My $30 truck.
 

Hi everyone I saw the enthusiasm in this forum so i wanted to show my truck buildup in progress. For starters i got this 85 c10 from my cousin for $30 last sunday it wouldn't go over 40mph. He was clueless as to why. Wound up being a bad cat. Since last sunday i rattle canned it flat black until i can finish bodywork and get prepped for paint eventually. I also replaced the exhaust with a new magnaflow high flow cat and muffler and installed a new clutch. Also got a new bench seat from the salvage yard just put in on friday this one has a center console that flips up for a third seat. It has a 305 with a 4speed longbed with 2wd. I took some pictures for everyone.



http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...uck/Front1.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ruck/side1.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ruck/back1.jpg

Re: My $30 truck.
 

It was a light blue with different colored parts. My wife is happier now its one color and that it goes over 40mph! haha i caught some bs for buying it for those reasons.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Sunny beach, helluva deal there! I like it flat black!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

welcome... and are you serious about buying it for 30 bucks?? i thought i got a good deal buying my 83 for 800 lol

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Money well spent... :D

Welcome to the board from Mid-MO!!!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Welcome & nice score...paint tha bowtie on tha grill orange like you did tha gate letters..looks good..you probally spent more for paint then you did tha truck..lol

Re: My $30 truck.
 

I want to paint the bowtie orange to match but had ran out of tape taping off the chrome and the bumper. My cousin had bought it off craigslist for $300 about a month ago it was a farm truck in maine. I'm just glad he was soo frustrated with it to sell soo cheap. It was originally going to be sold to me for $1 and a six pack, but we went to the bar and it wound up being his bar tab $30.00. Runs great now other than really small oil leak from somewhere in the back of engine i'm going to rock the 305 until it dies and buildup a 350 for it. My dd is an 01' mustang and i really needed a truck because i cant fit anything in the stang.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

The first time i filled the gas tank i laughed because it cost $15 more to fill the one tank than it did to buy the truck. I also replaced the cracked windshield. I didn't know the radio antenna was part of the windshield before i went pricing one out. I have no idea why they stopped doing that it's awsome!!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

sweet...post more pics

Re: My $30 truck.
 

More pics on the way. I was hoping to get some insight on how to get this puppy to pass emissions motor is all stock but it has 233,000 miles on it with an exhaust leak where the manifold meets the rest of the exhaust. Anyone think i should just try it and see if it passes? In NJ they are only going to check the emissions. The exhaust i did ends at the muffler under the bed. I have new dist. cap and rotor and plug wires and just picked up everything to do an oil change plus a new pcv valve. The only time it smokes is when i first start it up for the day, one little puff of smoke and thats it. I decided not to play with the timing at all unitil i rebuild the carb prolly next weekend.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

welcome to the site.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Ok just got back from the inspection station and truck passed on primary idle, but failed on high idle it only failed for CO% my reading was 5.39 and the standard is 1.20 so my carbon monoxide is over 4X the limit how can i bring this down? I'm planning on installing new cap and rotor and plug wires, oil change. What else can i do to bring it down dramatically?

Re: My $30 truck.
 

I took more pictures of truck. it needs to be cleaned up real good and undercoated. these are the seats i put in instead of the Bench seat the center flips up into a third seat.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...uck/seats1.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ruck/seats.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...erconsole1.jpg


Here are some pictures of the engine and exhaust. Engine needs to be cleaned right now just working on getting it running good to pass emissions.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...uck/engine.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ktruck/cat.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ck/muffler.jpg

Going to need to replace these lines before they go bad on me. I'm planning on replacing the whole brake system a little at a time.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...truck/rear.jpg

But now i gotta work a bunch of overtime in order to buy the parts. Sadly nothing will get done for about a month when i have time off again.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

welcome to the site.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

man those seats look sweet! what're they out of?

Re: My $30 truck.
 

They were in an f150 but they are aftermarket seats... heated massaging chairs, didn't know until i got them home. I have to wire the seats up still but i figured that can wait until stereo wiring. I got the whole bench setup for $75 because it was aftermarket and apparently that kinda stuff don't sell well in a scrapyard. I just went out there and the only thing i can find on the seats as far as a brand is relaxor road comfort, i dunno if they made the entire chair or not nothing else is labeled.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Welcome aboard nice 30buck truck

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Thanks!! I was playing around with the engine Timing and tuneup when i took it for a test ride to see how the timing was working out (trying to get it to pass emissions i had it timed to the center of the "bullseye" tube for best emissions but it ran like $h1t so i put it back to 6* btdc. i'll see if it passes this time.) During my test drive the brakes went out on me the passenger side front caliper locked up and after replacing calipers, disks, and brake pads on both sides i was bleeding the brakes and found a pinhole leak on the line going to the rear brakes!! haha ya get what u pay for... Just got done running new brake lines to entire truck and replaced the master cylinder for peace of mind. I'd rather wonder why it wont go faster, then worry why isn't it stopping.

I took some pictures i know they aren't that interesting but its progress...

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ck/mstrcyl.jpg

I also cleaned, checked, and repacked the wheel bearings while replacing disks.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...uck/psdisk.jpg

It was a night shot i already miss the days where it was daylight until 9pm.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ck/dsdisk2.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...uck/dsdisk.jpg

I just realized that in an earlier post i took a picture of the underside of the truck and mentioned how i need to replace all the lines before they went bad on me. I guess one week was a week too late!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

I found hooker headers on craigslist for $50 comes with chrome valve covers. The headers will get rid of the exhaust leak i have right where the exhaust manifold meets the rest of the exhaust and give me some more power!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Great buy on the truck, let us know if it passes emissions with the new headers.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Sorry couldn't post for a while been working a little over 80 hours a week. I ordered summit racing headers and bought a roll pan for the truck. Craigslist guy sold before i was able to get them.

