Buy This Truck.
Under its gorgeous patina finish, this thing has been gone through and updated from front to rear.
The powertrain is now a 2002 Chevy 5.3 Vortec and 4L60E with about 85k miles on them. All stock, aside from the headers, and running a mild tune on the factory PCM with a Painless engine harness. Reach through the window, turn the key and it fires right up, no muss, no fuss. Runs like a raped ape and sounds amazing through the dual Flowmaster exhaust.
Up front you’ll find a good old Volare Torsion Bar front subframe, which has been completely rebuilt with all new bushings, new shocks, new calipers and rotors, new bearings and a new Power Steering box. The height adjusters work perfectly and allow you to dial in exactly the stance you desire.
In the back it’s a late model Ford 7.5” open rear with totally rebuilt drum brakes. I was eventually going to swap in a Frankland Quick Change rear that I have, but the 7.5 works so good I haven’t had the heart to rip it out. (I’d sell the Frankland to the buyer for a reasonable price if desired. It’s all fresh and rebuilt too.) The rear end is mounted on leafs with air shocks to fine tune the ride height.
Custom Beer Keg fuel tank, plumbed with hardline and AN fittings. External fuel pump and filter. Fuel shut-off valve is a simple and effective anti-theft device. A vintage set of Simpson race belts “straps” the keg in place, but they’re purely decorative; it’s firmly bolted to its strong steel mounting frame.
Chevy Power Brake Booster feeding all new steel lines and new hoses. There’s an adjustable Proportioning Valve, Residual Pressure Valves front and rear, and a Line Lock already plumbed in place.
Inside there is a custom stainless steel instrument panel with Omega Gauges, a floor shifter, custom brake and throttle pedals, late model GM tilt column. Comfy bench seat. The truck has been completely rewired with a modern street-rod wiring harness.
The body and frame have been sprayed with Matte Clear to preserve their patina, and are in remarkably solid condition. There is a bullet hole and a crack in the windshield, and the passenger window is cracked as well. I like the “vibe” of them, so I’ve left them in place, but replacements are readily available.
The Good: It’s a really cool truck, built right. Runs, drives and stops perfectly. Truck always draws a crowd, and always the same two questions: “What color are you gonna paint it?” (Answer: It’s Painted.) and “Will you sell it to me?”. Until just recently the answer was “Never”, but circumstances change…
The Bad: There really is none. A few loose ends to wrap up, but really nothing “bad”. Wiper motor and linkage is there, but needs wiper arms and blades, or just use Rain-X like I do. The speedometer needs to be tinkered with; it’s wired to the Speed Output on the PCM but not reading. It’s probably a simple fix but I haven’t had time to mess with it. It could probably use a proper alignment. Oh, and the heater blower motor makes a noise like it’s over fifty years old, because of course, it is. There is an AC compressor on the motor if you ever want to go all fancy and install AC.
Terms of the sale are simple. As-is, Where-is. Obviously I need to be paid before it goes anywhere, and I’m happy to work with your shipper to get it loaded and on it’s way to you. Truck is located in Jacksonville FL.
Truck is for sale locally, if somebody brings a fair offer I may end the auction.