my first dodge story

So this will be my build thread. So many have asked for a build thread here it is. This maybe a different kind of thread then you all might be used to. Because with this story, you will need some background information. With this you will see where I come from on this build.

27yo self taught backyard mechanic. Been into cars since I was little. I started my first in the mechanical field drilling water wells. Learned to weld, cut, operate and fix all kinds of odds and ends. Worked at a quick lube all the way up to a store manager of my own store. Manager trainee at a wheel tire accessory store. Now working at a dealership as a service writer.
Also getting a divorce. I have two little girls under age 5. Living paycheck to paycheck. Can completely support everything, rent, bills, all that jazz and live very comfortably but no mansion.
This is where the truck comes in. I had a car payment on a 91 Toyota tercel DX 2dr base model. Not even a radio. Kids didn't fit, car payments suck. No power, no upgrades and a 200k mile car that I didn't own.

Truck: so I find a craigslist ad. 1981 dodge d150. 850. OK look further. 2wd step side slant six 4 speed. Hmm. Three hours away, OK. Ran until January, ok. Undiagnosed charging issue, OK. Talk to owner, young guy like me needs to sell the truck. Agreed upon six sight unseen, if it ran. Only thing I know about slants is they are bullet proof. Never seen one, ever. Just heard about and seen in TV. I planned my trip, tools, ride, battery, alternator and kids.
We are off, road trip! Get to truck. Talk. Out in battery, truck starts, runs, idles quietly. Awesome and get truck for 500. Put battery and alternator in. Drive to gas station. Filled it up with premium and drove home. Two hours and as hard as I could up hill down hill corners brakes everything. No issues. 3 miles from home and truck dies. Kids in truck now and on the side of a road at a stop sign. Battery's dead. Undiagnosed charging issue. Wire came off alternator and the factory wire connector was no longer connected. Pocket knife savior. Strip wire loop into tab on alt. Jumped by a stranger. Off and running. Made it home.
Went to parts store next day bought:
Six NGK plugs for 99 jeep Cherokee 4.0l
Wire, butt connectors, spades, eyelets, shrink tubes all that type stuff.
And all old car basics air filter WD 40 coolant all that.
To be continued......

Thanks for reading if you did.