Thinking about buying...and some new pics of my step

[BabyBlue]

I'm still thinking about buying it...well actually trading my stepper and some money for it (it's 10k or so), what do you guys think?

[1974gmc]

thats a nice truck, wish mine was nice as that. id say go for it

[cochino12]

What is so different about that one? Yours kicks A$$?

[Jonboy]

I think I actually like yours better. Do you guys in Washington have a thing for wire wheels?

Seriuosly, why not just take the money that you would spend on the other one, and make yours that much nicer? Or put in in the Blazer? That seems like the best bet, IMO.

[phantom dually]

It looks no better than what you have. WHY?? Sounds like you just want to spend some $$

[OldJimmy57]

Dont buy someone else's truck. It will have no meaning. Build your own. Just my .02 cents but I think it will mean more to you in the end. No real talent in buying a fixed up truck.

[BabyBlue]

Well, I'm actually going to be going to Wyotech or something soon and I need something that I don't have to put any more money in. Thats one reason. Others include that no one really knows the truck as it hasn't really been seen in 2 years (stored and barely driven), has just a hair over 66k original miles on it and the only option it doesn't really have is the bucket seats. Plus I personally like the older front end better when it comes to stepsides, if it were a swb, it would be different, I loved my 85.Right now this is the best bet and the blazer is gonna be on hold till I get back from tech school/art school or whatever. And as far as building my own, I've built this white stepper to be 5 times nicer than it was when I bought it and the red swb was easily 20x nicer, I'm thinking till I get more skills I just want a cruiser that I just need to do maintenance on.

[BodyShopDropOut12]

I personally like the 73-80's look so I'd say go for it! Only problem I do see with it are the mirrors. Not everyone likes the big 'dumbo' mirrors, but I prefer em over the little ones and see that you got em on yours already. But good luck on whatever you get.

[bigarmzz]

man i'd do it...

thats one sweeet truck!

i wish they had trucks like that on car lots here....instead all they got are those damn neons and sh*t

[1FaastC10]

ok, so let me get this straight... you want to buy the '78 which you know NOTHING about, to replace your truck, which im going to guess is an 85-87. the trucks look almost identical, the wheels the stance, everything. you also stated that you wanted something you would just have to do maintnance to. buying a used truck and expecting that is just retarded, with a used truck stuff can and will break. what's so wrong with your truck that you cant just drive it and do maintnance? is the drivetrain too wild to be driven every day? does yours have hidden body issues?

seems to me it would be a very unwise move to buy something completely unknown when you already have soemthing almost identical that you know like the back of your hand (or should know, if you have built it). especially if it is in the $10K range.

[BabyBlue]

Actually the truck belongs to my fathers friend, and I work at the lot...so my father knows the entire history of the truck and I know about 50%. My father could tell you the entire history of the blazer, this brown stepside, or a few other trucks that are still around with original owners or in mint condition. Yes, I know that some might think it would be smarter to fix up the white truck, but to make it anywhere near as nice and dependable (including a new 350 crate motor) truck in which I would only need to do oil changes and brakes or something on, It would take well over another $5k.

[1974gmc]

i think the 73-80's have a way nicer front end than the 81-87's

[1FaastC10]

Originally Posted by BabyBlue

Yes, I know that some might think it would be smarter to fix up the white truck, but to make it anywhere near as nice and dependable (including a new 350 crate motor) truck in which I would only need to do oil changes and brakes or something on, It would take well over another $5k.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR TRUCK THAT MAKES IT SO UNDEPENDABLE? if its gonna take more than $5K to fix it, maybe you should just scrap your existing truck, because its in SAD shape. if you're trying to get off cheap, why not use GOOD used parts? not everything has to be brand new.

[BabyBlue]

Originally Posted by 1FaastC10

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR TRUCK THAT MAKES IT SO UNDEPENDABLE? if its gonna take more than $5K to fix it, maybe you should just scrap your existing truck, because its in SAD shape. if you're trying to get off cheap, why not use GOOD used parts? not everything has to be brand new.

