Customer Restoration
Purchased in 1974, this was my childhood truck that i learned to drive in when i was 12. I was gifted the truck and started with installing a new wire harness to remove the old cloth wires and then moved to installing full sound and heat deadening. Once that was done i started a full restoration of the engine bay to restore it back to factory colors.
This was my childhood truck—the vehicle I learned to drive in when I was just 12 years old on the back roads of the Diamond A area of Sonoma. My mom purchased the truck in 1974, and from that point forward, it became part of our family. It took us everywhere and accumulated countless memories along the way.
The odometer currently reads approximately 54,000 miles, but with an odometer that rolls over at 99,999 miles, there is really no telling how far this truck has traveled. Based on its history, I would guess it has covered several hundred thousand miles over its lifetime.
Many years ago, I “gently” suggested to my mom that she should probably put it in writing that the truck was eventually going to be mine. She knew how much I loved it and that I had always dreamed of restoring it someday. Years later, she called and asked if I still wanted the truck. My response was immediate: **“My truck? Absolutely!”**
By the time it came back to me, the paint, interior, and bed wood had already been restored, but the engine bay had definitely seen better days. The restoration began with a complete rewire to establish a safe and reliable electrical foundation, followed by a full restoration of the engine compartment.
One of my priorities was removing many of the “new” additions that had accumulated in the engine bay over the years. I wanted to bring it back as closely as possible to the clean, original appearance I remembered while still making thoughtful improvements to reliability and drivability.
This truck is ultimately where my appreciation for restoration began. It wasn’t simply about making an old truck look better—it was about preserving a piece of my family’s history and making sure the truck I grew up with could continue to be driven and enjoyed for many years to come.
Most updates have had to do with putting the correct items back on the truck to restore her to as period specific as possible. I found a New Old Stock Delco-Remy distributor and promptly removed the huge HEI distributor that had been installed previously. I sourced a period correct horn
A new up to date wiring harness was installed as the original cloth wiring was disentegrating and is the cause of most old car fires. Originally these trucks came with two fuses, one of the headlights and one for the taillight so it was time to get more circuits installed. Relays were added to the headlight circuits to best protect against large loads on the system.
The original three-speed transmission was completely rebuilt, and a new clutch was installed to improve shifting and overall drivability. A new ring gear was installed to eliminate the persistent starter grinding issue and provide proper, reliable starter engagement.
All wheel bearings were inspected, cleaned, and repacked with fresh grease, and the braking system received a complete fluid flush to remove the old fluid and ensure proper operation. These improvements addressed several important mechanical systems and helped make the truck more reliable and enjoyable to drive.
The interior had been previously upgraded, but these trucks were never designed with any insulation from the factory. The first time I took my daughter to work in the truck, she was shocked by just how noisy it was—especially when downshifting or simply driving around town. It was a great reminder of just how different the driving experience was in these trucks when they were originally built.
To make the truck more enjoyable to drive without changing its classic character, the interior was completely removed and a comprehensive heat and sound-deadening treatment was installed throughout the cab. Insulation and sound-deadening materials were applied to the firewall, floor, rear cab wall, and roof, with additional sound deadening installed inside the doors.
The difference was dramatic. Road and engine noise were significantly reduced, heat transfer into the cab was minimized, and the truck became a much quieter and more comfortable place to spend time—all while preserving the appearance and character of the original interior.
New Old Stock distributor, door and window handles, hood badging, a period correct horn was bead blasted and painted with a custom bracket installed. Recently a stovebolt style chrome valve cover was added for a touch of chrome and a glass bowl fuel filter completed the look.