![]() |
Register or Log In To remove these advertisements. |
|
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#1 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 321
|
What are you looking at when buying truck?
I have looked at a couple of truck over a year period now. I was wondering what are some of the things you guys try to check out when buy a used truck? Do you take a magnet and go over the truck to check for bondo? Get under it to look for bent frame rails?
Found on today in my venture to find a short bed and the price is check at I think at 2k. What should i be looking for when i go to check it out? I know i will get vin to run through DMV for back fees! It is an original short bed. http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...blacktruck.jpg http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...lacktruck2.jpg thanks for your opinions! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 2,272
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Looks more like a parts truck from the pictures but you have to start somewhere. The truck looks to be a 67 with a big window cab. I look for a clean cab, no rust through. A good title with no back fees of course and hopefully already on non op with DMV. It is nice for the truck to already have disc brakes and hopefully the bed is in good condition. The front end sheet metal is cheap and easy to find. I am always a little bit scared with trucks in primer if I am going to build them as primer is great for hiding problem areas and does not like being left out in the rain. When you lok at the truck check around the windshield for rust, check in the cowl area for rust, look at the top of the roof for problems, crawl under the truck and look at the bottom of the cab for rust and any prior attemps at rust repair. I like to buy trucks that have old original paint or a old paint job if loking at a project. I guess the last thing I can day is buy the best truck you can afford and it will be cheaper in the long run, time and money wise.
Last edited by extd56; 04-15-2010 at 09:50 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
for 2K i wouldnt spend the gas to drive there and look at it// it appears to b more of a $500 start to a project
__________________
71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 299
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Keep looking, found my truck on CL for not much more than that and I drove it home!
__________________
1972 GMC Sierra LWB (Aquafresh) 1962 Cadillac Convertible 1962 Cadillac Sedan project |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Account Suspended
![]() Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 254
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Have to remember guys he's in Cali not the midwest or FL. Trucks are cheaper here as we bought more in these parts. But I have to agree the Price does seem high.
I would keep an eye on the local market valve, when under it look for thinks like rattle can spray coating or bed lining material. it covers a lot of hidden dangers. Rust around the windsheild and around the wiper motors under the cowl. If you are not happy with the bed MOVE ON or your will end up buy 3 more trucks trying to get the pieces to be happy with the bed. It all depends on what you want the truck to be when your done. if your going to cut it up then you have less to worry about. if you are going to restore it hold out for a better truck or considering driving a few 100 miles from home to find a better start. Just my 2 cents from someone that got a free one from family and it has turned into I could have bought 3 trucks for what this one will cost me in time to repair. ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 | |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tucson
Posts: 2,183
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Quote:
Just remember...every truck has a 4.10 posi rear and every 350 is a 4 bolt main block that was just rebuilt so do your homework, know where the numbers on block, trans and rear end are cast or stamped and know what they mean... The mechanicals never mattered much to me because I usually fix, rebuild or replace a lot of stuff, just do not plan on getting something that will be reliable unless you helped the current owner fix it!. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 321
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Thanks for all the replies guys!
I keep on going back and forth between spending 5 to 6k for a short bed and spend about 2k on long bed and shortening it. Here are some examples http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/1693505408.html The one above would be about a 8 hour drive for me I have check with DMV and appears the fees on the truck are not very substantial. http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/1692228145.html |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Grandpa in the rustmobile...
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Spokane WA/Viola TN
Posts: 11,422
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
If your not interested in driving/working on it..buy a frame and start from there lol
buy swb roller blast powercoat it all, go disc nice wheels tires, rust free CA or AZ bed, good cab and choose sheetmetal that you like (grille). Good luck!
__________________
John Goose-1968 C10 355,9.32-1CR, Vortec Heads ,262 voodoo, 3.73:1 3OTT (HS ride/beater/farm truck) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317684 Grams 53-1953 Chevrolet Belair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post4327784 1969 Chevy C10 Shortbed 4.5/6?" Frame off resto http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=548136 1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 321
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
I'll keep looking for something drivable or that will not take much to get going. Thanks for all the replies.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Aurora,Il ..born,raised and still live in the same house
Posts: 286
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
best advice i ever got is similar to what everyone is saying.
Buy the best truck you can, preferably one that is already a driver. I bought a 500 dollar 69 chevelle, it needed quarter panels but i said "i can do it" it needed a motor and trans but i said " i can do it".The trunk floor was gone but i would learn how to weld i told myself,needed new interior but i thought "cheap at the boneyard" After about a year and a half all i had in it was a used 350 for all my trouble. Had i save up a couple of grand back then (1992) i could have gotten a decent restorable, runner that i could DRIVE while fixing. I learned a valuable lesson. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: washington
Posts: 274
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
naw thats just motivation couple beers the right tools time flies by lol
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
My Carbon Footprint
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Orygun
Posts: 5,527
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Boy....I'd have to agree with the clown. Looks like there is maybe a few hundred dollars worth of truck there.
