Spent the whole winter in the garage and the truck finally fired up yesterday

My expirience with a similar older build was mostly in the suspension and cab mounts. The little things are always the killer, even when you think you're done. I was working on some frame mounts last year, and the corrosion was just unreal. It felt like it was going to snap off the body right there. I had to get some heavy-duty penetrating spray into those bolts for days before they even began to budge. I even used an impact wrench with a specific socket just to help break the rust seal, but even that took a while. You really have to take the time with the smaller connections becasue if a bolt shears off while you're driving, you are toast.

It taught me that even if the engine runs smooth, if the mounts aren't solid, the ride just won't feel right. I suggest you check the rubber grommets and bushings too. If they're cracked, they are going to vibrate and eventually fail, and that's much more annoying than a slow leak.

My experience with a project like this usally boils down to the wiring harness. Most folks think the engine running means you are done with the electronics, but that is far from true. On the last build I did, I spent an entire day tracing a single electrical run from the back of the cab to the alternator bracket just trying to figure out why the lights flickered when I gave it a hard rev.

I found that the original wiring was all brittle and fused in places, making replacement a massive job. It wasn't the engine parts that took the longest; it was the sheer number of those tiny plastic connectors that were cracked or melted. I spent time soldering every single junction in the main loom because I wasn't trusting the factory clips anymore, expecially around the firewall.

It’s a tedious process, far beyond just tightening bolts. Once you get the electrical work done, you realize the whole setup is just as complex as the frame itself. Next time I get my hands on an old rig, I am starting with the full rewire before even touching the suspension.

I noticed a few people talking about the bolts and the electrical parts, which is a lot to think about. I am more worried about all the places where liquids are coming out, like the seals. When the engine is running, you have to check every single joint to make sure oil or coolant is not dripping onto the ground. I had a friend tell me that tiny leaks can cause big headaches later on. Do you think those types of leaks are easy to spot when you are working under the hood?