Thinking about getting this 78 GMC

[Surfdaddy]

I have a 61 GMC and a 70 VW but the VW is going up for sale since my daughter has a newer car to drive. Anyway, this guy down the street has a 78 GMC ½ ton short bed fleetside sierra 4X4 that he wants to sell me. It’s rusty especially for So Cal. But he wants 2500 for it but I could probably talk him down to 1700. It’s got a 350 4spd manual, power steering, base model no a/c The driver’s side bed fenderwell is rusted and there is a few small rust patches under the drivers door and fender. But nothing like the rust on the 60-66 trucks. The padded dash is missing, may have been so sun cracked that the PO just removed it. Basically is a driving truck that needs a lot of work. This truck has factory dual tanks, so how hard is it to find a replacement bed or panel for this? I know that places like Classic industries or LMC sells almost every part for this truck but still it’s another project and I don’t know if I should just walk away or seriously consider this.