Where is everybody finding them?

[PurdueSD]

Now first off, I'm not asking for local secrets or honey holes just some general discussion.

I am about 2 years removed from owning my last square. It was unfortunately taken from me too early when a car ran a red in front of me on the highway. When i bought it, I got a really good deal on it at the time and fixed it up a bit before ultimately loosing it. After standing my ground, I was a fairly compensated for it from the other guys insurance.

Since that time I've focused on some other projects and not really looked hard for a replacement. While also keeping an eye out should one pop up.

As of late, I've been really itching for one and my search has ramped up. Ive not been able to find one at my now much higher price point to even go look at.

I'd like to spend around 8k .

My wish list isn't too extensive:
swb
c10/r10, though i will consider a k10
Minimal rust and halfway presentable paint.
Just a cruiser and AC is a definite plus.
Two-tone is a plus

Is my budget unreasonable? I have some room to move up but i don't know exactly where that line of value vs cost truly lies for me.

Ive been looking on craigslist and facebook market place. Looked around at some other sites and haven't seen much.

[PurdueSD]

Oh! Since prices are regional, I Forgot to mention i am in the midwest- Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois tristate area.

[mongocanfly]

theres tons to chose from around my area...8k budget isn't unrealistic ...use searchtempest .......it will search all craigslist ads ......https://www.searchtempest.com/

[skyphix]

I used Craigslist and searched areas I know stuff wasn't as rusty as here, and that I knew people in so I'd have a place to crash/bail out option if needed, and then time. I searched for 3 or 4 years before I found the right truck for the right money, but my budget was more limited than yours.

Then I flew to South Carolina, wrenched on it at my buddies house for a day, and drove it 1300 miles home (my friend was actually nice enough to go pick the truck up for me a week or two in advance and do little stuff like an oil change, spark plugs, rear shocks, and clean the interior, I just used paypal to send him the money and shipped parts and tools for the road trip to his house ahead of time)

8k for what you're looking for is plenty reasonable in what I've been finding, around most of the continental US. I find trucks in that price range constantly in Western SC/NC, Kansas, Southern California, and northern Florida. I haven't looked much in your area, since the areas I mentioned are where I have connections that would let me ruin their driveway for a couple of days, hah!

Best of luck - I will keep my eyes open as well.

[1957 Chief]

Plenty over here in Arkansas/Missouri.

And 8K is reasonable for one.

Bubba

[andyh1956]

How 'bout this one for six?
https://northmiss.craigslist.org/cto...775385552.html

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by andyh1956

How 'bout this one for six?
https://northmiss.craigslist.org/cto...775385552.html

Yup, perfect example of what im after... Tho this paint combo isn't quite it for me. Thanks!

And thanks to the other guys as-well!

[mongocanfly]

might also keep an eye on this thread...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=738801

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

might also keep an eye on this thread...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=738801

x2 was just going to point this thread out .

[Mathew21]

Are you a member of any Facebook square body groups?

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

might also keep an eye on this thread...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=738801

Thanks, hadn’t seen that thread.

[74CustomK20]

Whats some closer towns to look at? I'm in tell city, in about an hour West of louisville ky n can keep an eye out

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by 74CustomK20

Whats some closer towns to look at? I'm in tell city, in about an hour West of louisville ky n can keep an eye out

I’m an hour west of you.

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by Mathew21

Are you a member of any Facebook square body groups?

Yeah several... everything decent seems like it’s 15k on those...

[jspec25]

I see tons of good RUST FREE project trucks on Facebook here in Illinois for
$3-5k...

[Mathew21]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

Yeah several... everything decent seems like it’s 15k on those...

I bought mine off of Square body nation group in August of last year. I put a detailed wanted ad up in a few different groups I had 30 replies in an hour. I had my truck shipped from Alabama to me in Michigan. It's a 87 Swb zero rust C10. It was priced within your budget.

As already mentioned when I'm looking for a vehicle I use searchtempest. I also go on Facebook market place and switch my location to different areas down South and out west. I'm not a body guy so I would much rather pay for shipping then deal with rust.

When I found my Crew cab on Craiglist using searchtempest. I posted up on here asking if someone lived in the area that could check it out for me. Another member stepped up for me. He looked it all over took it for a drive and sent me more pictures.

[smokehouse]

We live in the wrong part of the country to find rust free trucks and cars. I live in bowling green ky. lots of trucks but the rockers are all shot. I usually get them out west somewhere texas onward. Shipping vs. rust repair kinda evens out. My latest 78 c10 burb came from utah super nice. some guy had already paid for shipping to ohio and changed his mind so i bought it and drove up there and brought it home. I have loved driving that thing almost everyday. it's like driving a couch down the road. I enjoy it more that my 2011 chevy truck. I don't think i will every buy a new truck.