Why would I scrap it? The truck still runs and drives great, but I'm talking to make it as nice as this one in and out, and as dependable as this one it'll take 5k. The truck realistically doesn't need a new motor, the 305 just smokes a little oil (start-up), and It was lowered with only coils which makes it kinda bouncy. When I drove this brown stepside there were no vibrations or bouncing and I was suprise because it rode better than my stock 85, and almost rode as good as a new tahoe(almost....for an older truck its real good). I did like 3 pages in math, and not to mention that I have not only lost interest in my white truck but have always had something for these 1980 and older trucks. Thats what I was originally looking for when I found my white truck and at the time the white truck was a good buy. This last year, I've found out a whole bunch of things I have disliked about these mid-80's stepsides.

Things the White Step need (in my opinion)
-New Top end $1000 (could realistically need a motor for some better mileage and power)
-Seat $350, Gauge bezel $100, Misc parts $100
-Spindles $285, Stiffer springs $80
-Paint $3000(currently it looks good from 10+ ft) Thats just for the little bit of body work and prep/spray
-Wood bed kit $600

Total - $5515

Realistically there isn't much to make it as dependable but to make it just as nice as this one....theres a lot of money to spend and then again it doesn't have the 66k original miles, it still has lower miles (111k) so nothing specatacular.

I have a couple pictures of the white truck I was basing my white truck on but being a 86' I just didn't like the differences. Not to mention I had the chance to buy the very truck I wanted to base the white truck off of, but I didn't have enough money ($8900) at the time. I'll post the pic later after I find it. BTW, It's not like I'm selling something I absolutely love like the blazer, I'm selling/trading something that I have lost interest in and personally hate the year when they are stock like mine.

[1FaastC10]

again, there is nothing at all wrong with good used parts. that will knock down quite a bit of the price. as for paint, you're just being anal about the truck at this point. trade it off, do whatever, its your money, waste it as you please.

[86 Red_Bowtie]

Be Carefull you might be buying someone elses lemon. You never know. And if your going to Wyothech you should be able to fix up your own truck when you come out of school.

[BabyBlue]

If you read the above posts, my dad knows the history of the truck...and the Blue blazer is gonna be my project when I get outta Wyotech

[woody96]

Love your white truck....I would say it is always good to put $$ in a vehicle you already own due to knowing the history and the little nuances......amazing, try something different with your truck...you may love it again...(new exhaust, new wheels, new something..). I would keep your current vehicle,.....but your money, you have to be happy with it!

[1FaastC10]

Originally Posted by BabyBlue

If you read the above posts, my dad knows the history of the truck...and the Blue blazer is gonna be my project when I get outta Wyotech

the only way he knows the WHOLE story is if he built, owned, and maintained it himself. is the person who owns it now a good friend of his? or just an aquaintance? remember, they are trying to rid themselves of the truck, they can, and will withold any information that would subtract from it its selling points.

[lolife99]

I'd say throw some valve seals on your truck, (to eliminate the smoking at startup), add some dropped spindles and drive it. Make sure you have plenty of clearence between your suspension bumpstops. Alot of people lower their trucks and leave the factory bumpstops in place. Then you are constantly bouncing off them. Sh*tty ride! Nice factory stepsides are hard to find. Especially loaded '85-'87 models. I wish I had it.

[Clos'84TX]

Nice truck, paint looking good.

[78SilveradoSWB]

That is one nice 78 stepside! Too bad I don't have a spare $10K, I'd buy it myself, but I hope some day to get my 78 SWB painted the same color and looking that nice.

[cliffsta]

I say go for the 78. You said yourself you know the history of it, and if you really want it that bad, then go for it. It is a very sweet truck.

[BabyBlue]

Fast...my dad is good friends with Mike(the owner) and he's the one that started on trading and stuff. And the owner of the lot, Rob, who is a good friend of my father and me, knows the history down to the very detail, which is pretty neat.

Well, I went down at 10am today and talked with rob and we called mike and waited for him. He came down around 12pm and My dad talked with him for a bit and then I now own the truck. I personally love it, after driving it home and washing it, I just can't get over how nice it is....it is seriously the nicest 78' stepside I have ever seen. I think I'll be really happy with this truck, as this is the first day in a year that I've had a smile on my face for this long. I'll be posting some pictures of it soon.

[BodyShopDropOut12]

Sweet buy.