Should i buy this for parts?

[lwb66step]

i found this '78 lwb fleet on CL for $695, is it worth the trouble to buy this for the disk brakes / suspension and the 650 edlebrock? canm i use the rear end in my '66 lwb? How hard would it be to switch my 4 speed on the floor to the automatic?

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/cto/2390966587.html

Here is another for $1,000. A little more than I wanted to spend just to tear it apart...

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/cto/2397379489.html

I am really just looking for guidance in swapping out the suspension and brakes, is the '78 year model a good year to use when swapping?

[markeb01]

I think they’re both a little too expensive for my interest. For that price I’d rather find a truck with an engine that isn’t blown up, or suffers from a skip on number 2 - if it’s just going to donate parts. If the engine was blown up, it may have also damaged the transmission. The second one needs a pitman arm and front pads, which could also mean the rotors are shot.

I’d rather buy something that runs and drives well but maybe has a crappy looking or rusty body. I only paid $75 for the entire front half of a 75 C10, but it turned out have gone through a flood. The front crossmember was completely packed with mud and rocks, which also wiped out the spindles and rotors. So my initial bargain price ended up costing twice as much because so many parts had to be replaced. Just make sure all the parts you intend to use are in good shape, the rest doesn’t really matter.

And yes the 78 is an excellent choice for a donor.

[lwb66step]

Originally Posted by markeb01

I think they’re both a little too expensive for my interest. For that price I’d rather find a truck with an engine that isn’t blown up, or suffers from a skip on number 2 - if it’s just going to donate parts. If the engine was blown up, it may have also damaged the transmission. The second one needs a pitman arm and front pads, which could also mean the rotors are shot.

I’d rather buy something that runs and drives well but maybe has a crappy looking or rusty body. I only paid $75 for the entire front half of a 75 C10, but it turned out have gone through a flood. The front crossmember was completely packed with mud and rocks, which also wiped out the spindles and rotors. So my initial bargain price ended up costing twice as much because so many parts had to be replaced. Just make sure all the parts you intend to use are in good shape, the rest doesn’t really matter.

And yes the 78 is an excellent choice for a donor.

Thank you for the input. I agree, for the asking price they have on there i should at least have a good motor in one of them, the trouble is that due to the gas guzzler trade in 71 - 87 chevy pickups are scarce around here, people traded them all in and they were crushed I have been looking for a donor truck around here for almost 4 months with no luck.

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by lwb66step

due to the gas guzzler trade in 71 - 87 chevy pickups are scarce around here, people traded them all in and they were crushed

What a waste of valuable hardware, it's a real shame.

[lwb66step]

really depressing, every junkyard i go to it is the same story, apparently people were pulling them out of junkyards and putting them on trailers for the gov't credit toward a new vehicle....

[Captainfab]

Most any '73-'87 will be a good donor for your truck.

That '78 looks to have a decent body. You might be able to recoup some of yout money sellong parts off of the body. As for the blown engine hurting the trans, it depends on just what the owner means by 'blown' If it thru a rod and seized up the engine, then yes it could have hurt the trans. If it blew a head gasket, or has a bad knock, the trans should still be good.

I would consider offering him $500.00 and see what he says.

[PGSigns]

Buy it and get what you need, sell off what you don't and what is left will be worth a couple of hundred at the scrap yard. You should be able to recoup almost all your investment.
Jimmy

[lwb66step]

I found another roller with no motor or trans but all the body is there for $500...here is the link......

http://mobile.craigslist.org/pts/2408911468.html

He has a lot of good parts so he says...

[newagecustom]

Offer $300. One of my customers says "if you make them an offer and it doesnt look like you kicked him in the nuts you offered too much!" Haha

[lwb66step]

Originally Posted by newagecustom

Offer $300. One of my customers says "if you make them an offer and it doesnt look like you kicked him in the nuts you offered too much!" Haha

I work at a pawn shop and I understand what you mean completely! LOL.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I got Lucky. I found an 81 for $100. I sold most of the parts and made money back and have a whole front crossmember for my truck. I cut up and scrapped the body seeing it was crap but still have a few pieces laying around that need to go to scrap. It also had an aluminum Drive shaft that I am going to put in my 65.
Keep looking on Craigslist and check on the parts page also.

[Chevy Fleetside]

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/pts/2407373095.html
This one runs http://pensacola.craigslist.org/pts/2396798678.html

[Dble Hump]

Here is what I did.
I posted a "wanted ad" on CL, and that is when they started coming out of the wood works....
From that I bought a 1987 gmc for $300. I kept the front crossmember and tilt column. Then I parted the rest of the truck out on CL. After it was all done and said. I made $200 and I got my 5 lug front end for free. Just try posting a wanted ad on CL....it will work.

If you are wanting an easy swap for a rear end you will need to look for a 1971 or 1972 chevy/gmc truck. These are the only years that had coil spring with 5 lugs.

Good luck on your search.

[bama63]

a neighbor paid me $50.00 to get rid of a 78 chevy truck, i hauled it home stripped off the parts i wanted and sold the bed for $200.00 and the cab and front clip for $250.00 and the rest went to the scrap yard and brought $33.00. so i came out pretty good