Did I just get too excited!?

[papa's_68]

I've got a nice duramax for a daily driver but have been needing a good old wood hauling truck/hunting truck so I picked up this '76 K20 that has D44, 14 bolt FF, 350, th350 to a 203 t-case for $1,400. It's not a bad truck as it does run pretty good and I bought it knowing it needed some things. The biggest thing being tires. Not cheap either as its sitting on 315/75R16's. I also knew it was going to need some steering and suspension attention. These things werent a big deal to me since I have some good connections on getting good used parts for cheap. So, I brought it home and me and my dad tore into it. Someone did a nasty job of lifting it. They had stock springs front and rear with a 3" block under the front springs, and a 3" Ford block on the back. They also used some jacked up U-bolts. All 4 shocks were blown as well. So I picked up a set of 4" lift front springs off a friend, and a brand new drag link off of him as well for practically nothing. Then went to a local 4wd shop and got 4 new shocks for 4" lift, 4" lift steering arm, spring bushings, and all new U-bolts. Installed new seals in the front axle, and repacked the bearings. Replaced some ball joints, a tie rod, new front brake hoses, and new driveshaft on the rear. Put it all back together and its a night and day difference! Really tightened this old truck up!
My dad has a part time conversion kit for the 203 we are going to put in it and I'm getting a set of Ford high boy lockouts off of my cousin. To finish it off I'm going to buy a steering stabilizer, 4" blocks for the rear and new U-bolts, get some new M/T's on it and call it good for now. So, would anyone else have popped on this truck for $1,400? I at least know what I got now, since I've tore into it.

[vectorit]

Just looking at the picture, sure.
But one never really knows what is hiding until the deal is done.

Sounds like you had it all planned out for saving money on the obvious things, but then looking back at all the labor involved in getting a hundred little things taken care of it can be hard to stave off buyers remorse.

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Is it rusty under that orange paint? Looks like the rocker is.

[papa's_68]

Yeah that rocker is a little rusty and it has rust elsewhere but it aint too bad. There isnt any gaping holes. Someone has also put all new body mounts on it so all in all its pretty solid, minus a few minor rust spots.

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Originally Posted by papa's_68

Yeah that rocker is a little rusty and it has rust elsewhere but it aint too bad. There isnt any gaping holes. Someone has also put all new body mounts on it so all in all its pretty solid, minus a few minor rust spots.

If thats the case then ya did good. Out here in the rust belt I would be all over it.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by OLDCHEV4X4

Is it rusty under that orange paint? Looks like the rocker is.

Originally Posted by papa's_68

Yeah that rocker is a little rusty and it has rust elsewhere but it aint too bad. There isnt any gaping holes. Someone has also put all new body mounts on it so all in all its pretty solid, minus a few minor rust spots.

I can see daylight through that rocker I consider that a gaping hole... Other than that looks like a great foundation!

[papa's_68]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

I can see daylight through that rocker I consider that a gaping hole... Other than that looks like a great foundation!

Thats not through the floor though. That is just that small thin amount of metal below the actual rocker itself.

[76k10]

I didn't think trucks like this were ever for sale that had the suspension and steering already fixed up. If it were fixed up, people don't want to sell them.

[Redcap]

Smallblock/TH350/NP203 truck with blocks in front, none of which being things I want in a truck? Personally, I wouldn't have given $1400 for it but...I live in an area where these trucks are plentiful and generally cheap.

I have about $1200 into mine total, with a 6" lift, rebuilt SM465/NP205 and a 60,000mi 454 under the hood.