Too bad I don't need a longbox...this one is in great shape!

The green hood was just tossed on in a futile attempt at protecting the engine.

I didn't notice it at the time, but after reviewing these pics, the dashpad almost looks usable.

Thursday, August 21, 2003 - Yes, it's been a month since any updates...I've had a classified ad running in the local paper for the past three weeks looking for a useable cab, since I decided the green '70 cab was not worth messing with. I've checked out dozens of trucks parked in people's fields but none were useable. Spent last Saturday scrounging through a half-dozen salvage yards around the area and just couldn't find a decent donor cab. Everything I looked at had rusted rear corners, front mounts and rusted-out floorpans, and were just too far gone. Then FINALLY!....last week I found this blue '68 sitting in a small private salvage lot nearby which can be saved. There ARE rusty areas in the normal spots, but don't appear bad enough to actually require the full-size repair panels. From the checking I've done I think I can just cut out the rusty spots and weld in new patches....and I was able to get this for a measly $75! I checked out several more this evening after work, but they all had terminal cancer, so I stopped by this guy's place, took a few pics, and told him I'd take it and would be out in about a week to get started removing it. He offered to do it, but I decided I'd like to do it myself, to keep track of all the small parts.

According to the VIN, this truck was/is a '68 F100 with a 360 and a 4-speed. The 360 is still under the hood, but is completely covered with hay, mice nests and mud. (Wish I'd gotten a picture of that!) Considering the cheap price I'm getting it for, I'm thinking about also asking him about the 4-speed (with the granny first gear), just to put back in a corner of the shop in case my tastes change one day and I wanna shift. Each of the three normal problem areas have minor cancer, but between my MIG and I, I think we can administer some effective therapy!

I found this truck about a week ago from my classified ad in the local paper, advertising for a decent cab. My classified read "...no rust-buckets!" This guy called and said he had one and "didn't think it was a rust-bucket", so I drove a half hour to check it out. I opened the driver's door and lifted the mat, and noticed the floorpan was virtually gone. "Oh" he said. "I guess it's a little rustier than I thought." I was getting ready to pass on this one, till I noticed the 360/C6 combo under the hood and the factory-installed AC. I asked him how much he wanted for the whole truck for parts and he told me $200. I decided I couldn't pass on this deal after all! I'll be loading this one up on a trailer this coming Sunday. I had to pass by it again today while making some last-minute cab inspections from more callers on my classified ad, so I stopped for a few minutes and snapped these pictures. What I thought was a '72 is actually a '70 Ranger. The factory underdash AC unit has a couple fins broken on the lower grille area, but I think they can be fixed. The grille shell is bent but the plastic inserts are in great shape. The front hood chrome will be saved, as will the bumper guards.

Had to add this one...this is my beautiful bride Mary and our son Trevor. Any time he gets in or out of the truck he as to take a couple minutes to 'drive'.