... Todd - I still need to see these trucks of yours!
The 81 Truck has come a LONG way from its as-bought condition.
It was a great candidate, and have no regrets.
The biggest cosmetic issue was the passenger side quarter panel (you might remember). The entire passenger rear wheel was exposed, it was knocked in so hard/far. Got that pulled with hydraulics just in time for the Canadian journey. It came out rather well - no bondo work on it yet - just the metal work.
Now the whole passenger side is semi-black, along with the hood.
Driver side and tailgate are factory gold.
So its an Appalachian State two-tone jobby.
Was able to get about 500 test miles on it before going to Canada.
Then about 1700 miles on that expedition.
Probably about 1500 pounds (500 pound factory limit) of campershell bedliner tools cargo and engine misc packed into it coming back over those crazy azz W.Virg and Virg mountains.
The HD rear suspension did its job completely.
Truck has now received all its merit badges and gold star awards after completing that Extreme Tour of Duty.
Will keep it forever.
The 82 Truck - done nothing with it yet.
Except robbed its rear HD step-bumper to swap onto the 81.
Pardon the interruption.
Now back to the regularly scheduled program ....