My dilema

[Manxxman]

This last week I bought a 1970 C20 long bed 3/4 ton truck that is completly dis-assembled. It is in the process of being restored and the owner had sudenly passed about 3 months ago. His wife was left with this unfinished project and did not want any part of it. I got the project for a very good price and also got over $20k in receipts for what has been done so far and the parts.
My dilema is, this is not the truck I wanted to build, C10 1/2 ton shortbed fleetside is were its at for me. I know allot of the parts are interchangeable, but i basicly have a new powdercoated longbed frame with new suspension and a long bed that has been blasted and primed. Is it worth anything?
I have a shortbed frame lined up, and can buy shortbed sides with no problem.

I don't have any pictures, but this thing is imaculate. The Dana 60 axle is brand new and powdercoated black w/posi. The frame is set up for a small block/700r combo and has a brand new 2 piece drive shaft. All the brake and fuel lines (rear tank) are already installed. Every nut and bolt is new.
I thought about cutting it and shortening it, but it would be such a waste to ruin such great work.

I got so many great parts to start with but I'm kind of overwhelmed with were to begin. What would you guys do?
I will try to get some pictures up as soon as I can.

[stsalvage]

there is nothing wrong with having another truck.I really doubt you will use the short bed for any real work.But the 3/4 ton could be your work horse.And trust me when you start driving the short bed and the weather out side sucks.But you really want to be in something that you like being in the 3/4 ton would make a good driver But you can always convert the 3/4 ton to a 1/2 ton there are tons of 1973--87 laying around that you can steel the front end and rear end off as long as your 3/4 ton is a Leaf spring not a coil spring.I've always been for the mild 350 engines for longer lasting and lot more enjoy able years

[Manxxman]

It is a leaf rear end, but for the money that's been invested, you will never see the return for this restoration. I have a 3/4 ton diesel truck and don't need or want a workhouse, I want a show truck. This thing has the makeings of a showtruck, it's just a longbed. I will get some pictures up asap.

[WarBeard]

Use it to haul your show truck?

[Stricklinator]

You could shorten the frame and swap for 1/2 ton stuff to make it your dream truck, shorten it and make a sort of one-of-a-kind 3/4 ton short bed. You could also sell it to someone who wants a LWB 3/4 ton; I for example, I would kill for the parts you have.

Either way it's a dilemma I wouldn't mind being in.

Paul
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[sleepertruck72]

It sounds like you should start selling the stuff. If you become a subscribing member you can sell them here. You should be able to find someone to buy those parts from you from the description...

[Shyguy]

You have a dilema for sure. In my situation I would find a swb frame and put all the 3/4 ton stuff on it with half ton springs and then keep what is left over for another project, since we always have another project.

I am sure you will not have a problem selling all the parts you don't need for a good price if you find the right buyers.

I have a pretty decent mostly original lwb truck and a not so good swb truck. We are taking the two and building a swb stepper for me. We are saving the good left-over parts for a future project. We are lucky we have a place to store parts and parts trucks.

[DorianB]

Originally Posted by motomech

Use it to haul your show truck?

Hahaha I was thinking the same thing!

[Manxxman]

I just need to get the pictures up, and you will see what I'm talking about. The guy who started this had a labor of love, and didn't care about what it cost. Everything I see on this frame and suspension is new or refinished and powder coated. The cab has been sandblasted and primed and is completley rust free. I unloaded 2 truck loads full of parts from this lady's house.

[Manxxman]

Here are the pictures of the truck. I also picked up 2 truck loads of new parts for the restore. I have an awsome start but I have to get rid of the rolling frame and the longbed bedsides. Any Takers?

[Manxxman]

more pictures

[Manxxman]

even more pictures

[WarBeard]

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! All the hard work is already done!

Finish it!

[Manxxman]

Originally Posted by motomech

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! All the hard work is already done!

Finish it!

If I finish it, you know and I know, it's not worth half what it would be as a 1/2 ton short fleetside!!!

[WarBeard]

Yeah I know but...........How many of us actually profit from our projects?

MY father in-law has a 72 3/4 longbed and he is the original owner and has kept it immaculate all these years. I think they still look cool!

You and I are just different! I love the trucks that can look good and can do a days work!

I guess I'm just jealous.

[Manxxman]

Originally Posted by motomech

Yeah I know but...........How many of us actually profit from our projects?

MY father in-law has a 72 3/4 longbed and he is the original owner and has kept it immaculate all these years. I think they still look cool!

You and I are just different! I love the trucks that can look good and can do a days work!

I guess I'm just jealous.

I actually do pretty good with my projects. I look for what I believe would be a good resale.
I can definatly appreciate the work or I wouldn't have bought it. If it wasn't for the price I paid, I would have let someone else finish there dream truck. I can only hope that what I do with the rest of it even compares to what has been done so far. That's why I have the dilema, I can't bring myself to cut it up. I would rather part it out and keep what I need and let someone else enjoy this awsome start.

[QKENUF4U]

man if you could shorten that frame and do it super clean or just replace the frame rails with SB rails that where PC'd black to match. i would keep everything the way it is other than the frame and build a awesome 2wd 3/4T short bed myself... that way all youre getting rid of are the frame rails/frame.... everything else is UNBOLT and BOLT back onto new frame......
good luck..

[Rochlow]

There was a powder coat swb frame with 1/2 ton suspension and a pb drop member for $3000 in the for sale section.
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[sleepertruck72]

Dang those bedsides look nice. I just got rid of a real straight bed floor that would of been perfect for those The frame looks real nice as does the engine and everything else. You shouldnt have a problem selling the stuff...

[C20-67_N_MO]

Wow!

That truck has a LOT of money invested in it just by looking over the pictures.

I wish I could afford it, as it looks like a nice truck.

Good luck.

[ChevLoRay]

So, what's the biggest dilemna...that it isn't what you want, or that you bought it? I'm with those who think you should just finish it, then sell it, unless you have fallen in love with it. Or, just yank the engine/transmission and part it out, using the cab/cap for your SWB project. Surely, someone wants a cherried-out LWB chassis for their favorite LWB vehicle. All hope is not lost.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by motomech

Use it to haul your show truck?

[Manxxman]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

So, what's the biggest dilemna...that it isn't what you want, or that you bought it? I'm with those who think you should just finish it, then sell it, unless you have fallen in love with it. Or, just yank the engine/transmission and part it out, using the cab/cap for your SWB project. Surely, someone wants a cherried-out LWB chassis for their favorite LWB vehicle. All hope is not lost.

My biggest dilema was deciding if I should cut this truck up or sell off the parts I don't need.

I posted the rolling frame and bedsides in the forsale section if any of you are interested in them.