69 GMC 2500, talk me out of buying it
 

While driving to school today, I saw a 69 GMC 2500 for sale so of course I had to stop and check it out. It was really rough, lots of rust. 4 on the floor, power steering, 350. I called the number and the guy says it runs fine, and that it's starting at $600, but he'll take less. Someone talk me out of this truck now! I've got another semester of school left, a wedding to pay for, and my dad would not like it sitting at home. The old willpower is on the verge of letting me down.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

Come on, buy it!

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

school's important, the wedding though... I'd buy the truck and leave the marriage on the rocks :lol:

talk the guy to 450. what's 450 bucks, huh? well...actually that's a good chunk of money. But then again..... buy it!

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

Yeah, like they said, BUY IT!

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

It's so tempting, but it is very rough, and I don't know a whole lot about restoring these trucks. On the other hand, I've got to learn somehow and this might be a good one to learn on. But....then again, I wouldn't be able to work on it until quite awhile down the road. Decisions, decisions.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

well, now's a good place to start. if nothing else, take some pictures, show somebody, post them on here! We'll tell you how much work you've got cut out for you. These trucks are relatively easy to work with though. And you can be like me, and piece it every so often. With school and a crappy paying job, and truck payments for my 97, gas, and everything else, I don't have a lot of money at all to pay for my 69 with. God help me when I have to go to college.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

Ok I'll talk you out of it. The way you describe it, it sounds like the amount of time and money you will need to put into it just to make it "decent" is crazy. Save your money and when you are ready you can pick up a much nicer one already to the decent stage. Sometimes when you start with a real p.o.s. its easy to get discouraged down the line with all the work you are putting out and progress seems really slow. These trucks are a dime a dozen in the shape you describe (around here anyway)......Or buy it, whatever turns your crank :rolleyes:

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

i agree with cg. if you don't have the time or money don't bother it sounds like you will just take a beating at that price for a badly rusted truck.now if it's got a tilt colume tach dash and a nice tailgate you can't get hurt

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

if it's in as bad shape as you say i'd pass. and because you're in school with not much money like said above it'll be slow progress.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

With everything you have going on you will hate yourself if you buy it to restore. You won't have the time or money....:(

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

They can take a lot of money to fix up right. Sometimes even a free truck is not cheap enough.....

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

i agree with the dont buy statements
if you are in fact as busy and underfunded
as you describe then i think your energy would
be better spent in the areas you mentioned

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

Thanks for all of the input, I appreciate all of your opinions. I've decided to call the guy and see if he'll take an old isuzu that I got for a gas mileage truck. If he will that would be great, but if not that would be fine with me and I'll leave it at that.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

good deal. I'd leave it at that, trade or nothing. If trade, well, it sounds like you don't have too much to lose like that. If he takes it, well, you'll have something to get at eventually, when the time comes. The flip side to that, is that until you can start fixing up on it, you might actually have seen a truck come up that was better than that GMC. If nothing else, with a little work, you could have yourself a true beat around and work truck, being a 3/4 ton. It's all up to you, really.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

Here's an idea, if you get it, just drive it. Beaters can be great. You don't care where you park, you can haul ANYTHING you want... who cares, it's a cheap truck...you can have stupid fun with spray paint... if it comes out bad, just cover it back up with primer or something...
Then, later on down the road, after you've learned a thing or two about what you'd be in for, you get another one to fix up, and use some of the desirable parts off the beater.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

i agree with longhornman. also, chalkboard(blackboard) paint can be fun too

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

o yes.. we had a 250 dollar '69 or '70 once that was a 2wd HD LWB model with a 4.56 posi rear.. the truck was rusted in every place it could possibly be rusted.. were talking TERMINAL CANCER. anyway.. it ran like a scalded dog and was fun, with PS and the 350 with a quick shifting TH350 tranny... it was the greatest truck for 3 days.. then we tore it apart :( and sold the engine :(:( and now after sitting empty for 3 years i tried to put the tranny in my '68 SWB, and now it makes weird buzzy rubbing sounds (somewhere in the pump area) and wont shift :(:(:(... worst set of decisions ever right there...

moral of the story..

if youve got the cash laying around.. buy the thing and drive it like it was meant to be driven, and if you dont ever fix it up- at least let it go out in a blaze of glory (literally or figuratively) JMHO.

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

don't BUY IT !

Re: 69 GMC 2500, talk me out of it
 

Again thanks for the input guys. I called him and he was very tempted to take me up on the trade. He said that he wished he would have known this two weeks ago because he just bought a beater midsize truck for gas mileage. So close, but no cigar. The next time I'm through that area if it's still there I'll probably stop and look at it again, and if it's not there it just wasn't meant to be I guess. Thanks again.