I decided to do something about the bed. I needed a low cost alternative to a bed liner so I chose Herculiner.

This stuff...

Actually, it works pretty good. Certainly not as tough as Rhino liner or similar products, but not near as expensive, either. I used POR-15 on the surface before I applied the Herculiner.

And now, the Herculiner.

I POR'ed the floor to make it last just a bit longer. Hey, anything helps!

And this is how we stood (before the Herculiner) after the body change. It would last until December 2007, a day that would live in infamy...

In December of 2007, we suffered a severe ice storm. As a result, a tree fell on my Power Wagon. It severely damaged my bed, and got the cab as well.

Another view of the truck.

I bent the bed back with a porta-power. I searched for and found another bed and cab for my truck.

The city Gestapo called me out for my "unlicensed" truck in the back yard, so I swapped out the bed a few weekends ago. I obtained a hood when I got the truck bed and cab.

I wanted to add the birdbath hood, so I went ahead an painted it and stuck it on (with the original '73 cowl). I like it!

This is where we sit thus far. Today, March 7th, Saturday, I removed the cab from the donor truck. I begin work in earnest to make it ready to be my new cab. Pics to follow.

Remember, in all of this, my intent is NOT to make a show truck, but to have a solid work truck. My hat is off to those who meticulously restore their trucks to perfection. They are works of beauty. However, my intent is not to build something like that, but to enjoy, drive, and work my truck. And it really does love to work!

That was a cool read!

Thanks!

As I was looking over the information this morning, I remembered quite a lot that I have done over the past several years, especially to the drivetrain.

So I'm flashing back to a few months after the changeover; it's probably 2005 or 2006. Yeah, it all blurs after a few years!

Earlier in its life, the truck was abused by the sons of the man I bought the truck from. They parked it in a creek for a while and didn't changed the fluids afterward. Needless to say, the rear 8-3/4 3.90 gears were pitted and needed replacement. So I pulled the pumpkin to change the gears...

Side note: This truck is a half ton! Notice the number of spring leaves this truck has! That's what, 8 including the lower? I have the broadcast sheet and it lists a special spring package - SR4701 RR SPRG. I've seen 3/4 ton trucks that have less spring! I suppose it was for a camper or some such purpose. It will hold a load, too.

The teardown results? Rust!

The carrier was pretty rusty as well. I opted for a good used carrier with spider gears. I didn't go posi because of cost constraints at the time.

I cleaned up the housing, purchased a Yukon gear set from Randy's Ring and Pinion in Washington state, and set her up.

Of course, the axle bearings were shot and needed replacement, so I replaced them, too. I cleaned rust out of the housing and put new seals in. Curious animal, the 8-3/4. Last year, due to water intrusion, I had to go back into the axle bearings. THIS time I used the updated "Green" bearings. MUCH better. I heartily recommend them for anyone redoing an 8-3/4 axle.

Due to the new pinion, I changed the yoke as well.

I almost forgot. Here's a pic of the old ring gear. It was worn so much the drive face of the teeth were SHARP. A friend of mine suggested in leaving it alone and stuffing it with bananas, peelings and all... NAH! Let's do it right!

I moved up the driveline to the transfer case. Here, I was shocked and disappointed all over again (but not surprised).


I present: the NP205 Transfer case.

I really needed to replace many of the gears. The bearing surfaces were pitted. I opted, however, to rebuild the case using new bearings and seals, and find a complete unit later, rather than chase down all of the necessary gears and shafts.

Shaft bearing pits.