I’m not sure where to even begin this little story and this may be lengthy so if you don’t like to read, you may not want to waste your time. Some may have read my other post about my dad and I flying one way to LA to pick up a D100 sight unseen and driving it back to TN. I have been intermittently searching for a running short bed sweptline for quite a while. Most of my searches turned up nothing at all and when one would finally pop up it would be completely rusted out. During this season of life, a rusty project will still be a rusty project 10 years from now... So I began broadening my search area for a rust free example that I could drive and make changes to along the way. Changes like a 440/4spd swap for an old school hotrod shop truck. After searching several months across the country, a 71 D100 popped up on Craigslist.
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After a couple weeks of going back and forth and reviewing videos and pictures, I bought the truck. Yes, I know, pics and videos are not a “smart” way to buy old cars and trucks... What can I say?? I’ve never been accused of being “smart”... I could see several changes made to backdate the truck inside and out but I like the changes so that didn’t slow me down. Once the truck was spoken for I began researching a way to get it to TN. I was quoted $3k to have it shipped so that sparked my interest in seeing if we could just make the drive for that price. So we bought a couple one way tickets and began planning the trip. I wanted to find a place to allow us to look the truck over and replace anything concerning and hit the road. I reached out on here and made contact with a couple guys in the area willing to help out so we were all good to go! We flew out Monday morning, caught an Uber ride to the truck, bought and left that place ASAP! (not a safe place)
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So we were off and rolling! Immediately we knew the truck was rough but we didn’t feel good about the neighborhood so we checked the fluids and made sure the vin matched and hit the road. Just after this picture was taken, the battery fell on the fan slicing the corner off, ripping blades off the fan, and bursting the radiator... No more than 20mi down the road... So, I reached out to
@pishta and he came through in a huge way!! He took parts off his projects and brought enough parts and tools to piece the truck back together enough to get us to his house to look things over a little better. We had pretty much decided the truck didn’t need attempt the trip before the battery incident so once we made it to his house it had started missing and going dead at the stop lights. Despite his enthusiasm and willingness to basically get started rebuilding the truck, we decided to see about a Uhaul truck and trailer before it got to late. Turns out, so many people are leaving CA one way that they are up charging the one way truck rentals so the truck alone was $3,500... With a sick stomach we followed pishta to a hotel in his area to get some supper and rest and make some decisions.
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We spent the night researching shipping options and booking plane tickets. I had also been in contact with
@TT5.9mag and pishta mentioned he had a trailer so we contacted him and he came through in a big way as well. He brought his trailer the next morning, loaded the truck, and we headed to his house. He is going to store the truck for me until a transport company can arrive to bring it to TN.
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I absolutely cannot say enough about these two men!!!! They have went above and beyond to help out a couple guys they’ve never met and may never even see again. They gave their time, resources, fuel, and may as well say money to allow us to make this happen. I will never be able to compensate them like they deserve... All I can say is thanks and that their kindness and willingness to help out is what this world needs more of! You guys and your family’s are amazing people!! Thank you so much!! This also speaks volumes of this board! The people are what make it what it is! Although we come from all walks of life and may have different opinions, this act of kindness towards us restores my hope and faith in humanity!! Thanks again to everyone!!
