So its been a little bit now since I updated this, here is where I am at.
Got my red bench seat, great shape only a few small issues, came out of a 1985 even. Red vinyl, no head rests, just like I wanted. The pics here are from the truck it was pulled from. The only thing left to finalize the complete interior swap is the passenger rear pillar post plastic. Just haven't had time or ambition to do it.
Next up, V8 motor. Still in the swap for under $800 including cost of the engine. I went through and resealed the top end, broke 2 intake bolts so they need to be drilled, but otherwise all that's left to get is frame perch bolts, coolant, oil, headers, header studs and gaskets, and fuel line when I get it set in there. This is an otherwise stock engine. This engine should be in and running in just a few weeks. I'm picking up a full fox body exhaust off a friend complete with headers, Thrush mufflers and piping this week also. While I would like long tubes, he's giving me a great deal on shorties, so I couldnt pass it up.
Most of the other parts I recently bought haven't been installed yet, minus new door pins for the drivers side; I was getting tired of my door not shutting and allowing in excessive wind noise and being able to see light through the weather strip seals. I had to adjust the hinges but now it shuts properly like new. The other side still needs to be done. The rear diff will hopefully go in shortly around when the motor goes in but that remains to be seen. The traction bars need modifying to fit, and cab mounts still need hardware before I can do them. I also recently bought a tailgate in better shape that will reolace my rotted one, and hopefully I will be pulling the bed off for some serious frame reinforcement sometime this summer. I also got a factory passenger mirror head to replace my dented one. My bud also tossed in a few sets of windshield trim chrome and clips.
While it's not done, I also did have my dad help modify my original rear bumper brackets, and we welded up the pipe bumper. I still need to make a bracket for the license plate, weld in some diamond plate to fill the gap between the bumper and bed, and fab some LED pod mounts to go under both tail lights for reverse backup lights at night. I think once that is done and I get some dual chrome tips out the back that will look sweet. Putting a bumper back on really stiffened up the frame.
It is nice to be able to say I built this truck and I have the most modified vehicle of all my friends. I estimate I'm somewhere around $5k invested, and while you can't see most of it, the difference in driveability between when I bought it and now is night and day.
