Looking to buy a truck - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

geod919 · 04-06-2010, 09:34 PM

This thing is a good hour from me, but its cheap, and is in pretty good shape for one of the "unrestored" trucks around me. Looks like it used to be a light blue.
Looks like manual brakes, and probably steering. It has the engine/tans combo I was looking for.
Well, I've never looked at one of these before, so can anyone give me a good checklist to go over while I'm looking over this?

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1638684043.html

basemodel67 · 04-06-2010, 10:22 PM

Eh, depends on what you want. I would just be leery of anything turned flatbed cause it may be all hacked up underneath on the frame. Not my style...

bruceman1968 · 04-06-2010, 11:32 PM

If that cab is rust free and it has a title, well there's your money right there....Definitely check it out...

geod919 · 04-06-2010, 11:35 PM

Looks pretty recently painted, I'll have to see if it was done right or just bondo bombed.
It's in Ohio, with no front plate. So I'm worried about the title =/

mstrav1973 · 04-06-2010, 11:42 PM

Drum breaks and no power assist? heavy flat bed? may want to keep looking. you'll spend 400+ on a bed, 300+ on bumber and brackets. wirring harness, markers, brake lights 250 more. who knows what holes or welding was done to the frame beyond simple repair (notched or welded).

unless,

you need to buck some hay, then the truck is perfect except for the brake thing

geod919 · 04-06-2010, 11:45 PM

I can do a brake swap. I've got a little car experience. I could even fab up a rear wiring harness pretty quick. I've found a few parts trucks around with decent beds as well. Idk, there is nothing out of my abilities to fix on this truck, so long as the cab was done right.

bruceman1968 · 04-06-2010, 11:50 PM

check the cab corners and rockers for rust/bondo. Thats where the trouble starts on these trucks. And check if there's rust above the windsheild, driprail, or on the rear roof seam. If there's a little rust at the top then there's ALOT of rust at the bottom.

geod919 · 04-07-2010, 03:53 PM

Alright, I made a short call to the guy today.
Says the truck originally had a 350, although the one in it is not original.
Says he did some work to the engine, like cam, pushrods, and lifters. So I'll have to drive it a little around town, to make sure lol. Says the rockers and cab corners had been replaced shortly before he got it, also said he had a clean title.
Going to look friday. May be A part of the group soon.

**lks dcvn** · 04-07-2010, 04:36 PM

I would also add cab mounts to that list - as getting them fixed means removing the cab to get to them correctly.

Check to see if anybody on the forum is close enough to go meet you - I am up in Toledo so too far from me.

There are a few guys that live down in the Columbus area that might go with you so you have somebody who knows what to look at/for.

Good luck on your search.

04-06-2010, 09:34 PM	#1
geod919 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Independence, ky Posts: 39	Looking to buy a truck This thing is a good hour from me, but its cheap, and is in pretty good shape for one of the "unrestored" trucks around me. Looks like it used to be a light blue. Looks like manual brakes, and probably steering. It has the engine/tans combo I was looking for. Well, I've never looked at one of these before, so can anyone give me a good checklist to go over while I'm looking over this? http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1638684043.html

04-06-2010, 10:22 PM	#2
basemodel67 Factory Strippers Rule! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shingle Springs, CA Posts: 707	Re: Looking to buy a truck Eh, depends on what you want. I would just be leery of anything turned flatbed cause it may be all hacked up underneath on the frame. Not my style... __________________ "Feast your eyes on a feast of smoke." 67 Chevy Short Fleet PLAN: LQ9, 4L60, D60 Looking for School Bus Gauges - Help me out!

04-06-2010, 11:32 PM	#3
bruceman1968 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,549	Re: Looking to buy a truck If that cab is rust free and it has a title, well there's your money right there....Definitely check it out... __________________ CHEVY/GMC VIN DECODERS

04-06-2010, 11:35 PM	#4
geod919 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Independence, ky Posts: 39	Re: Looking to buy a truck Looks pretty recently painted, I'll have to see if it was done right or just bondo bombed. It's in Ohio, with no front plate. So I'm worried about the title =/

04-06-2010, 11:42 PM	#5
mstrav1973 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 321	Re: Looking to buy a truck Drum breaks and no power assist? heavy flat bed? may want to keep looking. you'll spend 400+ on a bed, 300+ on bumber and brackets. wirring harness, markers, brake lights 250 more. who knows what holes or welding was done to the frame beyond simple repair (notched or welded). unless, you need to buck some hay, then the truck is perfect except for the brake thing __________________ 72 chevy k-10, swb, auto, 35's, rally's, posi, 4" lift, 2.5" old style 40 series flows with headers and crossover pipe and some other stuff!! Last edited by mstrav1973; 04-07-2010 at 12:22 AM.

04-06-2010, 11:45 PM	#6
geod919 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Independence, ky Posts: 39	Re: Looking to buy a truck I can do a brake swap. I've got a little car experience. I could even fab up a rear wiring harness pretty quick. I've found a few parts trucks around with decent beds as well. Idk, there is nothing out of my abilities to fix on this truck, so long as the cab was done right.

04-06-2010, 11:50 PM	#7
bruceman1968 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,549	Re: Looking to buy a truck check the cab corners and rockers for rust/bondo. Thats where the trouble starts on these trucks. And check if there's rust above the windsheild, driprail, or on the rear roof seam. If there's a little rust at the top then there's ALOT of rust at the bottom. __________________ CHEVY/GMC VIN DECODERS

04-07-2010, 03:53 PM	#8
geod919 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Independence, ky Posts: 39	Re: Looking to buy a truck Alright, I made a short call to the guy today. Says the truck originally had a 350, although the one in it is not original. Says he did some work to the engine, like cam, pushrods, and lifters. So I'll have to drive it a little around town, to make sure lol. Says the rockers and cab corners had been replaced shortly before he got it, also said he had a clean title. Going to look friday. May be A part of the group soon.

04-07-2010, 04:36 PM	#9
lks dcvn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 4,348	Re: Looking to buy a truck I would also add cab mounts to that list - as getting them fixed means removing the cab to get to them correctly. Check to see if anybody on the forum is close enough to go meet you - I am up in Toledo so too far from me. There are a few guys that live down in the Columbus area that might go with you so you have somebody who knows what to look at/for. Good luck on your search.



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