My "Barn Find" C-20

[see ten]

Unless you just have a need or already have a buyer for this truck....I'd have a shorter wheelbase under it so quick that your head would spin!

Either way, sounds like you stole it. Do what you want to do with it! I'll support you!!

[teeitup]

WOW nice buy!!!!!!!!!

[El Jay]

Please! Please! Please! Don't part it.

BTW....Great score.

[sleepertruck72]

That is a NICE looking ghetto barn find !!! That truck is solid looking and does not deserve to get parted out IMO. You are a lucky man enjoy that truck ! NOS seals was just the icing on the cake wasnt it ?

[chipflyer]

Nice score Scott, very nice old truck!

Jeff

[ERASER5]

So many bogus "Barn Find" stories and then comes the REAL DEAL! With NOS parts to boot! Working real hard to control the truck envy. What a find!

[leddzepp]

Thanks guys...I really can't believe how it turned out to be! I do not think I am going to part it. It would be a shame. It was bought at Crest Chevrolet in San Bernardino, right down the street from where I grew up. I remember hearing their radio commercials growing up in the 70's....and they are still around today. One of the last dealers around. I want to drive over there later this week, and show it to them, and all of the original paperwork. The NOS seals were a nice find, and will go on my short-bed truck!

I took it out for a drive today...man, I love the big block! It has a lot of power, trans shifts smooth and solid. Of course, I changed the oil, and checked all the fluids. Everything looked great. The cruise control, heater, and A/C work!!! It still has R-12 in it, and is ICE cold!

I would love to put the engine/trans in my short bed...they are in tip top shape. I really do not want to hack this truck up, but the wife has spoken, and I have to do something. I pretty much bought this without her consent...when I was approved only to buy an engine. But either this, or my short bed goes, and I really love my short bed. I will probably end up selling this truck, I can't really bring myself to rob the drivetrain as planned. If there was not so much documentation for it, I would be easier with it. Also, the sheetmetal is in perfect shape, and untouched. The doors open and close great, and all the gaps are factory. Does anybody have any idea what it might be worth? I would love to sell it, and buy a Blazer (which the wife approves because it can haul the kids around and fits in the garage) or trade it for one (2wd preferred) even 4wd if it is nice and original. There is a board member local to me selling a 1970 2wd Blazer (bbaroo)...I would love to sell this, and buy his!

[pcorriveau951]

Very nice truck, where in riverside are you located? how much would you sell the truck for?

[sleepertruck72]

Scott,
IMHO I believe you should be able to get 7K at the very least.If I had that much extra cash to spend, I would pay it . I would ask for $11k if it were mine. I would just wait until the right buyer came along that would keep her on the road and treat her right. Bring it down to the Turlock swap meet and try your luck here. If you dont find a buyer you may find a BB set up and you can take it back with you.
You could also use the BB for your shortbed and sell the truck with your sb in it, or just part it out. You have alot of options there to play with.. good luck

[see ten]

Yep, On my side of the country it's probably a realistic 7-8K truck. Sure, I'd ask 11K for it and hope for the 7-8K. Shouldn't have a problem moving that at all. You might want to consider starting a fresh "What's it Worth" (WIW) post.

As I said before...That truck is already nicer then most peoples projects end up...let alone start.

[Slik69]

Leddzepp,
This is a tough one, but let me first start by saying nice find. Looks a lot like the one I bought very very cheap. The tow truck driver thought I paid at least 10k for it. Very similiar as this one.. maybe even a little better. I myself could not figure out why the guy didn't want it and he gave me a list of everything that was supposed to be wrong with it. The truck belonged to his father-in -law that passed away. I think he made the stories up to convince his wife (her daddy's truck) that the truck needed to be sold. She fired the first day, I switched over to HEI, put new tires, new carb (that it did not need) and a few other small things. All in all, I don't hae over $400 in it. Was definitely a bran find and was right there in your backyard as well.

Regarding what to do. I think it first has to do woth how much you paid for it. You have 2 options. Take the motor for your truck. If you are 100% confident you can live with it's current state (meaning it needs nothing), That's a no brainer, I would snatch and switch/sell the truck. If you really want to get rid of it, let it go for 5k. You don't care, you got what you wanted. I would pull both motor and tranny. Take whatever else will improve your truck. OR you could sell the whole truck as is and use the money to build your own motor to your liking. I think the advantage you have here though is if your 100% sure about the motor you got. I would take it and use it because you have all thge breackets.. other necessary parts. What size BB is it. The reason I ask is because I know a guy that sells running motors ( I buy them to rebuild), but they are complete with brackets etc. should you decide to rebuild one on your own. They come complete with all brackets as well. I can pass this information along should you decide you want to build a motor. If you have brackets you can also hit the core yards and buy a block. I know a machinist that sells all kinds of blocks as well. There are many options.

When I get into situations like this, it becomes a numbers game.. and I try and come out on top.. even if it means moving the truck for a little less (if you decide to yank (motor/trans why break them apart).

