1976 Chevy Truck 3/4 ton 4x4 - 2nd rebuild

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

Your truck looks awesome! I can really tell the difference of how much better the paint looks outside than inside. Those nerd bars don't look all that bad.

[firefighter]

Thanks for the compliments guys.

     what do you have left before you can start driving it on the street ?

Just some little stuff I guess.
I have not yet installed the front inner fenders. I'm going to run the motor a bit more to make sure there is no leaks on anything etc... no inner fenders makes it real easy to get into things.
I need to get the front end aligned too. I just can't find any shop locally that wants to do it. I live in a smaller town and there is only 2 local shops with an alignment rack.
I also still need to install the aluminum wheelwell trim, alum tailgate and bed rail protectors and toolbox. Granted those things don't need to be done before it's road worthy, I'd just like to have the truck mostly done before I start using it as my daily driver again and sell my temporary truck.

Anyway, just a bit more to go as I have time. I'm still in no hurry and am just happy to be where I am.

[jacknife]

 Looks Great, I like the color as well.

[TimberwolfFXDL]

Grab a tape measure.  you should be able to get the alignment pretty close on your own.  From reading your thread, I know you have the mechanical ability and aptitude.  A little googling should get you a workable procedure.

Looks good!

[firefighter]

Hey guys,
I know I've been slow on my updates this spring. Too many things going on I suppose.
Anyway, the latest update is that the truck is pretty much done and I've been driving it every now an then whenever needed. I'm still just keeping it local as I monitor suspension, drivetrain and things like that. I guess as you gain confidence that everything you did was right, you venture further from home with it.
So far, I've only had a few small issues that have been fixed easily.
Here is a short video of the truck in it's completed state.
I'm really happy with it and want to thank all of you who have commented, helped, and given suggestions. I can't tell you how much I've appreciated this site and all you guys here.
Here is how my truck rebuild turned out. I'll add some still pics of the truck in the next couple days.

Thanks again guys!!

[bake74]

     Well firefighter, you are at a point a lot of us wish we were at.  Nice job on the truck and may it bring many enjoyable days of driving for you in the future.

[slammed79]

It's looking amazing! I love the whole vibe.

[87454westernhauler]

i havent been o here for a while and like how the truck turned out!

[thirsty]

Awesome job firefighter, start to finish. I will be waiting for some pictures of the 76' with a nice 8 or 10 pointer in the back! 

Here is some inspiration for ya.
They always look bigger in a toyota...lol

[SmokeShow]

Again, remarkable job. Amazing you've made such a nice woods truck! Congrats.

[79k30guy]

The truck looks absolutely perfect!   i love it.   great job man.   

[firefighter]

Greetings from the cold temperatures and salty roads of Iowa.
I thought I'd give a quick update of my completed 1976 Chevy 4x4 truck rebuild project.
Looking back through my posts, I believe a year ago today I had just painted the outside of the cab. That seems like it was such a long time ago, but I certainly remember how much of a milestone it seemed like to me.

Ok, well I've been through a summer of driving, a season of wood cutting and deer hunting and put about 700 miles on the truck. I've had no electrical or mechanical glitches of any type.
I have to admit, I was a fair weather driver for a while. You spend so much time rebuilding your truck and it's a thing of beauty in your own eyes. Everything is so clean and nice.
Then I get caught driving in a rain storm and all your attention goes to the floorboards to make sure the cowl or windshield isn't leaking anywhere. Everything checks out fine.
Then it's time to start cutting wood and you'll be driving on dirt and gravel roads. I spent a few evenings out in the shop fabricating custom mounts to hang rubber mud flap materail off of, to try and minimize rock chips (even though I still have some).
You drive slow at first and cringe when you hear those rocks clanging up into the wheelwells. Then you start getting used to it since you're still driving in a lifted 4x4.   
Then it's deer season and you have to throw a bloody dead deer into the back and it makes a mess. No problem, it'll hose out. It's a truck.
My latest milestone was when we got our first winter snowfall. No problem you think, it's just frozen water. Then you see the local street department driving around flinging out metal eating salt from their spreaders and you cringe!! This is the obsticle I have the hardest time with. I hate rust and that was the reason I had to rebuild it again this time. But the difference is that this time I spent countless hours and methodically undercoated everything I could.
The mudflaps do tend to keep the worst stuff knocked down but the overspray still gets eveywhere. Right now I hose the thing down every time I get back from driving out in the salty mess. I really don't know how often a person should wash this salt spray off the undercarriage but right now I'm still pretty fussy about it.

Well here's the truck out in the country after our first 4" snowfall.
I've gotten lots of comments and head turns over the summer. I've even had a few offers to buy but I'm not interested in selling or even talking numbers. I love my truck, and I'm super proud to own and drive it.

[bake74]

     It is so nice to see you driving your truck after you finished it.  It does look good in the snow.

[thirsty]

It still looks great firefighter! Glad that you enjoy it as much as you do.

Your build was one of the best. Thorough, well documented, you got it done A to Z, and it came out gorgeous too.

[81_Chevy]

LOVE the truck firefighter! i also like your rim choice, same ones as mine! im actually not that far from you!