Reasonable price on 86/87 K30 CUCV with 30k miles and has been sitting for 2 years

[yourhotmom]

Good evening fellas,

Earlier this week my wife and I were looking at a home for sale and I couldn't help but notice a white 86/87 CUCV K30 with a utility box for sale. I chatted with the owner today asking if he was looking to sell it. He said he was considering it and the number he had in mind was around $5k if he got it running again. I thought this was a little steep considering it hadn't ran in a little while and had an abundance of moss on it. 30k miles. A/c added, but i'm not sure the status of the interior. No rust and everything looks solid from walking around the outside of it. Needs tires The box has a generator inside. I was told the kingpins need replacing in front and that the fuel system needs to be bled. He has 2 new batteries for it. He said he would consider less if I just picked it up as is. I only have an 85 k10 so I have no experience with the 6.2, but I am willing to learn how to do the repairs. He is a former mechanic so I know I wont be able to take it off his hands for $500 or something like that lol. I know these things have gotten pricey in good shape, but I was wondering what advice you guys had on an offer price. Im not wanting to lowball the guy, but I am very interested. Its a dream truck of sorts and there havent been too many available in my area. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[75gmck25]

In their original form they were a very durable vehicle, but stripped down to the minimum number of creature comforts. If you are confident you can get the diesel engine running right without too much expense, and there is no significant amount of rust, and you are fine with the very simple interior (vinyl seats, no insulation, no PW/PL, etc.), then its probably worth $4-5k.

Also remember that the CUCV drivetrain probably includes 4.56 gears. Its very durable, but not much of a highway cruiser.

 

[diesel_lv]

The 6.2 in general, not just military, had some minor issues w injection pump on startup and glowplugs. I had a 6.2 in an '87 K10 longbed that I put Peninsular Marine injectors, injection pump and Banks turbo. It would smoke the tires. Before the injection pump replacement, I would spray WD-40 into the intake for the 1st start each day. Never starter fluid, too dry for the diesel engine.

 

[Grit dog]

It’s sounds like a great builder platform but not worth much as it sits.
There’s iMO 2 things that would give a cucv inherent value.
1 being if it’s original ish and able to be restored back to original army specs and appearance without huge work.
2 being if one actually needed the capability of a K30 over a K20. Which is virtually not a thing, as anything one would “need” a 1 ton truck for daily use for, there are a million other examples of trucks that are newer, more capable and more comfortable for less $ than restoring what inevitably is a bit of a basket case.
Price? $8k for my K20 last year which at the time seemed to be a bit expensive but since I’ve really found no hidden issues with it, was actually a decent deal I think.
Running driving clean everything works, big block , no leaks, turn on the air cruise and stereo and drive it wherever you want.
6.2 is worth basically nothing except for the hobbyist. It is only practical as an “around town” engine or maybe economical commuter in a commuter version (c10/c20 and not pulling trailers).
For just the cost of an injection pump and injectors you could have a solid running small or big block that is better in all categories except fuel mileage.
Imo add up the cost of everything you’d need to purchase to get the truck where you want it. Sounds like this one will be expensive.
And it sounds like the owner is an old guy who can’t part with his junk.

 

[yourhotmom]

It’s sounds like a great builder platform but not worth much as it sits.
There’s iMO 2 things that would give a cucv inherent value.
1 being if it’s original ish and able to be restored back to original army specs and appearance without huge work.
2 being if one actually needed the capability of a K30 over a K20. Which is virtually not a thing, as anything one would “need” a 1 ton truck for daily use for, there are a million other examples of trucks that are newer, more capable and more comfortable for less $ than restoring what inevitably is a bit of a basket case.
Price? $8k for my K20 last year which at the time seemed to be a bit expensive but since I’ve really found no hidden issues with it, was actually a decent deal I think.
Running driving clean everything works, big block , no leaks, turn on the air cruise and stereo and drive it wherever you want.
6.2 is worth basically nothing except for the hobbyist. It is only practical as an “around town” engine or maybe economical commuter in a commuter version (c10/c20 and not pulling trailers).
For just the cost of an injection pump and injectors you could have a solid running small or big block that is better in all categories except fuel mileage.
Imo add up the cost of everything you’d need to purchase to get the truck where you want it. Sounds like this one will be expensive.
And it sounds like the owner is an old guy who can’t part with his junk.

It is still original army spec, but the utility bed/shell with the generator is not really applicable for my uses. I would more than likely take it off and find a c10/k10 8ft bed off of facebook marketplace for a few hundred bucks to make the truck more practical for me. Ive just kind of always wanted one, but it would be an extra play vehicle that my wife hates lol. I have a small 2000 tacoma with 358k miles that I use for my daily driver and a 96 k1500 suburban to haul the family around in so that's why I was curious about what you guys would offer. I completely agree with the improvements in all aspects that a small/big block would give me over the 6.2. If I could get it running with little problem I would keep it until it died. I know its a dog stock and not as practical as something newer but it is pretty cool to me. Im 27, but I drive like a grandpa so I don't necessarily need huge power numbers or performance. I guess thats because ive never had anything fast lol. And no there isnt any reason to have a k20 over a k30 for my light towing purposes. Thanks for the input man I appreciate your response, and the same goes to everyone else as well.

