Take the $400 offer?

[73kay]

Hey guys, I'm a big square body guy but I have this opportunity to get a 53 pickup truck for 400. Here's the deal it's all disassembled in this guys garage and he doesn't have a bed or front clip. He has the motor, cab, doors, frame etc. I think he doesn't have any glass either. He has the title but says the numbers don't match (idk my friend has a 51 and has the same issue on his title). Anyways I wanted to get some general impressions from you guys. I would like to build one from scratch and take my time. I got a welder and a sandblasted. It's all in great shape no rust through.

Thanks for reading my book and giving me
Input.

[Advanced Design]

The last rust free cab I purchased cost $1,200 and that was in 2008. So $400 is a really good price if it is straight and rust free. Even better if you can verify the title to vin plate accuracy.

[joedoh]

the title probably has the engine number on it, since the VIN on the plate inside the cab was prone to be missing.

I paid $600 for a complete basket case with no glass, no bed, boat anchor engine, broken springs, and bullet holes. I thought I got an amazing deal.

[Henry50]

The truck may be titled off the engine numbers, very common back then.

[mr48chev]

If it's an old title it most likely is the engine number. If that is the case I'd think you could transfer the title into your name possibly going title purpose only and then with a clear title in your name apply for and engine change designation to the title after you have it together.
I lucked out when I bought my truck in Texas in 1973 as the PO was rather anal and had gone to the effort to have the engine change designation put on the title and use the door post tag number instead. That walked it though inspection in Washington with no problems when I moved back here.

I'm like the others 400 for a rust free cab, frame and title sounds pretty good to me.

Here is a link to 1953 engine number prefixes. It will have the letters and then a number that should be above 1001 behind those letters. That info might ease your mind on the vin on the title. http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...gine.htm#53eng

[tiddlar]

pssh. 400?? jump on it! Is it a 5 window cab? Had the same title issue with mine. had to tow it to dmv for inspection, bought a bond for it which was 300 bucks. then got a bonded title. in three years i will have a clear title.

[dubds10]

$400 is ok if rust free. Can deal with Title stuff after or sell it if you don't use it.

[iowaboynca]

So you want to jump into our end of the pool, eh? Well welcome aboard!

I have to agree. $400 for all that is a good deal.

Title:
Just to clarify does it have the serial number plate on the driver side? might make things easier in the future.

So if this is a project you want to take on, I'd say get it.

[73kay]

Hahaha oh I've bled square bodies since I was a kid and now that I'm
In Texas I see tons of AD trucks around. In fact a different neighbor wants to trade his rolling chassis 48 I think for a 76 stepside I just picked up. The 48 is complete and I've been reading on putting in open driveshafts and maybe a 250 or something. Real exciting stuff, I'll keep you guys posted on what I end up doing but I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on the $400 truck at least. Ill post some pix asap.