Good looking truck, especially for this area (I'm over in jackson) Can tell it's an out of state rig. Mine is from Missouri, just not many left native to our area.
I feel for you on that engine. I bought a 454 last summer for a 55 belair project and paid $900 for it. Very clean, good oval port heads, sitting on a garage floor so couldn't hear it run. Ended up being a boat achor. Learned my lesson, no more engine buys unless i can hear it run. Anyway, good luck, going through some of the same things you are. I'm also going to relocate the tank, don't know yet exactly where. Looking at the possibility of using a cell in the bed, boxed in with a wooden hand built box with some kind of old time lettering on it. I've already done the motor and transmission, and have very little sheet metal repair to do, got lucky here, no frame off needed. Anyway glad to see another local on here. Good luck
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