[Mathew21]

This looks like areal nice start for someone.

https://huntsville.craigslist.org/ct...786324976.html

[tucsonjwt]

As I am sure you already know, these old trucks will eventually need most, it not all, of the wear components replaced. If I were to start all over again, I would decide what exact type of truck I want and go looking for that particular truck in a rust free form. That most likely means looking in the desert southwest (AZ, NM, NV, etc.)

I would strip the vehicle down and do a frame off restoration. I would install a GM crate motor and factory rebuilt transmission. Then I would rebuild the interior and get a medium priced $2-$3K paint job. (I have been reading about some good deals on paint and body work south of the border, but there is some risk in driving your truck out of the country and trusting an unknown shop.)

No matter how nice a truck looks you can expect it to need work. 30+ year old vehicles will be just plain worn out. If you get one that is all restored to like new condition you can expect to spend in the $12-$15k range. For that price, I would rather have a newer 2000s model truck - which are much easier to find and are more fuel efficient and comfortable.

[sweetk30]

i have this truck almost done . no writeup on this site .

short version of the build specs :
2003 used 5.3 just under 100k miles full repower take out all harness and computer stuff .
2004 used 4l60-e just under 100k miles 2wd truck trans with driveshaft for the yokes if i need them .
full frame off re-build all work my self minus media blast and paint .
all sheet metal replaced with gm or capa certified prem parts or goodmark for the hood .
lowered 2.5" front & back still on roller 31" tires yet .
she is close to done and i have found a lot of deals on my parts and friend helped paint it for me .

i am in just over 15k price tag so far if i was to sit down and add it all up . 95-96% of the parts are replaced / rebuilt / upgraded / best of what i had or could get for a deal .

so use this as i idea of what it takes to do one .

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by Mathew21

I bought mine off of Square body nation group in August of last year. I put a detailed wanted ad up in a few different groups I had 30 replies in an hour. I had my truck shipped from Alabama to me in Michigan. It's a 87 Swb zero rust C10. It was priced within your budget.

As already mentioned when I'm looking for a vehicle I use searchtempest. I also go on Facebook market place and switch my location to different areas down South and out west. I'm not a body guy so I would much rather pay for shipping then deal with rust.

When I found my Crew cab on Craiglist using searchtempest. I posted up on here asking if someone lived in the area that could check it out for me. Another member stepped up for me. He looked it all over took it for a drive and sent me more pictures.

Originally Posted by Mathew21

This looks like areal nice start for someone.

https://huntsville.craigslist.org/ct...786324976.html

Thanks for the help and ideas! Posted a wtb add yesterday on the SB nation group, not much response. The red truck you posted i would definately go look at if it was closer. Its just not "the one" to drive 5 hours to go look at if you know what i mean... Im really not in a rush, have lots of projects (including my 51<--). I actually really enjoy the search process. Just looking for a fun little driver i can clean up and do little stuff do as a feel like it.

Heres my 87 that got totaled out. I was still in the process of getting rid of some of the bad 80s vibes (while keeping some of the good 80s vibes). A guy ran a red crossing the highway in front of me, and that was the end of that. Wheels were next.

[mongocanfly]

That was a nice truck you lost...as stated before if you find one outside your "drive to look" distance , I'm sure some of the members here who live closer would help you out...I know there's several members in and around Huntsville....

[blindbug]

Originally Posted by smokehouse

We live in the wrong part of the country to find rust free trucks and cars. I live in bowling green ky. lots of trucks but the rockers are all shot. I usually get them out west somewhere texas onward. Shipping vs. rust repair kinda evens out. My latest 78 c10 burb came from utah super nice. some guy had already paid for shipping to ohio and changed his mind so i bought it and drove up there and brought it home. I have loved driving that thing almost everyday. it's like driving a couch down the road. I enjoy it more that my 2011 chevy truck. I don't think i will every buy a new truck.

There are some rust free trucks in the area. I found mine in Manchester, KY and it was/is virtually rust free. Cab Corners and Rockers are solid. The best thing you can do in trying to find a good deal on a solid squarebody is invest in PATIENCE! It took me almost 5 years before I found the truck I wanted, in the condition I wanted it in, under the budget I needed it to be in. I feel like I got a smokin' good deal, but others might find it questionable.

That being said, I'm going to be in over $10k doing the upgrades and changes that I want done. Probably wasted some money on things that didn't NEED to be replaced, or could have been changed out to cheaper aftermarket items, but I wanted anyway (things like going from step to sport bumper and going dakota digital for instrument cluster). Those are things that weren't a MUST, but it's what I wanted and that's what matters.

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That was a nice truck you lost...as stated before if you find one outside your "drive to look" distance , I'm sure some of the members here who live closer would help you out...I know there's several members in and around Huntsville....

Thanks! I just missed this one last week. Sold the day before i found it and called. Its was one of my best case scenarios... well from pictures anyways.

[mongocanfly]

Yeah...you gotta be quick on the nice ones.....a daily search would be in order...and I dont know if it can be done ,but can you alerts sent to you from craigslist when a new posting pops up?