Should i buy this truck? 72 K10 SWB

[yfs200p]

One of my neighbors has for sale his 72 K10, and ive wanted one of these trucks since i was 13 (now 22). I didnt talk too much to him about it and from the quick 5 minutes i looked at it, i know it needs alot. But i barely ever see any 67-72s around my area, let alone a SWB K10. It probably needs a new cab, the front supports are gone, as well as the rockers and part of the drivers side floor. I figure putting a new cab would be easiest for me since i have zero body work experience. The bed is decent, metal floor with some rot, but i like the looks of the Mar-K wood kits so i would most likely do that. Its a 350 with a 4 speed It ran and drove when parked maybe 2 years ago. Looking at the SPID, it appears that the body on there is from a 2wd truck, so the fact that it might be original is shot already. He is asking $1000, i figure i can probably get it for $700. What do you guys think, am I wasting my time? I'd like to do a frame up on it. Well here are the pics, sorry they suck but the truck is in a weird spot so its hard to take pics.

[N2TRUX]

Looks like a decent deal to me. Hard to tell from the pics, but it does have a lot of rust.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looks like a pretty good deal o me. I would however first look up above the visors for rust unless you are just gonna swap out cabs. If there is rust above the visors it would be a good way to knock some money off the purchase price.

[71swb4x4]

You would be money ahead to buy something for a lot more money with a lot less rust. Maybe look in the SW part of the US and have something shipped. That thing certainly has some rust.
Is the frame a 67-72 frame?

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

You would be money ahead to buy something for a lot more money with a lot less rust. Maybe look in the SW part of the US and have something shipped. That thing certainly has some rust.
Is the frame a 67-72 frame?

I agree on this..if your wanting a really nice truck and going to do a frame off you would be money ahead to spend more on something in better shape and original. Now if your wanting something to just kick around in and have some fun with that truck would be a Great start!

[msgross]

less than a grand wouldn't be bad... find a better cab for $500+ and make it a fun driver... unless the frame has rot, then I wouldn't touch it...

[Ronnny]

Like said rust above the visor is a little hard to fix. but if it will drive home i would give the 700 or 800 for it. Buy a cheap flux core mig welder used for less than a hundred bucks and a cut off wheel to go in your 4 1/2" grinder and learn to do a little work on it. If you are tired of it in a few months just sell it to get your money back. Just only take apart a little at the time and not the whole truck. People do not like buying trucks that are in pieces. Hard to go wrong with it if it runs and you keep it running.

[yfs200p]

Originally Posted by msgross

less than a grand wouldn't be bad... find a better cab for $500+ and make it a fun driver... unless the frame has rot, then I wouldn't touch it...

This is what i was thinking.
Like i said, I didn't get a chance to give it a real good look-thru. I was only thinking of going this route because i don't have the $4K+ cash in the bank to lay out for something that doesn't need as much work, i was going to try and chip away at this truck. I just landed a job with a good salary so i could have the $$ if i saved long enough, but i kinda wanted a winter project to keep me busy. I suppose i'll have to go back and give it a closer look to figure out whether its worth my time. Because if it needs a cab, and the frame has rot too, then it might just be better to buy something thats in better shape. I definitely want a 4x4 though and thats why this one had my wheels turning. Thanks for the input guys, and anyone else feel free to chime in...

[msgross]

SWB 4x4's are worth the money if the frame is decent... If the engine runs then i'd take it...

[Gary 70 Jimmy]

If the frame and bed are good it is werth more then $1000 you can find all the other parts and to do a frame off you have to start with the frame 4X4 SWB is very hard to find. Looking at the pictures it lookes better then the one I sold for $1500.

[82swampthing]

for a northern 4x4 truck its pretty nice.for $700-800 i'd scoop that thing up all day long.

[D.PASSMORE]

Again, if frame is good and have a matching numbers title - title/vin plate / frame. It worth $700 Ben Franklins. Now the down side: It will probaly take you two to three years to get it back on the road - restored. It takes alot of weeknights, weekends, holidays. You will be chasing parts - all over the place and spending more money than you will imagine. But, the up side: Its like having a new member of the family .

