My $30 truck.

[30BuckTruck]

Hi everyone I saw the enthusiasm in this forum so i wanted to show my truck buildup in progress. For starters i got this 85 c10 from my cousin for $30 last sunday it wouldn't go over 40mph. He was clueless as to why. Wound up being a bad cat. Since last sunday i rattle canned it flat black until i can finish bodywork and get prepped for paint eventually. I also replaced the exhaust with a new magnaflow high flow cat and muffler and installed a new clutch. Also got a new bench seat from the salvage yard just put in on friday this one has a center console that flips up for a third seat. It has a 305 with a 4speed longbed with 2wd. I took some pictures for everyone.

[30BuckTruck]

It was a light blue with different colored parts. My wife is happier now its one color and that it goes over 40mph! haha i caught some bs for buying it for those reasons.

[c10sport]

Sunny beach, helluva deal there! I like it flat black!

[noremac]

welcome... and are you serious about buying it for 30 bucks?? i thought i got a good deal buying my 83 for 800 lol

[72BlckButy]

Money well spent...

Welcome to the board from Mid-MO!!!

[Pop's C-10]

Welcome & nice score...paint tha bowtie on tha grill orange like you did tha gate letters..looks good..you probally spent more for paint then you did tha truck..lol

[30BuckTruck]

I want to paint the bowtie orange to match but had ran out of tape taping off the chrome and the bumper. My cousin had bought it off craigslist for $300 about a month ago it was a farm truck in maine. I'm just glad he was soo frustrated with it to sell soo cheap. It was originally going to be sold to me for $1 and a six pack, but we went to the bar and it wound up being his bar tab $30.00. Runs great now other than really small oil leak from somewhere in the back of engine i'm going to rock the 305 until it dies and buildup a 350 for it. My dd is an 01' mustang and i really needed a truck because i cant fit anything in the stang.

[30BuckTruck]

The first time i filled the gas tank i laughed because it cost $15 more to fill the one tank than it did to buy the truck. I also replaced the cracked windshield. I didn't know the radio antenna was part of the windshield before i went pricing one out. I have no idea why they stopped doing that it's awsome!!

[Pop's C-10]

sweet...post more pics

[30BuckTruck]

More pics on the way. I was hoping to get some insight on how to get this puppy to pass emissions motor is all stock but it has 233,000 miles on it with an exhaust leak where the manifold meets the rest of the exhaust. Anyone think i should just try it and see if it passes? In NJ they are only going to check the emissions. The exhaust i did ends at the muffler under the bed. I have new dist. cap and rotor and plug wires and just picked up everything to do an oil change plus a new pcv valve. The only time it smokes is when i first start it up for the day, one little puff of smoke and thats it. I decided not to play with the timing at all unitil i rebuild the carb prolly next weekend.

[1ATony]

welcome to the site.

[30BuckTruck]

Ok just got back from the inspection station and truck passed on primary idle, but failed on high idle it only failed for CO% my reading was 5.39 and the standard is 1.20 so my carbon monoxide is over 4X the limit how can i bring this down? I'm planning on installing new cap and rotor and plug wires, oil change. What else can i do to bring it down dramatically?

[30BuckTruck]

I took more pictures of truck. it needs to be cleaned up real good and undercoated. these are the seats i put in instead of the Bench seat the center flips up into a third seat.








Here are some pictures of the engine and exhaust. Engine needs to be cleaned right now just working on getting it running good to pass emissions.







Going to need to replace these lines before they go bad on me. I'm planning on replacing the whole brake system a little at a time.


But now i gotta work a bunch of overtime in order to buy the parts. Sadly nothing will get done for about a month when i have time off again.

[nbpro]

welcome to the site.

[GMC Guy]

man those seats look sweet! what're they out of?

[30BuckTruck]

They were in an f150 but they are aftermarket seats... heated massaging chairs, didn't know until i got them home. I have to wire the seats up still but i figured that can wait until stereo wiring. I got the whole bench setup for $75 because it was aftermarket and apparently that kinda stuff don't sell well in a scrapyard. I just went out there and the only thing i can find on the seats as far as a brand is relaxor road comfort, i dunno if they made the entire chair or not nothing else is labeled.