The hardest thing WILL BE finding a buyer. You may have to even pass the sweet deal you got onto the new buyer at their surprise as well to get what you want.

My truck too was bought with flipping in mind, but after getting it home, cleaning it up, I thought where on Gods green earth can I find another truck in this condition for this price. I looked them up.. and they do go for over
10k in the shape that mine is in. It really does still puzzle me why the guy did not want this truck.. and like you, I was able to get the full history on it.

I'll end by saying my truck was on sale on Craigslist, I was in touch with him often, but never really had all the $$ to get it. I was browsing back through/cleaning up old e-mails from a year ago.. and I decided to ask if he still had the truck.. KNOWING that he told me it was sold. Almost a whole year went by. He replied saying he still had it.. and the guy that was supposed to buy it tried to rip him off (get for less) and he was not going for it. He said if I wanted it,it was mine for X amount of dollars. Mind you, had never seen this truck in person, only pics sent to me in e-mail. He said if I wanted it, I had a certain window.. I went to look at it, left a deposit and was back within a few days to pick her up.

I bought to flip to use the money on my other cars. I have decided to keep her in the lineup and give it what it needs along with my other cars. Out of all the classics I bought many have told me this is the nicest. I wasn't to happy to hear it, but it's true. My wife keeps bugging me for my truck. I told her no because it needed brakes.. did those last week, so now she's asking again. I can't believe it but it's true. If I listened to my wife or her mom about cars, I would have none. Grab 'em cowboy! I have to hear it initally, but it soon fades away.

[leddzepp]

Thanks for the input guys!

I did not "steal" this truck, as many think, although I did get it for a decent price. I just hate to pull the motor/trans when the rest of it is in such pristine condition. I would part it, but am concerned I would be left over with too many large parts that no one is going to buy.

[Slik69]

When the hood is closed, the truck looks the same on the outside. If your truck has a running motor, yank it. The hardest thing will be finding a buyer for it. If you did not steal it, then not sure why you bought it other than using the motor. If you can start drive and use the other motor I would yank the BB. May have gotten into a pickle.

[see ten]

Swap your small block from your short bed in to it and keep the big un for your swb. It's not a matching #s big block vette or Camaro...It's a nice old truck that sounds like you got a good enough deal on that you were going to part it anyway. With it running (with your old motor) someone should still want it. Odds are, you've already got your mind made up as far as what you want to do is concerned....you're just wanting to hear if any of us have the same opinion. Go for it already!! Let us know how it works out for you when you're done.

[FleetsidePaul]

You will probably get more for it all together since it is so clean, and so well documented.
I've tried selling clean rust free body parts in So. Cal. and you have a hard time getting anything for them.(in fact I have some on the side of my house). Anything that is hard to ship is tough to get rid of, even if it is nice.
I think you would be money ahead if you sold it whole around here, might take some time though with times being what they are.

[Slik69]

Either of the last 2 comments are what I would do. Yank it or sell whole and put your own BB together. Like I said, these things become a numbers game for me and I always try and make this stuff pay for itself. I think you'd be good either way. Sounds like it just depends on how much patience the wife has. Take it to the swap meets to try and get rid of it either before or after you yank the motor. Times are hard.. so chances are you may have to eat some $$ to get what you want.

You should also be able to sell the truck on the documentation you have. That speaks a lot and I was impressed more with that info. along with the truck.. because it says what kind of care was taken for it. Check to see if a family member would be interested in it. You'd be surprised.

[69sixpackbee]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

...It was bought at Crest Chevrolet in San Bernardino...

"....at Crest Chevrolet, today....do it, do it, do it, do it today!"

ya mean THAT radio commercial?. I remember it too!

BTW Great find!!

[pcorriveau951]

well i had a chance to see this truck in person today, and i must say that it is a very clean truck, Scott is a very nice guy and got one hell of a truck too.

[leddzepp]

Thanks Phil...and I must say the same about you as well. I am going to keep this truck, and restore it to mostly stock. It is too nice to hack up...no rust, no dents, one re-paint. I am buying the factory trim from another board member, putting the Cheyenne 20 and Super badges back on, looking for factory rims, etc. I just swapped in a tilt column and added the 400 badges back on. When I replace the front end components, I am going to swap in 1-ton springs to level it out with the rear. I will post pics of the progress soon. Phil, would love to see pics of your project, as you are going the lifted instead of lowered route to get a level ride too.

[lowbucktruck]

Sounds like you made a good decision. There are just not that many of these classic trucks still around in original condition. My preference is that we should save a few original stockers, and mod/custom the rest that are incomplete trucks. (okay, I will duck now, someone is sure to fire back at me for that comment!)

[1970cstblazer]

It is refreshing to hear that another Cheyenne 20 will be saved, and not parted out for a wimpy 1/2 ton short box..

[DREW67]

Nice!!!!!

[Cole Trickle]

Neat story and cool find

[jim zag]

I'm JEALOUS!!!!!

[neba]

curious minds would like to know what you paid. nice truck!