Looking At A 1965...Opinions?

[YtseJam]

Always been a motorcycle person, so this is a little new to me....figured I would try to get some feedback from those who know more than I do! I'm looking at a 65 Shortbed with a mildly built 350/350 Turbo Automatic. The motor sounds great and is pretty quick. The body was removed and the entire suspension was replaced, including being lowered. It has a Camaro rear, disc brake conversion in front, 5 lug conversion, tilt wheel, relocated fuel cell in the bed, shaved bed handles, power window conversion as well. Now for the work....needs a bed floor, cracked windsheild, paint, a little rust in the driver floorboard next to the kick panel, a key made for the door lock, it has a floor shift, but there is a hole next to it that needs to be covered....maybe 3" diameter, not rust, just a hole. Seat needs to be done, carpet...mainly cosmetic. He's at 4K. Sounds in the ballpark for what I've seen. I'm relatively mechanically inclined so I would be doing most except for the body and paint. It's going to be a driver, so I'm not looking for perfection....thoughts?

[kart34]

Go for it... well worth that..

[protrash64]

Buy it.

[YtseJam]

Kinda leaning that way! Gonna meet with him tonight to take another look.

[oem4me]

A lot has been done, and it still has a ways to go. I'd say the quality of what's been done is of major importance. The way I see it, If you're going to stray from stock, do it right! Otherwise, undoing someones slop is no better or even worse than starting from scratch. If you are confident the work done is top notch and will not need going over, then add up it's remaining needs and see where you sit. Also, totally finished projects are some of the best bargains out there, because almost no-one gets out what they put in.

[duallyjams]

The main thing is if your happy with it , don't rush haste makes waste , take your time and look it over. Sounds good.

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Also, totally finished projects are some of the best bargains out there, because almost no-one gets out what they put in.

True, unless they lie to you! Drove 3 hours yesterday to look at a 63 that was "done"...needed nothing. I must have asked this guy every poosible way I could if all was working and in good shape, he finally admitted that the heater wasn't working, but that was IT! I get up there, and the first thing I see is that the Honeycomb Air Cleaner has no paper element, I'm looking straight down into the carb. He said that he had spent too much on it already...huh? But he had only driven it without one for a year! The speedo and gas gauge didn't work, the valve cover was leaking so bad, oil was pooling on the intake. The dual mufflers needed clamps, the pipes were bouncing. He insisted we drive it, so we did....reluctantly. The brakes went almost to the floor, it had a power steering pump...yet no power steering, the exhaust fumes that came into the cab were so bad that after about 4 blocks, I had to turn around and come back before I killed my wife who was sitting in the middle. It had an exhaust leak so bad that a deaf person could hear it...and those are just the things I can remember.

[DanSan c 10]

Just crawl under it and look for rust. You know heavy rust ,cab mounts and such. I sure you have, but it is better to know now then after you get home. Other wise go for it.

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

The main thing is if your happy with it , don't rush haste makes waste , take your time and look it over. Sounds good.

May throw him an offer....I've driven it once, looked at it twice. Want to go over it one more time. The gas gauge still needs to be hooked up from when the tank was relocated, also needs a rear bumper, but I know their not to expensive...I think that's the extent of what it needs.

[dracko]

Buy it. That sounds like a hell of a deal.

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by DanSan c 10

Just crawl under it and look for rust. You know heavy rust ,cab mounts and such. I sure you have, but it is better to know now then after you get home.

That's a good point.....I'll add that to things I need to go over. From a quick glance it looked pretty good, it's a California truck...don't think it's a coastal one.

[rbar]

To me it seems like a decent price for both the buyer and the seller. If I was in the market, I would probably buy that, but also try to work him lower on the price just to see if I could save some money, but still buy it if not. The body looks pretty good which is the biggest thing to me and it sounds like it has some improvements, if they are done right. I like the way it sits too.

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by rbar

I like the way it sits too.

So do I! Story is the guy worked for a suspension shop, the owner bought from him...at which time he completely rebuilt the suspension. Since the bed floor isn't there, you can see the components look brand new, thing rides excellent. The owner bought it back, and now just needs it gone.

[jocko]

If the seller has done the mods you're wanting to do to a stocker if you were to buy one - then probably a very good deal (for you). If you want to turn it into a resto truck, then it'll cost more to un-do stuff than to buy a stocker. My assumption is you like what he's done - so, yeah, look at rust and quality of work - then go for it. And post pics of it in the process!

[Clyde65]

I'd throw $3k at him, harp on all the needed bodywork and see if he meets you in the middle.
Posted via Mobile Device

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

I'd throw $3k at him, harp on all the needed bodywork and see if he meets you in the middle.
Posted via Mobile Device

He actually started at 6k, couldn't do it. I was gonna throw $3500, probably would have gone 3k as well if he didn't start so high. After yesterday's fiasco, I got back in touch with him...that's when he went to 4k.

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by jocko

If the seller has done the mods you're wanting to do to a stocker if you were to buy one - then probably a very good deal (for you). If you want to turn it into a resto truck, then it'll cost more to un-do stuff than to buy a stocker. My assumption is you like what he's done - so, yeah, look at rust and quality of work - then go for it. And post pics of it in the process!

Definately will! The motor sounds ridiculous, has a cam, 650 Edelbrock, Flowmaster 40's, love the floor shift....all these things I would have done.

[joedoh]

that truck is worth 4k all day long if it runs and drives.


I bought a nissan from a guy who liked dream theater a really lot. his front tag was ytsejam, I had to leave it on because he had jacked up the truck by the bumper and without the tag you could see the bend.

[protrash64]

I was wondering about D/T too...

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by joedoh

that truck is worth 4k all day long if it runs and drives.

That it does....very well!

Originally Posted by joedoh

I bought a nissan from a guy who liked dream theater a really lot. his front tag was ytsejam, I had to leave it on because he had jacked up the truck by the bumper and without the tag you could see the bend.

Still surprised he let it go! Fans are extremely loyal.....

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by protrash64

I was wondering about D/T too...

Been a fan since Images and Words back in 91, see them everytime they play the Warfield in San Francisco. Met them once, all of them could not have been nicer....nice to know some of you guys are familiar with them, most of the time I get the deer in the headlights look.

[firefighter736]

Definitely check those outer floors/rockers and underneath for the cab mounts/braces. If it has rust at the kick panels I'd bet for some in the outer floors. Nothing a little welding can't fix! Sounds like a real nice truck, though. I dig the stance. Hope it works out!

[Andyboy]

KILLER deal, grab it. If you don't get it let me know where it's at. I'm looking for one.

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by firefighter736

Definitely check those outer floors/rockers and underneath for the cab mounts/braces. If it has rust at the kick panels I'd bet for some in the outer floors. Nothing a little welding can't fix! Sounds like a real nice truck, though. I dig the stance. Hope it works out!

The rust isn't all that extensive, just where you would normally find it in a truck 46 years old! Your 66 is sweet.....looks great!

[YtseJam]

Originally Posted by Andyboy

KILLER deal, grab it. If you don't get it let me know where it's at. I'm looking for one.

Will do....although I think it's a done deal.


Appreciate all your input in this....really helped a lot! Some great info here as well, thanks for the welcome!