Okay, you originality freaks are way over the top as far as the average truck or car guy is concerned. It is impossible to use and enjoy your truck as it was "originally" intended if you are so worried about wearing out the factory set of points inside the distributor that nobody will ever see. That's just plain nuts.
But I must confess, I share your illness.
Original is ORIGINAL. As soon as ANY part has been changed, altered, improved, replaced, etc., then it's not original (at least as far as that part goes). That being said, I think it would take quite a few parts being replaced before I would throw the whole truck out with the non-original bathwater.
Perhaps the best way to describe overall true originality is by percentage. It's doubtful that even a single truck of the vintage that this website appreciates exists as 100% original.
Given my tweaked perspective on what is original, you can imagine my heartbreak this summer, when I had to replace a clogged fuel pump and one of the factory heater hoses on my otherwise highly original 8800 mile '66 C-10. As far as I know, these parts along with just a couple from the first owner are all that has been done to the entire truck from new. ...(blub, sniff) So sad.
