71 Cheyenne lwb: thinking of buying

[Davidf]

Ok guys (and gals). I found a craiglist ad for a 1971 Cheyenne lwb with factory air, sliding rear window, PS, PB, rally wheels, chrome bumpers front and rear with 350/350 engine/trans. The truck is yellow/white with straight body. Seller claims original paint with "very little" rust (can't see any in photos). The exhaust needs replacing. All trim is intact, glass is good. A/C works. Asking is $3700. Do you think it worth my drive 60 miles away to take a look? What is the expected value if I do a mechanical freshening and keep it a survivor?

I've been looking several months for an unmolested original truck in my area. I want a 71 or 72 for the brakes and body style, so this one is right up my ally. I think I prefer a LWB for bed capacity (i.e. plywood).

[Davidf]

a couple more photos...

[68350]

Only things I really see wrong or unwanted is the dash is cut for a CD player and the doors are cut for speakers. The door panels have also been replaced as it should have the vinyl woodgrain ones. But other than that it looks like a good truck. I'd try to get it for 3000-3200

[EARNHARDT#3]

Texas is much different than Pennsylvania. Bug here that would be a nice truck for the money. I'd venture to say if he's asking $3700 you'd be able to get it for close to $3000.

[Davidf]

Good point on the cut dash and doors. I did a 100% ground up restoration on a '52 that needed extensive metalwork. Fixing the radio and door cut-outs would be child's play to me. But, everything then comes out for paint work. So, the cuts don't bother me too much. I agree, offer $3k and see how it goes. Regardless, seems like good value...yes/no?

Anything else look out of place? Does "heavy rear springs" mean leaf springs? Is that good or bad?

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by Davidf

...Anything else look out of place? Does "heavy rear springs" mean leaf springs? Is that good or bad?...

As best I can tell from the SPID picture it looks like a coil rear spring truck with the optional G50 HD coils rated at 2000lb each.

Since the kick panel has been covered or painted I'd look hard for rust in the area. Under the replacement carpet too.

[Mapearso]

Originally Posted by davidf

i've been looking several months for an unmolested original truck in my area. I want a 71 or 72 for the brakes and body style, so this one is right up my ally. I think i prefer a lwb for bed capacity (i.e. Plywood).

Asking is $3700.

Do you think it worth my drive 60 miles away to take a look? You say its right up your alley so yes

what is the expected value if i do a mechanical freshening and keep it a survivor? Depends. You need to know where that little bit of riust is. I bet the paint will buff out nice. Then you'll you attend to a lot of the little things that are wrong (doors, door panels, dash, cd, kick panels, grill, etc etc) and those can add up

good luck -- looks like a nice truck

[engineer_gregh]

Thats not a bad price for that truck as long as the engine and transmission are in good shape. Its had HEI added (a plus in my opinion) and the wrong mirrors. Make sure to look for rust along the gutters especially at the seam on the passenger side. It also has the tool storage box, known to rust so inspect that area as well. In the Nashville area that truck would be more than $3k.

[9teen69]

That's a great price if no major issues.

[Davidf]

Thanks for feedback. Going to look at truck Saturday. Seller is really cautioning about not expecting too much. May be worse than it looks.

[Nitis]

seems like a fair price to me

maybe its just the photos but that sure doesnt look like ochre to me

the firewall looks right but the outside looks too yellow

[ho70]

heck, I'd drive 600 miles for that truck-go, go man Good price, but try cheaper as the dash and doors are cut

[Already Gone]

That is an 8500.00 truck up here in the Great White North !!!!

[MidLifer]

Agree with all here, good price for that truck. Drive as is or, if the rust isn't too bad a good base for a build.

[Davidf]

Well, it's mine. Seller acquired truck in auction bundled with ATV he was after. He ended up taking a small lose. Truck has soon issues, but rust is limited to passenger door on trailing low corner and both rockers.. Otherwise, it is sound. Ran well enough to get me home 60 miles away, but needs some basics right away. Then I nned to figure out a game plan. I am leaning toward mechanical freshening and leaving it a survivor. I am sure I will also tidy up the interior.

