WTB 73-80 C10 short bed driver, why so hard

[bonehead]

Moderators, I think I can do this as a premium member, but let me know if I need to delete this thread.

I sold my 1966 C10 about 4 months back, Now I am looking for a daily driver 73-80 C10 short bed fleet or step side. I am surprised by the difficult time I have been having finding a solid truck. I have been looking for a 67-72 shortys as well but the prices seem to be way too high for those. I have apparently missed that boat in my desired price range. At least that has been my experience so far?

If you guys can help me by keeping your eyes peeled for a solid truck, here is what I am looking for in the Charlotte, NC area (+/- 150 mi). I would greatly appreciate any leads you can send my way.

I am looking for a 73-80 C10 short bed, either fleet or stepper is ok. Truck should be as stock and original as possible. Rust free or nearly rust free. Any engine trans configuration is ok, even 6 cyl/3 speed trucks. Any color, all trim levels considered. I want a good driver at minimum, no project trucks. Truck must run and drive.

I am not interested in any trucks that have been hot rodded, lowered, air bagged, customized or rat trucks. The more stock the better. Price range is $8K or less.

Thanks for looking at my thread, and thanks in advance for any leads you can forward my way. I am in no rush, I will wait to find the right truck.

If anyone has any interesting or maddening truck hunting stories I would like to hear them as well. In my hunt so far I have seen some very badly described trucks, that were total wrecks when I got there to see them. I have driven 2 hours and only looked at the sellers truck for 5 minutes only to get back in my car and leave... bummer. What is so hard about sellers providing an accurate and honest description of their trucks?? LOL

later, )bone(

[68Timber]

At that price you'll find one, just have to be watching and be ready. Might be more of a drive than you like, but watch ATL on craigslist, lots of C10's pop up there.

[bonehead]

Thanks for the tip, I will watch Atlanta Craigslist. it will have to be a real cherry for me to spend the whole $8K... Ha

[andrewmp6]

Have you tried http://www.searchtempest.com/ it will search all craigslist adds any distance you want.

[bonehead]

Yes thanks, I have been using the search tempest. I does make search Craigslist in multiple cities or out to a given distance very simple.

[tucsonjwt]

I also suggest craigslist, but focus your search on the desert southwest. You won't always find rust free out here, since many trucks came here with their owners from the rustbelt. It should only cost about $800 or less to have one transported to your location.

I would try the big city craigslist postings: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque. I would stay away from cities on the water, like Huston. It seems like areas with high humidity get rust, even in the sunbelt (like Florida.)

You will want to hire someone to inspect the vehicle. Most auto repair shops will do this for $200 or less. You can have the owner drive the truck to the local repair shop for an evaluation once you decide on a possible purchase. Also, you will likely find a forum member who will check it out for you and take some pictures of the underside and look for obvious rust.

What I most often find are trucks that are rust free but have dented boxes and fenders. The frames and suspension will almost always be rust free. You can get aftermarket sheet metal cheap, and you can get used OEM sheet metal at the junkyards for even less. I have seen very good boxes which sell for $250 + $50 for the tailgate at a local pick and pull.

I would also look for utility box trucks. They usually have good sheet metal and you can buy a used box as a replacement. Have somebody throw a used box in the utility bed and have it shipped with the truck.

The downside: expect to find totally shot interiors. The desert sun eats dash pads and interior fabric quickly. Aside from the dash pad, all of this is relatively cheap to replace.

If you are handy, you can't go wrong buying a rust free truck and restoring it yourself. You will be well under $8K if you take that route, as long as you don't demand absolute factory OEM correctness on all of the parts. 350 engine replacement, or even 6 cylinder replacement, crate motors and rebuilt transmissions are not very expensive and worth the investment.

So, buy a builder and get what you want. If you just want a beater that runs, those trucks are everywhere at cheap prices.

Good luck.

[tucsonjwt]

Examples (long beds are more plentiful and cheaper, it you would entertain that idea.)

https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5198680814.html

long bed: https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5239888035.html

long bed round body: https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5226033199.html

long bed, no pic: https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5224427809.html

long bed round body: https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5211023385.html

long bed: https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5173217745.html

Phoenix area:
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5195715834.html

https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/5231179943.html

slammed, but could be undone: https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5179478112.html

[bonehead]

Thanks for the input, many good points to consider. I have built a bunch of trucks and cars from the ground up, but at this time I do not want a project, no time to devote to it. I don't mind doing minor mechanical work at this time.

