Thoughts on altering a survivor truck

[bigguy]

I've come across a pristine '74 c10. One owner, Original paint, interior, no rust, but it is low optioned. No A/C, power brakes, and it's a 3 speed.

I like the look of the truck but it has giant work truck style mirrors that I want to change and I'd like to swap in an auto.

Should I get it and modify it, or keep looking for something a little closer to what I want?

[old Rusty C10]

id probably look for something else... Im kinda a purist and don't like to add stuff unless I have no other choice.. I mean rims are one thing but changing the drivetrain etc if whats there is perfectly good is not my thing. On my show truck my motor was tired so I upgraded the 305 to a 350 and I did make the inside a little nicer with the full interior plastics and headliner but the others I have, including the 79 are being left as is

[mongocanfly]

there's purists and there's modifiers. ..if you like the truck I'd get it and make it your own. ..unless it was a collector edition or something, I'm guessing not, the value of keeping it completely stock won't mean much...but there's also not many trucks still out there like you described...

[bigguy]

I would really just like to change the mirrors and add the ridetech streetgrip that I have sitting here.

[RotaryRocketeer]

I was gonna say you should consider leaving it as is, but damn man. Is that ugly or what??? Get those mirrors well away from that truck and ditch the shell. As long as you don't butcher the body, make it what you want it to be.

[mongocanfly]

thing about changing out the mirrors is your gonna have some holes in your doors to deal with...if the price is right I'd jump on it..

[bigguy]

Yea, I'd end up painting the doors which would ruin the allure of original paint. The cap would come off for sure.

[rustyfive-seven]

its a beauty! I would pull the mirrors off and use plastic plugs in the holes, lower it a bit and call it done!

[hewittca]

That looks like a nice truck to start with. You will probably get a wide range of opinions here with no clear consensus. Some will say, don't pull those mirrors they are original! Others will say, pull the mirrors but don't paint the doors they are original! Then others will say, pull the doors and find original paint doors with the mirrors you want!

My point is, do what you want with whatever truck you see fit. Despite the rapid increase in popularity in the last decade and the conception or rarity that this creates, there are still a ton of these trucks in all different conditions available. You just need deep enough pockets nowadays to buy the one you want.

[D13]

So... i'm big on not modifying pristine original trucks.

For what you are looking at, buy a set of doors and get them painted and set up with your mirrors. Get an auto column and pedal set and swap the trans. Keep the original parts so they can be reinstalled.

I'm fortunate that none of mine are 'pristine' enough to worry about such things.

[Dead Parrot]

The mirror holes should be easy to patch. Matching the probably lead based paint with modern stuff might be a bit tricky.

Swapping the manual for an auto probably means a column swap if it is currently Three on the Tree. And losing the clutch pedal and linkages. The TotT column, if that is what it has, should be easy to find a home for. Several folks here have complained how hard manual column parts are to find.

If the asking price + probable mod costs = a good deal, buy it, mod it, enjoy it. If you pass for fear of modding a survivor truck and the next person is looking for a low cost lawn care truck.....

Might check the SPID and see if the mirrors are factory, dealer or PO option.

[jkk]

Go for it make it yours

[Rickysnickers]

Modify away!

[bigguy]

Went to look at it today. Tried to test drive it and the trans locked up in first gear. I'm no longer worried about altering the truck bc the owner has done a few things to it already. We never got to talk about a price after the trans mishap. I'm pretty sure we have way different value in mind.

[77shorty]

I'd say loose the topper/canopy for sure....yuk! Then.....throw on dumbo mirrors or sport mirrors. You can plug the holes tastefully...a friend of mine has the same situation with a 35k mile truck and he put a tasteful bolt in each of the holes and its okay...he didn't want to disturb the original paint, its a minor flaw. Your truck would be awesome, actually it looks pretty sweet in that photo.....go for it.

[KQQL IT]

I would

[4x4k30]

put a header on it with a 4 barrell carb. and just buy a power brake booster easy swap . lil sleeper truck.

[zach_carver]

Lower it and drive it as is!!! I like it

[cadillac_al]

Originally Posted by bigguy

Went to look at it today. Tried to test drive it and the trans locked up in first gear.

That's the old school charm that I miss about an old 3 on the tree lol. Back in the day the passenger would have to get out and crawl under and tap on the linkage. I hate to see pristine trucks modified but this is a plain Jane basic truck, modify away. When I changed a 3 on the tree to an automatic I left the clutch pedal as an extra safety start to confuse thieves.

[lilpoindexter]

Do whatever you wanna do with it.

[LT7A]

It sounds like the deal is off, but what the heck, I'm often happy to throw an opinion out there. As odd as it sounds, for me, the decision would be based on whether or not you felt like you had to paint the doors. I totally get that those mirrors need to go. And I think I would double stick on sport mirrors myself. If you felt like you needed to patch and paint those holes from the old mirrors than I would pass on this truck. Trying to get the doors to look right with the rest of the survivor paint would take away the value of buying a truck in that condition in the first place. You could just put plastic plugs in the holes and touch them up with orange paint. You would be able to see them but they wouldn't stand out... But, as you previously noted, it sounds like you and the owner are too far away on the price anyway. Good luck man, keep us posted. I hope you find something you like.

[Oregoon]

Art is not eternal, my friend. Do what you like to your truck.

If it makes you happy, it makes others happy. And if they aren't happy, drive away...

[abig84]

remove the mirrors and put some fancy bullet hole stickers over the holes. easiest body work ever

[rusty76]

Awhile back I saw some stainless plugs that go in the mirror holes. I bet you could do something like that. My truck had west coast mirrors on it when my uncle got it and factory sport mirrors. He hated the west coast mirrors though. Still got the holes after all these years. Do what you like. Honestly if you’re worried about modifying this truck then find another. Good luck.

[gmachinz]

If its low optioned I dont see any problem modifying it. imo the trucks worth keeping all stock are ones with some odd options you dont see every day. For example, about 6 years ago I went with my father in law to look at a 74 Cheyenne Super C20 with only 52K actual miles showing. Guy was asking $3900 for it which before seeing it I thought whoa thats too much for a 2WD truck. Then we seen this truck....��

So besides being a factory 454-TH400 truck with working R12 air still, it also had a FLAWLESS tan/brown bucket seat/console interior, perfect woodgrain trim on cluster bezel, door panels, had dual tanks, factory tach-even the carpet still looked new! I couldnt believe how nice it was! The box was still pristine-had a dealer installed topper on it since it was new...had dealer installed overload springs on the back, 4.10 posi rear...just an incredible truck.

But alas, my father in law passed on buying it. I already had several irons in the fire myself (and truck prices hadnt taken off yet) so while it was nice, it wasnt a 4x4.

Fast forward a few months and we seen that same truck sitting on a corner with the box loaded to the top with sweet corn! Whoever did buy used it as a hauler for selling sweet corn-I can only imagine how beat up that pristine bucket seat interior has got to be by now ��.
Even being 2 WD it would have made an awesome survivor.