bikinkawboy
Well-Known Member
I 'bout got her done. Still have several small things to sort out and install new front tires, but it motivates under its own power. It started out as a very rusty '77 D150 that had set behind the shed unused for something like 17 years. In 2011 I considered scrapping it but couldn't bring myself to do so considering all of the memories it held (dating the ex, bringing the babies home from the hospital, etc).
I converted it to a 4-wheel drive, which is more entailed than it would first appear. The bed was in such bad shape that I searched and found a better bed from an Air Force radio truck. While in better shape, it still took a LOT of time and work to repair the rust damage as well as making all of the antenna holes cut into the bed sides go away.
The paint is Van Sickle enamel found at farm stores and used on farm equipment. I used regular gloss black and Ferguson Gray (an extinct brand of tractor) with Van Sickle clear coat. I used Van Sickle sandable primer on the bed but I won't use it again. It's $40 a gallon compared to $25 a quart at NAPA, but it goes on too dry and with pits. I like the VS paint but not the primer. Early on I wondered if I had chosen a gray that was too dark, but I'm pleased with the way it turned out. The trim is original although I added the drip rail trim, tail light bezels, the trim next to the wing, the cab clearance lights as well as the OEM cargo light. Complete overhaul on the engine and front axle, frame off restoration, etc. The only thing I didn't do by myself was install the front windshield. Shop manual says to have a helper and I didn't want to atempt if and bust the glass. The amount of time I've invested in it is unreal. My doc says I have an obsessive-compulsive personality, which I think is a requirement when restoring an old junk vehicle. Otherwise I would have given up a long time ago.
I converted it to a 4-wheel drive, which is more entailed than it would first appear. The bed was in such bad shape that I searched and found a better bed from an Air Force radio truck. While in better shape, it still took a LOT of time and work to repair the rust damage as well as making all of the antenna holes cut into the bed sides go away.
The paint is Van Sickle enamel found at farm stores and used on farm equipment. I used regular gloss black and Ferguson Gray (an extinct brand of tractor) with Van Sickle clear coat. I used Van Sickle sandable primer on the bed but I won't use it again. It's $40 a gallon compared to $25 a quart at NAPA, but it goes on too dry and with pits. I like the VS paint but not the primer. Early on I wondered if I had chosen a gray that was too dark, but I'm pleased with the way it turned out. The trim is original although I added the drip rail trim, tail light bezels, the trim next to the wing, the cab clearance lights as well as the OEM cargo light. Complete overhaul on the engine and front axle, frame off restoration, etc. The only thing I didn't do by myself was install the front windshield. Shop manual says to have a helper and I didn't want to atempt if and bust the glass. The amount of time I've invested in it is unreal. My doc says I have an obsessive-compulsive personality, which I think is a requirement when restoring an old junk vehicle. Otherwise I would have given up a long time ago.
