Good Buy?

[Rgilbert]

Thinking of getting this truck for a daily driver, it has a rebuilt 350 sb and 350 tranny. Is that a good price for a truck like this? How much do y'all think it would be worth with a decent paint job?

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/4010600167.html

[77ChevySharkBite]

I think you could find a better deal personally. If all is true with what he says with the drivetrain and stuff for $3,800 it's a steal of a deal. It looks like the inside has been taken care of pretty well.

[Rgilbert]

3500 is as low as he will go, it seems like the expensive work is done though.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Yeah, most of it has I would say go test drive it if he will let you and then see how you feel about it. Also if you don't know a lot about motor and stuff take a friend with you.

[79Betty]

Definitely ask for the receipts when looking. If i put that much in a motor i'd keep all the paperwork. If that checks out i'd go for it long as frame and body is as good as he says.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Rgilbert]

How much do y'all thing a completed truck like this would bring? wouldn't wanna sell it but just curious as to value.

[BONUSCAB]

Originally Posted by Rgilbert

How much do y'all thing a completed truck like this would bring? wouldn't wanna sell it but just curious as to value.

The truck in that ad is $1,500 dollar truck. And that's on a good day. The guy selling it is an idiot, and most likely an asshole. And he is lying. There is no way there is $10,000 invested in the trans, transfer case and two ****ty ass ten bolts. And he wants to trade it for a lifted modern diesel truck? A rotted out first gen cummins fetches $3,000 around here. His truck ain't worth half that.

[Rgilbert]

I think he was including the engine in the $10,000 price. Im trying to get a solid truck for a daily driver but still needs work for under $3,000, any advice on the best places to look other than craigslist?

[BONUSCAB]

Originally Posted by Rgilbert

I think he was including the engine in the $10,000 price. Im trying to get a solid truck for a daily driver but still needs work for under $3,000, any advice on the best places to look other than craigslist?

I texted him. He's maybe got $2000 into the motor with machining and dress up. A TH350 with a shift kit. Supposedly rebuilt ten and twelve bolt. Both open.


Craigslist is the best place to look, but you gotta look a lot. Multibple times a day. Get a CL app for your smart phone that will alert you when keywords come up in new ads. But you still gotta look. And remember, people are stupid; they will misspell things (Chev, Chevey, ect) or not put the make and model in the ad, just title it something like "85 half ton" and not put a picture up. Be prepared to drop what you are doing and go look at a truck. Keep a few hundred dollars in your wallet to give as earnest money, too. If a smoking deal comes up you gotta be prepared to make it happen right now. Cash is king and a promise don't mean a thing. Most guys will hold something for a few days or longer on a $100; but a handshake usually only lasts until someone waves cash under their nose. i think three grand is a good place to start if you want one of these trucks that is in ok shape. And stay away from molested trucks unless you really know what to look for. The closer to stock the better. With a stock truck you better know what you are getting, and you can make an informed decision to modify it in the future rather than deal with someone else's mess now.

[77ChevySharkBite]

autotrader.com, cars.com, here in the classifieds. there's a website called 2coolfishing.com might be able to find something there.

[tony58]

Nothing wrong with Craig's list, it's just that truck is a POS, IMHO.

[Rgilbert]

Nothing wrong with craigslist I have just exhausted it for my area. lol Thanks for the input I guess I will pass on the truck. Thanks

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by Rgilbert

Nothing wrong with craigslist I have just exhausted it for my area. lol Thanks for the input I guess I will pass on the truck. Thanks

I wanted a crew 4x4, wasn't finding anything locally so I started searching in areas that I would consider driving to; bought my '91 crew 4x4 in Sandpointe, ID, about a 5-6 hour drive each way?
Stopped in and saw and old flame in Spokane on the way home so it was a pretty good trip all things considered...

[77ChevySharkBite]

Keep searching man, trust me there's stuff always popping up on there. Might not be much for the rest of the day but always check in the mornings by 10am you can find some good stuff just got to search. It took me looking for about 2-3 weeks daily and I found my truck and I overlooked it a couple of times.

[07XCSBZ71]

I've junked nice trucks! LOL! I just bought my 77 for 600.00. Yes, I had to drive 2 hours, but still.

[BONUSCAB]

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/3979706102.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/4016814604.html

http://killeen.craigslist.org/cto/4004161762.html

Some nice rigs out in texas!!!

[Rgilbert]

Thanks for all the help!! I will definitely keep searching. I go to college in Kansas but go back home on holidays and summer so my area to search is pretty big. Thanks again

[RandyP]

Craigslist is a great way to find vehicles, but you have to be super patient. That goes without saying when looking for a used vehicle in general though, never be in a hurry and never feel pressured. If someone else gets it bought before you then so be it, there are lots more out there probably at a cheaper price.

I keep lists of possible trucks I find and check on them every few days. Sometimes they go quick and I get the "post has been deleted by author" but a lot of times I'll track the same post for weeks if not months. This gives you bargaining power galore but then again some people just like sitting on overpriced autos. Heck I've had my eye on a mid 80's beat to hell short bed that is local. Other than needing a battery, driveshaft, wheels and tires, steering column and all the sheet metal replaced, it's an easy builder. Oh yeah it does not start but "is probably an easy fix". Has been on CL for almost 2 years now for $800.

*edit*
It also helps to let your fellow truck brothers know what you're looking for in a round about way. Just imagine another 50 eyes looking for you between KS, OK and TX and sending you links when they find something that you might have missed otherwise.

[bnoon]

You guys are making me feel better about the 1976 GMC with a freshened 454/TH400 I got for $1750! I have more rust being in Iowa, but it's all sheet metal damage from not being prepped correctly and easily (for me at least) fixable. I found it on craigslist too after looking several times a day every day for about 3 weeks. There were cleaner trucks out there body-wise, but all were 305 or 350's. I ended up hitting "refresh" on my search on a Friday afternoon and called the guy about an hour after he had posted it to setup a test drive for the next morning and ended up buying it. Don't be in a hurry, these trucks are still out there surviving because parts are cheap! Good luck!

BTW, here's my diamond in the rough find...

http://ottumwa.craigslist.org/cto/3940290831.html Little bit of rust coming through, but still clean enough to save. 800 OBO means don't offer 800, LOL!

[BONUSCAB]

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/3951165947.html

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/3991459949.html

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/3941532356.html

The last one might be a diamond in the rough that could be made real decent, real easy for low money.

[Rgilbert]

Im wanting a 73-87 short bed 4x4, the older the better. I would even be interested in a 72 but anyways needs to be at least a 350 and an automatic. Don't want something jacked up like crazy like a mud truck.lol I don't really care how the paint looks and i can handle a little rust work.Just want it to be pretty solid mechanically I can do some engine work but Im not a pro and don't have all the tools with me in ks. Budget is 3 grand and Im in lawrence Ks but travel home to texas often and spend the summer there. Thank y'all for all your help!

[07XCSBZ71]

Try searchtempest.com

You can set the search radius to say 150 miles of your zip and it'll bring up all CL list within 150 miles of you. I like it, my wife hates it. LOL I find way to much stuff I want to buy.

[RastaRobb]

I think I would pass on it for that price too. If your looking for a daily driver that probably isn't a match anyway.

[Recian]

There's a few lifted K10s around here going for less than $2000 and the bodies are in better shape. That truck looks like it's been through the works. Personally I like buying something 100% stock and doing what I want to it not what somebody else has started. I'd keep looking.

[caramaro]

i looked forever for mine, it was on a facebook swap page and i got a good deal. just be patient the right one will come along. don't get in a hurry