SWB 4x4 are the hardest of these to come by... Hmm? where in New York?

[Gary 70 Jimmy]

Originally Posted by D.PASSMORE

Again, if frame is good and have a matching numbers title - title/vin plate / frame. It worth $700 Ben Franklins. Now the down side: It will probaly take you two to three years to get it back on the road - restored. It takes alot of weeknights, weekends, holidays. You will be chasing parts - all over the place and spending more money than you will imagine. But, the up side: Its like having a new member of the family .

SWB 4x4 are the hardest of these to come by... Hmm? where in New York?

I have all ready checked it is 500 miles from me.

[chevy truck crazy]

For that price id be right on it. I have sold alot worse for alot more. SWB 4x4 getting harder and harder to come by everyday.

[yfs200p]

Originally Posted by Gary 70 Jimmy

I have all ready checked it is 500 miles from me.

You may know the town but i will never give up the address!! haha
I'm going to try and get back there this week and get some frame and other rust pictures. Thanks guys, i kinda figured that "buy it!" was going to be the response from everyone

[yfs200p]

TTT one more question. Are there any areas of the frames on these trucks that are notorious for having rot? The guy said the frame didnt have any rot when he parked it 2 years ago, but obviously that could change. Mostly the entire frame has surface rust, so its hard to tell, but if anyone could let me know of a couple famous spots for having rust, that would be great.

[Hutch]

yfs200p
I do not know about rot but where the steering box mounts to the frame is very prone to cracks that are hard to detect due to dirt and grease buildup

I know that the 67 and 68's were bad about cracking around the mounting bolt holes for the steering box but unsure of the later series.

This can be a major issue with the early 4x4 frames

[71 super]

The cab is off a lwb 2wd so I would check to be sure it is not a cut down lwb 4x4 as well. If it is not $700 is a fair price- disk brakes, swb, np205. Sheet metal is easy to replace relatively speaking. Areas to check are the frame around the shock crossmember and the front spring hangers for the rear end. The 4x4 truck are different than blazers of the same year and are a huge trap for dirt and grim= rust holes. It can be fixed but finding the hangers in good shape can be tough. I would buy it for 700 if it is a true swb frame with vin, title matching , if in really good condition then maybe 8/900 even.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

You would be money ahead to buy something for a lot more money with a lot less rust. Maybe look in the SW part of the US and have something shipped. That thing certainly has some rust.
Is the frame a 67-72 frame?

X 2. Nothing is more demotivating than rust.

[D.PASSMORE]

Originally Posted by 71 super

The cab is off a lwb 2wd so I would check to be sure it is not a cut down lwb 4x4 as well. If it is not $700 is a fair price- disk brakes, swb, np205. Sheet metal is easy to replace relatively speaking. Areas to check are the frame around the shock crossmember and the front spring hangers for the rear end. The 4x4 truck are different than blazers of the same year and are a huge trap for dirt and grim= rust holes. It can be fixed but finding the hangers in good shape can be tough. I would buy it for 700 if it is a true swb frame with vin, title matching , if in really good condition then maybe 8/900 even.

Also, when checking the numbers; see if if the glove box sticker is matched with frame (top rail buy steering box), vin plate and title. Remember 4x4's vin numbers started with a "K" and 2WD started with a "C". Rust on the frame is usually in the rear of the truck, look in the crossmembers under the bed. If it was used for hard work, i.e. off road pulling/snatching or snow plowing. Check for cracks in the frame around the frame rivits. Good luck you might of found a Diamond in the rough...

[yfs200p]

Without checking the numbers, something tells me that it is a SWB 4x4 frame that got a cab swap at some point. I took a really quick look under it, and didnt see any obvious evidence of shortening. Plus the front axle is correct for the truck (Judging by blue hub dials), as well as the tranny (judging by the single bend in the shifter, not dual bend as in 2wd's) Although in my crappy photos you guys cant see that. I will try and get back for some better pics.