Going to repaint a different color at some point (currently rustoleum safety blue) and run the sheet metal it as-is. It won't be perfect or a full resto but just really want a "shop truck" for the months there isn't ice/salt all over the roads up here and wife wants to drive it in local parades.
Called the local tire shop, they can't get any 8.25-20 or 900-20 tires at this time. She said at least $100 each tire to put new tubes in if they are split rims. Shouldn't need too great of tires for using in on my property as a dump truck but that is a bummer since I wanted to drive it to town on occasion. I will keep an eye on the local classifieds also in case some decent tires or wheels pop up. I may end up just getting newer axles to throw under it during the rebuild to address the gearing, brakes and wheels issue all at once or just buy a "newer" complete running truck and do a body swap.
Last edited by mdkelley; 01/17/2022 2:58 PM.
