New to the sight, just wanted to show you guys what you're helping me with! Just because I'm new to the sight does not mean I'm new to the world of these beloved trucks. I've been searching on this forum for a while now you all have answered many questions. Here's just a start to a long project!
This is the 1980 D50 sport that my mom and dad bought new in 1981. My mom used to drive it back and forth to work for a few years before my dad took it over. It has been used as a DD, construction truck, Farm truck, and wood hauler. The first truck that I learned to drive and have had many fond memories driving this on our farm in Indiana. This truck has led many lives in its 35 year life. My dad converted it to 4x4 in 1985 with a solid front dana 20 and a dana 18 transfer case(was a kit in the day and I have the original brochure). He then bought a 1981 base model with the 2.0 and auto tranny and swapped bodies on chassis(the 1981 was now 4x4, and the 80 was back to original). He sold the 1981 4x4 and put a john baker 2" lift on it and that where it stands today. After many Indiana winters the cab corners gave out and we parked it in a barn(1999?) until this summer.
This picture is the day we drug it out into the sunlight for the first time in 13 years!
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Knowing that we were going to restore it, I bought this 1979 base model off Craigslist from southern Indiana. Paid more than it was worth, but it has a good body and where we are in the world thats hard to find, if any.
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Remember the 4x4 1981 he sold? Well he got a call from the guy he sold it too (from indianapolis) and was going to scrap it. It had been rolled shortly after he bought it from my dad but kept it in his garage until he called us in 2004. We bought it and drug it home, parted all the OE parts we could salvage and the 4x4 parts my dad installed...And built this! its a 1986 we bought off a local guy that was tired of fighting with it. Timing belt broke and he couldnt figure out why it wouldnt run. We finished this in 2005 and has been the wood hauler, farm truck since.
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Brought the sport into the shop and started the tear down process.
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then the 79
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Our plan is to use the 79 frame and body and the running gear out of dads 80. We added on to our existing shop, 2 trucks tore down was taking up too much room. As of now we have 2 completly stripped trucks. The engine is at our local engine builder (my father-in-law) getting "freshened" up. The frame has been sand blasted and powder coated along with all of the suspension pieces.
Its going to be along process, but I'm really excited to get back to work on this truck! The 86 is in the shop now waiting for the Weber carb and electric fuel pump to come in. (should be there when I get home) Then we have a few small things to finish up the new shop and we'll get back to this project. Giving this 1980 another life, Street Queen.
Long winded, but it takes alot of words when you are spanning 35 years and 3 trucks! Thanks in advance for your help, you have all been helpful in the past, you just didnt know it!
More to come....
