Okay,
First I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and suggestions. As I stated, removing the one rivet, making sure the bumper bracket bolts were tight (some needed some tweeking) and making sure the steering box bolts were tight and the issues is
considerably less than it was - like down to millimeters.
I sometimes feel that when I would roll up to an inspection station, due to the age of my truck, they WANT to find something wrong. How could anything this old not have
something wrong with it. Makes them money if I decide to have them fix it. Point in case, last year I had the truck inspected and they told me I needed new wiper blades. Okay, but I used them before I left home to wash away dust and they seemed fine. So I told them to replace them. Then, I was told my passenger lower ball joint was bad. I told them how could that be as they were replaced with the past couple of years. Shrug of the shoulders and they slapped that rejection sticker happily on the windshield and I left. Lucky for me, I keep receipts and yes, they had been replaced just about 2 years ago and they were Moog ball joints. I called the shop that installed them and they said bring it in and they would check it out. Turns out, it wasn't bad, it just needed some more grease in the fitting and voila - fixed. I had it inspected there and it passed. Fast forward to this year, and about 200 miles later, and was told I had a frame crack yet tightening up some bolts and replacing a rivet solved the problem. I know that this can be an issue with these trucks and I will continue to monitor it.
So, I have come up with a solution - I am getting "Antique" tags. In Virginia I can get Antique tags with personalization. I like my tag (NOT4SL) and a lot of people like it. The only restrictions are that it cannot be my sole mode of transportation/daily driver and I cannot go over 250 miles away from my home. Neither is a problem. The best part......No inspections. Now does that mean I will not take it for courtesy inspections - nope. I just will not have to be haunted by a possible "rejection" sticker for whatever reason. I still want it to be a safe drive.
I feel comfortable with this decision. I have owned this truck since she rolled off the assembly line, she was special ordered and built for ME, she has never left me stranded and I do not feel she ever will. There are times when I think she drove ME home safely due to too much indulgence - young, dumb and stupid - I know I am not the only one here that has done that. I have taken excellent care of her, and she has taken care of me. One day we will part ways. It will be a sad day when that happens, but all good things must come to an end.
And YES, it is a SHE, why else would the name be Ol' Holly. My mom's car was Betsy.
Thanks again for all the help.
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