66stepside wrote:About 5, or 6 years ago I spotted a gladiator truck in the very back of a neighbor's property. Over a few months, I notice it never moves. I take my son (my daughter wasn't quite ready to look at jeeps yet) and we stop by to check it out.
Here's the shot from that day. I did post this pic on a thread on IFSJA years ago.
This is my son stepping into the first shot I took of the 2wd front axle. I guess he was photobombing before it was cool.
Keep in mind this was many YEARS ago.
The guy wanted way too much for the truck, or maybe I didn't want it that bad, either way, there it sat all this time. Every day I drove by to see if it was still there, every day it was. So after my son became persistent about wanting a truck like mine, I started looking (with my wife's consent). I began selling off spare jeep parts and squirreled enough away for a cheap jeep that I could put together in 5 years or less with my son. Deal after deal fell through for one reason or another. Four different trucks, all short boxes (wife's stipulation). Eventually, I came back to this green forestry jeep. Heck, it was only three blocks away!
His neighbor was having a yard sale, so when I saw he was out in his back yard, I went up and gave him the sales pitch... We quickly agreed on a price and he said I couldn't come get it until he did a tune up, oil change, bought a new battery and replaced the fuel pump, and fuel filters.
I took these pics the day we struck our deal.
The truck was parked so close to the ford ranger, I couldn't see the vin plate because the door wouldn't open wide enough.
That was on a Sunday. Wednesday (5.8.13) he called and said it was ready. We drove over in the Wrangler and I even brought a tow rope. We did not need the rope!
So here is the 1962 (that's what the title says!) 2wd stepside, 3 sp, 305 GMC V6, posi rear end that my son and I are going to do a mild resto mod on for his first ride.
For now, the v6 is staying, we'll keep it 2 wheel drive and the first order of business it to vacuum it out! Dead hornets line the floor and dash!