Pros and cons of rebuilding a 1975

[nu2-72]

I have had several mid 70's over the years and all seemed to be prone to massive body rot. Live North of Kansas City, Mo.
I am now looking at a 1975 from a friend who passed of cancer and the body is typical. Since I do not want to drop an arm and a leg, what have you guys learned the hard way?
Better to go to one of the site vendors and get new sheetmetal or find a complete Western donor? The Midwest will have very few original rustfree parts but those I might find would be OEM. How is aftermarket fit and quality?
Sad thing is the price the wife is asking and it needs everything. I mean everything. Cab, bed, fenders, hood. I am thinking a polite no thanks may be in order.

[MrBeast]

It really depends on the truck, I mean rockers and cab corners are no big deal, if that is what it needs get R done and call it good, now on the other hand if the rot has hammered deeper in and has penetrated into the fire wall, Back of the cab, if the roof has started to rot out, then you are going to want to think about getting another cab.

The same thing goes for the bed, if it is just some rust around the wheel wells, then I say patch it up, if the bed floor is cancer-ed through then I'd start looking for a new bed.

It is really hard to give you advice on this with out pictures of the truck and what you are looking at having to repair.

[nu2-72]

Everything means just that.
The hood front is rotted completely though to the engine bay. (new hood needed) The eyebrow is rusting. Fenders are gone under battery, over wheels and low by the doors. No rockers either side, no cab corners, floor rot. Doors are rotten skins and inside lowers. (Needs new cab and doors, new fenders) Bedsides are football holes over wheels and behind wheels. (needs bedsides) Tailgate is bent and rusted out. (needs new tailgate. Can't see bed floor because the bed is full of grass clippings. Assume the grass has been there all Fall and Winter and suspect floor is gone based on overall condition.
Did I leave anything out? Think not.
Truck is 4x4, new battery and tires and exhaust. Carb has problems and starting rough, runs after some ether.
I looked up some parts and am at $2350.00 already. Thinking I will pass on it.

[79 silverado]

Unless you're sentimental after having "his truck" it sounds like either a parts rig or something to buy, tinker to get running, and just use to drive around a farm or hunting on the back acreage....

With how that sounds you're basically buying a frame and the little parts to put together new panels with if you are after a decent quality restoration done the right way...

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by nu2-72

Everything means just that.
The hood front is rotted completely though to the engine bay. (new hood needed) The eyebrow is rusting. Fenders are gone under battery, over wheels and low by the doors. No rockers either side, no cab corners, floor rot. Doors are rotten skins and inside lowers. (Needs new cab and doors, new fenders) Bedsides are football holes over wheels and behind wheels. (needs bedsides) Tailgate is bent and rusted out. (needs new tailgate. Can't see bed floor because the bed is full of grass clippings. Assume the grass has been there all Fall and Winter and suspect floor is gone based on overall condition.
Did I leave anything out? Think not.
Truck is 4x4, new battery and tires and exhaust. Carb has problems and starting rough, runs after some ether.
I looked up some parts and am at $2350.00 already. Thinking I will pass on it.

I think Tabco sells patch panels for all the areas you listed and then some at a substantially lower cost.

[Wrecked1982]

buy someone elses abadoned project or buy a westurn one for $2350.00 . im sure youll find a solid one at that price .from all the rot you are talikng about the frame is probably gone trough.form your description i sounds like a 400$ parts truck

[mopar346]

Much better off finding another truck, there is a good chance with all that rust that you have a problem somewhere on the frame as well, not to mention every bolt you touch will brake before it comes loose. Unless you have a real attahcment to it let it go, this is the type that isn't worth saving if it were given to you.

[74 stepside]

Here in Ca, these trucks are all over the place. I would think it would be cheaper to buy one here and ship the whole truck to your location. That is, if you are dead set on having this body style and era of a truck.

[MrBeast]

Since it is a 4x4, I'd say your best bet is to find a 2wd from outside of the rust belt and body swap it, it will be much less time consuming, you can even find one this way that started out as the color you want.

Being a 75 depending on if it is a half 3/4 or one ton it will either have a Dana 44 or Dana 60 up front. Better axle than the 10 bolt.

Don't discount the drivetrain you have there, as well if it is a 4 speed it has a SM465 and 205, if it is an auto it probably has a 203 possibly a 205, depending on how it was ordered.

[nu2-72]

Thanks guys. I am not sentimental to the truck. I was looking for a project for myself and the grandson. He turns 14 this month and I had told some friends that I was looking for something with "minimal" work. This is beyond what I want. I know panels can be purchased but with the initial cost of the truck and parts alone I would have 7k. Then the labor and paint would make it one tough truck to sell to the wife. I am walking away on this one. It is not going anywhere so I may watch for a donor and see if a body swap is feasible. Thanks again.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by 74 stepside

Here in Ca, these trucks are all over the place. I would think it would be cheaper to buy one here and ship the whole truck to your location. That is, if you are dead set on having this body style and era of a truck.

2nd this or try New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.