Thanks for the replies. I have no plans to tow very much or very often. I like the zip when I hit the gas but I don't have the money to get both.
I don't have a tach and I think the speedo is off. At 50 it feels like 60-65 and the motor is starting to wind up. The current tires are 275/75/15's The tires that will be going on it are going to be a bit shorter. 265/60/15's and, if I can find them, some old style 8.5" or 10" slotted aluminum mags.
On another note I had some success with the truck today so I'm feeling better about buying it. It's been randomly firing on 5-7 cylinders since I got it two weeks ago. The plug wires looked like what you would find in a dollar store if dollar stores sold wires. I change the plugs (R44T), got a decent set of DENSO wires and swapped the points distributor for a GM HEI that I got from a scrap yard. Had .050 play in the shaft so I shimmed it to about .020 and it fired up on the first try, and after setting the timing it runs exceptionally smooth. OP is 32PSI at warm idle and 45+ at highway speed. Overall not a bad way to spend a rainy day in the garage.
Next on the list is the starter. It has a new on on it but something's not right. There's a harsh engagement with the ring gear when starting. The PO used 6 with the new starter and I've never seen that many used before. I found that removing them made it better. I ended up removing all shims and while it did improve slightly it still engages way too rough. The teeth are't sheered off the flex plate but they do have marks where the starter drive is biting in hard.
I bought this new in 77 and my goal is to eventually have it again in the 74 when I'm done. It will take years.
