Advice building my square body

[Hotrodrobert]

Hello guys!
I need advice on building my truck. I have a lot of parts on hand and I want to sell the best truck and use another just for junk hauling, some performance.
I have
454 bored .100", stock crank, square port heads, B&M 255 blower with 16 rib drive, blower modified Holley 850, MSD 6 and distributor, several cams from mild flat hydraulic to pretty hot street solid and hydraulic roller cams, headers, etc.
383 with 6" rods, several cams, hydraulic flat and roller, Chevy 882 heads, Vortec heads, and RHS iron 200cc intake heads, Performer Air Gap, and available single turbo that can make about 500hp, 500lbft. headers, etc.
700R-4 that is fresh from a Vette and a 2800 converter, extra heavy duty everything inside.
400 Turbo, fresh with shift kit, good parts, 3k converter
B&M shifter for either trans.
Dakota digital dash
Vintage Air AC
Original AC
14 bolt rear with disc brakes, 3.73 Posi, Moser axles, fresh
74 Longbed with new fenders, cowl hood, doors, bed parts including new sides, front, tailgate, new seat upholstery, carpets, all new suspension bushings replaced with urethane, new swaybars fron and rear, new 4" radiator, dual electric fans, steering box, tilt steering just rebuilt, new aftermarket steering wheel, wheel was moved down the shaft because the owner was so fat he couldn't get in. Much more.
87 Shortbed with good body, no drivetrain.
76 Shortbed with excellent cab, some rust on the bed sides, the doors, fenders and hood are held together with paint and rust but all the bad parts can be replaced from the longbed.
The original owner died and they tried to sell the truck for 3 years and everyone was ready to buy it until you said "LONGBED" then you would think you slapped them!!! I bought the truck with now no cylinder heads and a rusty shortblock but everything else just perfect.
I want the most return from the one I sell and the other will be just fun for me

What should I build???
Any advice and opinions on the best combo to sell would be most appreciated and then I will build the best I can from what is left.
Thanks in advance!!

[russgt]

I would personally build the 76 to keep, the 86 will be quicker to turn since the body is good. My opinion would be to dump the 383/700R4 into the 86 and sell it. Build the 76 with the 454/turbo 400 and 14 bolt.

[Hotrodrobert]

Originally Posted by russgt

I would personally build the 76 to keep, the 86 will be quicker to turn since the body is good. My opinion would be to dump the 383/700R4 into the 86 and sell it. Build the 76 with the 454/turbo 400 and 14 bolt.

Would the big powertrain not sell better? I need some fuel efficiency in the keeper and if you guys think the 383/700 would sell better, I wil put it in the seller and then sell the BB and blower and build something more fuel efficient for me-maybe a SB turbo or even a 292 or even a 250 turbo with a less expensive 700.

[justpball]

Small block would prob sell better...
Posted via Mobile Device

[andrewmp6]

The big block i would try selling it by its self on racingjunk.com .If it was me i would keep the 76 and sell the 86 and the long bed.Or keep the long bed and sell both short beds.

[russgt]

Originally Posted by Hotrodrobert

Would the big powertrain not sell better? I need some fuel efficiency in the keeper and if you guys think the 383/700 would sell better, I wil put it in the seller and then sell the BB and blower and build something more fuel efficient for me-maybe a SB turbo or even a 292 or even a 250 turbo with a less expensive 700.

The big block will attract "lookers", but the 383 with overdrive presents itself as a possible daily driver, something that a blown big block throws out the window. You could also test the waters on trying to sell the BB outright if you think there is a chance that you could get what you want out of it.

If that happens, I would suggest then to put a 350/ turbo 400 (No stall) in the 86, sell it, redo the 76 with the 383/700. I would be hesitant with the 74, around here longbeds seem to only get used for parts and for re-boding 4x4s. You would need the parts off it to redo the 76 anyways.

[N2TRUX]

SWB FTW...

[rwhit57]

No doubt what I'd do, I would keep the 87 with the good body, sell off everything else except the Dakota dash, 700R, and any pieces I might need and buy a decent crate motor and build that.

[Hotrodrobert]

Originally Posted by rwhit57

No doubt what I'd do, I would keep the 87 with the good body, sell off everything else except the Dakota dash, 700R, and any pieces I might need and buy a decent crate motor and build that.

I am a retired engine builder so any engine is not a problem.
The main thing I need to do is sell one of the trucks for the most money I can get and put whatever in the first truck just for that purpose.
Whatever is left, I will make into something I can use.
The 454 with the blower was a daily driver and it did very well. I built several BBC with that blower for boats and tow/street vehicles and they were very street friendly and quite powerful for a driver, not much more fuel than NA.

[flamingbig10]

keep the short bed sell the long bed, 454,383,700r4,and th400, and build a wild 6.2 vortec " 400hp from the factory" and a built 4l80e

[Hotrodrobert]

Originally Posted by flamingbig10

keep the short bed sell the long bed, 454,383,700r4,and th400, and build a wild 6.2 vortec " 400hp from the factory" and a built 4l80e

I don't want to buy ANYTHING but small parts for the body and maybe paint.
Object is to make use of what I have and get the most return.
BBC in the truck makes about 650 on the dyno on pump gas, as driven. Truck was driven about 3k by the original owner who used the longbed to haul trash, building supplies, tow a boat, loan to neighbors or anything else.
I want to find out what the market wants to buy for a TOY.
.

[andrewmp6]

Most want a short bed 2wd so they can air bag it,If its a long bed a 4x4 is more wanted but a 2wd one probably sell as a work truck if the price isn't sky high.

[Hotrodrobert]

If you could build on of these, choosing the best of everything to play with, what would you use, forget what is left and if isn't a work truck, just a toy and is driveable. I have some of the blower motors out there with many thousands of miles on them without any problems or maintenance issues. If you like the 383 better, would you like it with a single small turbo for say 500hp?