Story of an odd '71 C3500

[J01012814]

As requested in a previous post of mine (thanks everyone for the help on the plate bracket question), here's the story and everything I know of my rather odd 1971 GMC C3500 with the 9FT step side bed. It was originally ordered as a fleet truck of maybe 10 or 15 trucks by the Ottawa Kansas National sign co. In April 1971 and delivered by the local GM dealer by the name of "Ottawa farm and implement" this truck served the sign company for around 10 years or so before being purchased sometime in the early 80s by my grandfather who drove short haul for a trucking company. He bought it as a gift to himself and to use for various projects around his property until the early 2000s. The truck has lived quite a hard life and has been passed around other family members throughout the years, parked for many years behind sheds and barns and left outside but has survived overall quite well. I remember seeing this truck when I was little sitting on the side of their house but never got to be around it much as it was replaced in 2004 with a new GMC sierra 1500. I attempted to get it going in around 2013 when I was around 14 but had no knowledge of anything mechanical. It then sat for another 8 years until 2021 when I asked him about it and he offered to give it to me and see what I could do with it. The truck by then was in very rough shape. Missing trim in some places and only 3 of the 4 headlights giving it a very ratty look. The hvac box was missing as well as the fuel tank, mice had gotten into the hvac box inside and the engine barely ran but the bones of it were very solid. I brought it home and began the long process of restoring it which I am still in the middle of (covid and life got in the way) it now lives under a car port and gets as much time and parts as I can spare. Recently I've done the wiring harness front to back, window regulators and door seals, hvac box, new gauge cluster and turn signal switch. This week I am picking up a new engine to build and the new tires should be at my shop on Monday so I can get them mounted up. Overall, it's very different than what I'm used to working on as a BMW technician but this truck means a lot to me and seeing people wave while driving it is great. Everyone seems to love an honest old pickup especially around Kansas. This truck has really not traveled more than 30-40 miles from its original home over its life though it does have around 93k on it from its time commuting to Kansas City during the 80s and 90s. Below are some pics of when I first saw it again in 2013 and the day I took it home in 2021 to today. Thanks for reading! Sorry for the length. I am happy to answer any questions anyone may have