Re: Reality Check
 

Just buy one that is a reliable driver.
Then save up and get what you need.

Thats what Im doing.

Re: Reality Check
 

What should I expect to pay for something that is drivable without a whole lot of body work needed? Again, I don't mind working on the mechanicals as long as I don't have to do much body work (no welder etc and the boss has put a moratorium on new tool purchases for now).

Re: Reality Check
 

I paid $4,000 for mine. It needs some rust repair but nothing major.

Re: Reality Check
 

I'm in the same boat,but I'm going for it....and I am determined!!!!!!!

Re: Reality Check
 

Ok, everytime I think I am out they pull me back in again. The guy who owns the garage where the 70 c20 is called me today. The guy who owns the truck was renting it from him and hasn't paid the rent in about 6 months. The owner is going to sell off the stuff to get the back rent. I only live about a half a mile from it, so I may be able to trade some sweat equity for at least part of the price he is going to ask. He is asking $1200 for it. So here is what I am going to do. If I can get whatever the final price is in extra money somehow, I will buy it, if not someone else will get it. My one question is this, is the truck worth that much given the fact that there is a rebuild kit for a saginaw tranny in the glovebox (if it is there it most likely means that the tranny is shot right)? I will try to get some pictures of it in the next couple of days. They will be camera phone since my wife messed up my digital one.

Re: Reality Check
 

One other question. What does the shift pattern for the three on the tree look like.

Re: Reality Check
 

If you can get pictures of the truck and the SPID (label on inside of the glovebox door) then we can help see what it's worth. But not running, (or w/ a tranny about to go) I'd say you should try to bargain him down a little. A lot depends on the condition of the body.

Re: Reality Check
 

The body is pretty good, one dent in the passengers side bed, and of course the rocker panels and cab corners. The seat is shot. I don't know about the bed floor because of all of the junk in the back. How hard is it to pull the tranny, and do I need to to rebuild it?

Re: Reality Check
 

I would keep looking for one that needs less rust repair. I just saw one for 500 that had a non-running 350 but a newly rebuilt T350 tranny. He since took it to the scrapyard and probably got 200 for it so it would have sold for 2-300. So there are deals out there. That truck needed rockers and cab corners as well as some of the floor but was fairly good otherwise.

Re: Reality Check
 

THere is also a 67 near me that the guy said he'd sell to me for 1700 and it has about 2500 worth of new parts to go with it. Still trying to decide whether to pick that one up for myself or not. Had a guy come to my house yesterday and buy some parts for his 71. He got a running big block truck for $600 just a few weeks ago. Just keep looking and the deals will show up. Try craigslist and let people know you're looking. Whenever you see one, stop by the shop/house and see if it's for sale....you never know...

Re: Reality Check
 

That is what I had to do with this one. It has been sitting there for at least the last 2 years. I had to call the county property tax office to find out who owned the building (none of the neighbors had a clue), then I looked them up in whitepages.com. I hope it is still light enough to get a pic tonight. It will be about 6 by the time I get back to the house.

Re: Reality Check
 

Do you check out craigslist? Also check ebay and search w/in a radius you're comfortable picking up within.

Re: Reality Check
 

I am thinking this one is the one because I can probably get it for free or darn near free if I just do some sweat equity. Again I have no money for it right now. Maybe tax time! But if I can get into this one relatively cheaply, it may be worth it.

Re: Reality Check
 

If you can work something out like that then you have nothing to lose.

Re: Reality Check
 

If you don't ever get one you'll never have one.

Re: Reality Check
 

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:


Wise words ;)

Re: Reality Check
 

It looks like a capital H. Back and up is Reverse, back and down is 1st, forward and up is 2nd, forward and down is 3rd.

Re: Reality Check
 

So towards you and up is reverse, towards you and down is 1st, away and up is 2nd and away and down is 3rd if I understand you right.

I couldn't get any pics tonight, too dark. I may be able to get some on my way in tomorrow, if not I will get them Thursday.

Re: Reality Check
 

I agree with findin' the best body possible. The rest set you a budget and stick with it. For example say you want to spend $200 for a seat and find one for $100, saved a $100 for something else. I've list every buy and know within a $100 of what I spent. Build within your budget and you'll be fine!! Good luck

Re: Reality Check
 

If it comes to it, where do I get ahold of a rebuild manual for the tranny.

Re: Reality Check
 

just speaking for myself i always noticed that i would tell my self that i couldnt afford a project truck until one day i realized that i had already accepted defeat. i would have never owned one of these truck had it not been me buying one and fixing it a little at a time. iw ould have never gotten one. the second thing ive noticed is you dont have to throw your money at doing a total restoration on these trucks to enjow them. if you start watching these forums to much youll let stuff get in your head. its nice and everything having a totally rebuilt truck, but its not cost effective and 90% of the time youll barely get the money invested in a total restoration back but to each his own. my recomendation is that if you want one of these trucks you better get while the getting is good because im starting to see more and more of these trucks on the road evreyday. i say get it fix it and drive it for a while and fix things as you go cause if you dont then if you cant afford one now bu the time you get your next raise the value will have went up on these trucks some more and youll be on here again wishing you could afford one. the ultimate reality is that if you buy one and it sits for a while you can always sell it if you have to. just my 2 cents

Re: Reality Check
 

Here are some pics. I know how you all hate them!

Re: Reality Check
 

And some more. As you can see it will need rockers, the cab corner I am not sure about. The hole is half as thick as my pinky. Don't kill me on the pics, my wife killed the digital, so they are camera phone.

Re: Reality Check
 

One more question. How heavy of a trailer can I tow with the c20. The SPID is all but gone. I did see something about springs on it though.

Re: Reality Check
 

I looked at the door tag last night and it says 7500# GVW. So assuming the truck weighs 4500#, that means I can tow 300# right?