I have always loved long bed trucks, but this time I have my heart set on a shorty.

[1774btcrew]

I know of a truck you may be interested in here in Phoenix. I don't want to post the details since someone else might scoop it up. Send me a PM if interested.

[Tom]

Jesus $8k price and you can't find anything? Take the trip to AZ and drive an amazing 73-80 for that price, rust free.

[69Tom]

Here's a decent original SWB '80 here in Phoenix. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/5240815481.html

And a '79 short step. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5181117503.html

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Phoenix area:
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5195715834.html

This seems like the deal for you! I bet he'd take less but even at 6k you could ship it or fly out and drive it back.

Here's another cheap one
https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/5239770449.html

[Chrispbrown36]

Around here you can find a completely restored square for around 8 grand. Now, I don't really know how good of a restore job they are, but they have been restored.
I looked for 2 years off and on to find mine and my budget was less than half what you are looking to spend. I ended up getting really lucky with the one I bought. It was posted 18 minutes before I saw it and I was on the phone with the guy 19 minutes after. When I talked to him 2 other people had already called....one had already looked at it and one was coming at 1 pm....I got there at noon. By the time I got there two others had called and another called while I was there. Knowing he had that much interest that quickly he didn't come off the asking price much but he did drop it by 200. I ended up with an 87 4wd with very little rust and a motor and transmission that are in pretty good shape. The interior is really good with a perfect dash and a seat with one small cut in it.....as I said I got lucky.
Be patient man, with your budget you should be able to find a damn nice truck that you shouldn't have to put much money into other than personalizing it. Good luck and be sure to show it off when ya find it!

[J Lee]

Bonehead,I'm just southeast of you in Monroe and keep an eye on craigslist for squares all the time. I feel your pain, in this area if it's a decent truck people think they are worth $12k and up! Finding a stock one isn't easy either, heck finding one that has shiny paint rather than a primer paint job is tough enough.


A while back there was a mid '80's 2wd lwb truck for sale on a lot here in town that the guy wanted 10k for. I talked with the owner of the lot and he told me the seller originally wanted like 15k and was told they would attempt to sell it for him at 10k. It was a nice truck the owner just picked the wrong truck to restore.

[91short]

Definitely search the desert areas in the southwest, you'll find a solid one in your price range. Take a week or two vacation out here to search for one and drive it back.

[andrewmp6]

They do have a point,You could fly to the south west buy a truck and drive it back for about that 8k or less.

[80streetcoupe]

Originally Posted by 69Tom

Here's a decent original SWB '80 here in Phoenix. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/5240815481.html

And a '79 short step. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5181117503.html

Boy are you guys lucky down there. I'd be all over that '80 fleetside in a Chevy truck "heartbeat"!! Nothing 35 yrs old that original looks like that up here in snow country. I'd love to fly in and drive home...LOL!!

[bonehead]

Originally Posted by J Lee

Bonehead,I'm just southeast of you in Monroe and keep an eye on craigslist for squares all the time. I feel your pain, in this area if it's a decent truck people think they are worth $12k and up! Finding a stock one isn't easy either, heck finding one that has shiny paint rather than a primer paint job is tough enough.


A while back there was a mid '80's 2wd lwb truck for sale on a lot here in town that the guy wanted 10k for. I talked with the owner of the lot and he told me the seller originally wanted like 15k and was told they would attempt to sell it for him at 10k. It was a nice truck the owner just picked the wrong truck to restore.

I'm glad it's not my imagination. You're right this area around Charlotte has blown up with high prices for classic trucks an cars of every type. Then other areas like the southwest, everyone has been talking about, where prices seem to be more reasonable. I guess maybe it's supply and demand. The must be a lot more trucks for sale there than here, or the demand is less in the southwest. I will keep looking, like I said I am in no rush to pay too much or to buy a junker.

[77 ChevySport]

[QUOTE=bonehead;7323538]
I am looking for a 73-80 C10 short bed, either fleet or stepper is ok. Truck should be as stock and original as possible. Rust free or nearly rust free. Any engine trans configuration is ok, even 6 cyl/3 speed trucks. Any color, all trim levels considered. I want a good driver at minimum, no project trucks. Truck must run and drive.

