Looking to buy 73-79

[Love2buildem']

Hey, this is my first time on this forum and I have some general questions because I am getting ready to buy a 73-79 pickup.

I know a couple things that I want like I want a short bed and I want 4 wheel drive. What I dont know is what to look for when I am buying this. I know a little about where to look for rust but not too much, and i would like to hear your suggestions for where to look for problem areas, and what to avoid.

I want this truck to tow with and to go play in the mud. I already have the engine ideas on what i want to do, but I know I am looking for something with a decent engine to get me around until i get around to building it.

The reason I want the 73-79 model is; I love that body style, and with the emission requirements in Virginia, anything past 79 has to meet all the emission requirements for that year, and i just really dont want to deal with that.

Just as a side not I am also looking at blazer/jimmys, I really like the removable top, but I'm gonna post a forum in the blazer and jimmy section, thanks for the help

Jeff

[BladeX]

I bought a truck that had alot illegal mods to it. me being a n00b didnt know better the guy said it'd pass emissions and didnt.

Smog isssues. check for cattilatic covertors(2), (2) mufflers. look for corrision anywhere really...pipes blah blah.

Make sure it has a smog pump/air pump, the whole emissions crap. the a.i.r. pipes and check valves. A problem i ran into was the manifold were striped where the Air pipes had to go into. He just put plugs in the manifold and called it good.

Milegage always a factor. Rebuilt at any time would nice.

meh. cant think of anything more.

[bigblock73]

Welcome to the board from MN!

For some basic info on these trucks look here.

There is also alot more info on the site too, look around a bit.