HELP!! Newbie looking for KNOWLEDGE! what to buy?!

[01chevduramax]

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/1194374179.html

So ya the wife and I have been going back and fourth. Its over our budget but it looks like this guy might need to sell this ASAP. The holy grail of trucks I mentioned before?? HERE IT IS!! This is the one. This thing doesn't need anything at all. I'm like a kid at christmas over here.... What do you guys think for a price on this?? $14,800 is high Gold book, and between average and high with NADA. If I could get this truck for $11,000 to $12,500 I think I would do it. give me some input!

[special-K]

I`d buy it.I don`t care what those books say.They weren`t pricing the old stuff until recently,so I don`t consider them an authority.
If it`s as good as it appears I`d say around $10,000 is good.To me,it`s $8500 because it`s just a base truck and I`m sure some bodywork was done for where all the apparatus was mounted.Maybe as much as $12,000,but that`s up to you.I just think the guy`s hopes are a bit high.It`s had some freshening up,but it`s just the original drivetrain.I think that`s great.Just sayin`...

[01chevduramax]

See now thats the HELP I was asking for!! I appreciate your advice on this. The guy said that it was the cheif's truck. It never had any lights or any kind of equipment installed except for a tool box. I've never heard of a HO72 rear end either. How does that compare to a DANA 60?? So you think even with the low miles $10,000 is what she's worth?

[msgross]

It would cost you $12K+ to build that truck depending on the paint condition. Looks nice but pretty low option ride I bet...

[01chevduramax]

So the truth comes out on the not so HOLY GRAIL... It had lights and sirens on top, the holes are still there. He says they are seled up. (probably with silicone??) And the spotlights he mentions are actual "through the cab" spotlights. I was thinking fog lights... The interior looks real clean, under the hood looks pretty decent. All in all I'm not as impressed as I was 2 hours ago. I think the search continues..

[msgross]

too bad.. could have been a nice truck if they hadn't done the hole on top... want to see what happens when they "seal" it up?

Check out my roof replacement... Look at page #3

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=332409

[01chevduramax]

Ya thats for sure... Plus the dual cop style spot lights are a downer also. You definately did an awesome job on that roof though! Hopefully when I find the right truck I won't have to try anything like that. I can't even imagine what my wife would say if she saw me cutting the roof off my truck with the sawzall...

[special-K]

The HO72 is the C/30 rear and the HO52 is the c/K 20 rear.In a single wheel it would all be the same except the brakes and bearings.I`m sure it`s a HO52.They were/are great rears used from the`40s till`72,when the 14-bolt replaced it.It`s as strong but lighter and less bulky than the 14-bolt.
I bet the guy got it for at least 1/2 that then did some nice stuff.But,he`s getting every penny and then some at $14K+.You`ll find the rif=ght one.It seems alot are for sale at decent prices these days.It can take a little while,though.

[01chevduramax]

In any case I've got Dana 60s at my shop that I would most likely be using... The low original mileage on this truck is what got me so interested. Looking closer and talking to you guys I'm not that interested at all. I'm still going tomorrow to look at the orange/white K20 from craigslist. Its 1/3 the price... and 1/2 as nice

[01chevduramax]

So... I gave a guy in Washington an offer today. Not the original white/orange truck I looked at. This is a different one. The other one was junk. I found a real nice orange/white long bed 3/4 ton on craigslist this weekend also. http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/1198330076.html

I offered $9,000 cash for the truck without those hideous 20s and toyos... He didn't seem too thrilled. I figure I'd go as much as maybe $11,000 for it?? he said he would wait a few more days and let me know. What do you guys think of it?? Do you think I low-balled him? or was it about right?? let me know! thanks!

[Burt4x4]

I personally think the guy is in love with his creation and is asking to get out of it what he put into it...we all know you allways spend way more building than you can get selling.
Thoes weels look like pooop on that truck totaly out place...
I would want to see it first..
.02c
Good Luck

[01chevduramax]

When I looked at it, it WAS obvious he was in love with the truck. I have no idea why he would sell it... He had 4 other muscle cars, and a beautiful house on some land. and said everything is paid for... either a BSer or the wife is making him. anyways the truck was immaculate. I'm not super good at finding bondo but I looked in all the usual places and it was really solid. Its got a spray in bedliner though. I told him that knocks it down to $10 with the wheels and tires which he said cost $3100 and I believe him. I figured $9 cash was fair. He said he wants at least $12 and leave the wheels and tires on. we'll see what happens but I'll bet he can sell it to some guy in downtown portland who loves ghetto rims on EVERYTHING... as for now this is the first offer I've made somebody. I won't cry if he sells it because of that bedliner, but I'd like to get it from him.

[Burt4x4]

Cool, sounds like you're on the right path.

[01chevduramax]

So I'm going back up to look at this truck again. My wife gave me the green light on it at $9,000. A friend of my dad's is coming with me to look at it also. He's got a trailer, and a set of wheels/tires that will fit on it. He knows quite a bit about older cars but not this year of trucks in particular. I'm sure this question is already answered on here someplace but I couldn't find it. I'd like to know where the VIN numbers are on these trucks. I know where some are, but not all. If somebody could just post all that info, that would be awesome. the odometer shows 78,000 but he can't prove it hasn't rolled over. Not a huge deal but makes difference on the offer. we'll see how it goes but I'm bringing cash.

PS he seemed offended when I told him the wheels and tires had to stay with him. He kept trying to work them back in the deal. I was like DUDE those 20's dont look good on there!! haha it was funny!

[msgross]

ad is gone.. is it for sale still?

look for the VIN on the frame over the driver side wheel on the top (flat) piece of the frame. It should be just rear of the power steering box and it will only have the SN (end of the VIN), not the whole VIN.

[dinotruck68]

To find bondo all you need is a small magnet if it doesnt stick or you can feel the magnet lose grip then there something other than metal. the ho52 is a good strong axle the rear d60 iv heard are somewhat weaker than a 14bolt and the 52.Smaller ring gear?
Hope you find what your lookin for .

[01chevduramax]

So its been a while since I've been on here... Works been busy which is good, but truck shopping has been slow. I went to look at the last truck I posted about. We had made some plans over the phone to sell the truck without the ugly wheels and tires. When I got there he was dead against it, and said anything less than $12,000 wouldn't even be considered. I asked if he was the same guy I talked to... Anyways the trailer got towed back home and I was pretty dissappointed. I've seen 2 others I sort of liked since then. Does anyone have any other advice to give me?? I still feel nervous about buying a truck. Like I should know more...
I guess I should just keep looking through the forums.

[onlyifihadachevy]

Buy what you what and try and buy something cheap and build what you want like me, but something that you look at before because i just bought a rust bucket but its for off road only.I still feel like i was ripped but i don't care because everything i do i will appecaite more, people say "that i wouldn't have bought it,i would have bought something nicer" but they may never have the appecaition for it as i do.