What would you pay for this truck?

[Robmiami84]

Still on my search for an affordable C10. Seems alot of you had the same idea of value for the last truck I posted...unfortunately the seller did not agree.

Went to see this truck the other day. It is a 79 (favorite year) it seems to have a bit of rust on every panel. Roof seems decent, no holes, mostly what looks like red primer. Bed has a hole in the bottom but overall is decent. Drivers side obviously needs rockers, but floor looks really good actually. Passenger side will need rockers and floor (seperated with a hole but usable).

It does run but has a head gasket leak. We fired it up and I took it down the street. Seems to have a couple of cylinders down. He said it was pouring coolant out at the head. Transmission shifted. Has an extra th350 in the bed, was apparently changed recently (doesn't look new). Brakes are borderline no existent...which I discovered half way down the block lol. Interior is complete and cleaner than you would think from the outside.

Seems to me like with around $500 it should be running, driving and stopping fine. Not sure if I would be embarrassed to drive it the way it is, I've driven worse lol. I do intend to repair the rust as I go. I have experience welding but not for years and not body repair. I have 2 plans; 1 is to buy a used welder and take my time tackling the rust. 2 is I found a welder who agreed to come weld up panels once I've cut and prepped everything.

So what would you guys pay for this truck? Keep in mind that if I'm looking at this truck I'm obviously not rich and am mechanically inclined. No, I don't forsee suddenly having an extra $10k for a truck lol.

 

[Tonimus]

For me, that's a parts truck. $500, and that's pretty high. That thing is going to need everything. Not saying it's not worth saving, but it's not worth much money.

 

[CountKrunk]

If you can't drive it couple hundred miles right away or after replacing some consumables, i wouldn't pay more than $1000 for any of these old trucks.

Who knows the Can of worms they might have. This one sounds like it has its fair share of worms. How much is he asking?

 

[Robmiami84]

If you can't drive it couple hundred miles right away or after replacing some consumables, i wouldn't pay more than $1000 for any of these old trucks.

Who knows the Can of worms they might have. This one sounds like it has its fair share of worms. How much is he asking?

Seller was asking 3k. Came down to 2k. I'm feeling just like you though. To be fair I don't think it needs much more than head gaskets and a tune up. Feels like many motors I've felt that are down a couple cylinders from a head gasket.

 

[Robmiami84]

For me, that's a parts truck. $500, and that's pretty high. That thing is going to need everything. Not saying it's not worth saving, but it's not worth much money.

Yeah. Basically everything panel has to be addressed.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I know everybody has a different budget but it would be well worth saving a few more pennies to start with a better truck. That's a $500 truck on a good day. You'll get alot more enjoyment out of something in the $4-7k range and it'll cost less in the long run. You'd be $10k deep in this truck in the blink of an eye

 

[Tonimus]

Seller was asking 3k. Came down to 2k. I'm feeling just like you though. To be fair I don't think it needs much more than head gaskets and a tune up. Feels like many motors I've felt that are down a couple cylinders from a head gasket.

Run, don't walk, away. He'll never come down far enough to make it worthwhile.

 

[Robmiami84]

I know everybody has a different budget but it would be well worth saving a few more pennies to start with a better truck. That's a $500 truck on a good day. You'll get alot more enjoyment out of something in the $4-7k range and it'll cost less in the long run. You'd be $10k deep in this truck in the blink of an eye

Lol...$500 is no longer the price for any car. Last car i junked i got $1k. That being said you aren't wrong. I priced the panels for the cab and I'm at a couple grand already. I know the bed panels are about $3k. Mechanical work might be another $1k.

 

[Robmiami84]

Run, don't walk, away. He'll never come down far enough to make it worthwhile.

That's the beauty of looking for a car you don't need I guess. Easy to move on.

 

[Grit dog]

Agree with others. That’s a proverbial need everything truck.
There are some positives like the tires hold air and it will self load on a trailer.
Depends your budget. If you’re handy and have an engine nearby if that one is toast, I’d give the proverbial $500 for it. That’s basically free. It needs a couple grand in sheet metal and that’s parts only.
Like @TotalyHucked said, much better experience if you spend enough to not start with 10 major projects and 100 other little things.
Understand it’s hard to find nice ones that aren’t big bucks in much of the country. But it’s not enough to trade rust like that for even free.
Everything you see, double the amount of work and everything else you don’t see like 100s of rusted frozen bolts on….everything that isn’t coated in oil leaking from somewhere, some nice corroded salt life wiring and someone who put schitty paint on everything like even ruined the grille will make you rethink the bargain you got.

 

[Robmiami84]

Agree with others. That’s a proverbial need everything truck.
There are some positives like the tires hold air and it will self load on a trailer.
Depends your budget. If you’re handy and have an engine nearby if that one is toast, I’d give the proverbial $500 for it. That’s basically free. It needs a couple grand in sheet metal and that’s parts only.
Like @TotalyHucked said, much better experience if you spend enough to not start with 10 major projects and 100 other little things.
Understand it’s hard to find nice ones that aren’t big bucks in much of the country. But it’s not enough to trade rust like that for even free.
Everything you see, double the amount of work and everything else you don’t see like 100s of rusted frozen bolts on….everything that isn’t coated in oil leaking from somewhere, some nice corroded salt life wiring and someone who put schitty paint on everything like even ruined the grille will make you rethink the bargain you got.

Oh for sure. I'm guessing every bolt on there needs a 2 day soak in PB blaster. I suppose you are right. Not worth it unless I'm spending the bare minimum. There's also the reality that if it isn't this truck it will be no truck for probably a year or so...just how my situation is at the moment.

 

[bucket]

That looks like the type of truck that I would buy. I see a lot of decent parts that are trashed on many other trucks in the same price range. But I'm also very very used to rust repair.

I'd probably go as high as $1500 these days. 10 years ago, that would have been a 250-500 dollar truck if you asked me then.

 

[Robmiami84]

That looks like the type of truck that I would buy. I see a lot of decent parts that are trashed on many other trucks in the same price range. But I'm also very very used to rust repair.

I'd probably go as high as $1500 these days. 10 years ago, that would have been a 250-500 dollar truck if you asked me then.

Oh yeah. 10 years ago I would have charged him to take it away. You're used to rust repair? How rough will that be for someone who doesn't have experience?

I haven't welded for maybe 10 years. My last career I was a master technician. I've welded for custom work and exhaust work but never panel repair.

I'm wanting to tackle the floor first as I can hide my screw ups with carpet lol.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I work in the sheetmetal/restoration business and wouldn't wanna tackle that amount of rust lol

 

[Robmiami84]

I work in the sheetmetal/restoration business and wouldn't wanna tackle that amount of rust lol

Well nobody wants to take their work home lol