63 GMC good buy?

[Bobby277]

Hey all.

My old 68 c20 is up for sale and I've been looking for a different truck.

Recently I discovered a family friend who owns a 1963 GMC Truck. It is a step side long bed, which I thought to be odd and a wood bed inside. The truck is a manual 4 speed with a 280 something the guy said lol. It is salmon pinkish colored, and supposedly has like 50,000 original miles on it. He said it has minimal rust and the only spots were by two of the wheel wells.

It hasn't moved or even been touched in the last 15 years or so he said, but it has been kept in his garage that entire time. Ran when parked one of those deals!

He won't give me a price but he said he'd sell it to me, and I know that he payed 500 dollars for the truck 15+ years ago and never really drove it. Bought it as a project and never tore into it.

SO my question to you all is what do you think a fair price for it is?

And are there any unforeseen expenses that could arasie? (Other than a good going through, service, and maybe some tires)

Will post pics when I go to look at it! Thanks guys.

[T.W.Dustin]

Unexpected expenses? You said about 15 years since it was parked - you really need to go through everything, hard to say what you will find. It will need a lot of refreshing before driving, especially brakes and fuel system. Any sign of mice? They love wire insulation. It might be a breeze and might bite you, it's a gamble but if the price is right could be a great buy. Hard to give value w/o pics and more details.

[OldGMJon]

Without a visual that will be hard...I have seen many 63's lately on CL and they range from 1500 to 4500 for the shape you describe.

[Tomb23]

Mine, now have a 56 and a 63

[spacedebris]

This is just my opinion but any truck that has set and not started for 15 years I would say is not a running/drivable truck. As said above, you'd have to flush and likely replace the entire fuel system. Breaks, wiring, and cooling systems would all need refreshing/replacing. Assuming the engine will turn over (by hand) so that you know all the cylinders are free, then hopefully all the engine will need is a tune up and cleaning.

Now that being said, if the body is good and without rust in the normal areas (floors, pillers, and rockers), and everything else like glass and rubber are in decent shape, then I would say you would have a "minor" project vehicle. And assuming the interior is decent and not needing a lot of work, I would likely say it is worth between 2-3k. But again, thats just one guys opinion. like said above, Pics would help a lot.

Personally I like the long steppers. Eventually I'd like to get one myself.

[Bobby277]

I will take pics of it when I go and see it, I'll keep you posted guys! I am fairly eager to see what it has for an engine. He doesn't remember like I said before. Kinda think it would be cool to have one of those huge V6's! I know nothing about them though.

Do any of you with them have trouble finding parts for them?

Thanks for the replies btw!

[OldGMJon]

Originally Posted by Bobby277

I will take pics of it when I go and see it, I'll keep you posted guys! I am fairly eager to see what it has for an engine. He doesn't remember like I said before. Kinda think it would be cool to have one of those huge V6's! I know nothing about them though.

Do any of you with them have trouble finding parts for them?

Thanks for the replies btw!

I have a 351E big block V6 in my 66' GMC 2503. My only driving experience was driving it home a few miles after I bought it but I thought the power was good for such a heavy truck to pull. I read about the V6's and the other V12 engines made for pumping wells or in big trucks I believe. The story is they were super dependable...had to be to drive the pumps on wells 24/7 for months at a time. Probably balanced and blueprinted, etc. I recently spoke to a guy in Nevada that has the big V6 in his bagged GMC swb and he said that parts are still available but it is an arm and a leg to rebuild them. I think all mine needs is a clutch but I don't know what I will do with it. I don't think I will be restoring that truck so might go to the scrap heap with the frame and rusted out body. The engine looks like a V8 in size and shape until you see only 3 plug wires per side.

[TJ's Chevy]

Yeah the v6 gmc is a torque monster. Especially the bigger 351 and 478. The 305e was torquer than a 350, but had less rpm and hp and the mileage was worse. lol But yes, parts are available, but they are an arm and leg to rebuild.

[dubds10]

LWB stepper sitting for 15 years is still a $500-1000 truck. Only a swb would be more than that. I just saw a nice LWB stepper driver rust free for $3gs the other day & was tempted to get it, but since it's a LWB I held off lol

[cheessee]

I gave 950 for my 63 gmc swb no motor no trans and needs floor pans.. Of course I knew who I was buying it from but i would've given 1500 for it cuse I know when I go to look for one I won't be able to find one at all