Found this truck in WA, 68 swb fleetside

[short-t]

I've come to the experts to see if you think this truck is worth the price he is asking.. It is a 68 swb fleetside CST BB (396) th400 with air, buddy seats, tilt, gauges & tach. He has done or replaced a lot of the parts, sand blasted the frame and powder coated it black, all new front suspension parts with 2" drop spindles and 2" drop springs, disk brake conversion, sway bar, 6" drop springs out back with 4:11 rear gears and a spool, new rad, all new engine wire harness and light harness, new exhaust, buddy seat was redone, new carpet, re-chromed bumpers, etc. Still needs quite a bit of work to finish but the front clip and cab are pretty much rust free, I did notice a bit of rust down by the kick panes where they meet the floor boards, very minor. No rust in the cab corners or cab supports.

He is trying to get 7K out of it and I am sure he has that much in parts put into it.. So to me it seems worth the $$, what do you think?


Pics

[JDL]

yes it looks good $7000 is close

[lax54650]

what is the bottle with radiator cab drivers side of alt?

[gcburdic]

Originally Posted by lax54650

what is the bottle with radiator cab drivers side of alt?

That looks like the remote PS fluid reservoir...used for BB typically due to space issues....

[VA72C10]

Worth that much in parts but probably worth 5-6K in this economy together...

[PHAT TONY]

That left rocker is rotten as are both doors in the lower front corners; I'd guess the right rocker is soon to be a problem, I spy this by the rust blisters that are coming from the inside-out. A shorty up here in this shape is worth the money asked, but there are issues on the way; I've cut into many of these trucks and recognise the warning signs.

[short-t]

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

That left rocker is rotten as are both doors in the lower front corners; I'd guess the right rocker is soon to be a problem, I spy this by the rust blisters that are coming from the inside-out. A shorty up here in this shape is worth the money asked, but there are issues on the way; I've cut into many of these trucks and recognise the warning signs.

Funny you mention that, I was looking at the blisters and told the seller that when I go to blast the cab I'd probably go through in those spots. He wanted to prove me wrong so he tried to punch through it with a pick, it seems pretty solid still.. I do feel that you'd end up with holes after blasting though.

[72BlckButy]

Looks like a deal to me...

[67/72junkie]

What is on the spid?If bb and paint code match spid it is a steal for bb 50th swb.Looks to me to be a longbed originally and someone swapped or cut down the frame to build what they wanted.Shortbed built from aftermarket parts.I still think it is a fair price with the options it has as a running driver needing paint.I like it!

[72 Super]

From what I can see from the pictures, I would say it's worth it. Would be a neat truck finished whether it is a factory BB swb truck or not.

[100gold]

I think it's well worth the money. Great parts and it's a great foundation with the BB. Just for giggles, does that truck have a spid that comes close to what it has in it now?

[short-t]

Originally Posted by 100gold

I think it's well worth the money. Great parts and it's a great foundation with the BB. Just for giggles, does that truck have a spid that comes close to what it has in it now?

spid matches the truck other than it was a long box to start. The seller put everything onto the swb frame and bought the new box. I did crawl around under the truck to see if the frame was cut and it appears to a swb frame, if it was cut he did a very good job at hiding it.

[oldblue1968chevy]

SWEET truck! Get it all painted right and it'd be a beauty, if I had the money Id go after

[big_al_71]

I am thinking 5,500.....is what I would pay for it. It would still need another 10k to be where I would want it but hey it is just me.

[short-t]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

I am thinking 5,500.....is what I would pay for it. It would still need another 10k to be where I would want it but hey it is just me.

That what I was thinking, I had offered him $6500 cash in front of him and he stood his ground, I won't let it go for less than 7K! Thats when I told him I'd think about it and left.

He knows I am serious, I came all the way from Canada to see the damn thing.

[bigguy69]

i think it is worth it. i also noticed the front is 5 lug and the back is 6. looks like they switched to discs in the front.

[short-t]

Originally Posted by bigguy69

i think it is worth it. i also noticed the front is 5 lug and the back is 6. looks like they switched to discs in the front.

Good eye! All new disk brake conversion up front. He said he was going to drill the rear axle flanges for 5 lug. Has anyone done this before?

So that would be another thing to do, change out rear axles to 5 lug and then get new wheels... Where does it stop.

[PHAT TONY]

Originally Posted by short-t

Good eye! All new disk brake conversion up front. He said he was going to drill the rear axle flanges for 5 lug. Has anyone done this before?

So that would be another thing to do, change out rear axles to 5 lug and then get new wheels... Where does it stop.

I think if it was me, I'd put 6-lug rotors on the front and keep the original bolt pattern. I like the 6 lug rally wheels much more than the 5 holers.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by short-t

Good eye! All new disk brake conversion up front. He said he was going to drill the rear axle flanges for 5 lug. Has anyone done this before?

So that would be another thing to do, change out rear axles to 5 lug and then get new wheels... Where does it stop.

http://www.dutchmanaxles.com/index.html
Dutchman Motorsports filled and redrilled my axles for 5x5 and it cost me about $120 US. Keep in mind that if you have it done on the cheap by a friend or someone, you'll also need to have the centers turned down on a lathe. Dutchman takes care of that in the price. They're local to me and I was very impressed with their work.

Originally Posted by Indyuke

Question though: I've heard rumors all my life about Cali/Arizona/New Mex being the gold mine to get rust free trucks for much less money than any other place. Are there no more deals down there?

I used to believe in that myth but after having been down there and seeing things first hand, I no longer subscribe to that. The thing is, while they do have less rust in the usual places, you still have to repair those areas anyway with all new sheet metal- if it's going to be done right. So what's the point at that stage. The truth is that we have excellent foundations for project trucks here in the PNW despite the perception out there that, "it rains all the time so therefore those vehicles MUST be rusty." But shhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone ok. We don't want people to come out and deplete our natural resources! I personally know 2 Ohioans that have come out here to buy up project cars and trucks- anyone ever heard of guys named Longhorn Man or Fine69?

[100gold]

I think it's well worth what he's asking. You start pushing the button and having the UPS guy show up and that 7k after buying a starter truck will look damn good. It really depends on where you're wanting to go with it and how much of the work you can do yourself.

[short-t]

Originally Posted by 100gold

I think it's well worth what he's asking. You start pushing the button and having the UPS guy show up and that 7k after buying a starter truck will look damn good. It really depends on where you're wanting to go with it and how much of the work you can do yourself.

UPS, I don't even want to go there!

I can do everything but the body work. This is why I've been looking for rust free trucks. I do like the fact that the box is new and the rest of the truck is in its original paint, no hidden nasties to be found later on.

[short-t]

I know everyone likes pictures so here are a few more.

[Newtz67]

Looks like a pretty solid truck to me. I would say 7k is close. He could easily have 3 or 4k in the motor alone. The interior looks pretty good, and the rust actually looks pretty minor.

[Indyuke]

Hmmm... I would say in the neighborhood of 6-7k, sure.

Question though: I've heard rumors all my life about Cali/Arizona/New Mex being the gold mine to get rust free trucks for much less money than any other place. Are there no more deals down there?

[Beatcoaster]

looks like it is worth $7k to me, that thing is essentially 1 paint job away from being finished enough for all but the most finicky people...