Rust-Free sheet metal?

[TobyArnot]

A while back, I started a thread about this and mentioned my long-range plan to find a cab.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=494133
.
I am going to SoCal at the end of this month to try to work out some details. I would still like to make this work. My question is this. In light of the tough econonic times, is there enough REAL demand ($$$$) for good, clean sheet metal on the East Coast??? Give me your thoughts, please. I'm retired and very capable of doing the hauling myself. I have a location in Charlotte, N.C. to off-load and store parts, but this will require a fairly substantial investment. I'm not looking to get rich, but I will need to do better than just break-even. I don't have a specific list of needs, but I do know that we Eastcoaster need some decent metal on occasion.

[fine69]

Its not hardly feasible in the current market.

Tried it.

Guys want too much cab for what they want to pay. Which is what we all want.
I spent a couple years doing this. I still have 4 cabs that came from Arizona i cant sell.
Even if you pay $250 a piece for cabs that are decent. Hauling 4 cabs you need a minimum of 18 feet of trailer space to fit them(no steering columns or heater boxes installed).
Add the cost of fuel both ways. What type of mpg do you get? Its 2400 miles each way for you. Plus hotel/motel expenses and food. And you better have a big block or a diesel truck. Do an quick estimate on fuel before you go. Then calculate the fact that fuel in California is like 50-80 cents more than we pay. And that fuel prices vary in Arizona and New Mexico as well. So you can add couple hundred more than initially thought.
Then you have to take time to take TONS of pics when you unload them after you get back. And hope you can sell them. They wont sell super quick. Guys have to come up with money.

I don't want to burst your bubble at all. But i am sure you wanted honest input. I have it.
You will have tons of guys jump on this thread and swear that they will buy your stuff. I know. It happened to me. Then stuff happens in life and they never get back to you.
Everyone has this vision of millions of rot free trucks sitting lonely out West cheap. There are trucks. But when you calculate the cost to bring them back it can be astronomical. And the cost to purchase them can be expensive as well.
Only to sit on them for quite some time waiting to recoup your money.

Its fun to go out there for sure. Try it one time if you can afford it. But drive out there expecting to have a good time. Hope to make some money when you get back.

If you can get the guys interested in stuff to ACTUALLY come look at it you will sell it. But pics seldom do justice to your parts. Every time i had someone come look at a cab i sold one. And they were happy as a pig in crap.

If you want anymore thoughts call me.

937-408-1404
Mike

[fine69]

Moved this to the message board from the parts board.

[fine69]

ttt

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by fine69

You will have tons of guys jump on this thread and swear that they will buy your stuff. I know. It happened to me. Then stuff happens in life and they never get back to you.

^^^ This.

I live here in rust free So Cal, and the best advice I have is to buy the cleanest complete truck you can afford for yourself. Instead of investing a bunch of money and "hoping" to make a profit reselling cabs, doors, etc. get what YOU want and you will be happy. Do your homework and search the local C/L ads here in Los Angeles, Inland Empire, San Diego, and Palm Springs. You also have a HUGE advantage if your state does not care about lost titles, registration, etc. I have bought trucks dirt cheap because of registration back fees and lost titles.

[67swb72klb]

there is plenty of need out here but there is not many people that want to spend money on these old pos trucks lol
i did it in the 80s-early 90s and did good never had a problem making good money but today is a different day

[Dano69c10]

I live here in SoCal and used to buy cabs in all sort of repair, I'm down to my last three cabs and after that I won't be repairing/selling anymore. I thought I'd get rich selling cabs and sheetmetal to rustbelt guys. Decent cabs are getting harder to find at junkyards. The cabs at junkyards all need some kind of repair (rust/bodywork). After all the work is done and shipping is factored in, I consider myself lucky when I make $20-$60 profit per cab. If I had to travel here from another state, I'm not sure I'd break even.
I remember thinking that all Cali sheetmetal was rust-free sheet metal, but the rust by our beaches is unbelievable and the parts out in the desert that have had their paint burn off from the sun, have the nice brown rust color.
I would take LeddZepp's advice and try to buy the cleanest truck out here and drive it home.
For me, selling rust free Cali sheetmetal doesn't make me a decent profit and it won't until people stop wanting original rust free parts for less than 1/4 the cost of new repro's. The only reason I keep selling the stuff, when I come across it, is the satisfaction of knowing it doesn't go to the shredder monster.
I would say to anyone who wants to sells cabs, do your research and look what cabs sell for and determine what you are going to do to make decent profits. In my experience, I haven't seen one sell for more than $500 bucks on this website.
Dano

[fine69]

Originally Posted by Dano69c10

I live here in SoCal and used to buy cabs in all sort of repair, I'm down to my last three cabs and after that I won't be repairing/selling anymore. I thought I'd get rich selling cabs and sheetmetal to rustbelt guys. Decent cabs are getting harder to find at junkyards. The cabs at junkyards all need some kind of repair (rust/bodywork). After all the work is done and shipping is factored in, I consider myself lucky when I make $20-$60 profit per cab. If I had to travel here from another state, I'm not sure I'd break even.
I remember thinking that all Cali sheetmetal was rust-free sheet metal, but the rust by our beaches is unbelievable and the parts out in the desert that have had their paint burn off from the sun, have the nice brown rust color.
I would take LeddZepp's advice and try to buy the cleanest truck out here and drive it home.
For me, selling rust free Cali sheetmetal doesn't make me a decent profit and it won't until people stop wanting original rust free parts for less than 1/4 the cost of new repro's. The only reason I keep selling the stuff, when I come across it, is the satisfaction of knowing it doesn't go to the shredder monster.
I would say to anyone who wants to sells cabs, do your research and look what cabs sell for and determine what you are going to do to make decent profits. In my experience, I haven't seen one sell for more than $500 bucks on this website.
Dano

Great advice. I have sold several from this board in the $1500-$1800 range. But they were SWEET. BUT, i paid a premium price for them also.
Like i said. You cant just go to Cali and stumble across them. They are out there. But normally if the guys know your from out of state taking them back to sell on the East coast they tend to want more for them as well.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Also, to me, one of the hardest things is to get hooked up to those who want to sell cabs, parts, etc. You may find yourself driving all over the place and how about the ones that are just too hard to deal with and you end up with nothing.

I buy whole cars and parts around my area and once you set up a time with someone and drive out there, there is only about a 50-50 chance that you will end up with it.

If you could get hooked up with someone that has a lot of parts in one place and you kind of make a "pre-deal", that would make a big difference.

Bill

[TobyArnot]

All-right everyone. Great responses. I've been real busy and have just let this stew. Mike, I've been doing the number crunching along the lines you suggested and I'm still not "over to top" commited to doing this. I do have some concerns about the feedback. I'll PM you in the next few days. Do you still have a decent cab w/ doors in Ohio?