Looking to buy a truck ............

[jimbonice]

and wondering if anybody here knows anything about it. I've been lurking around the site for a while now, since I began looking last fall for a square body 3+3 dually. I've discovered I have an irrational love of these old trucks; my wife thinks I'm crazy. I believe that is a common problem on this forum. I have found this to be one of the best forums out there for the hobby and glad I found it.

This truck is from western Canada, a 1977 with a '80 front clip, stock 454, built 700r4. The fellow that owns it had used it to pull his merlin powered 1/2 ton for a number of years and now is selling both. It spends it winters parked in his shop. It was painted a number of years ago, rockers were replaced, dash is perfect, interior is in good shape. All in all a very clean truck.

Thanks for your time.

[Chris Guthro]

Very nice Truck, congrats on the purchase!

[powerdriver 1958]

From what I can see it don't look bad . Is it priced right?

[Restrorob]

Welcome Aboard !

It appears to be a clean look'n rig, But depends on price as PD mentioned....

[Chris Guthro]

Oh whoops, thought you did buy it..yea it would obviousley depend on the $$, looks to be very clean and well looked after! go for it!

[79gmcclassic]

do u have any more pics of the black/gold 80 pickup on the trailer?

[jimbonice]

It's priced at $6500, which is a fair price in this neck of the woods if it's as clean as it looks. The only wear on it is the seats, the door panels are all good. I plan on making the treck out to see it in the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a hike from where I live. The farmer who owns it also wants to sell his 632 powered 1/2 ton in the pics to me. I told him just to swap the 454 for the 632 and and we'll call it a deal. I don't think he's biting.

[jimbonice]

Nope, both trucks aren't listed. I found out about them through the grapevine.

[Chris Guthro]

lol, i dought he would bite, the motors worth more than your paying for the truck. I say 6500 is a fair price for that. You cant get one in that good of shape down my way for that little.

[jimbonice]

some more pics......

[old Rusty C10]

nice truck welcome

[tucsonjwt]

Looks like a nice truck. Just a few words of caution.
If you have been lurking here you have read about all kinds of problems with squares. These are old trucks which can and do have their share of problems. So, be prepared to spend money on repairs/"improvements" on any old truck. Even if it has been well cared for, things just wear out and break on any vehicle after a period of time. Normal wear parts (starters, alternators, shocks,etc.) are plentiful and relatively cheap, but some parts are hard to find new and are expensive (HVAC controls, some switches/harnesses, etc.). Many parts for a 3/4 ton truck (like this one) are more expensive than a 1/2 ton truck.
Have you considered a 6.2 diesel crew cab? If this truck has been towing it will likely have a 4.11 or maybe 4.56 rear axle, so with a 454 you might get in the 8 mpg range. Guys with 6.2s claim to get in the 20 mpg range.
If I were you I would be looking for a lower priced rust free diesel 3+3 in S W US for about $3K and put the other $3500 in transportation to your location and repairs. If you want a show truck, then that is a different story. If you want to drive the truck daily I think there are better options. Just sayin'

[jimbonice]

Thank for the advice. My understanding is that the truck is rust free now, but I'll know when I see it. Just planning on using it for spring and summer to pack the camper and boat around (my Hemi Ram 1500 is too short and light to do it) so not to worried about tinkering.

My daily driver is a Buick Park Avenue Ultra, my better half has her owm Malibu Maxx and my kids have their share of oil leakers parked in my driveway, so no shortage of wheels to get around with. I appreciate the economy 6.2's and 6.5's get, but I'm a gasaholic so big blocks turn my crank. I drove truck for many years and know first hand that diesels for a weekend warrior can be expensive economy. It takes miles to make 'em pay and I won't put on 2000 a year. I've owned in the past a 1947 Merc truck, 1970 AMX, 454 Chevelle, 401 Hornet, 427 CJ-5 Jeep, V-10 8.0 Dodge Ram, V-10 Excursion, just sold a Magnum hemi R\T, so no stranger to the pumps.

I've got a dual plane for a 454 sitting in my garage and with a set of headers and a recurved distributor the dually should sing for the short season I'll use it. The 700r4 should drop the rpm's from the 4.11 diff into a respectable range.

But ...... I got to buy the thing first.

Cheers,

[77BBGMC]

Looks like a clean pickup. Inside looks really nice for it's age!

[andrewmp6]

Yeah it does look good if there is no hidden problems it should be a great truck.

[justinburnett]

Looks good to me.

If you're not going to be driving it much, I'd put an electric fuel pump in. Just my $.02, the mechanical ones don't seem to like sitting around lately.

[jimbonice]

The fuel pump idea is a good one. I'd like to keep a mecanical if possible. Does anyone know of any mecahnical pump diaphragm's that are compatible with E10?

[Jonboy]

If it's as clean as it looks in the pictures, I don't think $6500 is out of line. The factory tach and buckets are definitely a plus, too.

[N2TRUX]

The asking price is on the high side, but thats a darn clean truck. I know its your area finding something that clean is hard to do. If it fits your needs and its as clean as it appears. go get it...

[motornut]

welcome,looks nice and clean
i'd worry findng a southern truck and binging it up her can be pricey
but to find one that clean ,crawl all over it at have someone you know certify it before
but it's insides look real good /matches the outsides for wear
6500 migh be a little high but not haveing to do rust repair pays off to

[jimbonice]

So, I'm heading out to look at the truck this weekend. The fellow who's selling it also has his race truck for sale. I had a good chat with him, seems like a decent guy and full fledged gear head. It is a full load 1980 Sierra Classic 10, a one year only "Alberta Special", 632 Merlin, dynoed 835 hp & 865 ft lbs, auburn rear end, 4.33 ratio, trans brake, 10.2 in the quarter on the motor and has lots more modded on it. It is the truck on the trailer behind the dually. Here's a link for your enjoyment. http://reddeer.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ277804579

[eightyfive]

you got a heck of a deal, very nice truck.

[jimbonice]

Just to be clear, I'm only looking at the dually. The 632 merlin powered 1/2 ton is way out of my meager budget.

[jimbonice]

Well, I drove the 860 miles roundtrip to Camrose, Alberta with my wife and became the proud owner of a new crew cab dually! The truck had sat for about 4 years and the hood frame above the latch had become the home of a eight long dead mice. It drove fine on the way home, had to tighten up one transmission cooler hose, the 700r4 shifted firm and ran about 150* to 160* at 70 mph or 110 kph. The speedo packed it in on the way home, but following my wifes car, 110 kph was just under 2500 rpm. No rattles or clunks. The front end was smooth, with the rear duals bouncing a bit. I might have to tone the glasspacks down, though, as I'm half deaf as it is and they weren't helping. Here's some pics of it in my driveway.

[powerdriver 1958]

I would be happy to have it sitting in my drive . Hope you have good luck with it .