nubuilder
Why buy new when you can restore?
Nubuilder I see you're from WI, what's this mid winter melt you're talking about? I thought it was freeze, pray that it holds till spring, melt. I used to have a 97 that was in great shape until I really quit caring. I had pretty good luck if I put a couple coats of wax on in October or November to help protect everything (you know WI there's always that 1 day when it's 70 in November pick that day). Doing that each winter did wonders for keeping my old truck from rusting. Then I gave up and went 3 years without washing it and it was all down hill from there.
Ian, nice to have another person from WI, but unfortunately you're on the opposite side of the state as I am. Riggs is over there in Green Bay. So is 98K1500 (I think that's his user name).
The body panels are the easy part. The underside is the hard part.
I might have an opportunity to park it in a guy's hanger that is heated to at least 40 or 45 all winter long (warmer if he is working in it). The plan for now (no matter where it is stored) is to #1 be in doors, #2 park it on some tarps to keep moisture from coming up underneath it and just sitting there (just as bad as being in salt).
My whole idea behind storing it is to keep it out of the salt, save some miles on it (even though snow is REALLY fun in a 4x4), save money on gas, and then in the future to fix it all up like new again. My dad jokes that "one day, all that will be left is the exhaust; the rest will be rusted/rotted away" since I spent so much on my stainless exhaust (he doesn't see vehicles like I do; he drives them and does regular maintenance until they are driven into the ground - first 3 cars went to the junkyard with close to 200k on them each).
Ahh, to be young and have ambitious dreams.

but it looks nice!