Finding my C10

[OEMBent]

Not sure which forum to put this in so if this is the wrong one, can a mod move it?

Just been on for about a week and I still don't have a truck! I need more patience, lol.

Here is what I learned so far;

I have gone from wanting any squarebody to something more specific to keep me from going insane.

It will need to be a 2WD, short bed, 1973-1979, Fleetside or Stepside doesn't matter. I will consider going newer if I can't find what I want in the older years.

I prefer a survivor. Something that is not molested, running would be nice but not required.

So, I have been searching and I am seeing that even in states like the great state of Texas, the trucks that are not already done have a fair amount of rust.

So my question to the group is; am I fooling myself to think I can find a truck without rust perforations that is mostly there that I can buy in the $5K range?

Do I need to accept that these trucks are old, had rust issues and no matter where I buy one, I can expect to have to replace panels? If so, do I need to learn how to weld so I'm not spending a fortune? I can paint. Not $15K level paint jobs, but acceptable to me. Keep in mind the factory paint jobs weren't all that great back then. I know, I painted them. And I can do as well as they were back then.

If I up my money to the $8-10K range will I get something a lot better that was done right? I am pretty fussy (OCDish) and I'm not interesting in paying a premium for work that I have to redo.

I'm willing to take my time to look for that needle in a haystack but if I'm missing this market completely, then maybe I need to go in another direction for my "retirement" vehicle.

And if I am in the ballpark, can you guys give me some ideas on how to search countrywide for something? I did a search on Craigslist through Tempest that allows you to filter your search and of course I have looked on Marketplace.

Last thing; I don't care about the "value" of the truck. I don't buy vehicles as an investment. I will be driving this hauling mulch, rototillers, lumber. But I will also make it so it will haul ass.

No show truck, but I will want to make it right for my satisfaction.

 

[Grit dog]

Look out in the PNW.
Not dime a dozen but there are plenty of rust free squares around here.
Like anywhere else, have to wade through all the trucks that the crackheads are selling that are basket case POS’s though.
If you hadn’t changed your mind on not wanting a 4x4 or a long bed I know where there is a truck like you want.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Keep searching. Expand the search area. You'll find one to your liking. Be patient, it'll happen. The surefire way to make one appear, is to spend your budget on other stuff. So go spend that money and you'll find one very quickly...lol...

 

[SASKCHEYENNE75]

You might want to also consider looking in Canada. Anything west of Ontario will typically have less rust and there are lots out there. I've imported a vehicle from the US into Canada before and it was an easy process...not sure about the other way around though. I'm thinking it would be worth looking into however.

All the trucks from that era are in "Miles" not "Km's" so everything is basically the same. Plus with the exchange rate your US dollar goes further here.

Just some thoughts

 

[OEMBent]

Look out in the PNW.
Not dime a dozen but there are plenty of rust free squares around here.
Like anywhere else, have to wade through all the trucks that the crackheads are selling that are basket case POS’s though.
If you hadn’t changed your mind on not wanting a 4x4 or a long bed I know where there is a truck like you want.

This what I see on Marketplace a lot.

 

[Scott91370]

am I fooling myself to think I can find a truck without rust perforations that is mostly there that I can buy in the $5K range?

You'll find one eventually but it will take time. Even in Texas some will have rust. Mine was very minor as in only where the rubber under the front fenders was bolted to the body. Everything else was so minor a light sanding took it off. I paid $1600 for it with no engine. That was the only thing missing though so I could have easily been all in for under $5k.
The prices are just going up and you'll have to decide what you're top dollar is for one - not an easy decision I know. When searching I drove some that were $5k that were worth more and I drove some that were $12k that were worth, on a great day, $3k. It's a very annoying process to sift through them.

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

 

[OEMBent]

You'll find one eventually but it will take time. Even in Texas some will have rust. Mine was very minor as in only where the rubber under the front fenders was bolted to the body. Everything else was so minor a light sanding took it off. I paid $1600 for it with no engine. That was the only thing missing though so I could have easily been all in for under $5k.
The prices are just going up and you'll have to decide what you're top dollar is for one - not an easy decision I know. When searching I drove some that were $5k that were worth more and I drove some that were $12k that were worth, on a great day, $3k. It's a very annoying process to sift through them.

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

Thanks. This is encouraging. I'd take one without a motor. Good justification to order a crate 383!

 

[Grit dog]

I’d say the answer is yes. But sometimes it’s luck of the draw.
Being you are looking for shortbed specific , that ups the ante a bit and the price, but a can’t say I’ve seen many or any 1/2 tons that “need work” ( but not rusted out, not hacked up, like you’re looking for) for more or much more than 5.
The thing is, is pricing is not consistent just like most old cars because it could be a steaming pile of **** or a $30,000 rig, or anywhere in between.

