My Grandfather's pick-up

Love the clean no nonsense dash boards of that era. Benton County WA is actually a great place to find well preserved cars and trucks. I suppose the cultural drift has hit there as everywhere, but back in the day it was an awesome place to call home.

mike

 

It's been a while, but here is a little update on My Grandfather's truck:

Well, The weather finally warmed up a bit and I got Grandpa out to do some stuff with the truck. I got the title transferred and licensed it but I still haven't brought it home. Since it has the camper on it, he used it to store camping stuff, and household stuff, and garden stuff....it was full!

Saturday afternoon we got to it. He's 93 so he was moving a little slow as usual until we started pulling things out. It was like an archeological dig! Newspapers from the 70s and 80s he used to start camp fires. A portable camping toilet with the stamp "Sears Robuck 1975" on the box (He said he wondered where that had been) Axes, hammers, tools of all sorts. It was actually quite amazing. And after a while he had a pep in his step I haven't seen in years. He was like a kid at Christmas each time I hauled something out.

We finally got it all out aside from the layers of cardboard that he had put down on the floor. He figured we should pull them out as well. So out came each layer of antique refrigerator box cardboard until we reached the bottom. I was amazed. The floor of the bed looks brand new! The paint is nearly perfect, with only a few scratches here and there. He could tell I was impressed. I think that it has given him an immense amount of joy seeing how much I am loving this truck (and thanking him for taking such good care of it)

When we were all finished he said "Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it"

I was shocked. I hardly knew what to say. Here he is helping me clear out all of this stuff so that I can enjoy his truck and he thanked me. At that moment, it wasn't about the truck. I was so proud and honored (and continue to be so). It makes me feel so blessed to have him and his influence in my life. He certainly is a shining example of the fast disappearing "Greatest Generation"

I spend as much time with him and Grandma as I can, but when they are gone this simple mechanical hunk of American transportation will continue to remind me of them and be a tribute to them and all they have meant to me.

To some, vehicles are simply a means to an end. To me they are so much more. They mean something.

Sorry for the long post.

 

Thanks for the story!

 

What a great post; thanks for the update!

 

That's a great story Jeremiah...........I'm glad you're spending mucho time with your grandfolks.

I only knew one of my grandmothers and know I missed out on a lot of stuff like that although I enjoyed time with my one grandmother quite a bit. I often wonder about my grandfathers who were both very successful businessmen and wish I had asked more questions about them before my parents died.

We still have my Dad's last vehicle, a 1988 Isuzu Trooper II XS 4 door with just short of 200k on it. It's fun to ride around in it and remember the good times when he was still with us. He loved that truck!


A friend's sister did a short video with their grandfather who is in his 80's and asked him several questions about his life and times and such. I don't personally know Daddy Paul but after seeing the video feel like I do! I thought it was a great idea!

 

Too bad Dad didn't stash away a heater core brother.

 

I took some photos on Sunday of the engine compartment and the Bed.

Bed with the decades old cardboard removed:



Engine compartment:






It's dusty and greasy, but I think that like the rest of the truck it will clean up real nice.

 

Thanks for the update. That's not a truck. That's family!
I'll bet a pressure washer and some degreaser will make that engine compartment look like new.

 

Shouldn't take much for most of that 'sticky dust' to come off. Then a nice polish and wax will bring it back 99%.

I appreciate the story on your grandpa. I never had any grandpa's in my life - both were deceased before I was born unfortunately. Just recently, my wife and I have been helping our 92 year old neighbor. He's alone since his second wife passed a year and a half ago. He moves around pretty good (still drives), but does have some health issues. Has his house up for sale and is trying to move back down to San Diego to live near his son. We have him over for dinner most nights, and it's good to hear stories of his life - get some insight into what things were like for him in past times...... He grew up in Des Moines, Iowa.

 

Des Moines, Iowa, let me tell you about some of the car shows we attended there back in the day at Porkie's Drive-inn. And the times I got lost trying to get back to the RV park beside I80.
Oh old people. I remember them. Marshall you are doing a great thing there with the neighbor.

 

That truck looks really good Jeremiah.

That's great of you to look after your neighbor KK! I hope I'm that lucky when and if I get older! and

 

Mike you can come down and look after me. I have several projects I need finished.

 

Sure thing Cat Man! Just as soon as I finish all my projects up here!

 

Okay. I'll wait. Gotta see my heart doc tomorow so I'll let you know how soon you need to get your projects finished.

 

My plan has been to replace the painted dog dish caps with chrome versions. I checked the aftermarket and couldn't find what I was looking for. I ended up posting in the "wanted" section on the Oldfordcrewcabs site (of which I am a member) and ended up with an offer of 8 original chrome dog dish caps for $40.00
I bought them. They arrived in the mail today.

I haven't taken any pictures of them yet, but they all look good (driver quality) I will be getting the wheels done and then installing the caps.