70 Longbed-Howdy from Houston

[Texasduffer]

I've been reading the boards for a year now and finally decided to join. I've had my 70 Longbed for almost 2 years now and have been slowly developing a plan of attack. I've just finally started putting the plan into action.

Previous owner did a decent job updating the truck although not all the work was as detailed as I would have liked. I bought the truck with the 305,
Electronic ignition, Hooker headers, exhaust pipes, lowered front and back, discs front/drums rear, 15" AR Torq Thrust rims, relocated gas tank, new carpet, Dodge bench seat, new Toyota Sienna Beige paint over rust, running real good, and as reliable as I could have ever imagined.

Recently added: Vintage Air, Frontrunner serpentine belt kit, dual electric radiator fan, CPP four-wheel discs with drilled and slotted rotors (epoxy painted the calipers as well), new rear shocks, and power-steering. Everything's working fine except the air, it needs a little more attention over the next two weeks to get it right.

Parts waiting on install: New/reconditioned white gauge cluster from an eBay seller (if anyone's used one of these I'd love to hear how it turned out), one-piece window conversion, Blaupunkt CD player, kickpanel speakers/amps/subs, side mirrors, tailgate, et al.

I'm kinda waiting to install all the above until I pull together the scratch to get the body work and paint done, which is getting real close. I'm planning on a Flat Black Rat Rod kinda look with some small white/red tribal type pinstriping. I don't need the body real straight, but I would like to beat the rust back into submission which is probably easier said than done. If anyone's got a reasonable body man in the Houston area, I'd love to talk to him. And I'm leaning toward 20" Boyd Raw Dogs, maybe 22's in the rear if someone can talk me into it...

I could go on all night, but I'll save some for later. I'll try to attach some pics but have never done it before so it might take a few attempts. You've got a good group of guys here and I hope I can contribute something to the board in the future. Gig'em...

[krue]

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi! Nice looking truck, especially the engine bay.

[L0WRIDE]

Welcome to the board from New zealand

[jsbgump]

Welcome to the board from a fellow Texan

[rage'nrat638]

from chicago...

sweet truck

your pal mark

[86swb]

Welcome to the board from Western Kentucky. Nice truck. One more thing I see you need is a gas pedel. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[redneckgirl]

Welcome to the board from Maryland! Sweet truck

[Dadsredwagon]

welcome from Tomball/spring area... check out niftee/fiteees, they meet on sat at the kroger's on springcypress/ acroos form glenloch farms, check it out.

nice ride

[Texasduffer]

Originally Posted by 86swb

Welcome to the board from Western Kentucky. Nice truck. One more thing I see you need is a gas pedel. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

You're right, I've got one in the garage but am waiting to pull up all the carpet and dynamat/sound deaden the interior before I install the little ball/post thingy in the floor. I've been driving it for two years like that, why hurry now...

[Ron 586]

Welcome to the board from West Tennessee.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

i love the hot rods and rat rods but i think it looks great as is, nice overall truck though dude

[droppedgmc]

welcome from WA

[smirch9]

Welcome!

[TRUCKER-TRUCKIN']

Man I hope mine looks like that when i'm done, sharp truck, welcome from Missouri!

[shaneschevys]

Welcome from FT Worth.

[mbgmike]

welcome from webster

[Canadian694x4]

Welcome To The Boards From The Great White North!

[BACKYARD88]

from South Texas. I like that seat. (same as my DD)

[SacramentoJoe]

You got some nice stuff on that truck. Welcome.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Welcome to the board from Vancouver Island, B.C.

I have attatched a couple pic's of my truck since ypu mentioned that you will likely be doing the "Black" thing. I like the old Hot Rod look of some Chrome on a no fuss Black. I did an article on what I used for paint on the paint & body forum and if you would like any other info just drop a post or PM me.

Your truck looks sweet allot nicer then what I started with .... I did allot of body work on mine so it was a trade off. I got rid of the obvious rust and allot of dents, then I shaved the truck and finished with the old school look. What I saved on a bling bling paint job paid allot of what I also did in body work.

esll.

[Texasduffer]

That's the look I'm going for with the flat black. Maybe a little more on the grayer side than what you've done, but that is as close as I've seen to my vision. I think my rim selection and the pin striping I'm considering is gonna work out good after seeing those pics.

I'm still worried that I may need to get it down a little lower, but I just don't want to part with the cash it takes to get the airbags. Something doesn't sit well with me adding that kinda technology to such a classically simple steel truck, but I might talk myself into it...Thx for those pics.

[Liz]

[LUV2XCLR8]

From West TN

[gulfcoast66]

to the board, im right up the road, baytown, TEXAS!

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by Texasduffer

That's the look I'm going for with the flat black. Maybe a little more on the grayer side than what you've done, but that is as close as I've seen to my vision. I think my rim selection and the pin striping I'm considering is gonna work out good after seeing those pics.

I'm still worried that I may need to get it down a little lower, but I just don't want to part with the cash it takes to get the airbags. Something doesn't sit well with me adding that kinda technology to such a classically simple steel truck, but I might talk myself into it...Thx for those pics.

**********************************************************

Thanks, (classically simple steel truck) could not have said it better. I'm going to 60 series tires in the back (should eat up about an other inch of wheel well space with out lowering it any more. I'll leave the 50's in the front. With out serious mods and alot more $$$ this is pretty much as low as I would go and feel safe. (In case of a flat.) My goal is to keep it low key on the bling-bling, kinda poor boy hot rod.

I'm in the process (started today) of doing the bed wood .... no s/s, painted strips & bolts, Stained in dark oak and finished in a satin clear, box to be mounted as the factory did. On my 50' I mounted the box below the floor to get away from odd bolts and oblong washers.

LOL on your truck ....

esll.