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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: harvard, il. USA
Posts: 389
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Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
Currently I own a 72 GMC, 3/4 ton long bed. I have found on the web a 70 GMC 1-ton that seems to be in very decent shape.
Now for the stupid questions...... 1 - How many others have bought a vehicle sight unseen? Truck is out of state and way to far for a weekend drive. The seller has sent pics, and they do confirm the decent shape. 2 - Im use to 350-4bbl engines. This is a 396-4bbl. Besides the obvious, whats the difference? Parts available? Anything I should ask but don't know about? 3 - What is an "open rear-end", related to the truck (grin). 4 - How hard is it to find AC parts? Seller says its all original parts are there. Personally, AC is not a deal breaker. I prefer 2-75 AC anyway(real big grin). Thanks much. I do appreciate it. Have fun......don t. ...... |
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#2 |
I am a Referee of life.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Greensboro N.C.
Posts: 13,993
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
You might try to get a local BB member to look and take more pics for you.Many people buy thru Evil-bay without seeing but I don't have any experience with that.Remember that the seller is probably only going to take pics that make the truck look good or at least as good as it can since he is trying to sell it.
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The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" |
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#3 |
GEARHEAD
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CENTRAL,PA
Posts: 2,284
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
I bought my truck sight unseen. Could be win win or a lose lose situation. Mine worked out I was dealing with a very good seller. A good thing to do is reqest pics of certain areas of the truck the seller did not supply on his own.
That way if the seller is intentinally trying to hide something you might catch this. Also request pic's of know problem areas. As for the 396, parts are as available for it as they are for the small block just a little more $$. ![]() |
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#4 |
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
1. Not yet. If you think it will be a good buy, make the trip out there with a trailer or whatever, but don't be afraid to look at it, not like it, and drive home empty handed.
2. 396 is a big block motor... thats all I know 'bout 'em ![]() 3. A "non-posi" rear, meaning only one rear wheel spins. 4. Not sure on this one either, but LMC (and I'm sure others) seem to offer most, if not all A/C parts for these trucks.
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Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride ![]() American Born, Country by the Grace of God ![]() 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Tacoma WA
Posts: 1,365
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
2 - 396 is a bigblock. Parts are harder to find for the accessories with the correct short water pump i.e. PS brackets,pump, resovoir, pullies - alternator brackets and brace - AC compressor brackets. The motor mounts and towers are somewhat hard to find - you'll want them so the exhaust will clear. The engine parts are about the same cost wise SBC v BBC.
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67 C-20 LWB, tilt, speed alert, vac, 454, T400 67 C-10 SWB, factory air with more to follow |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 210
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
As long as the AC compressor brackets are there, you're good to go. Big block parts are more expensive.
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72 C2500 LWB 402 Sierra Grande 05 Odyssey 08 Tundra |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 3,728
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
I bought my truck sight unseen, but it was a driver and it was $600, so I had low expectations. I was very happy with the outcome.
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New Project: 1966 LWB C20 Plans: 1/2 ton conversion Dropmember front Dropmember rear Corvette discs Restored raised bed http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4295210 |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: (Cloverdale) Surrey BC Canada
Posts: 1,566
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
if u go and buy a truck off of eBay sight unseen make sure u have every single angle of that truck on picture email the seller and ask him what the conditions like where has it been sitting for the last while what was its original purpose work or pleasure was it ever in an accident get picture of the door gaps and everything like that and how well is everything is it street legal at the moment or does it need work to be able to. u need questions like this to buy something off of ebay and if 60% percent of these questions come back as something u dont want BACK AWAY!!
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#9 |
Active Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Virginia
Posts: 169
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
I bought mine that way. The seller was pretty honest, it was the shipper that screwed me. He reversed the battery cables and fried a bunch of wiring...
Just know that pictures always look better than it really is in person, or at least that is my experience.
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71 Blazer CST 72 K20 Capt USAF |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: harvard, il. USA
Posts: 389
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
Thanks to all for the info. It was helpful.
Seller has communicated via email, did send additional pics, but I will ask for more. I have actually talked , via phone, to the guy for about 15 minutes, seems nice enuf. It was a frequent driver til gas prices went up, since then maybe 1000 miles over the past 2 years. Truck is more than street legal, but I really wouldn't drive it home. WAY!! to many wide-open country miles for winter driving. My only other options would be to..... ...get a transport service. Does this site have a list somewhere? I'll check. ...get out there somehow, rent uhaul truck n trailer to get it home. ...find something closer but here in the rust belt, its gonna cost more. One more question. Misc parts availability? Stuff like brakes, driveline, rear-end. Are parts easily available? Seller said a rear brake drum was scored, un-turnable, was having problems locating one. Thanks again......don t. ..... |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: central pa
Posts: 1,525
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
Drums for the H072 are hard to find no new drums being made today. There have been a couple of rebuild threads on the H052/H072 axles on the board. U-joints, carrier bearings are still available. The pre '72 motor mounts are still available I believe at NAPA. The vacuum boosters OEM are harder to find but can still be had. The open rear with big blocks seem to wear spiders inside so you get a big "CLUNK" when you go forward reverse. A hard run BBC will eat stock timing gear in 90k miles. How far is it from you?
