When to rebuild or give up and buy another?

[Tiger Joe]

So, heres my dilemma. My dad and I have lots of project going on that have a need for a dump truck. So back in the early 90s, my dad bought a 79 C-30 cab and chassis and built himself a dump truck. truck was finished around 1993 (I was only 7 years old then).

Fast forward to 2016. The truck has now seen better days. As they say, you can't stop father time, and he is certainly not going easy on this truck.

heres a short list of what the truck needs:
dump bed needs rust repaired.
cab needs rockers, cab corners
frame has already been repaired where it rusted.

on top of all this, the old 350 is getting tired.

Now, our original plan for the truck was to build a nice BBC and throw in an NV4500 (already have both). My dad then threw another wrench in the whole thing and said he would like to have a 4x4. We had a lead on a 4x4 cab and chassis frame we were chasing right now.


Last night while surfing the local craigslist I stumbled on what looks like a beautiful dump to me:
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/5577884420.html
1989 chevy k-30, 350 TBI, 4 speed 4x4. claimed only 30k original miles. for $9,500.

Now at first glance 9500 seems like a lot, but when I start adding up all the time and money it would take to get our truck looking like that, 9500 isn't too bad. Plus I figure we could still swap the BBC and nv4500 into this truck if we want to later. And if we did that we would end up with what we wanted to build, just skipping all the rust repair and body work!


I guess maybe I'm just holding onto the memories since my dad built our current dump truck? Maybe it makes more sense both time-wise and financially to "cut and run"?

[74CustomK20]

You're at a dilemma everyone faces; sentimental value or cut your loss? Truthfully, I'd get the 9500 one and just take your old one and work on it slowly, or just sell it cheap. But that is my opinion, and everyone's will be different.

[Dead Parrot]

How many "sure could use a dump truck" projects would be on hold while you reworked your 79? Nothing says you can't buy the ready to go 89 and keep your projects on schedule and as time permits, rebuild the 79 into a non dump but still useful truck. Sounds like it could be a good flat bed truck.

[68post]

I agree with both comments above, and you need to jump on the '89 because it will be gone soon.

[Tiger Joe]

Originally Posted by 68post

I agree with both comments above, and you need to jump on the '89 because it will be gone soon.

you really think that 89 is going to sell fast? I figured nobody is gonna buy that when you can buy the 88-98 dumps for the same or less money.

[68post]

Originally Posted by Tiger Joe

you really think that 89 is going to sell fast? I figured nobody is gonna buy that when you can buy the 88-98 dumps for the same or less money.

It's straddling the line between both worlds with our preferred body style and fuel injection, also a clean example of a square body and one of the only ways to buy an "as new as possible" square being an '89 with low mileage.

Not priced too competitive , but that won't stop someone who'll be along soon. Still have to compare what it will cost to build an exact copy, ( time and $$$) !

[Tiger Joe]

ya as far as sentimental value, I'm thinking get this one for 9500, and we could still put a BBC and nv4500 into it, and that would be me and dad building it together.

[lilpoindexter]

The $9500 new truck. I can almost smell new car smell looking at the interior pics.

[Gregski]

not to go Square Body Police on you but you either bleed 73-87 or not, ha ha jk, and that's a 89 an Eighty Nine bro!

and option 3, aka no one says you have to offer full price $9,500 and no one says they can't accept a reasonable lower offer

[rusty76]

I'm in a similar boat. I love my 76 and its been in my family for eons but I'm frustrated because what I thought I'd get done this year and what reality of life and me allowed are different. Sometimes I stroll CL looking for another square or a 64-66 C10 for a reasonable price. What I've found is that reasonable is not a great way to look for trucks. People really like their trucks and holy cow how much more squares cost now compared to five years ago. Rust really has little effect on cost now. Patina this and that has made it better for selling rusted out hulks. Good luck and hang in there.

[old Rusty C10]

I disagree I can still buy the squares cheap enough... I just picked up a 79 LWB custom deluxe stick granny low 72K miles for $400 but it was deemed a collision loss as it was hit in the left door and rocker I pu;;ed it out and replaced door and both inner and outer rockers and I have a nice truck for about 700

[TrailerTrash]

What did you end up doing Tiger Joe?

[Tiger Joe]

Well I missed the original dump in this post so my dad and I are rebuilding ours.

I spend this summer fixing the rust on the dump bed, including building a complete new tailgate. Also converted the dump bed from PTO to electric over hydraulic.

Plan is to tear the truck down next month and start the rebuild. Truck is also getting a 468 bbc and an nv4500

[TrailerTrash]

right on man keep it up