SWB or LWB?

[C10_ustacould]

Okay, I am new to the site and so far I am stoked with all of the information. I have wanted a '70 (my birth year) swb fleetside for about 6 or 8 years and I am finally going to get serious about buying one! The problem I have is the availability of '70 swb trucks in my area, like most places when you find one they want an arm and a leg for it. I have a line on two trucks... the first is a '70 swb on a 74-87 frame with no engine or trans for $1000. I would have to drive about 5 hours to pick it up. The other is a '71 lwb that is a driver, 350/350, on the original frame and the guy is asking $3000. It is about a hour away. I read the thread on shortening the frame and I think I could definitely pull it off, but then I would have to do all of the upgrades to the suspension and brakes. With the '70 the brakes and 5 lugs are already there, I'd just have to do the drop (4/6 I think). Based on this ramble what advise would you all offer? Thanks in advance, I look forward to getting to know you guys!

Buck

[Chevy350V8]

Oh no, SWB vs LWB again lol, I would say what ever your using the truck for. It would benefit you more if you want a resto project to get a SWB and if you need a work truck a LWB. Im not saying SWB cant be work trucks im just saying that LWB would be better because more room.

[bosco200]

First off welcome to forum....I like the long beds more sooo I say go with the long bed.

[C10_ustacould]

This will be a cruising truck, I guess resto-mod is the current tag. I just call them Hot Rods. What ever I get will end up being a swb, I just don't know if I want to sacrifice the year ('70) for the convenience or complete-ness of the '71 long bed.

[70cst]

Hey BucksSS ... and from Ohio. If you are sold on wanting a SWB I would hold off until you find the "right" swb for you. Patience is the key. I have a LWB and I like it but SWB trucks are too. Good Luck!

[cdowns]

i see swb in the daytona beach and orlando craigslist on a regular basis// for $3000 for a longbed that you're going to hack an wack to make a shottie you'd b better off spanding the $5000 that nice driver shortties are going for every day

[special-K]

When I want a longbed I look for a longbed. When I want a shortbed I look a little harder. They're out there.

[71sierragrande]

If you want a short bed, buy a shortbed. If you want a long bed, buy a longbed. Every time you buy something that needs to be hauled, you will regret cutting the bed. If youre not gonna haul anything in it, what are you getting a truck for? And welcome to the board, I hope I didnt come off too harsh, I like to play with the rodders on this site. I say keep a longbed a longbed, dont lower it and dont take away its "truckness". If you want a rod, get a rod, theyre all over the place too.

[96blazr]

Originally Posted by BucksSS

The problem I have is the availability of '70 swb trucks in my area, like most places when you find one they want an arm and a leg for it.

Hi Buck and welcome. Well, first off; what's your version of "an Arm and a Leg"?, cause by what I'm reading the first one sounds like a total Hack Job and not worth a grand. Seriously, Make a WIDE pass on that one.
And the LWB is exactly what it is. I like LWB's myself, but I chose a 1968 SWB cause that's what I've always wanted. So if a 1970 SWB is what you've always wanted then keep looking. DO NOT jump at a "Cheap Chance" to buy something, I Guarantee, you'll regret down the road. By the way, don't cut up a perfectly good LWB, just to make a SWB. I've seen more people mess that up and it's painfully obvious when it's not done right. Besides, a lowered, not slammed, LWB looks real nice too.

I looked for over a year before I bought mine and I bought it in Illinois!! I then had it shipped to VA. Why? Cause it's was, and is, the perfect Truck FOR ME.
Keep searching, keep looking, you will not regret spending more time looking. It also gives you the time to save more money so, if need be, you can have it shipped to you or you can afford a nicer truck instead of getting someones "project".

But like the old saying goes: You can lead a Horse to water, just can't make'em drink. You can lead a man to knowledge, just can't make him think.

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the site. I suggest you have patience and buy what you want the first time. And ignore the trolls that think a truck isn't a truck unless it fits "their" version of a truck.

[71sierragrande]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Welcome to the site. I suggest you have patience and buy what you want the first time. And ignore the trolls that think a truck isn't a truck unless it fits "their" version of a truck.

By all means, ignore the trolls.

