Should I buy this?

[SanitysBane]

Allright here is the deal, the guy that owns this lot works with Dad at the Papermill. He will sell me the 1/2 tonshortbed '85 frame and bed, along with the 85 1 ton cab and front clip for $300. I am going to do a frame off resoration on it, and for the first year or two it will be a show truck, then enter as my dail driver. Is this to much? What am I getting into? How hard is it going to be to fix the damage to the front of the frame?
Thanks for any help.


Here is the 1/2 ton short bed.

[SanitysBane]

more

[SanitysBane]

And the 1 ton

[SanitysBane]

More 1 ton

[1FaastC10]

the bed alone seems like it'd be worth the $300. BTW, if that 1 ton is an 85, it should have the hydraulic clutch (master cyl res mounted to the wiper motor). tha setup is worth some serious cash to the right people, as it was only produced from 85-87 in 1/2 and 3/4 tons, and 85-91 in 1 tons.

[bodydropped]

that 1 ton was a show truck once apon a time because loko at the dash and door panals old skool tuk and roll

[1FaastC10]

Originally Posted by bodydropped

that 1 ton was a show truck once apon a time because loko at the dash and door panals old skool tuk and roll

tuck and roll means absolutely nothing. my plow truck has been a plow truck since the day it rolled off of the dealership's lot in early 1977. it had tuck and roll, with crappy stock pieces underneath. dealing with the crappy stock stuff for now, and am going to go back to original, with a few minor upgrades.

[N2TRUX]

David if your buying them to part out and make some money then go for it. If your buying them to build a nice truck out of, forget it. You would be much better off buying a truck that isn't rusted, busted and bent. It's much less work, and less money as well to start with as nice a truck as you can afford....

[SanitysBane]

Hmmm....good points...I think I will just keep looking and try to find a nice 83, thats what I really want anyways, its a kinda special year...looks like I need to save up more money.

[screwballl]

ya i was gonna say there would be wayyyyy to much work involved to get that junk to showroom quality

[82c10]

find some with less rust, just my $o.o2

[ElGracho]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

David if your buying them to part out and make some money then go for it. If your buying them to build a nice truck out of, forget it. You would be much better off buying a truck that isn't rusted, busted and bent. It's much less work, and less money as well to start with as nice a truck as you can afford....

Ken is absolutely right here. I've done it both ways, bought junk and made it nice and bought nice and made it nicer. It is BY FAR less expensive to start with something nice.

The stuff that is missing between those two trucks will cost you a ton. Having to go hunt down every little screw and special bracket makes it easy to lose interest in a project.

Also, nice 73-87 SWB trucks aren't that hard to get pretty cheap still, why start with a bent frame and hope you can fix it?

Keep looking for that 83. I think that year is cool too. Last year of wipers on the dash and has my favorite grille of all these trucks.

[phantom dually]

I agree with KEN stay away!! If you want a good project try to find a nice rolling frame and start from there. You can piece it together and find rust free parts and build as you go.

[f.monroe]

Buy them , remove the bed and any good parts that you can store , and then take them straight to the crusher .I am sure that with what scrap iron is bringing , I am sure you would get your money back and maybe make enough to cover your time and trouble . That way ,when you do find the right 83 ,you will have a nice bed for it . Frank

[SanitysBane]

I am just going to tell the guy, no thanks. But I may take that bed off of his hands...I don't feel like getting the trucks and then parting them out, I could make some money, but I just don't feel like it.