[Coley]

Originally Posted by Davidf

Well, it's mine. Seller acquired truck in auction bundled with ATV he was after. He ended up taking a small lose. Truck has soon issues, but rust is limited to passenger door on trailing low corner and both rockers.. Otherwise, it is sound. Ran well enough to get me home 60 miles away, but needs some basics right away. Then I nned to figure out a game plan. I am leaning toward mechanical freshening and leaving it a survivor. I am sure I will also tidy up the interior.

Congrats on the purchase!!....post up some pics when you get 'er home.

Coley

[shawno72]

Great buy.

[stsalvage]

I bought a 1971 Cheyenne 1/2 ton with pretty much what he had I took a creeper with me rolled under the truck what i saw i had the biggest smile on my face NO CANCER IN THE FLOOR in a Calif truck I put the 1990 GMC or Chevy truck wheels on mine cus i like the wheels But for $600.00 in 2009 when the housing market was taking a dump best time to buy a hot rod

My bother in law bought a 1969 Camaro fully restored with a 396 400 and a gear vender with power windows factory Air all of the cool stuff this car should of cost him 35,000 he picked it up for 17,500.00 sold it 2 years ago for $47,000 He bought that and a 1968 charger 440 auto it needed paint and interior for $7000.00.

His mother past away in 2008 left him $250,000 bought a house in AZ 3 bedroom 15 miles away from Lake Havasu for $120,000 paid cash.

He bought a 1972 Cheyenne for 6500.00 blue and white full frame off.

So even tho I'm not happy about the color but it is 2 tone 3700.00 still a steel now days with being fully loaded and it came with disc and has coil springs Mine came with leaf springs Will change mine

[Davidf]

Discovered today that the truck has a black Highlander seat installed. Interior is supposed to be saddle vinyl.

[Davidf]

Sorry to keep bring this thread to the top, but...upon closer inspection on Sunday I discovered the following:

•Three vacuum leaks at capped vacuum ports (caps split from age).
•Two fouled spark plugs (#1 and #8 cylinders). I think it is simply due to cheap and worn out plug wires that are installed backwards. I pulled and cleaned plugs and attempted to improve plug wire connection and engine smoothed out substantially.
•Brake power booster is not working.
•Carrier bearing for drive shaft is shot.
•Voltage regulator is not working. Upon arriving home, the battery was boiling over from being overcharged. Alternator was putting out almost 14.7v to the battery at idle.
•Starter drags when hot. I am going to replace for piece of mind

Then, on to the obvious and most egregious cosmetic stuff. Oh, and the instrument cluster is a mess.

[cooperhw]

Nice new (to you) truck. Now comes the "making it better" and enjoying your new ride.

[BruthaMan]

Good purchase, David! You'll get the little issues ironed out pretty quickly. Sounds like it just needs some TLC and attention to details.

For more peace of mind, I paid more than that for my '72 four years ago. I had been looking in the San Angelo area for a year or so with no luck. Finally extended search all the way down to the Austin area.

Set out on a Saturday morning to look at three. First one I passed on, the second one was in the Killeen area. Something about it just felt right and I couldn't leave without buying it. Called the third seller and told him we wouldn't be making it.

Drove it home with fingers crossed and it did fine. Replaced quite a few things and started the process of getting it reliable. I wouldn't trade this truck now, for the world! Hope you fall in love with yours the way I have mine!

[shawno72]

Sounds like typical 40+ year old truck issues. You'll have it running perfect in no time.

[Davidf]

Thanks all. FWIW, this truck will remain mostly a survivor that I actually use as a truck. My biggest challenge is going to be the a/c. The air box/plenum is a broken mess. Anyone know where to get a replacement evaporator/plenum air box? The part inside the cab that is just off the floor. Here it is as it sits at my house:


Here is the reason why I bought the '71 and want to keep it a survivor. I can't use this one ('52) as a truck:
Ground up restoration by me (100%).