[C10_ustacould]

Looks like I picked a favorite and often revisited subject for my first post, Ha! All good advise and I am considering all of it. My plan is to have a truck that I can take to a cruise-in one night and throw our BMX bikes in the back and go to the track the next day. I don't want the truck to lay frame, I just want the wheels/tires to fill the wheel wells. I'm going to use 15x8 front and 15x10 rear rallys. I also like the late 80's/early 90's chevy/gmc bench that has the arm rest recessed in to it. Besides relocating the fuel tank and a good stereo the rest will be factory. I built a '54 chevy 2dr sedan and a '37 ford roadster that were never finished because I didn't have a clear vision and I don't want to make that mistake again. Thanks for the advise guys, I look forward to updating you all on my search and hopefully a purchase in the near future. I did find a stock, 3 owner 70 swb 307/350 about 20 min away, but he says it has some rust and he is asking $5500. That is a little steep for me right now. I'll take a look at it tomorrow and let you know how it worked out.

[71sierragrande]

Sounds good, you'll find on this site that some people are capable of having a debate without childish namecalling, and some people arent. That '70 307/350 does seem a little high, but not if its in good shape. Whatever you do, get the truck you want.

[Shane]

here's one just down the road from ya ... http://okaloosa.craigslist.org/cto/2124389154.html

[96blazr]

Originally Posted by BucksSS

My plan is to have a truck that I can take to a cruise-in one night and throw our BMX bikes in the back and go to the track the next day.

Well, with that said, I think buying something a little rough would be perfect for you and get good bed liner like Rhino or Line-X something.

Originally Posted by BucksSS

I built a '54 chevy 2dr sedan and a '37 ford roadster that were never finished because I didn't have a clear vision and I don't want to make that mistake again. I did find a stock, 3 owner 70 swb 307/350 about 20 min away, but he says it has some rust and he is asking $5500. That is a little steep for me right now. I'll take a look at it tomorrow and let you know how it worked out.

A 3-owner 70 SWB for $5500 is steep!? If it's got serious Rust I can see getting his price down to 3 or 4, but if it's got Upper Cab rust or frame rust or any place vital, then pass. But if $5500 is steep......then.......well......Never mind.

[MattyBs71]

This is my swb 71. Do you know how long it took me to find it??? Nearly 10 years! I had a lwb 69 in high school and looked and looked. Then you either paid $15 K for a great shorty or $1000 for a basket case. This one I found from a lady getting divorced a few years ago for $5 K. Good things come to those who wait. Don't settle for something you don't love.

[id_unavailable]

Long or short it does not matter. After reading your post about the 54 and 37 find a driver long or short and enjoy it. I ended up buying a driver so that I could enjoy it on the weekends regardless of how ugly it looks.

Keep looking and you will find the "one".

BTW a 37 ford In my mind is the best body style ever made.

[C10_ustacould]

Shane - That is the one I am going to look at tomorrow. I will have to scrape a bit to pull together that kind of money right away. And I'll have to see what "a little rust" is. ha

Matt - your '71 is sweet!

Gary - "steep" is relative. It depends on the rust situation and how much cash I can pull together. I would never say these trucks aren't worth good money, it about the I have to climb to get there.

[71sierragrande]

Ok, I just looked at that truck. Nice! Offer him $4500, and see what he says. If you come up short, I will help you out. Better get there quick!

[C10_ustacould]

Thanks, I'm about $4500 short! Can I get it in cash? LOL

Here is another truck that is near by, about 6 hours away, I may have to go take a look. http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/2133251172.html

[fun in dirt]

You could expand your options & also look for a '71 or '72 (which has the disc brakes already) and just put a '70 grill in it.

[71sierragrande]

No, if youre that short, then why are you going to look at it?

[id_unavailable]

a little rust in GA is a missing rocker panel or a bed that is swiss cheese. I looked at a truck once that had a "little rust with good paint". I checked under the battery and i could wiggle the corner back and forth but the paint was pretty.

I ended getting mine from a buddy who bought the truck in cali. He called the first time and said 3500.00. It was a sweet driver. I ended up going against my gut feeling to buy it. 3 month later i get a call and he says "2500". I did not think too much about the deal but it was 300 miles away. I asked can you get it to my house? He then stated hell yes my wife is going to kill me because I just dropped 20k on a finished 66 nova and the garage is full.

I looked around and gave up on finding a truck then one day the truck found me.

[C10_ustacould]

For me it is about the year not the particular style, 1970 is the year I was born . I like all of the 67-72 chevys.

[C10_ustacould]

71 Sierragrande, I was kidding about being $4500 short! I will take your advise on the offer price if the rust is not too bad. The rust i really want to avoid is when the roof/drip rails are swiss cheese. I'll see what the truck looks like tomorrow and go from there.