I agree, close to, or stock seems to be the most dependable! My 1-Ton is stock, with the exception of the dual carbs, and dual exhausts. I use it for work, and drive 35 miles every day of the week, often with a thousand pounds in it, which sure smoothes it out.
I am still running six volts as well. As long as you stick to the service schedule in the book, grease every thousand, etc, it should run forever. I've put about 13,000 miles on mine in the past year and a half. No major drama. Little stuff though, as my truck is not restored. I've rebuilt my starter, and replaced little stuff like that. Really though, even a truck ten years old requires the same amount of maintenance.
I'm now down to spending about ten bucks a month on the truck, other than gas and oil.
