burned truck

[xshadow]

I'm looking a a 4x4 truck that caught on fire.
I want to buy it and put my 2wd body on the frame. both trucks are 67-72s
Do you guys think the fire would have messed up the drivetrain. auto trans or transfer case?
The fire was hot enough to burn everyting in the cab, and I mean everything. If it wasn't metal it isn't there anymore. It warped the dash and headliner area.

It also melted everything under the hood that wasn't metal. It even started to melt the carb. Some of the plastic is still on the battery and cables but I would say less than 1/2 is still there. The crome valve covers still look crome and the block still has orange paint on it.
The plastic hubs to lock it into 4wd wasn't harmed at all. The fire burned one rear tire but not the rim, and didn't burn any paint on the lower 1/4 of the truck.
the cab floor is rusted...well there is no cab floor on 1/2 the truck just a BIG hole, It has sit for a while with no paint or windows.
I have a good 2wd body & engine, on the most part everything on the 2wd 3/4 ton is good. I just really would prefer a 4x4.
I figure swap the body and engine. Steering post, Put new rubber break lines that are near the wheels? What do you guys think? DO you suspect the drive train and frame survived the fire.
I really really don't think the engine would have.

[mvfd70]

I would say if it got that hot that it heated all the drivetrain parts. The question would be how hot they got. How hot did the fluids get. I don't really know much about transmissions but if it's got any plastic parts they're probably melted. I'm not saying the frame and drive train are trashed but I'd really look over it good. At the VERY least check inside and make sure the fluids didn't overheat and mess up inside parts.

[xshadow]

It looks like the truck got pretty hot.
I'm hoping that considering the paint is still on the lower half or 1/4 of the truck. The tires didn't melt, plastic hubs and shocks still look good. And heat rises... I'm hoping that the tranny and transfer case is still good. I have an extra tranny if all else fails, I know the tranny is awfully close to the cab. and the only thing left of the seat are springs. not even any carpet left.

[Aarons72s]

Sorry some one had to say it. But pics would help in giving a recomendation.

[mvfd70]

Yeah without seeing pics at least it'd be hard to say for sure. But some heat does not necessarily ruin a chassis. I'm sure all the bushings and anything else plastic, rubber or soft would need replaced.

[xshadow]

I'm hoping that the only bushings or plastic that is destroyed are the cab mounts. I'm hoping the chassis didn't get that hot... it wasn't an engine fire..It started near the rear of the truck. The fenders don't look that bad one still has all of the paint the other is about 1/2 left. And the outer grill still looks good the plastic is melted, but still somewhat there. Marker lights are there and not melted...at least on one side.
I didn't get to look under it except for around the front tires the shocks look as if they didn't get hot.

I have no pics, but you'll have to use your imagination. The bed of the truck doesn't look warped surface rust midway on the bedsides all of the paint is still on the lower half some rust holes. The cab got the worse of it. The only paint left is on the bottom 1/4 of the doors. The cab looks like it got very hot. Nothing plastic or cloth survived in the cab. The inside of the cab is warped no windows. Perhaps the firemen knocked them out. The cab is about as bad as you can picture except the gas tank is in place and didn't explode. There is only metal left in the cab, and no good metal. The entire hood is only surface rust one fender has all of the paint on it one only has paint on lower 1/2. Marker lights didn’t melt. The carb started to melt. I guess because of the gas in it...but the valve covers look like they were not in a fire and there is paint on lower engine. It melted all of the plastic under the hood but the plastic is still intact and you can recognize it. One rear tire burned on upper half good rims with no signs of damage. Do you think it will be worth my 100.00 bucks..Worth swaping everything....I'm not interested in a 3/4 2wd lwb and that’s what I have. I want a 4x4 or at least a 1/2 ton...The only thing I want it for is the chassis and drive Train. I know I could get my money back in scrap metal but I don't want to tow it more than I have to.

[truckdude239]

100 Buxs I'd Go For It The Motor Will Probley Be Fine Internally Onlything In The Motor Would Be The Valve Seals And Vavle Cover Gaskets And Oil Pan

[mvfd70]

Sounds like, from your description, that it didn't get too hot in major areas. And if you're only gonna pay $100, like you said, you could get it back in scrap (ALMOST)

[ChevLoRay]

Smell the transmission fluid. If it got hot enough, it should have an odor and/or look burnt. Don't know if this is a sure-fire answer, but from what you said about it, it's just another on your list to check out.

