Another ReDesign of the Wheel: The Truck

Sometime in 2003 I decided I really wanted a project vehicle. I had the space to work on it and I was hell bent on finding something that would occupy my time. Fairly quickly I decided the "something" would be a truck. I was able to justify to DaWife that it's utility would come in handy.

I scoured the local sources and found nothing that wouldn't need to be reincarnated or cost me a mint. Then I started following auctions on eBay. I took stock in what was there and noted the prices. When this truck came up for bid I threw my hat into the ring.

eBay photo from 2003

I spoke to the owner on the phone and he seemed to be a legit guy. Bob was a pipe welder on disability who had a work related accident and could no longer do much physically. He bought the truck in the early eighties and used it for camping and hauling fire wood. He decided to restore it in the early nineties and took it apart. Unfortunately his accident happened and the truck sat through much of the nineties in pieces. In 2000 or so Bob's neighbor (a high school shop teacher) was laid off and he put the bug into Bob's ear about fixing the truck back up.

eBay photo from 2003

Bob and his neighbor pecked away at a cosmetic restoration over the next few years. Finally, when it was ready for paint he decided he would just sell it since he can't handle manual steering and money was getting tight.

eBay photo from 2003

His misfortune turned into my gain and it nearly cost me as much to ship it as it did to buy it.
The Specs:
1966 F-100 Factory 4x4
Inline 300ci 6 cylinder
4 speed transmission
Single speed transfer case