Wash off the salt, and don't let moisture collect. Check the fluid levels regularly, and keep an eye out for mystery spots where you park it.
As with just about anything, if you take half decent care of it, it'll last.
IMO the big enemy of those trucks are road salt, neglect, and people trying to drive 70mph in them.
Some dudes treat these old trucks like they're made of tissue paper.. but thats simply not the case. There is more steel in the typical AD front right fender than most whole brand new trucks.
Smack an AD truck on the rear fender with the back end of a spade shovel as hard as you can.. you might scratch the paint. Smack the rear fender of anything Detriot has puked out in the last 15 years with that same shovel, and you're looking at a $500+ repair estimate.
No recycled japaniese beer can body metal will be found in an old Deco or AD truck. You can sit on the front fenders without worry of leaving a permenent [censored] print. These trucks were built to be worked hard by the common man in a time when common sence and a strong work ethic wasnt in such short supply.
Old bolts will be rolling long after todays econo-trash plastic soda bottle trucks have gone to that big plastic recycling center in the sky.
So drive your truck, my friend.. drive it with the same pride it was built with.. and know that so long as you put oil in it every now and then, and hose it off in the winter months occasionally, that it'll be around for your great grandchildren to enjoy.
