New member advice on rebuild

[Maladd]

Hi all, have lurked for a long time, but would love some advice. I currently have a 1968 c10 longbed stepside (which I love, so no interest in chopping it to a shortbed) with a tired 307 and 4 speed granny manual.
Truck is an A/C cab, but only has the box on the firewall and components in the cab. I know very little about A/C units, but I guess I'm missing drier, compresser and condenser.
My truck is also manual steering and brakes.
The body is in very good shape with no rust, but suspension and drivetrain could really use a re-build.

I want to get the A/C back in, rebuild the engine, and upgrade to power brakes and steering, and go to automatic transmission.

I have the opportunity to buy a 1969 long bed fleetside with a 350 with auto (he's unsure which trans), power steering, power brakes, and full A/C (OEM) for $1500.

My thinking is that I should buy the truck and tear it down to frame and rebuild the suspension, engine and trans and move my body over to the newly rebuilt chasis when I paint the body pieces from my truck.

I'm no mechanic by a long shot, but would this make sense to you guys? Seems like the best route for me to:

A. Continue driving my truck during rebuild
B. Get the upgrades I need at a reduced price

I guess I'm really looking for an affirmation that I have a good plan because my wife keeps looking at me like I've completely lost it when I talk to her about it.

Thanks in advance
Jeff

[PanelDeland]

WELCOME!!!! First question is How do you intend to use the truck?
What is your preferences on Tranny,auto or manual?

If you want auto and are sure of the donor engine(350) it may be a good way to go.You can always put your culls back together and sell it also.The one thing to find out before is if there will be a problem titling the truck with mismatched VIN.

[chevy88]

That's a close call it could be just as easy to buy that truck and put all that you want onto yours then sell what's left for parts
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[chevy88]

Also tell your wife your buying the other truck to part out and the money you make you can fix your truck for nothing. LOL
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[Maladd]

I've wondered on the VIN, but not sure it would be that big of a problem. Don't think I've ever seen anyone look on one of my frames to match VIN's before LOL.

I prefer the automatic, guess I've gotten lazy as I've gotten older as I used to favor manuals.

As for the engine and tranny I think I'd just send them off for rebuilds as soon as I tore the truck down.

I had also considered basically doing a body swap and selling the left over truck. My truck isn't currently in that bad of shape. Just thought it would be a much easier way to get everything back to "new".


By the way, would love to thank everyone for the knowledge on here. So far you've gotten me through a blazer tank install, HEI install, V8 swap (guy from worked picked up a new roller engine cheap and I snagged his old 307), and a conversion to an internally regulated higher amperage alternator.

Not bad for a guy that quit working on cars in high school when he ran in to a starter on a Ford Probe that had to have the engine lifted to replace.