Scrap It -- Or Drive It ??

[streetstar]

Dilemma with my '71. I know a lot of you guys on the board dig the patina thing -- and until i started checking out the boards, patina to me was just another word for neglect and old age. I posted a similar thread a couple months ago about this same truck and was told to keep it, but i figured i would submit a few more detailed photos this time. I

I originally bought this truck with the intention of scrapping everything but the rolling chassis, which i was going to use to convert a LWB i have to a shortie. Thing about it is - it is fun to drive - i took it to a cruise in and was surrounded by people who loved it because of its original "patina" - which i thought was weird until i checked out the boards-- the 6 is fuggly, but runs great. I could fix the floorboards, rockers and cab mounts to make a more weather proof drive, but with the rust on the roof, its really not worth it to spend too much effort on the cab.

After driving it awhile, i wavered back and forth on parting it and halfway decided to lower it and keep it among the land of the living, but now that its time to chop it and scrap it or not --- i dont know, so i figured i would get an opinion from the board after you guys checked out the pics.

If i keep it as is, i will never have any intention of making the thing "nice" i would just fix the floor and rockers and drive it

the frame and running gear is still good with nothing but surface rust -- the extreme condition of the cab is because a PO took a cb antenna off the roof without bothering to plug the hole -- decades of rain water will do that to a truck through an opening like that




left side


right side


250 straight six, albeit a greasy one


external fuel tank is kinda *****in' -- especially since the corrosion level matches the exterior to a tee


bed corner is mangled


Even the bed sides have problems



Front of cab roof is fried from an old CB antenna hole that wasnt sealed when the CB was removed



Roached out rocker panels on both sides -- cab mounts match


SO there it is -- Scrap it (and use the frame for something else) or drive it ?

[Willy Prost]

Drive it... It's in better condition than mine.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Drive it

I sometimes think I enjoyed mine more before it was "pretty."

[G35MIKE]

drive that sucker..

[BB72CHEVKT]

Drive it or get a replacement cab and move forward. The bed does not look bad to me.

[see ten]

How nice is the lwb cab? I kinda like how it looks now but I would want it a smidge lower to the ground for my taste.

[weasel29gm]

Looks like a WV truck!!! No offense but I can find em' like that almost anywhere. Thats rough for a mid-western truck. Find a better cab rather than fixin' that one.

[streetstar]

Originally Posted by see ten

How nice is the lwb cab? I kinda like how it looks now but I would want it a smidge lower to the ground for my taste.

the whole lwb truck is pretty nice - just a little loooonnnggg for my taste----its nice enough that i shudder thinking about hanging this ones green and primer sheetmetal on its almost pristine cab.

no votes to scrap it yet

[streetstar]

Originally Posted by weasel29gm

Looks like a WV truck!!! No offense but I can find em' like that almost anywhere. Thats rough for a mid-western truck. Find a better cab rather than fixin' that one.

Originally was not my intention to fix the body on this - just bought it for the frame. I guess thats my first vote to scrap it

[HeavyD]

I vote to rebody (scrap vote #2) it. With the prices swb trucks are getting, and access to nice parts in your area, why drive a rusty bomb? Patina is only cool if there are no holes.

[TruckinDaddy]

Drive it! I am pretty sure that Baby Jesus cries every time one gets scrapped.

[ksjh1316]

It almost sounds like to me that you really want to scrap her and make one big complete project. i say go for it you will enjoy both you vehicles more when you have what you really want in the end run.

[68shortstep]

I think that truck came from around here. I believe I remember the tube grill bars & those MoonEyes decals, with the fender-mount spare.

If not, it (like they say everybody else in the world does) must have an identical twin. That truck had a hole in the roof from a CB antenna, too. Belonged to a local school system, as I recall, in its' first life.

I almost bought the truck, and the guy who owned it drove it down to a scrap yard & sold it to them, when I didn't come thru fast enough (yea, it was that cheap), and I later went there to buy it, or some parts, & heard they re-sold it to someone else & didn't scrap or part it out.

Might actually be the very same rig.

I ended up getting a lot better truck (less rust) for my start, but I paid a whole lot more for it.

[shifty]

whatever you do, take the vacuum cleaner filter off the carb and replace it with what is supposed to be there

[Billla]

Mine is in worse shape than that and I drive it every day

[Longhorn Man]

Screw patina... it's a beater.
Beaters is about all I've ever owned. Beaters are cool. you can work that thing like a dog, and not feel at all guilty. You can throw bricks and scrap metal and anything you want in the bed... or in the cab for that matter, and not give half a crap about what it does to the floor. Beaters are cool, becouse you don't have to park them out in the middle of nowwhere when you go to the wall mart. Who cares if it gets another door ding... hell, who's gonna know? You can put stickers on it, try new paint schemes on it... try your hand at flames or scallops, you can put it all in primer if the multi color thing bugs you, or, just leave it as it looks now... you can't devalue it as long as it runs.
Beaters are cool.
I would get rid of the rear bumper, the Mack inspired mirrors, drop it (use heat, who cares, it's a beater) I'd probably toss a glass pack on it, and install some tunes.
When you have a truck that is all decked out, perfect paint and body, a multi million dollare engine, a suspention that makes NASA jelouse.... you'll miss the beater. The beater that can be driven in the rain, driven in the mud, not afraid to get it sideways, you can do a burn out with no fear of the tread flying off and smackin the fender.... the kids can drink pop and eat a snickers while in it, if they make a mess, who cares, as long as it don't stink.

[Billla]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

you can't devalue it as long as it runs.
Beaters are cool.

There you go - everything in two short lines.

Like I tell everyone, "Yeah, it's a POS - but it's MY POS!"

[mnunn454]

I guess I'm the more nostalgic of the viewpoints posted thus far.

Patina matters little to me either. However, I do think mainly because of its relative scarcity compared to other trucks, the truck deserves to be fixed up. If you can't or won't, then sell it to someone who will.

You obviously need a work/driver truck. But to fill that need, you can get a more modern one [for not a whole lot more than you could sell this one for] and drive it into the ground instead.

This way 5 years from now there'll be one more 67-72 on the road than if you ride yours 'till it's gone from the roles completely.

[screamin_eagle]

if you dont plan on fixin it up just drive it who cares what it looks like its a truck not a pierce arrow

[tenochiturbide]

Drive it!!! I've seen worst and runnig!!

[Spray-Bomb]

Either drive or sell it to somebody who will !!!

[70GMCer]

Gotta love the Moon Eyes and Mr. Horsepower stickers

['68 longbed]

I'd drive it till the wheels fell off.

[jorgensensc]

My .02. I have a very nicely done up '56 Bel Air that I am actually afraid to drive. THis truck will be done simply so that I 'm not afraid to drive the he!! out of it and enjoy it. I'm actually thinking of selling the Bel Air because I don't like to drive it, I'm afraid something will happen to it. Drop it, drive it, enjoy it!
Shawn

[brianthelion02]

Originally Posted by '68 longbed

I'd drive it till the wheels fell off.

Then put em back on and keep goin!!!!!!!