1953 chevy. what you guys think?

[tiddlar]

Ran into this truck for sale, wants 5200. I would techinically only need the frame and body. i wont use motor, tranny,suspension or rear end. What would you guys offer? I havent contacted the person selling it but it i was him i would want to sell it as a whole to make more money. If somehow i can get everything minus the parts mentioned above, what would be a reasonable offer?

[47 Fasttoys]

For 5 grand+ I would expect to drive it home with a clear title. Projects that have been taken apart or are just getting started for me are a big no. IMHO I would look some more for unmolested unit where most of the parts have not been removed. If your not the one taking it apart you don't know what is missing. Now if you have built a few old cars or trucks you would have a good idea of what your up against.
Good luck in your search, there are still a lot of good building material out there.
Rob

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by 47 Fasttoys

For 5 grand+ I would expect to drive it home with a clear title. Projects that have been taken apart or are just getting started for me are a big no. IMHO I would look some more for unmolested unit where most of the parts have not been removed. If your not the one taking it apart you don't know what is missing. Now if you have built a few old cars or trucks you would have a good idea of what your up against.
Good luck in your search, there are still a lot of good building material out there.
Rob

Well he has a clear title, and yes, there could be a million pieces missing very good point. I am getting desperate, anxious, but if the deal isnt right I will definitely walk away. Thanks for the input.

[racer357]

we just DROVE a 48 home for 700.00$ That better be one heck of a built small block for 5grand.

[LEEVON]

How solid is the body? You can spend thousands fixing rust. If you have some backup on the small block it would be worth a few bucks...and the frame if done well could be a winner. I would definitely take inventory! It takes alot to get this stuff together, what is your time worth?

[Russell Ashley]

Maybe a dumb question, but is that a bolt holding the frame clip on?

[mr48chev]

The other day I made a post saying that a guy shouldn't pay extra for things that he doesn't intend to use be they an engine, Wheels and tires or what not. I think it is pretty fair to ask if he would wheel and deal for just what you want of the truck.

The seller may think that the engine and trans are worth more than the rest of the truck combined and he quite possibly may be correct. He may also have someone who wants that engine and trans and that might help swing a deal for you.

You might also think about expanding your search circle a bit. A three hundred mile or so drive might get you what you really want for a decent initial cost. Uhaul trailers rent for under 100 a day and that could save you a lot.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by tiddlar

I am getting desperate, anxious,

Not a good place to be. Others stated it well, over priced especially since you do not need the drive train and the little pieces will nickle and dime you to death. Expand you area, Phoenix, LV and El Paso are all within a days drive.

[dwcsr]

That truck is way over priced I would do this before buying a basket case that I'm not using most of.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/pts/4474470744.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/4500990541.html

or even this and re-frame it
http://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/4435031813.html
it has all the body work done it looks like

If you decide to buy pieces get with your DMV and ask how do you document it so they can title it when its done. Ask about a composite car or a home built car.
If you can get a frame and cab with a title all the better. But don't buy a truck at 5 grand just because it has a title and still needs $15k in work

[Bone$]

Way to much imo .i would pay about 2,500.00 for that .

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

That truck is way over priced I would do this before buying a basket case that I'm not using most of.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/pts/4474470744.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/pts/4500990541.html

or even this and re-frame it
http://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/4435031813.html
it has all the body work done it looks like

If you decide to buy pieces get with your DMV and ask how do you document it so they can title it when its done. Ask about a composite car or a home built car.
If you can get a frame and cab with a title all the better. But don't buy a truck at 5 grand just because it has a title and still needs $15k in work

Am I reading right on that ad it says it has a "Dodge dart frame"? Um.....the Dodge dart was a unibody.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by tiddlar

Ran into this truck for sale, wants 5200. I would techinically only need the frame and body. i wont use motor, tranny,suspension or rear end. What would you guys offer? I havent contacted the person selling it but it i was him i would want to sell it as a whole to make more money. If somehow i can get everything minus the parts mentioned above, what would be a reasonable offer?

Technically, all you would be buying is the body because I would put money on it that frame is junk by the looks of that clip job. You have NO IDEA if that clip is straight, if it's too far forward or back, it looks like the truck would be a mile off the ground, is that what you want?

I'm sorry, that looks like a mess because of the clip. The cab looks darn nice from this one shot though.

Brian

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Am I reading right on that ad it says it has a "Dodge dart frame"? Um.....the Dodge dart was a unibody.

Brian

I think he may have meant Dakota or was told it was a dart, but yes Dodge Dart was a uni body car. But who knows,,,, I've seen some really odd things from people that use what they have to make it work.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Technically, all you would be buying is the body because I would put money on it that frame is junk by the looks of that clip job. You have NO IDEA if that clip is straight, if it's too far forward or back, it looks like the truck would be a mile off the ground, is that what you want?

I'm sorry, that looks like a mess because of the clip. The cab looks darn nice from this one shot though.

Brian

I've seen other pictures of this and the clip is a mess top to bottom. Nothing has been done to the cab. Its at best a $2500 truck

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/4506332365.html

[Bone$]

My 54 was a roller and i beat the guy down to $1000.00..

[tiddlar]

Hey thanks everyone for your replies. The engine is according to him a junk yard engine and the tranny as well. He said it was running, now if it was rebuilt that would be easy to sell but it's not. And yea it is over priced. He went down to 4000. That's just too much since I only need the body and frame. The front fenders are fiberglass...Found a perfect truck in Phoenix, this was a couple months back but had no title. Back to searching it is. Thanks again guys for your time . And to the guy who drove one home and paid 700????? Wow I'm envious.

[BC Toy chest]

RUNAWAY !! Don't do it. You will feel much better when you continue your search and find the right one.

[tiddlar]

Expanding the seach would be optimal, but i do work nights, Im awake during the night and asleep during the day, it would be troublesome but cant hurt to look.

[57chevyman]

as a comparison, I paid $5k for my truck and everything works. every light, horn, wipers, gauges, runs great, has all kinds of cool upgrades like power steering, IFS, v8. the whole floor of the cab is new steel. The only thing it needed when I bought it was 2 back tires

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by 57chevyman

as a comparison, I paid $5k for my truck and everything works. every light, horn, wipers, gauges, runs great, has all kinds of cool upgrades like power steering, IFS, v8. the whole floor of the cab is new steel. The only thing it needed when I bought it was 2 back tires

My dad sold "mine" he gave it to me in high school with no title,,, you know how that is. He had an MII IFS, camaro rear, chevy 350 and 350 tranny with less than 5000 miles on it. Eagle alloys b&m floor shifter he got 5000 out of it. The way I look at it the more time that passess the less and less of these trucks will be out there. Im hoping something smoking comes my way, I once heard good things come to those who wait.......

[Hogger54]

Yes.... WAIT. I don't know how many times I was ready to jump on a truck, and my wife said I should keep looking. Always a good idea to listen to the boss.

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by Hogger54

Yes.... WAIT. I don't know how many times I was ready to jump on a truck, and my wife said I should keep looking. Always a good idea to listen to the boss.

muahahaha i don't have one of those,

[msaintg]

unfortunately, everyone in the Phoenix area thinks thier crap is gold. I searched for a very long time to find the piece of junk that I hauled home (no motor, everything with 9 coats of house paint, rust, dents, torn sheetmetal, and no title)... but it was only $500. Then I really got impatient when I couldn't find a long bed/standard cab S10 donor truck that that had the V6/auto/EFI that I wanted. I ended up with an S10 Blazer and a whole bunch more work to get it to work. Be patient

[pvienneau]

IMHO - you made the right choice. Keep looking, there are many of these AD trucks out there.