[gulfcoast66]

Welcome aboard nice 30buck truck

[30BuckTruck]

Thanks!! I was playing around with the engine Timing and tuneup when i took it for a test ride to see how the timing was working out (trying to get it to pass emissions i had it timed to the center of the "bullseye" tube for best emissions but it ran like $h1t so i put it back to 6* btdc. i'll see if it passes this time.) During my test drive the brakes went out on me the passenger side front caliper locked up and after replacing calipers, disks, and brake pads on both sides i was bleeding the brakes and found a pinhole leak on the line going to the rear brakes!! haha ya get what u pay for... Just got done running new brake lines to entire truck and replaced the master cylinder for peace of mind. I'd rather wonder why it wont go faster, then worry why isn't it stopping.

I took some pictures i know they aren't that interesting but its progress...



I also cleaned, checked, and repacked the wheel bearings while replacing disks.



It was a night shot i already miss the days where it was daylight until 9pm.




I just realized that in an earlier post i took a picture of the underside of the truck and mentioned how i need to replace all the lines before they went bad on me. I guess one week was a week too late!

[30BuckTruck]

I found hooker headers on craigslist for $50 comes with chrome valve covers. The headers will get rid of the exhaust leak i have right where the exhaust manifold meets the rest of the exhaust and give me some more power!

[dccarpenter]

Great buy on the truck, let us know if it passes emissions with the new headers.

[30BuckTruck]

Sorry couldn't post for a while been working a little over 80 hours a week. I ordered summit racing headers and bought a roll pan for the truck. Craigslist guy sold before i was able to get them.

Tried taking truck through inspection for the last time...
1st time It ran great and it failed barely.
2nd time Gave tuneup and adjusted timing, failed miserably.
3rd time Adjusted timing to the best emissions possible and it lost all electric to entire truck once the inspection person shut it off, they pushed it out.

Haha Really embarrassing had to fix it in the parking lot and they wouldn't let me try again.

Planning on just taking it to a shop to get headers installed and replacing any old part of the exhaust and Buy a sticker, the shop will adjust everything so i can pass. after i figure out the wiring issue.

Wiring issue
Every once in a while the truck will lose all power only while i am trying to start it as soon as i put the key on the start position the truck will lose all power. No headlights, interior lights, horn, radio...etc. As soon as i disconnect the battery and reconnect it everything will work fine and the truck starts right up. (sometimes i have to go through disconnecting and reconnecting more than once.) No fuses are blown and i am thinking it is the wire from battery to starter solenoid or from solenoid to starter. I'm planning on replacing both the wires and the solenoid. I think the problem came from driving with exhaust leak because it just started out of nowhere and hot exhaust is blowing close enough to wires so the protective covers melted, shorting everything out.

Will post pics after roll pan and headers are installed. Truck needs tires so i am looking for a decent set of rims instead of the stock ones.

Any ideas for rims?
My price range is relatively cheap around $500 with or without tires on them. don't have the money for coys. Just something 16"-18" in chrome. That already is correct offset spacing for the truck.

[30BuckTruck]

Was looking for rims and found these for a good price so i lied when i said i wasn't getting coys... should be here in 2 weeks just have to get tires and get it to the shop for the exhaust. When i get some time i'll have to try that diy spray on paintjob from duplicolor paint shop finish system. not looking forward to paint prep though....
i'm thinking the colors i want to do will look like this.




I didnt' add the coys into the picture of the side i'm not good at photoshop. i also want to put herculiner on the bed.

[30BuckTruck]

ooh yeah the coys i got are 18" x 8 in the front and 20" x 8.5" in the back. Supposedly made just for the truck so i wont need back spacers or adapters. we will see...

[Wincks2]

Wow. You are really making that truck nice.

[babyJay]

Originally Posted by 30BuckTruck

I found hooker headers on craigslist for $50 comes with chrome valve covers. The headers will get rid of the exhaust leak i have right where the exhaust manifold meets the rest of the exhaust and give me some more power!

there's no way I'd spend more on headers than I spent on the truck. Just kiddin. I like headers, they can free up some suppressed ponies. Is your stock manifold cracked or just warped?