 

[Grit dog]

^That adds value imo if it’s not hacked up. The bed is the easy part, your right.
Sounds like it could be a nice find then!

 

[AuroraGirl]

It is still original army spec, but the utility bed/shell with the generator is not really applicable for my uses. I would more than likely take it off and find a c10/k10 8ft bed off of facebook marketplace for a few hundred bucks to make the truck more practical for me. Ive just kind of always wanted one, but it would be an extra play vehicle that my wife hates lol. I have a small 2000 tacoma with 358k miles that I use for my daily driver and a 96 k1500 suburban to haul the family around in so that's why I was curious about what you guys would offer. I completely agree with the improvements in all aspects that a small/big block would give me over the 6.2. If I could get it running with little problem I would keep it until it died. I know its a dog stock and not as practical as something newer but it is pretty cool to me. Im 27, but I drive like a grandpa so I don't necessarily need huge power numbers or performance. I guess thats because ive never had anything fast lol. And no there isnt any reason to have a k20 over a k30 for my light towing purposes. Thanks for the input man I appreciate your response, and the same goes to everyone else as well.

when you say army spec you mean it has the dual battery setup. camo paint, blackout switch etc?
i would find out how long its been using low sulfur diesel as far as gauging if you want to work on it or change.

 

[yourhotmom]

when you say army spec you mean it has the dual battery setup. camo paint, blackout switch etc?
i would find out how long its been using low sulfur diesel as far as gauging if you want to work on it or change.

It has been painted white by a fire department and previous owner added a/c so I guess technically not 100% army spec. I guess I meant that it hadn't been hacked up or physically altered in any way. Still on 24v system, blackout switch, and utility shell with army spec generator.

 

[Grit dog]

It has been painted white by a fire department and previous owner added a/c so I guess technically not 100% army spec. I guess I meant that it hadn't been hacked up or physically altered in any way. Still on 24v system, blackout switch, and utility shell with army spec generator.

This thing is sounding better with each new post.
Remember, you hit him up out of the blue and he likely shot you back an "I wish I could get this much..." number.
Lets face it, this "former mechanic" is either unable or unwilling to do any work on it, or it wouldn't be sitting covered with moss with the caveat that he'd go lower if he didn't have to get it running...
If he was really in need of money or at all motivated (barring some grave personal scenario) and all it needed was the fuel system bled, that would already be done.
It's like all the car adds, where someone is selling a car for a "great deal" and "all it needs is s tune up and brake job" and it'll be perfect. Easy repair.
Well, perform your "easy repairs" and sell something that doesn't need a tune up and brake pads, or your lying @ss can keep your pos car that probably needs rod bearings and an entire brake system!

 

[Grit dog]

@yourhotmom
You get this truck or what?

 

[Bextreme04]

It has been painted white by a fire department and previous owner added a/c so I guess technically not 100% army spec. I guess I meant that it hadn't been hacked up or physically altered in any way. Still on 24v system, blackout switch, and utility shell with army spec generator.

Its going to be a 6.2/TH400/NP208(Maybe a 205 depending on model) and with the full 14BFF rear and Dana 60 front axle with detroit lockers in them. The drivetrain is highly desirable and bulletproof except for the engine. They are getting harder to find and are usually going for 2-5k in most places in any condition lately. Lots of guys are trying to buy them up and strip the axles to sell to wheelers.

 

[SDJunkMan]

Y

Its going to be a 6.2/TH400/NP208(Maybe a 205 depending on model) and with the full 14BFF rear and Dana 60 front axle with detroit lockers in them. The drivetrain is highly desirable and bulletproof except for the engine. They are getting harder to find and are usually going for 2-5k in most places in any condition lately. Lots of guys are trying to buy them up and strip the axles to sell to wheelers.

yeah, the axles, tranny, and transfer case are the big draw. Should have a 205 transfer case, the Blazers had the 208’s. If you watch the government auction sites, they usually bring $2000 - $3000, not running, and sometimes the bodies are pretty rough. The one you are looking at was probably a mechanics truck, I think they came with a compressor and generator.

 

[Frankenchevy]

Y

yeah, the axles, tranny, and transfer case are the big draw. Should have a 205 transfer case, the Blazers had the 208’s. If you watch the government auction sites, they usually bring $2000 - $3000, not running, and sometimes the bodies are pretty rough. The one you are looking at was probably a mechanics truck, I think they came with a compressor and generator.

Most of the SRW cucv pickups had an np208 as well.

 

[yepyep]

i didnt read all the posts and maybe somebody else mentioned this but if you look on craigslist there is all kinds of square bodies with "low mileage" it's because the odometer rolls back to zero once you hit 100,000. I'd be shocked if there was an old Chevy left on earth that had 50,000 original miles

I sold my last one 20 years ago with only 14,000 miles on it guy got a hell of a deal

 

[SDJunkMan]

i didnt read all the posts and maybe somebody else mentioned this but if you look on craigslist there is all kinds of square bodies with "low mileage" it's because the odometer rolls back to zero once you hit 100,000. I'd be shocked if there was an old Chevy left on earth that had 50,000 original miles

I sold my last one 20 years ago with only 14,000 miles on it guy got a hell of a deal

CUCV's usually had about 50,000 miles or less on them when the government got rid of them. I' ve seen several squares on the road with under 100,000 actual miles on tnem, and several intne 50,000 mile range.