Dog - My new pickup

Been waiting a couple of weeks for today. Only I could get excited about collecting my 'new' 32 year old pickup, but heck this truck will allow me to get on with some things. I have refused to put paint pots and wood into the Smart (or Toyota for that matter), let alone hauling crap around.

Hence wanting a pickup. But not having a huge budget (or any budget) rules out most candidates.

Until one of my brother in laws stepped in and offered me an old family truck that had long since been abandoned. I was told it was 2 years ago, but in reality it was over 4 years that it's been sitting in a field.

Anyway, with a lot of help, we had it started this afternoon and it drove itself out of its 4 year sandy hole. A quick 15 mile drive seemed to indicate that it was ok, and then we brought it home - about 30 more miles. No idea how much it's mpg is, but it's got at least 10 gallons in it now (minus 45 miles).

It's a bit rough (read "a lot rough") round the edges and it'll need some work over time. But I have plenty of time. Not going to pour much money into it, other than keeping it road worthy and sorting it's paintwork (cutting compound tomorrow? with maybe Rustoleum next year).

Main thing is that it's road worthy (ish), engine and gearbox sound and feel good. Might have to track down the exhaust leak which I'm told is exhaust manifold. But once that's done it should be a little quieter. Right now, you'd be hard pressed to believe it was a petrol and not diesel engine in there.