Advice on buying a Chevy Pickup? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Hoods69BadBowTie · 02-26-2005, 10:21 PM

Ok, this guy that lives like 45 minutes from me is selling a 1978 Chevy Pickup Truck. 3/4 ton axles with 8 lug rims. Slighty tired out 350 SB, Straight pipes, no blocks all springs and a small body lift. Worn out 39.50x15x16.5 Super Swamper TSL's. Manual, 4 speed maybe or 5.
Weakness in anything or major places to look for rust?
Think I should buy it or pass it up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx

rich-white · 02-26-2005, 10:29 PM

depends on price,what you want to do with the truck, etc. I would look for frame problems at steering box and rusting floor pans and cab supports. Your looking at $900.00 to 1200 for new rubber and god knows what else. need more info

Hoods69BadBowTie · 02-27-2005, 04:02 AM

The guy wants like 1000 $$ bucks for it. Frame looked pretty good, minor rust in the floorboards, 350 SB needs a little work but it still has plenty of get up and go. Tires are about 20 % tread left. Steering seems a tiny bit off but I am guessing that its just the steering damper and stablizer. Felt the same on my Blazer until I replaced it. Two minor rust spots on the wheel wells. 4x4 worked great and the tranny was very smooth.
Got to decide tommorrow if I want it, another guy is coming to get it Monday morning if its still for sale.
-Later

1976Scottsdale · 02-27-2005, 10:05 AM

Well, if the frame and body are decent and it runs, regardless of how well it runs, buy it. Remember, rust can be filled, engines rebuild, but someone driving off in what should've been your toy is a scar that never heals.

Hoods69BadBowTie · 02-27-2005, 11:39 AM

"I like that saying of yours." Thanx for the input. Just about getting read to go fill up to 5 Gallon gas tanks and hit the road. Should be back in a couple of hours if all goes well.
Thanx

Mudder · 02-27-2005, 02:10 PM

Sounds ok to me.........I have seen just running gear go for around 750 if in good shape.

Hoods69BadBowTie · 02-28-2005, 01:20 AM

Yeah, just got back a couple of hours ago and what a long adventure that was. Ran very good and seems geared very low. Low gear and then 1,2,3 and Reverse.Flooring it today doing about 55-60 MPH.
Bad luck though, was about 25 miles out of town and stopped to take a leak, got back in and started to do a donut burnout and caught a nice sharp rock and put a 1 foot gash in the right rear tire. Went flat and had to pay the flatbed tow truck drive the last 150 $$ I had left that I was going to use to get some FlowMasters mufflers for it. Ohh well, made it home all right except for that.
-Later

**Daubs** · 02-28-2005, 04:50 PM

Glad to see you got your ride purchased. Bummer about the tire.

You are gutsy...I've owned my 72 K20 for about three weeks now and still haven't put the pedal to the floor. I'm trying to make sure all the mechanical stuff is in good working condition before I tax the drivetrain. Would hate to be doing 70 MPH and realize the brakes aren't quite working right.

Hoods69BadBowTie · 03-01-2005, 12:02 AM

Na, I still had a little bit of pedal left and I was n't flooring it quite the whole way. Yeah it suxs for me because I can't find any cheap 39" Swampers in town and it will probably just sit around until this summer when I get some money $$ saved up and get a new set. I am also glad that I did n't have any mechanical problems yet except for the damn tire. Going to hopefully weld some mufflers and some exhaust up to it soon so that it is not running straigh pipes. Sounds loud as hell when its just idiling. Very depressing, very sunny and 50* degrees outside and lots of mud. I walk outside just to look at it.
-Later

02-26-2005, 10:21 PM	#1
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	Advice on buying a Chevy Pickup? Ok, this guy that lives like 45 minutes from me is selling a 1978 Chevy Pickup Truck. 3/4 ton axles with 8 lug rims. Slighty tired out 350 SB, Straight pipes, no blocks all springs and a small body lift. Worn out 39.50x15x16.5 Super Swamper TSL's. Manual, 4 speed maybe or 5. Weakness in anything or major places to look for rust? Think I should buy it or pass it up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanx __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!! Last edited by Hoods69BadBowTie; 02-28-2005 at 01:23 AM.

02-27-2005, 04:02 AM	#3
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	The guy wants like 1000 $$ bucks for it. Frame looked pretty good, minor rust in the floorboards, 350 SB needs a little work but it still has plenty of get up and go. Tires are about 20 % tread left. Steering seems a tiny bit off but I am guessing that its just the steering damper and stablizer. Felt the same on my Blazer until I replaced it. Two minor rust spots on the wheel wells. 4x4 worked great and the tranny was very smooth. Got to decide tommorrow if I want it, another guy is coming to get it Monday morning if its still for sale. -Later __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!

02-27-2005, 10:05 AM	#4
1976Scottsdale Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 76	Well, if the frame and body are decent and it runs, regardless of how well it runs, buy it. Remember, rust can be filled, engines rebuild, but someone driving off in what should've been your toy is a scar that never heals. __________________ When she starts to knock, bury the pedal and give it a proper death.

02-27-2005, 11:39 AM	#5
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	"I like that saying of yours." Thanx for the input. Just about getting read to go fill up to 5 Gallon gas tanks and hit the road. Should be back in a couple of hours if all goes well. Thanx __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!

02-28-2005, 01:20 AM	#7
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	Yeah, just got back a couple of hours ago and what a long adventure that was. Ran very good and seems geared very low. Low gear and then 1,2,3 and Reverse.Flooring it today doing about 55-60 MPH. Bad luck though, was about 25 miles out of town and stopped to take a leak, got back in and started to do a donut burnout and caught a nice sharp rock and put a 1 foot gash in the right rear tire. Went flat and had to pay the flatbed tow truck drive the last 150 $$ I had left that I was going to use to get some FlowMasters mufflers for it. Ohh well, made it home all right except for that. -Later __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!

02-26-2005, 10:29 PM	#2
rich-white Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: st. Louis Missouri Posts: 414	depends on price,what you want to do with the truck, etc. I would look for frame problems at steering box and rusting floor pans and cab supports. Your looking at $900.00 to 1200 for new rubber and god knows what else. need more info

02-27-2005, 02:10 PM	#6
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Sounds ok to me.........I have seen just running gear go for around 750 if in good shape.

02-28-2005, 04:50 PM	#8
Daubs Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Nebraska Posts: 613	Glad to see you got your ride purchased. Bummer about the tire. You are gutsy...I've owned my 72 K20 for about three weeks now and still haven't put the pedal to the floor. I'm trying to make sure all the mechanical stuff is in good working condition before I tax the drivetrain. Would hate to be doing 70 MPH and realize the brakes aren't quite working right. __________________ '72 Chevy K-20 Crate 350, SM465, 4.10's

03-01-2005, 12:02 AM	#9
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	Na, I still had a little bit of pedal left and I was n't flooring it quite the whole way. Yeah it suxs for me because I can't find any cheap 39" Swampers in town and it will probably just sit around until this summer when I get some money $$ saved up and get a new set. I am also glad that I did n't have any mechanical problems yet except for the damn tire. Going to hopefully weld some mufflers and some exhaust up to it soon so that it is not running straigh pipes. Sounds loud as hell when its just idiling. Very depressing, very sunny and 50* degrees outside and lots of mud. I walk outside just to look at it. -Later __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!



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