Tried taking truck through inspection for the last time...
1st time It ran great and it failed barely.
2nd time Gave tuneup and adjusted timing, failed miserably.
3rd time Adjusted timing to the best emissions possible and it lost all electric to entire truck once the inspection person shut it off, they pushed it out.

Haha Really embarrassing had to fix it in the parking lot and they wouldn't let me try again.

Planning on just taking it to a shop to get headers installed and replacing any old part of the exhaust and Buy a sticker, the shop will adjust everything so i can pass. after i figure out the wiring issue.

Wiring issue
Every once in a while the truck will lose all power only while i am trying to start it as soon as i put the key on the start position the truck will lose all power. No headlights, interior lights, horn, radio...etc. As soon as i disconnect the battery and reconnect it everything will work fine and the truck starts right up. (sometimes i have to go through disconnecting and reconnecting more than once.) No fuses are blown and i am thinking it is the wire from battery to starter solenoid or from solenoid to starter. I'm planning on replacing both the wires and the solenoid. I think the problem came from driving with exhaust leak because it just started out of nowhere and hot exhaust is blowing close enough to wires so the protective covers melted, shorting everything out.

Will post pics after roll pan and headers are installed. Truck needs tires so i am looking for a decent set of rims instead of the stock ones.

Any ideas for rims?
My price range is relatively cheap around $500 with or without tires on them. don't have the money for coys. Just something 16"-18" in chrome. That already is correct offset spacing for the truck.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...truck/rims.jpg
Was looking for rims and found these for a good price so i lied when i said i wasn't getting coys... should be here in 2 weeks just have to get tires and get it to the shop for the exhaust. When i get some time i'll have to try that diy spray on paintjob from duplicolor paint shop finish system. not looking forward to paint prep though....
i'm thinking the colors i want to do will look like this.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...Frontpaint.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a.../sidepaint.jpg


I didnt' add the coys into the picture of the side i'm not good at photoshop. i also want to put herculiner on the bed.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

ooh yeah the coys i got are 18" x 8 in the front and 20" x 8.5" in the back. Supposedly made just for the truck so i wont need back spacers or adapters. we will see...

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Wow. You are really making that truck nice.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

there's no way I'd spend more on headers than I spent on the truck. :lol: Just kiddin. I like headers, they can free up some suppressed ponies. Is your stock manifold cracked or just warped?

Re: My $30 truck.
 

cool truck, yup i could see those being a custom setup,mine was kinda the same idea

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Does your cousin have anything else he wants to get rid of? Another truck, car, house, etc?

Nice progress! Keep the pics coming.

DZL1.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Looks good nice progress, not many trucks have the sun/moon roof

Re: My $30 truck.
 

I wished I could buy a frame and/or cab for $30 lol let alone a complete truck.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

wow now i feel like i kinda got screwed! my first truck was a 78' gmc heavy half i gave $50 for it and it was a piecer! drove it home but that was as far as she got. bought her with a blown head gasket and missing floor pans :lol: but that truck got me into the truck i got now so its all good

great deal for $30 man you cant beat it! looks like a nice truck too

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Headers Came in today and are getting me all amped up to go work on it. Cant wait until this over time stops, 2 more weeks!! I'm gonna wind up working on it outside in the snow.haha
Roll pan will be here any day now and rims should be here in 2 weeks or less. Then its off to the shop to get headers installed and engine tuned for an inspection sticker. After it runs good i might borrow my buddies sand blaster and shoot the underside of the truck and spray on some protective under coating and give the whole truck a good scrubbing. I'll post pics as soon as i get the parts installed (2 more weeks. can't wait)

Thanks for all the enthusiasm! This forum and the people in it really make this an awesome place to be!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

welcome and great score!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Welcome! Nice score! Keep the pics coming.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Got any better pictures of the sunroof? I have only seen one other truck in pictures with one....never in real life.....I think it's a really cool option

Re: My $30 truck.
 

i'll have to charge my camera, but i've never seen one with a sunroof before and just asssumed it was aftermarket. It has a tiny leak near the hinges, i have to remake the seal around it.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

just bought a blower motor and snow chains, Heard there was snow might be on the way soon and its not 4wd so I'm assuming it's gonna be pretty bad in snow. It wasn't cold when i was able to work on it last but i remembered the blower was bad. Makes a lot of noise like a bad bearing. if this can drive in the snow i wanna be warm..haha The Blower only turns on when the truck is in A/C mode, have to take the heater control panel out and see whats corroded or broken. I was just thinking about maybe fixing this up and trying to trade it for a 4wd crew cab truck eventually (my truck plus cash). i keep scouring the internet for one CHEAP but can't find any. My mustang don't like snow. can't wait till overtime ends so i can work on it 5 days left!!!

Re: My $30 truck.
 

I doubt you can find another in nice shape for $30 again..... :lol:

Re: My $30 truck.
 

DAYUM that truck for 30 bucks was definitely a steal. Grats and the truck is coming along very nicely.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

Nice! Thanks for joining and sharing.

Re: My $30 truck.
 

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ck/rollpan.jpg
gonna get this puppy installed today hopefully it'll warm up enough to primer and paint it. Eventually i want to get a hitch for it i'm going to see where it sits because i want to put the hitch behind the license plate and get one of the hinges and spring off one of the older cars the used to have gas filler tube behind license plate so when not in use the hitch is not visible and when i'm using the hitch i can just flip the plate up and slide the hitch in and the plate is still visible.

The coys guy got hold of and and told me they ran out of 20" rims in the style i bought so i got some cash back and am going with 18" x 8" up front and 18" x 8.5 out back with the coys c56's

Also once that all gets done i'm going to the shop too see about inspection and headers install.