 

[TX87R10]

https://dallas.craigslist.org/search/cta?query=c10&purveyor-input=all

There are several trucks under $10k in there, probably not exactly what you want but set up an alert or something when someone posts "C10" or "squarebody" or something. I got mine off Dallas craigslist but you have to keep an eye out and be patient. I got mine at 80k original miles for $3800 running great only the bed had rust besides a minor spot over passenger door but its a 2wd longbed so not in as high demand.

 

[82sbshortbed]

@OEMBent here's a perfect one fir you here in texas with a bbc and short bed.

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/montgomery-1983-chevy-c10-big-block-454/7317481905.html

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[OEMBent]

Thanks everyone for the good ideas. I had one that looks just like the one in my avatar back in the 90's. No rust, new paint, I rebuilt the 350, new suspension, radiator, the list is long. Sold it to my neighbor for $2500. Doh! Wish I had that one back. The interior was clean, just needed some armor all to shine up the plastic. I think I bought it from the original owner.

Hard to believe that was over 25 years ago. I need to reset my brain that I may not find one like that one.

 

[75gmck25]

If you plan to increase performance, buying one with no motor or with a blown motor might work out well. A truck sitting in the side yard with a blown engine is often considered to be worthless (especially by the spouse and neighbors) because it doesn’t run, but it might be otherwise in great shape.

Also, even an original SBC that runs is usually a low compression, low power engine that needs a lot of parts and labor. You can cheaply add about 25-40 horsepower with a cam, intake and maybe headers, but beyond that you need performance heads, more compression and other more expensive upgrades.

 

[OEMBent]

If you plan to increase performance, buying one with no motor or with a blown motor might work out well. A truck sitting in the side yard with a blown engine is often considered to be worthless (especially by the spouse and neighbors) because it doesn’t run, but it might be otherwise in great shape.

Also, even an original SBC that runs is usually a low compression, low power engine that needs a lot of parts and labor. You can cheaply add about 25-40 horsepower with a cam, intake and maybe headers, but beyond that you need performance heads, more compression and other more expensive upgrades.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I'm interested in getting one with a blown or no engine. Blown but in the truck would be better.

The thing is, I won't leave the engine alone. If its got a lot of miles on it, it's getting yanked. If it's new, I probably won't trust it. My greatest desire would be to either build one myself or buy a crate engine of some type. I may have mentioned upthread that I'm leery of machine shops these days unless I take it to one of the world class shops in Indy. And then I'll have more money into it than buying one complete.

 

[Zoomalot]

Look to the PNW and be patient! They are there, but you need cash in hand and a no haggle approach to purchase
"GOOD" ones, as someone else will buy it, and the owners knows that!!
Fourth Square for me and my retirement hobby? "I am Canadian" Scanned internet for 3 years, ready to pounce?
Found a Square in Portland (estate sale), deceased retired Freightliner Engineer! Original owner (his retirement baby).
Long story short, came with
-Exterior respray
-Interior redone/leather buckets installed
-Drive train redone
(G.M. Crate Ram Jet w/80 hrs. on diagnostic scanner)
Super T-10
Corvette bell housing and clutch set-up
4:11 posi/since changed to 3:23
Wheels and "New" B.F.'s
Paid the widow 14.5K and put another 6K into it? Many upgrades, (always is, always will be) nature of the beast!!
Absolutely know you cannot rebuild a 87 Silverado Shortbox Square to it's caliber for that coin.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[OEMBent]

Look to the PNW and be patient! They are there, but you need cash in hand and a no haggle approach to purchase
"GOOD" ones, as someone else will buy it, and the owners knows that!!
Fourth Square for me and my retirement hobby? "I am Canadian" Scanned internet for 3 years, ready to pounce?
Found a Square in Portland (estate sale), deceased retired Freightliner Engineer! Original owner (his retirement baby).
Long story short, came with
-Exterior respray
-Interior redone/leather buckets installed
-Drive train redone
(G.M. Crate Ram Jet w/80 hrs. on diagnostic scanner)
Super T-10
Corvette bell housing and clutch set-up
4:11 posi/since changed to 3:23
Wheels and "New" B.F.'s
Paid the widow 14.5K and put another 6K into it? Many upgrades, (always is, always will be) nature of the beast!!
Absolutely know you cannot rebuild a 87 Silverado Shortbox Square to it's caliber for that coin.

You must be registered for see images attach

That looks very nice. I wouldn't have an issue having $20K into a nice truck. New ones are 2.5 times that.

When you say "know you cannot rebuild a 87 ...caliber for that coin", is that to mean the more complete I get it upfront, the more I will save in the long run? My current issue is that I don't have a lot of available discretionary funds and if it's true they keep going up in price/value, I probably wouldn't keep up with the inflation saving my pennies.

My thought is to buy as unmolested as possible and collect parts over time, hopefully get it usable in the meantime and then when I get closer to or even to retirement, I can get into it and not be spending outrageous money at that point.

Or get it now and pour money into it while I'm still earning pretty good money and time it out to be done by retirement.