Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Hi new here and have a question. I have a 1972 c10 stepside that is technically my sons. Complicated story but in short he has no interest (not driving age yet) in seeing it completed and wants to sell it and get something else. Currently does not run and hasnt in prob 7 years or so. Motor ran when parked( we all know how that goes lol) so all that should be wrong with it is the following: battery , alternator , carb/ fuel delivery, brakes, and wiring harness. There are plenty other odds and ends to be finished but thats the running and driving issues. I already own a 84 c10 ls swap, and am wanting a new project truck of my own, so question is do i keep it and turn it into my own ride and buy him something different or just get the motor cranking and running and sell it for something else? Battery carb and alternator would have it in a running state for purposes of selling. Also i didnt buy it initially, my wife got it in a divorce in previous marriage so there are certain things i want to change and or redo about the build that complicates things as well. The new wheels on it are my old ones off my 84, the old ones were ghetto wheels on the trailer pic.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

I'm guessing it's your step sons truck ? being his mother got it in her last divorce, Let him sell it and buy what he wants , Too much "family" history to make it worth the possible hassles of keeping it and making it "yours" Sometimes it's just easier to let them go . She took the last guys truck . :smoke:

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Correct. Im the only father hes had though, the other is a ghost. Basically if i kept it id buy it from him so he could do just that, get what he wants. But the truck is as complicated as the situation..... oddly enough my wife is the one who is pushing for me to keep and fix it up. I like that its a 72 and stepside but im not a fan of the front roll pan, it needs to sit lower, i dont like black , the list goes on lol i think youre right , sell and find something else

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Asking this type question on this forum you will likely only get one answer!
I vote for keeping the truck.
Maybe some day he will be writing about the Classic truck that got away in 2022. LOL.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Keep it, take the roll pan off, put a bumper on it and don't lower it anymore.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

I vote to keep it. Buy it from him, and make it yours. Some of the things are cosmetic which can easily be changed.

Obviously your wife likes the truck, maybe discuss with her the changes you'd make, and see if she's on board. If not, you could easily find another, but in the condition this one is in, you are way ahead of the game.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

I'd say keep it. While I am not a huge fan of owning anything black, I think the GMC stepsides just look cool. Anything that needs changing you could do and perhaps make it a mini project for you and the wife. Your stepson may realize somewhere down the road that truck really is cooler than the other side of the pillow and it will not be lost in the wind.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

:haha:

I would agree, keep it and fix it back up the way you would like it.

You can always sell it later for more money to someone out there, they don't make those trucks anymore and there is lots of interest these days.

And IMHO black does look nice if the paint job is in good shape.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Unless you really like the truck, id say you tell your stepson to sell it and get what he wants. I wouldn't want a truck my wife took from her ex.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

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I would keep it, I don't care where it came from. With the prices of trucks and parts what they are now you may never get another one. That thing is cool as heck.

The '67 Panel Truck I bought has rolled pans front and rear, a one piece front clip, a louvered hood, frenched tail lights and a frenched antenna. If I was building one from scratch I wouldn't have any of that stuff but I just decided to live with it and drive it. I am having a blast.

You and your wife could be driving that and enjoying it in short order. Buy a vintage air unit and put in it and drive the wheels off of it....

Just my 2¢ worth.

LockDoc

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

I can't help you decide whether to keep it or not but if you did put it up for sale, I would put as little money into as possible other than getting it running and driveable. It helps to eliminate lowering the price since unknown conditions or state of things gives buyers uncertainty and more cause to paying less. It's hard to tell how much it really needs or the amount of work you are able to do yourself but the list of items, carb, battery, alternator, brakes you have are a lot to go bad from sitting.

If you were to get the truck running and driveable easily, you could enjoy it yourself a bit, drive it around and that alone could bring in a buyer that pays what its worth.

My point, selling it in an "as is state" lowers the value, adding a bunch of money to fix everything nicely does not always give you that secondary money spent in return.

You might also have an option of trading for a vehicle more inline with your son's desire.

Truck looks good, I would drive it. I also think that it should sell easily as well, no matter your decision.


Bob :)

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Sure, get rid of it... you can always get another one, right?

I wonder how many of us regret saying words like that years ago. Mine was a 67 Firebird convertible...

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

I vote keep it too. Buy your step son out and maybe he will take interest after you start working on it. You said you already have 1 C10 with an LS swap. What's better than another? I'd sell the square body to keep the GMC personally. :lol:

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Keep it! Buy your son the car he wants. Win, win. Your wife wants you to keep it and gave you the green light to fix it up. You have no obligation to retain it as it is. Do what you want and make it your own.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

^^^^^This^^^^^

Commit to getting it running. Then drive it a bit, and make your decision. Whether you keep it or sell it then, you"ll be better off than selling as is.

Cool truck, BTW.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

I really want to keep it. Im pretty sure my son will change his mind down the road and wish he had it and eventually it will end up being his again anyway (im adopting him when he graduates) He is not really tied to anything done to it currently. The paint looks better in the pics than it is. Its about a 10ft paint job. Looks shadetree, fisheyes and hella orange peel in spots. But its presentable enough to drive the hell out of and not worry about rock chips.

My 84 someone mentioned to sell, not happening. Its my dads , never going anywhere

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Couldnt agree more. Plus it would be cool to have two trucks to take to shows and involve the wife

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

How hard is it to put a front bumper back on it since they have to cut the frame horns to install? Do they make something for that or just weld some thing up that works

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

That truck is way cooler to drive than any newer vehicle, he just doesn`t realize it yet. But he will.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

I've got a frame I'll cut them off of for you and you just pay the shipping. Nice square body. I guess I'd keep both. :lol:

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

No matter the complications they seem minor to what's involved with finding a new truck and rolling the dice on it's condition, even if there are no hidden issues.

As the saying goes 'A bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush."

And any time the wife is good with anything in this hobby run with it! :lol:

That's enough from me!

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Doc is spot on. Getting another to that condition is going to be consumptive.

Quick question is there any cab rust? That is what usually holds people back.

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Yep, mine was a 68 Olds 442 :(

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Nope no rust at all. It was a west texas truck

Re: Should i keep and finish the build?
 

Keep it, put a chrome front bumper on it if you can take the roll pan off...its a a nice truck,