Should I buy it or ?

[71-Shortbed]

Hi
I have been watching a truck burried in my neighbors back yard for a few months now.
A couple of weeks ago it was gone so I figured I missed out.
Then last week I was on my roof and I saw that he had un burried the truck and parked it on the other side of his lot.
So I walked around to get a look, and sure enough a for sale sign on the window.
I looked harder and called to see if I could look closer.
What I found
71 shortbed lots of rust
6 cyl
no air ,no power steering or power brakes
3 on the tree
Did I mention a bunch of rust

I can get it for $275 so I cant lose too bad

My question is should I try to save it
I want too but then sometimes I do dumb things

[Zoomin]

If we were all smart, none of these would get restored. If it pulls on your heartstrings, you should do it. Besides, you wouldn't have registered on this site if you didn't.

Welcome, BTW.

[70cst]

Define rust? Does it have typical sheet metal rust or frame rust. Does the upper window frame have a lot of rust? Always remember mechanics are easier and cheaper to fix than major rust issues. Good luck.

[71-Shortbed]

No one started by screaming for picts
Thanks for being patient as I had to figure it out and post them

[AJLChase]

Hood looks good and outside bed panels look decent from what is noticeable Do you have any other projects going that you're gonna be adding too? Or would this be your main project? If you have other projects for $250 I would think you could possibly use some parts, but maybe not? Good luck with your decision!

[hgs_notes]

If your asking us, you probably need to be talked into it. If it was something you really wanted, you would already have it. That purchase price means squat. Wait until you start buying parts for it. I spent more than that on my exhaust system with headers. I spent almost that much getting brakes fixed. I spent more than that last week for some body parts and body mount bushings.

I'm NOT saying it's a bad deal, or even telling you not to. If you look at the projects section of this board, just do a sort based on number of posts of a thread. You'll see a huge list of projects started and then lost. Some lost interest, some lost money, some lost time. All of them lost something.

If you really want it, you like to get greasy, you enjoy spending time and money on this as a hobby, you can see the potential in the truck, you have a vision of what you want it to be, you have the place to keep it and work on it, by all means, go for it.

[71-Shortbed]

I don't need any talking into it
Cash in pocket right now
Got other issues so I would have to wait on the build for a few months and I hope my budget will improve

But I got a bunch of questions like
1- is it a special truck that needs restore or can I build way I want it to be
2- I want air power steer power brakes
3-do I keep 6 cyl or go small block
4- Three on the tree cool but update manual or auto
5- look for new cab or do I need to fix this one for some reason

Questions are because I went this route with a 66 jeep and I saw some special ones or rare ones get modified because the guy knew not what he had only later to find out what he had done and there was no going back
These are getting to be fewer and fewer and I would hate to hack something up and find out later it was some one of a kind

[cheyenne shortstep]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Build it the way you want it, being a I6 three on the tree the only thing special is it's a short wide. You could part it out and more than double your $$$.

[Average Joe]

Speaking for myself, I would buy it. Then i'd look for a good donor truck (67-72) with a V-8 and auto with a better cab than what you got. If you did it right your cash outlay would be minimal and you'd have a nifty beater swb. Heck the 5 lug setup is worth the asking price. Just my 2 cents.

[scrapmetalart]

here is no question. Buy it. It is too cheap to pass up. get it running & drive it a bit. then decide what to do with it...

[travlinman]

are u sure its a 71 ? all 71 trucks had factory power prakes and i dont see a power booster.
does it have 5 lug front and rear ? what does the spid say on the glove box door ? how the bed floor? if the bed is straight and not too rusted around my parts u could get 4-5 times what u paid just for the bed.
if it was me id buy it just for the gun rack in the back window lol!
buy it park it until ur ready to build it the way u want it.

[68350]

travlinman, power brakes was still an option in 71-72. Disc brakes were standard, however.

[cam.man67]

Do it. It's a pretty good price, plus I think the swb six bingers are a cool truck in their own right.

[yob2kanobe]

I like it. Its the ultimate patina mobile,, buy it

[71 c10 rat]

Buy it !!

[1956cameo]

Buy it! The short wheel base frame is worth $275.

[my67chevytruck]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat... if you dont want it, let me know.......

[ksjh1316]

Originally Posted by travlinman

are u sure its a 71 ? all 71 trucks had factory power prakes and i dont see a power booster.
does it have 5 lug front and rear ? what does the spid say on the glove box door ? how the bed floor? if the bed is straight and not too rusted around my parts u could get 4-5 times what u paid just for the bed.
if it was me id buy it just for the gun rack in the back window lol!
buy it park it until ur ready to build it the way u want it.

My 71 did not have power brakes had the old school manual brakes. I think it depended on what plant and where. Mine also is a GMC

[Longhorn Man]

power brakes were an option on the pickups into the 80's.
For the asking price, and with that much cash in your pocket... I'd be all over it like ugly on an aztec

[VA72C10]

definitely a buy at that price If needed it could be parted out for MUCH more.

[Sillyoldman]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

power brakes were an option on the pickups into the 80's.
For the asking price, and with that much cash in your pocket... I'd be all over it like ugly on an aztec

[71-Shortbed]

Thanks for the good advice
Glad to see That I might not be nuts
Or maybe I just found a fourm full of other nuts
Either way
I will call the guy and try to drag it home before some one beats me to it
Then I will have to hide it from my self or I will never finish the stuff I need to first.

Thanks again
Let project Patina begin

Jeff

[longhorn70gmc]

I would do it. There are allot of parts out there to restore it back and it is a short bed. What do you have to loose? Enjoy it my Brother.
R/

[MAK191]

I don't think that is a 71. you may want to look at the title.

There is no marker lights on the bed and the cab does not have the vent in the driver side door jamb. Probably has six lugs under those hubcaps.

I would buy it in a heartbeat and have fun with it.