$800 Dollar '76 4x4, go for it?

[Destructo]

Found a 800 Dollar 4x4 truck that the body is pretty rust on, both bedsides are rusted through, inner fenders on front rusted through, rockers rusted through, cab supports rusted out. Front fenders look good. Most of the front clip looks ok except for inner fenders. Frame looks to be pretty much rust free.

Its a longbed truck with a 350 out of a '69 corvette, has 041 heads on it but has bent a few pushrods for some reason, supposedly jumped a timing tooth but I don't think that cause the valve bending. After the timing chain and gear were replaced he said it ran great for about 30-45 mins and it bent another pushrod. I think the valves are sticking, he didn't mention anything about it making in funny noises.

TH350 was supposedly rebuilt about 3 months ago, and it has a NP203, and fairly new lockout hubs in the front. Its a longbed truck with scottsdale trim and 4wd, interior is alright except for door panels and other plastic stuff and it only has fuel guage and speedo, rest are idiot lights.

I don't think the truck is worth fixing unless it got a whole body from another truck. I was considering getting it an parting it out and keeping the 350 motor for my 85 which has a bad wrist pin. I don't know whether this engine is in good shape or not but I would pull it and give it a good inspection.

My main question is, do you think I can get the money back out of it by parting it out?

[1FaastC10]

pass. look for one that at least has cab supports and reasonable floorboards in it. i'm assuming you're going to use this for a trail beater, since you have talked to me about getting one before. if so, dont worry about anything but the cab, its just gonna get bashed anyways. the TH350 and NP203 are reasonably strong, but due to the 203 being chain driven its obviously not going to be as strong as a NP205 which is gear driven.

[1969 GMC]

a rusty truck, with a needing-rebuilt 350 (from a corvette... ), and the boat anchor 203? I would say no, and I am from Ohio where rust like that is normal.

[plumbcut]

is it a half ton pickup? if so, pass.. if its .75 ton, it might be worth it if you're looking for parts............

pc

[Destructo]

Yeah, its half-ton. I don't think the motor is any good, and it really is from a corvette, atleast the cylinder heads are, casting 041. But I have a feeling the valve have met the pistons at some point in time and thats why it bent the pushrods, possibly because of worn out timing chain and gear jumping teeth.

Like I said though the only good parts on it really are some interior peices which aren't even a good color and two front fenders, the cab was already leaning to one side because the mounts are rusted out so badly. I would not ever buy a truck like that to drive, was considering parting it out, but I don't think the drivetrain is worth it. TH350 is worth 200 bucks at most, bad 350 worth about 150 and 203 about 100 and axles 200 is my guess. I would probably be pushing it just to get 800 bucks back out of it by parting it out.

So I think I should let it go also and let the owner put a new pushrod in it and TRY to get rid of it for 1400 bucks. Its barely worth 800 bucks with a bad motor.