To answer your question, sometimes I look at the "seller" harder than I do on the item being sold. Years ago I passed on a cherry Porsche convert because this guy was REALLY selling me. I started to notice non-facotry wiring and other things that started to add up as this guy kept going one. SHould have been one of those cars where you open the garage door and say nothing. Started thinking it might have been a stolen recovery so I walked. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: duluth mn
Posts: 108
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
if you spend 2,000 you will get a truck that needs 10,000 in repairs. unless you can do body work and engine rebuilding yourself. also requires a garage to work in and hundreds of hours of free time. not trying to dicourage you, its a great hobby. just be sure you realize what your jumping into.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 321
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
This truck looks like a good place to start, i could drive it and save up for the engine I want at the same time. Only thing that sucks is it is a 8 hour drive to take a look at it,
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/1693505408.html I hope that by posting these trucks on here no one sees it and buys it before i get the chance. I have emailed the owner and asked for additional photos. Wonder as for price what I could get hi down to? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Cornelius Oregon
Posts: 1,073
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Take a close look at the Firewall on the top outer parts in the back for rust. Look up under the dash and look for sunlite through the vent plenum. If you have hole, RUN. A lot of times these old trucks have 40 some odd years of leaves and mud that have rusted out the bottom of the vent plenum and the firewall along with the floor boards and so on. If you look at the windshield there is a slotted panel where all that 40 years of stuff falls into. Other than that I would look at the inside roker panels and the cab supports. Is the bottom of the bed in tact because the replacement panels are spendy. Look at the lower parts of the front fenders and the passenger lower cup on the fender along with the Core Support on the passenger side for rust. All these panels are repairable and you can replace them given the right tools and time. If your looking for a driver imediately then you might want to pass this one up. Is it near the coast? I have seen a lot of trucks up here in Oregon that are rust buckets just because of the salt air near the coast. Good luck on your search for a truck. Just for reference I bought a similar truck for $600 that needed a complete restoration.
JRBECK64 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
C-10 Club Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Corona,CA
Posts: 1,001
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Quote:
I had to drive to Utah to find something worth working on for a fair price. I spent just a tad more than that but got a really sound truck. Like others have said imho its better to find a truck for 6K where the previous owner invested 12K and now needs to move on. You could easily spend more than that on the first basket case and not be at the same level. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SOMERSET KY.
Posts: 6,427
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Quote:
![]()
__________________
junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. ![]() LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST Last edited by LONGHAIR; 04-18-2010 at 07:59 AM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 142
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Maybe an idea, if you are really serious, is to get ahold of detailed photos of a truck in good shape. Compare these photos with the truck in question, like the placement of the shock mounts, motor mounts, etc. Sometimes, 40 years of creative engineering can move these things around. There shouldn't be any extra welding on the frame, and you shouldn't see any fresh, shiny metal anywhere (this might indicate parts rubbing where they shouldn't). My truck has a cool dent in the cab behind the driver's side seat under the window. The only thing that could have cause that is being in a very violent crash. I have since found more damage that indicates it was hit in an off-set driver's side head-on, or a pole. Take a small hammer and tap some of the panels. I found out my passenger side rocker is fiberglass. Nice job, but a little fragile. Look for indication of leaks around the windows. Difficult to fix if you aren't an experienced welder or window puter-iner. The electrics should be replaced, so if you are going to do a resto, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Also, one of the most expensive parts is the bed, so make sure it is in good shape.
Most importantly, get the style you want. It is a major job to turn a long bed into a short bed. I ran into a 67 Firebird in an abandoned lot a couple years ago. It was complete, but had been sitting a loooong time. Factory AC, and the body was coated with bird poo, protecting the paint. I started researching what it would cost to build it, and quit counting the $$ signs at about $12K. The longer they sit the more soft stuff they need. I bought my kid a 95 Chrysler Concorde with 55K miles for $1500. Seemed like a great deal. Problem is, it sat for about 6 years, being driven around the block once every 6 months. I had to replace most of the hoses and the plug wires. I found out they needed to be replaced using the "accidental electrocution" method. The tires were the second set, put on in '97. And the tranny leaked (and still does) from one of the cooling hoses. Possibly main seal leak, cv joint has dry rotted, radiator is corroded, and there is a strange smell inside. Probably would have been better if it was a 155K miler! My point is that if the PO/seller drives the truck it is probably in better shape than one that has sat for years.
__________________
www.coolmoodart.com |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 | |
just can't cover up my redneck
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbus OH
Posts: 11,414
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Not so, I have seen a lot of trucks with damage to the back of the cab and/or front of the bed from "shifting cargo". All it takes is something heavy, like an engine, that is loaded too far back in the bed.....and a quick application of the brakes.
__________________
You can review the site's rules here. Quote:
Bad planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an instant emergency on my part.... The great thing about being a pessimist is that you are either pleasantly surprised or right. ![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 142
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Yeah, I've seen that too. Unfortunately, it is bent outward from the inside, and it has a nice twist, torsion forces at work, with a kink if the middle and a nice tear in the kink. The outside is twisted, too, but not as bad. Window is still tight, luckily.
__________________
www.coolmoodart.com |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#21 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
|
Re: What are you looking at when buying truck?
Whoa! I don`t know if the sller would appreciate that!
I`d go for the $6,000 truck.
__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 04-18-2010 at 10:46 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|