Hey Folks, just joined and here is my story.

I have a 1970 Dodge pickup my grandfather gave me back in 1985 when I got my driving permit with 35K original miles. It was a Texas truck with very little rust. During my high school days I did some work on it and then had a cheap Maaco paint job put on it. That was late 80's. I drove it up until 1994 when my father took it (it wasn't reliable for my military moving) and stored it on his property and kept it there since then. He drove it a few times a week and kept it in working order but time started taking its toll. It now has over 100,000 miles on it. It is starting to rust but is still in great running condition. My Dad passed away recently and my Mom wants to sell it but I have other plans. I would like to have the truck fully restored/rust free. I am even considering the thought of a new chassis and using the truck body. I really want to save this truck so I can one day pass it on to my son. That would be 4 generations having it. Does anyone know a friendly but decent restoration shop in the Montgomery, AL that would take on a slow moving project like this. THis really is sentimental and even considered selling my true love, my Vette to do this. Please let me know if you can help or know someone that can. I would love to do the restoration myself but being military, I am on the wrong coast (Republic of Kalifornia) right now without the ability to do it and I am afraid the rust will continue before I can get back to it in a few years. Also, any parts places that sell old parts for this. I have looked high and low with no luck. Thanks,

Jim K.

 

Don't know of any shops in the area, but Stephens Performance is a big parts dealer/ salvage operator in Alabama that specializes in old Mopar stuff. Might try him as a parts source- his phone is (256)247-1332. I've bought parts from him in the past and never had a problem with anything; he can be hard to get a hold of, so keep trying. He would probably be a good source to locate a resto shop in the area as well. Good luck.

 

TeeWJay426,

Thanks for the info. I will give him a call and see what he has.

JIm K.

 

I sent you an email. Let me know if it helps.

 

I have emailed you back and it definitely helps. Thanks a bunch to all.

Jim Kay

 

I'm new to the forum, so I'm a little late with my 2 cents worth, but I think you'll have more memories if you keep it completely stock. It was stock when your grandfather had it, when your father drove it and now you're doing something with it. When it's time to pass it to your kids the flow, so to speak, hasn't been broken. It's 35 years old already and so there's less and less of them around. If you take it to car shows or show & shines you'll get some good attention.

I bought my '52 in the mid-70's and then sold it to my to my brother in the mid-80's (kids, house, etc piling up). I regretted it every since. Luckily my wife bought it back from him a year ago as an anniversary present (we had our first date in it to see JAWS in 1975) and I'll never let it go.

It's still your preference, but like I said, this is just my opinion. Good luck with what you do.

 

52b3b108,

WOW, your post couldn't have better timing. All the emails I exchanged with corbetts_auto were erased in a laptop mishap. I was just searching the last few days for this post and your post/email sent me straight to it. I will definitely take your advice under consideration and understand exactly where you are coming from. I sold my Corvette which I am missing bad but I have about 6 months and then I can get this project started with Corbetts. Anyway, thanks again. I have marked this page in files in case I have another email incident.

Hasta,

Jim K.