Cy’s ’77: Wilbee, from Idaho to Alaska

Cy grew up in a 1977 Ford called Wilbee. His dad bought it in the winter of 1990–91, after Cy’s grandpa inspected it and said that if his dad did not buy it, he would.

The story

Wilbee was the daily driver, hunting truck and do-it-all family rig. It hauled wood, pulled out stuck drivers and went on countless fishing and hunting trips.

Cy drove it from Idaho to Texas for college in 2011, returned to Idaho in 2014 and took it to Alaska in 2020. There is a lot of family history under its wheels.

The truck

Small improvements include later Ford door seals and intermittent wipers. Bigger changes include Skyjacker Softride suspension and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires.

In his February 2026 submission, Cy described swapping in a 6.6-liter L8T from a 2022 Silverado 2500, retaining the NP435 and adding a 32-gallon tank under the bed. He used available parts from several vehicles to make it work in Alaska, where shipping can make a build expensive.

What comes next

Interior repairs, a floor pan, drivetrain work and eventually bodywork are all on his list. A five-speed might happen someday. For now, Wilbee runs strong, and Cy says driving it still puts a smile on his face.