It Followed Me Home, Honest! Pics Added

[LM14]

Getting ready to start on my '61 uni build. Looking at parts needed, rust repair, etc. Decided there had to be better pieces to start with for what I have in mind. So we went crazy last weekend.

Took off after work and headed south, 12 hours to the south, pulling an empty trailer. Living in SE Iowa ment we were in Missouri in about an hour. Drove on south thru Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and into Mississippi to look at a "rust free" '61. You can sleep when you are dead, right?! Drove straight thru the night and got there to look at it around 8:00AM. Not pretty. Had the same rust I have, and more! A few pieces were better but overall it wasn't any better for a starting spot than what I had.

Dianne was a little dissapointed that is was so bad and the trip was wasted. I never leave things to chance. Pulled out my list of trucks I had been checking on and had 5 others to looks at. Callled the next choice on the list and headed towards the Dallas, Texas area!

8.5 hours later, we were in Whiteright, Texas standing in a little orchard looking at a '62 short bed. 99% rust free. Nothing major to fix since I don't care about the drivetrain. Great body! Little rust spot on the back edge of the roof, badly dented driver's door, a few small holes at the box floor/back of cab joint (nothing bigger than a penny) and a very small spot by the clutch pedal where your heel sits. Best looking steps/risers I've ever seen, workable tailgate, rust free fenders, floors, etc. 100% better than my '61. Struck the deal and loaded it up. Headed north towards home. Silly Dianne thought we were done and headed home! Ha! Got into Oklahoma and decided to catch a few hours sleep.

Early Sunday we headed towards the Joplin, Missouri area. Called a Craigs List ad for a pair of "perfect, rust free, you'll find none nicer" doors for $100 in Springfield, Missouri. The guy still had them but was out of town. Struck out. As we got to the edge of Springfield he called me back and had a friend that met us. The doors are just as described. Loaded them and headed on home.

1926 miles, $550 in gas, unloaded a nice unibody at the race shop for the night and headed home.

Went out tonight and cleaned things out a little. No suprises. Put the second set of doors on for the bent one and it lines up great. Now to get the race stuff put up fir the winter and get started on my soon to be retired project. It's raining here today, so will post a few pics tomorrow night.

Keep looking guys, there are still nice starting points out there! You may have to drive a little.

We have about 90% of our build plan so stay tuned. Goal is the next SS in Altoona.

SPark

[Toyz]

Getting ready to start on my '61 uni build. Looking at parts needed, rust repair, etc. Decided there had to be better pieces to start with for what I have in mind. So we went crazy last weekend.

Took off after work and headed south, 12 hours to the south, pulling an empty trailer. Living in SE Iowa ment we were in Missouri in about an hour. Drove on south thru Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and into Mississippi to look at a "rust free" '61. You can sleep when you are dead, right?! Drove straight thru the night and got there to look at it around 8:00AM. Not pretty. Had the same rust I have, and more! A few pieces were better but overall it wasn't any better for a starting spot than what I had.

Dianne was a little dissapointed that is was so bad and the trip was wasted. I never leave things to chance. Pulled out my list of trucks I had been checking on and had 5 others to looks at. Callled the next choice on the list and headed towards the Dallas, Texas area!

8.5 hours later, we were in Whiteright, Texas standing in a little orchard looking at a '62 short bed. 99% rust free. Nothing major to fix since I don't care about the drivetrain. Great body! Little rust spot on the back edge of the roof, badly dented driver's door, a few small holes at the box floor/back of cab joint (nothing bigger than a penny) and a very small spot by the clutch pedal where your heel sits. Best looking steps/risers I've ever seen, workable tailgate, rust free fenders, floors, etc. 100% better than my '61. Struck the deal and loaded it up. Headed north towards home. Silly Dianne thought we were done and headed home! Ha! Got into Oklahoma and decided to catch a few hours sleep.

Early Sunday we headed towards the Joplin, Missouri area. Called a Craigs List ad for a pair of "perfect, rust free, you'll find none nicer" doors for $100 in Springfield, Missouri. The guy still had them but was out of town. Struck out. As we got to the edge of Springfield he called me back and had a friend that met us. The doors are just as described. Loaded them and headed on home.

1926 miles, $550 in gas, unloaded a nice unibody at the race shop for the night and headed home.

Went out tonight and cleaned things out a little. No suprises. Put the second set of doors on for the bent one and it lines up great. Now to get the race stuff put up fir the winter and get started on my soon to be retired project. It's raining here today, so will post a few pics tomorrow night.

Keep looking guys, there are still nice starting points out there! You may have to drive a little.

We have about 90% of our build plan so stay tuned. Goal is the next SS in Altoona.


SPark

You mean I don't have the FULL symptoms of the sickness yet?
Good finds!

[Jerry D]

You know you can't just post a thread like this, and not include pictures.

[bcook07]

[LM14]

OK! Already switched out the mangled driver's door and put my old Appliance slots on it so it rolled better.











That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
SPark

[rickairmedic]

Spark ya coulda dropped that off at my house or at least the purdy aluminum 62 grill .



Rick

[MadMaxetc]

WOW...Nice find!!

[Truckrat]

Steve I would say that one was well worth the trip bud!
Nice looking truck with what appears to be a good tailgate, too.
Good Score. I will be watching this build, but looks like it would be
easy to get this one on the road. TR

[LM14]

The tailgate is repairable, it has some rust spots and a few dents but no deal killers.

This will be a total rebuild. Wanting to do IFS (Dakota), IRS (Super Coupe), Y-block/5 speed, etc. Want to do it right since it's such a good starting point.

SPark

[ICEMAN6166]

very nice score.

curious if that is a late 62 as it has the 63/64 trim and cc door handle guards?

[LM14]

very nice score.

curious if that is a late 62 as it has the 63/64 trim and cc door handle guards?

Early May '62 build. It has been repainted at least once, maybe twice, that stuff could have been added at any time in the last 46 years!

SPark

[foodstick]

Yeah, I think a lot of our trucks have had one past owner or more that collected a few favorite parts from different year trucks.

[sgettin]

i was jealous enough after reading of your trip, the pics didn't help any. nice solid shortbed you picked up.

[65TremecGT]

Sweet trip!! Nice scores!

[LM14]

Took off work yesterday afternoon and made a quick (5 Hr each way) trip to the Springfield, MO area. Picked up 1070# of 430" Lincoln engine. Going to switch the Lincoln engine for a C6 tranny (don't think a T-5 would live long behind that torque) and slip it in the uni. Who doesn't like almost 500 lb-ft of torque and 375HP? This should be fun.

Sold the green uni and it left for Kansas last weekend. Went to a nice guy that's looking forward to saving it, bodywork is his hobby.

SPark

[LM14]

Got this big chunky thing the other day. Gonna make it fit! 375HP (385 from some sources, won't argue about 10 HP if that's OK with you guys) and 485 ft-lb torque. Yes! Mileage be damned!





It may rule out the Mustang T-5 and the T-Bird IRS, don't think it will live long. Anyone have any experience with them being abused?

[MadMaxetc]

That thing will destroy a T-5.