[1969k10stepside]

It's well worth the money.I would suspect some bad seals in the transfer case or tranny though.I think the chassis is alright.Just clean the rust off.Replace the seals in the t-case and tranny.I would think the one seal that would be bad would be the one in between the tranny and adapter for the t-case.You might change the seals in the rear axle to be safe too and the front axle if it was near the fire

[xshadow]

Okay guys. It wasn't mine when i posted but i did buy it. I think i got a great deal... I'll post some of the things that came with it. I picked it up for 50 bucks for all of his parts and the truck. the body is pretty much shot. I do like the set of steel rally rims w/caps that were on the truck in good shape.

[xshadow]

It came with six or seven boxes full of parts. nothing tooo exciting on the parts but they were almost all new old stock most never opened. I'll try not to bore you but...here are some of the things in the boxes...two gmc items that i have no need for..a headlight bezel and a set of hubcaps but the other stuff will come in handy..it's nice that there just about all new.. one new door handle and one used one that looks nearly new. New heater & ac control assembly. a couple fan switches. Different bolt kits..(bed, cab,&other bolts) a couple new starter solenoids and a rebuld kit. new under hood light kit. new cargo light kit. new power atenna. new spare tire kit with gm instructions. temperature switches. seals. relays? new ashtray a few new air filters, fuel filter . Ignition switch with key, tie rod ends.. trans filter and gasket. carb rebuild kit. tie rod ends.. a bunch of new break calipers and rebuild kits for calipers, new break springs. trans filter and gasket. a set of air shocks that more than likely not work on the truck. that is just a few things i remember off the top of my head. but no big items. a heck of a deal...I'm pretty happy about it.

[shifty]

something to understand if not already mentioned is this:

you heat up steel, it changes the material. it no longer retains the general strength it once had, and will shear or break more easily after heating up.

be careful.

[xshadow]

Yeah, but i don't think the heat will be a problem. I dont think the chassis got that hot. the shocks look unharmed just as they would look on any truck. The cab mounts didn't melt at all. the electric fan only melted at the very top. the rubber break lines going to the wheels didn't melt. the battery only melted somewhat. the engine belt is still intact for the power steering (not the alternator belt it melted.) the power stearing pump looks good the raidiator hose isn't good but it's still there. the outer grill is good and the top of the inner melted...not the lower half. only one rear tire burned at the top. the rest are still good.. radiator support rubber not melted. most of the marker lights are still good. we started to take it apart and some of the bolts wouldn't come loose with an air impact. even had a hard time with a air hammer and chisel.

if it didn't hurt the steering pump or belt, cab mounts or shocks i don't think it weakend the steel.

[xshadow]

forgot to add that the transmission fluid doesn't smell burnt. just smells like tranny fluid.

[68GMC454]

sounds like you got a great deal..good luck with it..

[72armyswbtruck]

Sounds like you really stole the truck and all those parts. Man nice grab, just ensure that when you do the swap that you replace all the seals oh yeah and probably the speed servo.

[brak]

SWEET!

Can't wait for the pics

[xshadow]

I'm cheap I don't own a dig. camera.....It would cost me more than the whole truck. Maybe I can get some low quiality pics of it with my phone. I took some with a 35mm camera. I've owed the truck for two days now. working on it after work in the yard i've gotten the cab unbolted the bed off and the front clip ready to take off. I also have someone lined up to haul the body off. It's not at my house, but in the county we live in your not allowed to have any cars/trucks that you don't have registered. you have to have license plates, county sticker... insurance... They will fine you or take you to court. I can't get the people in troube and loose a place to work on my stuff so I have to jump right in and get rid of what looks like a truck. I already have two there that we can get in trouble for but they don't look as bad.

[see ten]

Sounds like you have a bona fide project on your hands! Looking forward to seeing the pics. As far as the county is concerned, around here if they aren't registered they have to be out of the publics view. Most people aren't aware that all they have to do is cover the car (completely) and they are legit. Of course things may be different there but around here that's the loophole.

[xshadow]

I'll have to check into that. I know they will even get you if it's behind a wooden fence. They say that it can be seen from the sky. If the police see it with a helicopter. The people who own the house doesn't want to take any chances because once you get cought they kind of keep an eye on you. I wish i didn't feel rushed and had a little more money so I could do the project better.

[ChevLoRay]

Where I live, the gendarmes will get a call on someone, then make them their pet project. One of my brothers made it onto their radar, and now he can't have anything to work/play on. He gave my oldest son a good car, because it had a flat and he didn't have it currently licensed. Two drivers--three vehicles. A lady had a car she was saving for her military son---covered up. They didn't like that, either. Yet, driving around town, you can find vehicles that are not properly licensed, driving around town, with obvious damage that makes an inspection moot. Oh, we don't have inspections, anymore. So, as long as the junk will run, drive it. Just don't park it and try to work on it.

[xshadow]

chevloray..thats how it is here if they get you once you become there pet project and I don't want to get into that situation. I would prefer to just get rid of the body asap. Even if i have to cut corners.