I need the help of some of you Experts

[AJohn6]

So I am wanting to buy a 50ish truck and I need your guys help to decipher what is a good deal. Below are a couple links to some graigslist trucks and one on ebay that are all within a couple hours from me. Could I get some of you guys to check out the site and tell me if they are worth my time to check them out. I don't know what I need to look for with trucks these years.

Thanks again fellas,
Adam

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1121595308.html

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1133292944.html


For this one its the blue '51 third one down
http://www.retrocarads.com/pages/bro.../chevrolet.php

[nickp51chevy]

What is your build budget???

[OrrieG]

Ebay msut have been a scam, its gone. What do you want to do with it? Stock looking and suspension with updated engine, trans and rearend? Drop it on an S-10 frame? Stock frame with front clip or MII suspension. Tub the rear with 4 link?

What is your skill level? You can ALWAYS buy one done cheaper than building it yourself, especially now. Or find a half done project with the clip and rear done so all you have to worry about is the drivetrain and body work. The closer to stock you want to be the more complete the truck you need. If you are going the S-10 route all you are worried about is the body and radiator support. CA and desert west trucks will have less body issues but are probably going to cost more, again it depends on how much rust you want or can deal with.

[AJohn6]

I'm not sure if I have a budget. I want to do a full frame with C4, C5, or C6 drivetrain and airride. I don't plan on having it done any time in the next five years. I have about $8,000 to drop on a descent truck to begin with but I also don't mind spending less to begin with so I can have more money to buy the drivetrain with.

I have am fairly experienced at welding and building stuff, but I am not that experiecnced and designing the front suspension. I am going to figure it out though. I have a nice mig welder and plasma cutter and I have access to a nice machine shop with a ton of equipment.

[AJohn6]

I have no experience with patchwork and rust repair but I am going to learn how. I also have some new SATA paint guns and access to a paint booth I can rent out. I also need to learn how to spray some paint also.

Adam

[nickp51chevy]

personally I would get these trucks. you would have two looks like complete trucks to start with. Granted the other trucks look like they are "Done", I would want more money to go to what I want to do to them and not what someone else already did. If that makes any scene.
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1133292944.html

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by nickp51chevy

personally I would get these trucks. you would have two looks like complete trucks to start with. Granted the other trucks look like they are "Done", I would want more money to go to what I want to do to them and not what someone else already did. If that makes any scene.
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1133292944.html

I waas thinking the same thing. My only concern was that they had no titles for them. Should I be concerned about that?

[nickp51chevy]

I don't know how it works in NC but, after your done building your truck you take it to the state patrol and they inspect it and i think they issue a new title. I'm not 100% on that though. I do believe that is how it works here in WA. you should research it b4 the add expires. I would just call your DOL and maybe state patrol.

[mr48chev]

Orrie asked the same questons I would have. If the 8500 truck is as nice underneith as it looks on top it might be worth close to the asking price in that you wouldn't have to spend a ton on body pieces that you might have to repair or replace on a more inexpensive truck.
In this area I think that truck would probably be a 4500/5000 truck right now unless it has a lot more going for it than I see.
From what I can see it has a real decent body and nice wood in the bed. The wood alone is a couple hundred bucks to buy.
The only thing is, is that you may be paying a oto of money for things on that truck that you wouldn't be using and may not recover that much money by selling them.

The pile of truck pieces is probably worth close to what the asking price is and a hand full of cash greenies with large numbers on them will probably buy that stuff.

That should give you most of the pieces you would need to build a truck and enough left overs to sell off to recover some of the outlay. The thing there is *no title* so you have to jump through hoops like a circus dog to get a title. If I were to buy that stuff I would ask for a detailed bill of sale and maybe get it notarized in the process.

I've been working on a blank semicomplete bill of sale form to take with me when I buy major pieces for projects so that I can better document where things came from.
I usually carry a simple bill of sale book from the office supply in the truck for small pieces that I pick up from individuals and I always make a copy of the Ebay receipt when I buy anything major off there.
My theory is that receipts and bills of sale equal less hassle with the dmv and the tax collectors. It backs up your arguement when you tell them that you only have spent 9,647.50 on the truck an have receipts and bills of sale to prove it than have them argue that the bluebook says your now show quality truck is worth 20,000 and they want tax on the 20,000 that they say it is worth.

If it were me I'd have to buy the pile of pieces and make a truck out of it simply because I don't have the ready cash to spend on the red truck. Providing that there are good enough pieces to make a nice truck out of.

On the other hand I think I'd have to at least look at the other truck and see if it might be better to try to work a deal on it. Cash talks.