Help please

[mrmojo32]

Hey everyone this is my first post. I have been looking at a truck and need some advice.

It's a 1972 chevy LWB - 250 6 cyl - 3 speed manual trans. No idea on rear end other than 12 bolt. No leaks on drive train.

The body is very straight with no dents. Lower panels under doors are rusted out. Tailgate has lots of rust holes in the bottom of it. The bottom of the bed has lots of rust holes as well. Other rust areas include bottom of cab behind the doors. Also, above the windshield the body filler by the drip guard is all cracked up. I saw no rust from the inside there and could not tell if it was rusted underneath in that area.

The truck has no AC. Disc brakes in the front have been recently reworked and engine has new exhaust manifold.

I love this model truck and have had one before and have been looking for one for quite some time in my area. This is the 1st one I have come across that was cheap and in decent shape. I would probably do a v8 swap in the future if I were to buy it. I would want it for a project to work on a little at a time.

The guy who has it says he drives it to the hunting camp every weekend and is dependable.

Is it worth 1000.00? What about the rust? What kind of trans is this? What gear ratio might I expect?

Thanks in advance.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

Welcome to the board from West Michigan!

Sounds like the truck could be worth $1000 if it runs and drives good. The rust can be repaired and it probably has a Saginaw tranny in it. The rear gear ratio is probably a 3:73 to 1.

Jim

[mrmojo32]

Thanks for the quick reply because I am going to drive it today and have 800.00 in my pocket.

My real concern is the rust. I guess from what I have described, it may not be too bad.

[rage'nrat638]

hit them low..the rust you can see is not always the worst of it..it's the cab supports and floorboards, kick panels, under the carpet,. that's what can make a truck unworkable.

where ever there is rust figure cutting a 1" away from that to get clean metal..picture in your head that metal cut away..and whats that trucking looking like..

hope it goes well. your in the southern states there should some good metal around there..

i live in Chicago.. my truck is from Arizona your pal mark

take some pictures today and post them..

[mrmojo32]

I wish I would have brought my camera to work today.

[krue]

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi! I bought my truck for $800 and it had the usual rocker rust, the bedsides were shot (from toolboxes not rust) and the rear fenders (stepside) were brand new. It also had a 350 and th350 and I drove it home. I'd offer $500 to start with.

[mrmojo32]

Thanks for the advice....

I am going over there in 9 hours...

[mrmojo32]

Ok... I went back and checked it again..

On the rust:

a few small holes on the bottom of the bed. Kick plates under the doors are gone. The trim around the top front above the windshield is fine. Everywhere the body mounts to the frame is fine. a couple of small holes in floor board. and bottom of cab behind door.

So I guess this is better news and the rust is not that extensive. Oh.. The tailgate is really rusted out.

[mrmojo32]

Well I got it for 800.00 and it drove home fine. Sorry about the size of the images. I still don't know how to resize them.