Abandoned, neglected square body trucks rotting away...

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[Woodyboat]

Ok, so I need an fairly rust free, straight 8' bed for my '86 big dooley. Why is it that I see so many on this thread but I can't just go get one of them?

Life just isn't fair, I tell ya. This thread is really heartbreaking. LOL

Honestly, all kidding aside... Where ARE all these trucks? Aren't there collections of them here and there that would have just what we need without expecting us to pay kidnap ransoms for them? I ask, becuz I've been there. I truck will be sitting in a field somewhere for YEARRRRRRSSSS - worth absolutely nothing.... right up to the minute I go and ask about it. Then suddenly, it's $10,000.

[Desert_Eagle02]

Originally Posted by Woodyboat

I ask, becuz I've been there. I truck will be sitting in a field somewhere for YEARRRRRRSSSS - worth absolutely nothing.... right up to the minute I go and ask about it. Then suddenly, it's $10,000.

Right!! Or it's "not for sale, I'm going to restore it". And then 5 years later it's still sitting in the same spot rotting away.

[Woodyboat]

Originally Posted by Desert_Eagle02

... And then 5 years later it's still sitting in the same spot rotting away.

...with another five years worse for wear. When you see one like that, it actually becomes worse because it, from a certain point of view, disrespects YOUR wanting to do something positive with it.

That Blazer in post #873 seems to be way too new to be in that bad of shape. I guess I'm just not used to seeing vehicles that new and that bad. Down here in TN and the rest of the South, we just don't get that sort of cancer on our vehicles. We have a lot of old barn finds that may have had decades of mouse infestation and mold but we don't see any rust other than surface rust. Maybe this is the reason that many thousands of these old trucks really ARE getting grabbed up by enthusiasts. They do seem to becoming fewer and farther between down here.

Currently, my project is my '86 Big Dooley. I'm blown away with ALL the rust and I'm questioning my sanity over having bought an Indiana truck. I keep reminding myself that I only paid $800 and drove the thing 200 miles home. I've had it almost two years now and it's been a great trash hauler and farm truck. It runs really good and keeps on going. But I really am having a difficult time getting my head around all this danged rust! and yet, I've kept my eyes peeled diligently over these past two years looking for another crew cab dually here in the South and there just hasn't been one for less than ransom prices. Even at outrageous prices, there have only been two or three over the past year and a half.

There are a couple of other consolations. One is that I've watched every YouTube video showing rocker and floorboard repair that I can find. I have carefully studied every project thread on this forum. Many of these tubers and forum members have restored trucks waaaaayyyy worse than mine. So I feel confident that I can do it. The other consolation is that, because it will now be a TN truck, once I get the rust gone, IT WILL NEVER COME BACK. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA!!!!!

Honestly... where is the location of that truck in post #867? Does anyone know?

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[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by SKT

Attachment 1747451

Well that's painful to look at...wow.

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[Woodyboat]

This is without a doubt, the most heartbreaking and depressing thread EVER! And yet, I keep coming back everytime I get that email notice because I just can't resist it.

WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME? LOL

That '71 flat bed in post #876 is really a project I would love to take on. I think it has SO much potential. (...not that the others don't of course)

The project I had before my current Big Dooley was a '71 C20 Camper Special. I LOVED that truck. Too bad it got stolen. Anyway, there is one thing that I noticed that I was going to have problems though that I do not have with my current Dooley. That is that, at my height and weight, I can't get my big belly under the steering wheel of that generation of trucks from Chevy. I would have to change to a really small steering wheel or relocate the gas tank to get some more seat adjustment or something. (Sigh) So I guess it's just as well things have worked out the way they have.

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[62 Longbed]

Found this 1985 K20 a few weeks ago , been trying to work out something with the owner ... finally they called me up and said come get it . Need to really clean it up , someone stole the starter and cut the wires .. Gonna clean it up and make it into my daily for awhile .. Will post pictures when cleaned up and going .. It even came with a bed full of garbage included in the price ... lol

[62 Longbed]

Updated photos .... My New Daily ...

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^ Great save on that one!

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