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72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: sidney , illinois
Posts: 312
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
dont commit to anything until you see it up close and personal. a few weeks ago i made a 6 hour trip , same deal , email pics ,phone conversations, more email pics . glad i made the trip because the guy i was dealing with painted a really good picture of this truck over the phone , and the thing was a total RAG .!!! basically a primer colored turd . i made a low offer and havent heard back .
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hey.....smell my finger 64 nova wagon , 63 nova convertible |
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#13 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
As long as you ask the questions and get honest answers,it`s no different than buying on sight.
People get bad deals everyday on vehicles that they crawled all over and stared holes through.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#14 |
Active Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 286
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
My .02,
Start by getting the vin #, then do a bit of research to see if the vin matches what the seller is telling you the truck is. Purchasing a truck/ car sight unseen totally is a crap shoot. If the person is honest great, if not you completely out of luck and stuck with the purchase. -fred |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Simpsonville, SC
Posts: 255
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
with the dana 60 rear, the brake drums are expensive (120-150) but still available from many places (got mine from partsamerica.com). i just replaced mine because they were way past worn out. otherwise i think most other parts are available except those listed above.
oh, and i looked into transporting mine with the rental truck and trailer and it would have been way more expensive than hiring transport
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1969 GMC 3/4 ton, 307, 4-speed NP435GL, DANA 60, 4.10, HD rear leafs, manual everything, leaking oil and water. Now rocking 383, NV4500, power steering, power brakes. Finally undergoing restoration. |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: harvard, il. USA
Posts: 389
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
"How far is it from you?".......over 2k miles.
"People get bad deals everyday on vehicles that they crawled all over and stared holes through.".......Not me (rolling eyed grin) "transporting mine with the rental truck and trailer and it would have been way more expensive than hiring transport".....then ya gota include tims off of work, cost to get there. Ya, I can see hiring the transport but then ya go back to sight unseen. Maybe its time to look elswhere. I don't need a truck tomorrow. Thanks again.....have fun......don t. ...... |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cedarville, OH
Posts: 61
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
Just a thought, but 72's didn't come with a 396. They came with a 402. Granted, that is just a 396 bored .030 over, but if it really has a 396 in it, then it is not the original engine.
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Caleb |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Simpsonville, SC
Posts: 255
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
also, imagine a worst case scenario with problems in the areas that you might inspect when you see it in person. would that become a deal breaker, or would you still plan on getting it and fixing it? if you're going to get it anyway, then dont' worry about it.
i bought mine sight unseen. granted, it's my grandfathers that was in possession of another person for 3 years before i got it. couldn't be too much wrong, right? well, they did put a horribly leaking engine in it, the drivetrain has some loud clunks in it, and i just spend $400 on a complete brake job. i probably overpaid for it, but had to have it for sentimental reasons. but i'd still do it all over again
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1969 GMC 3/4 ton, 307, 4-speed NP435GL, DANA 60, 4.10, HD rear leafs, manual everything, leaking oil and water. Now rocking 383, NV4500, power steering, power brakes. Finally undergoing restoration. |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Canton, TX
Posts: 210
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
I prefer to look at a future purchase in person and in the daylight. But I have drove from East Texas to Houston for a motorcycle and it worked out okay. A few months later I met a guy in Waco to buy another motorcycle and when I got there (he had drove it from Austin) It had extremely bad weather cracked tires. He had told me they were in perfect condition, the pictures he had sent me didnt show me otherwise, the bike only had 2200 miles, so after about 30 minutes of telling him my opinion on the situation I got the bike 200.00 less than we had talked about. Just be careful before you take the leap! I am all about keeping my word, but unfortunately everyone is not as honest as the guys are on this board.
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1969 ![]() ![]() Last edited by gmc1969custom; 02-08-2007 at 11:06 AM. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: southern calif.,usa
Posts: 200
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
i bought mine through ebay from a "donated vehicle for causes" place. there were alot of pictures in the ad. i was more concerned about the truck being complete,with no missing parts.i was suprised to find a recently rebuilt 350 motor,but the transmission and carrier bearing were shot. i was looking for a truck to do a total restoration on anyway. it was 150 miles away so i took a car trailer and went and got it. i'm happy with it. got it totaly torn apart and the restoration process is underway. can't wait to "get r done" !
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70 c10 stepside ,350v8, m-20 4 speed ![]() |
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#21 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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Re: Probably stupid questions, but I really don't know
IF you pass on it, tell the guy to join the board and maybe another board member can get a deal. If it's not as good as he says, he probably won't show here.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. ![]() We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck" |
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