I am not interested in any trucks that have been hot rodded, lowered, air bagged, customized or rat trucks. The more stock the better. Price range is $8K or less.

bonehead: What you are looking for is a "hard find". To meet your criteria (if I read it correct) you are looking for a lower mileage truck that has not been modified. Since the higher the mileage the bigger the chance that someone down the line has modified it in someway. Seems to me that the majority of truck owners want to change things from the factory way of doing things. If you look at the current values of original trucks at Hagerty and NADA you will have to bring up your money to find/buy one. It seems that shortbeds are more prone to be modified than longbeds. Of course this is JMHO. Larry

[bonehead]

[quote=77 ChevySport;7324673]

Originally Posted by bonehead

bonehead: What you are looking for is a "hard find". To meet your criteria (if I read it correct) you are looking for a lower mileage truck that has not been modified. Since the higher the mileage the bigger the chance that someone down the line has modified it in someway. Seems to me that the majority of truck owners want to change things from the factory way of doing things. If you look at the current values of original trucks at Hagerty and NADA you will have to bring up your money to find/buy one. It seems that shortbeds are more prone to be modified than longbeds. Of course this is JMHO. Larry

I agree it won't be easy, but I'm not looking for a low mileage virgin truck. I don't mind small changes that I can back-date to original. ie engine dress up, seat covers, wheels, lowered springs. I can easily change that kind of stuff, but I do no want "hacks" like sunroofs, air bags, sun visors, late model engine swaps; these would be too much work for me to fix. Give me a nice rust free solid truck, faded paint ok, messed up interior ok, and I'm in.

I agree that short beds may be modified more than long beds; or it may be that they made 3 times more long beds so it will take a lot longer to modify them all.

Thanks for your thoughts and insights, all are welcome.

[DBLSPRT68]

Originally Posted by 69Tom

Here's a decent original SWB '80 here in Phoenix. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/5240815481.html

And a '79 short step. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/5181117503.html

I'd love that 80 dual tank shortbed!!!!!!!!!!! Bonehead is right, around here people are crazy. Either its restored and big $$$, or its just crap. Not too many in between.........

Hey J LEE, I sold you a 73-80 dash pad a few years ago right? Indian Land Walmart parking lot.

At least there are lots of people around here that love trucks!

[tucsonjwt]

I know you don't want to do the restore yourself, but you will get a much better result if you supervise the restoration by a local guy in your area on a rust free southwest truck.

The problem with buying a "restored" old truck is you don't know how it was restored. Many, if not most, rebuilt engines and transmissions are not well done and not much better than old original equipment. Just read the posts here of guys who had rebuilt ones that have failed or don't run well.

Stripping off the sheet metal and removing the cab on an old square are probably 4-5 hours work for someone who knows what they are doing. Cleaning and repainting a frame requires no special skills. Most mechanics can drop in a crate motor 350 and factory rebuilt transmission in a day or two. Brakes, shocks, etc. are a one day job at any discount brake shop and are cheap. Suspensions can be rebuilt for cheap at the same discount shops. Good paint will cost a lot of money, but around here a pretty good complete paint job in urethane if your truck is disassembled is less than $2K.

Having rebuilt trucks, you already know all of this. But even if you don't have any spare time to devote to the project, just lining up other people to do the work for you is not time consuming, and you control the outcome. Likely you already know local mechanics who are trustworthy. Getting a truly rust free truck and having it shipped to you for $2-$3K puts you in the driver's seat rather than taking pot luck on a mystery truck.

Of course, if you want show quality OEM, you need to be looking at Hemmings and about double your $8K budget.

[J Lee]

DBLSPRT, yep that pad is going into a '77 K20 shortly. you still have that extended cab square? I saw one on craigslist a while back and wondered if it was yours.

'73-'80 are especially hard to find here that aren't clapped out rags but have seen 1 or 2. I come across '81-'87 trucks in decent shape for reasonable money more frequently.


Jeff

[LuvNLife]

I know this is a bit of a budget-buster, but in the long run, could be a heck of a deal if it truly needed nothing:

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...238269259.html

He doesn't live too far from me (about 45 minutes), so if you talk to him, were interested and wanted somebody to go eyes on for you, let me know.

Jerry

[bonehead]

Originally Posted by LuvNLife

I know this is a bit of a budget-buster, but in the long run, could be a heck of a deal if it truly needed nothing:

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...238269259.html

He doesn't live too far from me (about 45 minutes), so if you talk to him, were interested and wanted somebody to go eyes on for you, let me know.

Jerry

This one is a real beauty for sure, but too much $$$ for me. I have seen a bunch of nice 81-87 trucks but I have my heart set on a 73-80 for sure.