newbie (again)

[mp76k10]

I joined a couple years ago, Chris was kind enough to reactivate me.  I've got a 76 K10, bought it a couple of winters ago in Hooksett NH.  3/4 ton axles, 6 inch lift, 35's.  granny low, 350, swb.  Don't know exactly what the axles are, or what brand lift was in it, but I'd like to bring the truck back to stock.  I won't do any offroading with it, so it doesn't have to be bullet proof.  I'll bring it back to stock height, and put stock axles back in it. There's more of a choice with 6 lug rim set ups than 8.    This is my first car/truck project so it's more of a learning experience than anything else.  I traded some emails with blazin a few years back, and I've been lurking on the board again for the last couple weeks.  Listening to him ramble about his lottery winnings    has gotten me fired up to work on this thing. I just built a house, no garage yet, but I have my mom's four car garage that I can use (she has one car)  I'm hoping to tear it apart this summer and start putting it back together in the fall.  The body is decent, needs rockers but the cab corners, doors, floors and the rest of the cab are good. looks like someone replaced the bedsides.  The bed floor is scraped and dented pretty bad, the braces underneath are rusted pretty good.  The rear sill and tailgate posts are shot. The gate itself is a replacement but it's decent.  I don't really know what to do about the bed floor. From listening previously, the   complete bed floor would probably be a waste of my time due to their issues.  Not sure about that though. I'd like to find a complete rust free bed, but up in our area, you usually run into the rust and the bed floor issues. The hood is good but I noticed a few bubbles starting on the leading edge, and the latch assembly that is welded to the hood itself has rusted out.  It still latches and can probably be fixed.  The 350 is tired, but still pulls.  Anyway, I don't post a ton, but I'll throw my 2 cents in now and again and I'll ask a bunch
of questions.  Later.

Mike

[JJSZABO]

Welcome back Mike

[Captkaos]

Welcome back!

[smitty77]

Welcome back Mike!

Where in NH are you?  I'm in north central Mass, restoring a 79 stepside shortbed.

Smitty

[mp76k10]

Smitty
I'm actually in VT. I bought the truck in NH.  I'm in Hartford VT, east side of the state, half way up.  I work in Keene NH which is probably quite a bit closer to where you are.  I've got an hour and a half commute from Hartford to Keene....that parts bites.....

[Blazin]

WB long time no hear!
I know a guy in Keen thats selling his house!

[mp76k10]

did the Keene thing already....now we're paying VT taxes!  Lived up her 2 1/2 years now, in the new house in for 3 months.  My wife is from Keene, she'd be happy to look for a house back there. I grew up in Hartford so I'm partial to the area and want to stay planted.....I'll get some pics posted of the truck and house soon.  Keep quiet about the house in Keene stuff....I don't need her hearing about that!  She'll make me sell the truck AND move back.....

[Blazin]

The guy I bought my 86 K 30 from over the winter grew up in the Kene area and Hartford, his wife up near Hartford. He sold the truck and was selling his house to buy a place up there.

[mp76k10]

I liked Keene, but needed to come back home....
Do you look through Auto Hunter ever?  have you seen that guy in Chester NH that advertises rust free beds for 73-87's?  Do you know him or anything about what he has?  They run 800 bucks or so.  I've never called, but the pictures are really hard to see.  His idea of "rust free" and mine may be two different things.

[Blazin]

Haven't looked at an auto hunter in a few years. But I do remeber his ads from back then. I figured he would have been sold out by now. I heard he has all the beds that are take offs when  dealer or jobber outs a tool body or flat bed on a new truck??