Hello!

[mistaake]

Hello everybody!

I'm looking into buying an older GM truck, because they look amazing! I don't have a very big budget, nor do I want to travel anywhere to get it. That doesn't leave me many options.

I think I've found one that I can afford... what do you think? I'm looking at it tomorrow and will take many pictures and get more information about it. What engine, etc. I don't mind it needing engine work of course it's been sitting for years, but I don't want a completely nasty interior or rusty frame.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4930263437.html

I'll report back tomorrow on my findings, or if I end up buying it.

Thanks in advance!
~Michael

 

[bucket]

Howdy! Truck looks good for the money.

 

[mistaake]

Howdy! Truck looks good for the money.

Thanks! Assuming it's not in terrible shape I will really love it. Of course it's going to need work, but that's the fun part right?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

1 ton would be a good start if you're building a 4x4 in my opinion!

 

[mistaake]

1 ton would be a good start if you're building a 4x4 in my opinion!

I sure hope it's 4x4... if not I'm not going to do a conversion - a bit more work than I can do. But if it is, I'm definitely going to do a small lift and bigger tires. Not so big I can't tow, but just to give it a more aggressive stance. On the plus side, a non-4wd truck gets maybe 1MPG better gas mileage, right?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

4 inch and 33's look good and not too tall to tow! I cant tell if the ground its sitting on isn't level or if the front end is squatting that much, if the front end is squatting that much I would bet its 2wd. If they had a better picture that I could see the front suspension just a little bit I would be able to tell haha

 

[mistaake]

4 inch and 33's look good and not too tall to tow! I cant tell if the ground its sitting on isn't level or if the front end is squatting that much, if the front end is squatting that much I would bet its 2wd. If they had a better picture that I could see the front suspension just a little bit I would be able to tell haha

Well, I will find out tomorrow for sure What cool stuff can I do on a 2wd truck? I'm still probably going to buy it assuming it checks out ok, whether it's 2wd or 4wd. That said, I don't want to lift a non-4x4 nor do I want to lower it (impractical)...

 

[mistaake]

So... I bought it!

-It's mine (yay!)
-It's much less rust on the body and frame than I expected (yay!)
-It's 2WD so it'll get a little bit better fuel economy (meh)
-it's actually a C20 not a C30. (bummer)

Assuming the engine that it originally came with is still in there it is supposed to have the following...

Vehicle Information:
1983 CHEVROLET C20
VIN: redacted
PICKUP
5.7L V8 4BL OHV
REAR WHEEL DRIVE

Some guy is going to tow it to my office tomorrow. Next weekend I'll check it out and see what I have to work with. I have to fix it up proper, get it ready for smog, and do that. Then I sure hope it was kept on current non-op registration because the last registration card they found was from 1999... if that's really the case the back fees are going to suck and I'll either have to find a creative way around it or sell it.

Here are some pics of my Chevy!

 

[mistaake]

Coluldn't upload more than 5 pics per post. One more for good measure! This is already my favorite truck and I haven't even tried to start it yet. Hopefully I'll be using this as my daily driver within the next few months. The GMC Yukon (can see it in the background in one of my pictures) needs major transmission work and engine work (used car dealerships suck!)... It sure looks way simpler and easier to work on under the hood of the old truck though!

 

[PrairieDrifter]

These trucks are wayyy more simple to work on and it sure does look like its been sitting for a while haha and it looks rust free from what I can tell!

 

[flyboy1100]

Why back fees for registration? It has been sitting

 

[mistaake]

Why back fees for registration? It has been sitting

If it was not "registered non-op" before it sat it will have back fees for being expired... I will find out before putting much money into the truck. Just going to get it running and driveable again so I can get to the smog test place. If I can't get it to pass smog I can't register it.

 

[flyboy1100]

If it was not "registered non-op" before it sat it will have back fees for being expired... I will find out before putting much money into the truck. Just going to get it running and driveable again so I can get to the smog test place. If I can't get it to pass smog I can't register it.

CA makes no sense to me. you didn't own it before so why would you be liable for it expiring? i mean vehicles do go out of service and do get sold...

 

[bucket]

CA makes no sense to me. you didn't own it before so why would you be liable for it expiring? i mean vehicles do go out of service and do get sold...

Because them bastards don't want older vehicles on the road. Old vehicles tend to sit and they know it, so they charge fees for it hoping it will just end up scrapped. If it does end up back on the road, they get a bunch of cash because of it.

 

[flyboy1100]

Because them bastards don't want older vehicles on the road. Old vehicles tend to sit and they know it, so they charge fees for it hoping it will just end up scrapped. If it does end up back on the road, they get a bunch of cash because of it.

Definitely no interest in moving to ca