New To Me. 79 D-50 Stepside

[disorder0991]

Hello, complete noob to forums in general. Anyway, I just traded my 2002 ford zx2 to my neighbor for this 1979 d-50 and 300 bucks. It runs and drives, 2.0 with a 4 speed and the fiberglass stepside bed, complete with the original Altered Certification Label tag.
it says it was built by Budd Anderson ENT., Inc. in Charlotte NC. I can't really find much info on this bed or the company, I've only found 1 post on here mention briefly about this bed in passing, and 1 video on Youtube of one that had been turned into a drag truck. It definitely needs some love, the floors are about gone, the bed has some pinhole spots and the fiberglass needs some repair in a few spots, hood is trashed, wires are a rats nest,taillights need to be wired and wipers don't work. The good is it runs and drives, its original, all glass is good, no major dents, and the bed is awesome! 1761817619176201762117622

[pennyman1]

this truck was built to look like a mini Lil red express truck, with stacks coming out of the holes in the step side bed steps. The bed was made by california step side, and someone revived the company a few years ago, so parts for the bed may be available. Floor boards will have to be fabbed, and a hood may be tough to find, but not impossible yet. Welcome to the forum!

[disorder0991]

That's pretty cool!!! so the stacks were fake right? they are in the bed of the truck because the previous owner cut them off, and it looks like they were welded to the frame.I thought it was a home job. Thank you for the information! it seems like a really neat little truck. I'm going to check CSS out because the truck is missing one of the steps

[pennyman1]

They were not hooked up when it was built - look them over to see if they are real pipes

[Gohard]

I like the style of this truck!!! good choice

[disorder0991]

thank you gohard. Sorry guys I travel a lot for work, so far I have removed about a mile of extra wiring, rigged some trailer lights to the back, wired it all in, the turn signal switch is burnt out so I put them on a toggle switch for now so I can drive it, found the oil leaks were coming from a split in the oil filter and an old valve cover gasket so no more leaks. and pennyman1 they are hollow pipes but the welding work looks real bad so I assumed it was done at home by someone, they were not functional. I will take some pics if you would like. The tag office valued the truck at $40 haha, it only cost me $5 to register the thing.

[pennyman1]

Hmmm, sounds like a way to beat the DMV! Seriously, fixed up would be much better. They did come with the pipes, not sure of the quality though.

[geezer101]

Tag value @ $40? One of the rare occasions a government department didn't try to screw someone. It won't take much to get the wiring and lights legit but the temporary ghetto fix will at least make it driveable. Keep at it dude, this truck has a heap of potential :thumbup:

[disorder0991]

found a maker for the turn signal assembly the part number is sw1240 http://www.wellsve.com/parts/. But they are closed on the weekends. I am going to try to get it back to its former glory, but it has a good 35+ years of ghetto fixing on it, just trying to get it usable for now. Does anyone know where to find the parts to fix the sloppy shifter? What are your opinions on restoring or modifying. I like the idea of restoring it but I also like the thought of a v8 swap.

[pennyman1]

the shifter bushing is available from a Mitsubishi dealer, or a Hyundai dealer - the Hyundai is under a buck. As far as restore or modify, either is acceptable - the v8 swap would go well with the stacks.

[disorder0991]

that would be neat. I have a 98 vortec 350 and a th350 in the garage from a v8 s10 project. I think I may put the s10 in storage and make this truck my main focus. thank you again pennyman

[CTech]

Disorder, I had a sister of your truck!
24469

I do not have it any longer, but am looking to rebuild a D50 sport in a few years, so I have started hunting for the bed and parts!
How has your truck work proceeded?

[geezer101]

He hasn't posted in 4 years so this thread is all but dead...