I think this calls for celebration and of course you use it how you would like, but I have some thoughts:
pound out that bedside so its close to original shape and the tail light will sit proper and not hit the tailgate(I forget if they have body between that and the tailgate or if it sits flush against) but some nice new LED taillights with nice reverse lights. Cheap and affordable and they looked good on my.. my gmt 400 lol my dad never even punched them out either surprisingly. (he punched the original on driver side out with a cement trowel machine lol). get some bushings for the tailgate because it probably rattles hopefully not worn. but they bolt on those years not weld thankfully i think. Prob want to replace those handle plastic bushings in the tailgate that apparently dont like to stay working. is that bed liner just set in? I would pop it up and just make sure no money surprises underneath. because have liner, maybe pre-emptively install a trap door over the gas tank if you want to make it trouble free. smooth sailing.
All those tires a match, not visual trickery deceiving my eyes i hope. If you ever find or have the opportunity, I think leaving a good pair on the back and putting front HT tread tires on would be a good idea, and then when kids get to driving age use the truck with nothing in the bed on some slush or snow and teach em about understeer and corrections with an un-ideal setup like that, because if you can handle hard situations, normal ones that many people cant handle even yet become a breeze. What kind of rear ratio, LS at all? If its ass and not, then this is the perfect economy cruiser to build as a heritage for the kids because there will be this benign no thrills "modern" truck but it doesnt hold your hand either. RABS In this thing? Honestly if its not working perfect atm you may be better off making it a normal setup because those kelsey hayes RABS units are gonna get older and older and they arent complex but sitting and age and the integration electronics are bound for less life. FORD rabs **** is aging like a bad joke lol.
Then, interior. Nice vacuum and maybe some tree air freshner. For the ambiance. Does it have AC? It looks like it maybe dont?
at least it has the add on cupholder in there like god intended. I would buy this stuff called "fabric water prottector" has a plaid can, i forget where i found it but it is an elastomer spray or something I Think, and if you dont vacuum the truck seat again it will last a long time before needing reup, and all Im gonna say is those seat materials seem to love water and I got a lot out of mine just from using the truck once in a while during rain and coat or clothes dampen it but it didnt seem to dry right. I put this stuff on the f150 seat and it stays cleaner keeps my clothes cleaner (no dust since vac) and the water proofer just helps and it smells better. Then of course, clean the windows on the inside nice so no glare at night and the like. Get yourself a wide angle clip on for that rearview, that back window + the wide angle will be god send. barely will need side mirrors. They can be pushed out to blind spots if you are able to cover most with the rearview wide angle. COndition all the door rubber with a cleaning with soap and water and get some silicone and work it onto those seals. probaly arent torn anywhere even!? The seals will stay good just with one love coat with silicone grease.
Get some ditch light brackets that go up by the a pillar and use the hood mounting to fasten, and you can put a couple pod lights on and put them to a switch. Now the truck no matter your headlight choice will be a comfort to drive at night with deer anywhere and everywhere.
I would also confirm the windshield moulding / seal is seated and no gaps or skips so you dont have a cowl rust out in the distant future. You mentioned beautify the front. If your kids be old enough, id go over buffing out the plastics to make clear again, a good life lesson. If applicable of course. If there is a daughter you can probably get away with a flamboyant color on the grille plastic like a plastidip bright ass green or something. (joking)
Then your bumper, its pretty ugly but its solid it appears. You could probably rust covert with POR and top coat to get that OK right?
of course make sure the mechanical is all chip chop. if it dont have a receiver Maybe ditch the bumper for a custom setup with convenience tow hooks and a step etc etc...
I dont know if this truck will take a place of "fetching" things that a simple large bed is the desire rather than capacity or towing, like lets say you bought a predator engine and wanna bring it home that stuff. If so, one of those swing out cranes on the bedside that was smashed if its sound would be wicked helpful for those things or even swing out toolbox that doesnt diminish your bed space much.
If i seem way more excited about your truck than you do thats because im bored and I was like Wow that would be great for " "
