17 and Buying a Truck! '72 C20 4X4

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Cam-Shaft

Yes, it runs and drives. The engine is missing some hoses and small parts, but it runs and drives.



I'm know you are all right, I just have a hard time when I see a little rust... I've had so many tractors with holes through the frames mutilated body parts, I just can't get over the feeling that this is a beauty.

And yeah, that's about all I'm hoping... that I can learn some body work. If worst comes to worse, he has a spare cab off the same model/year truck (except stepside) that has no rust up there that he said he'd sell.

Get a body and fender man to go with you and evaluate the cab, and if it's too bad then have him evaluate the other cab the guy said he would sell you. You sure the floor is really solid? Look real hard at the windshield pillars too in case of roll-over.

REMEMBER, it's illegal to remove a VIN tag. Hard to get the rivets to do a disguise, and best to cut away your entire cab leaving just the driver's side door jamb and replace the rest of the cab. Also, best to have the title to the donor cab to prove ownership, you don't want to take possession of something that has liens against it or is stolen.

Even better if you used more of the original cab.

No matter what, if you are going to fix that thing up, you are going to need a good wire feed welder and the ability to use it, some bondo skills to cover up the metal imperfections after you install all the numerous steel patch panels and bedsides plus clamps, nibbler, air compressor, paint sprayers, grinders, too much to list.

Might be a good learning experience if you want to become a body and fender man yourself.

At your age, you might just consider going to auto body school and make this a class project. Shoot, the cost of the class would probably be cheaper than the labor to fix it if you hired it out. But keep plenty of cash aside for supplies, they add up faster than you can imagine. And check with a school before you sign up to make sure they allow class projects and the terms of the projects.