With a Little Work it can be a Piece of Crap

[earlthegoat2]

The first truck I owned was a 68 C-10 converted to a K-10 by my father and I. I went to the military and college and dad ended up selling it. No biggie really.

However, I am a new homeowner now and need a truck for yard and renovation projects as we purchased a fixer upper.

So naturally I went looking for another truck of the 67-72 variety. I have been looking for better than 4 months for the right one and quite honestly this is NOT it. But it was the right price and it was the right time.

There is rust holes in everything. You name it it has rust on it. However, it drives and this is important to me. It had to be driveable as that is my only method of transport.

So:

Here are the CL pics.





And here is mine after I got it home about an hour ago.



What the pictures dont show though is how this truck made a 200 mile drive from a little south of Myrtle Beach all the way to Savannah. And only burned 5/8 of a tank of fuel.

That alone was worth 900 bucks.

No issues at all except for it did not like going over 45-50 mph and the POS Spectre floor shift was wonky as heck.

The only thing worth a salt with it is the rims and glove box door (of which the SPID is somewhat defaced) I might be able to read it after a little work. Probably a 6 option truck like these usually are. Manual steering and brakes six cylinder 3 speed. My favorite.

[suspect]

that's funny. i suppose it just depends on how much a piece of crap costs? so, how much did you pay?

[earlthegoat2]

Originally Posted by earlthegoat2

What the pictures dont show though is how this truck made a 200 mile drive from a little south of Myrtle Beach all the way to Savannah. And only burned 5/8 of a tank of fuel.

That alone was worth 900 bucks.

That much.

It is a 69 BTW.

[suspect]

900 is good.
sounds about like when i drove my 69 home 300 miles from kansas back in july. 105 degree weather, 3 speed, no gas pedal for comfort, just the rod

[black_sheep454]

Not often you can drive a $900 vehicle home 200 miles.
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[domeier]

Don't worry, it'll buff out.

[earlthegoat2]

Originally Posted by domeier

Don't worry, it'll buff out.

From the pictures you can see the rocker is gone. Both sides are like that. The box has had filler put straight over the rust and has since cracked out a bit. Floors on both sides are rusted through. I need to locate a couple of old road signs to make new floorboards out of. HA

The frame is solid though as well as the control arms and from the distance I drove it home today the mechanicals seem pretty good. Although it does need front bushings, control arm bushings, and U joints.

[Dingfodgy]

9 benjies ain't too shabby! Especially if it drives. I'd get the steering, brakes and cooling all dialed in and beat this thing like a rented mule! In the meantime I'd be collecting all the parts needed to patch up the rust- then when the time was right, blow the sucka apart get the cosmetics taken care of and maybe a little altitude adjustment and slap it back together for some more beatings.

[earlthegoat2]

Maybe. The thing cools.....maybe too much. Brakes are very high on the list of things to do as well as steering and handling. Probably going to have to change a bunch of bushings and ball joints. I think I can get away with just changing brake shoes and little bleeding. It stops pretty decently as is though. Still will do the work there though.

Now since I have a truck, I have the means to be able to collect a lot of those parts. I may end up just finding a truck I like better that is in better shape and using this one for parts. Maybe not though. Too early to tell. Right now this thing is a worker that has been up the road and around the block a bunch of times so the beatings will continue.

[special-K]

Wuddaya mean? That thing's a piece of crap already. With a little work it can be a clunker! I had a primer grey '72 shortbed with a 250/3spd and I ran all over in it. I loved that truck.

[Longhorn Man]

9 bills for a short fleet that runs and drives let alone road trips 200 miles is a screaming deal in this part of the US.
Rockers are over rated anyways.

[domeier]

I hereby nominate this thread title as bestest ever.

[Shyguy]

Make it safe and drive the heck out of it while gathering parts.

I have always had a beater truck, but last fall my son talked me into tearing my beater apart and making it nice. He likes to have pretty trucks that he doesn't drive, I told him even though my swb stepper will be pretty I still will drive it like a truck.

[Longhorn Man]

I almost forgot... I too, LOVE the title of this thread!

[earlthegoat2]

I cannot take credit for this thread title, unfortunately. It actually comes from an earlier episode of a popular TV show created by Seth MacFarlane. It was in reference to house in a bad state of disrepair.

[black_sheep454]

Originally Posted by earlthegoat2

I cannot take credit for this thread title, unfortunately. It actually comes from an earlier episode of a popular TV show created by Seth MacFarlane. It was in reference to house in a bad state of disrepair.

I know what your talking about. "over"
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[LadyBird]

This thread rules. Drove my piece of **** home from Canyon City back up to North Denver. It was an interesting drive to say the least.

[RenoKeene]

I love junk that runs! Nobody ever pulls out right in front of you!

[earlthegoat2]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

I love junk that runs! Nobody ever pulls out right in front of you!

Oh yeah??

Its like they know you have manual drum brakes when they do it too.

[cleanfreak]

Paid 800 for my 68 , was happy it made it 50 feet to the trailer. 200 miles? no way! ... and took alot , not a little , work to make it a piece o crap , but I like it anyway. Good luck, sounds like a great plan.

[duallyjams]

Yeah I'm looking for a piece of crap also so I can start a clapped out ( slang ) truck thread.

[terry b]

Anyone can drive a new truck. No skill needed just cash. Being able to keep a beater on the road takes work. Good luck with the truck.

[yuccales]

Looks like a good work truck to me, and the price was right! I think ya did good!

[flashed]

I think you did good for $900 ,I'm ashamed to say what Ive got in mine by now .Mine came from North Carolina on a rollback cause I was afraid to drive it that far.But I will give you your money back for it just to have a driver again as mine is in bodyshop jail .

[domeier]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

I love junk that runs! Nobody ever pulls out right in front of you!

When the wife's new Toyota got mangled by morons, we replaced it with a $500 Nissan. It runs, it goes, and we DARE the Mercedes people to smash into us. It's a good feeling to never worry about parking lot rash, and any accident (as long as no one gets hurt,) will bring us a nice check.