Might trade my 2002 GMC for a C10... Good Idea?

[garage_engineering]

Hi All,
I am new here and my name is Matt. I have been reading and researching on this forum for a while, and it seems like a great, friendly community. I am totally in love with the look of the 67-72 trucks, especially the short beds!

I don't have my own C10 yet, but have always wanted one and am constantly searching this forum and Craigslist for candidates. My problem at the moment is I do not have the disposable funds to buy a nice driver truck, nor do I have the time to work on a project truck (already restoring another car.)

The best solution I can come up with is to trade my daily driver GMC for a nice driving C10 (my dream would be a 2WD short bed that has already been LS-swapped with a T56, but that might a long shot). That way, I can have my C10 to daily drive over the summer here in MA while I finish the restoration of my other car. I can then pick up a winter beater when the time comes and work on the C10 next winter.

My truck is pictured below. It has high mileage (180k) but I am very meticulous and have kept it in great shape. I value it around $6k. Now, I know that nice driving C10s are going for much more than that these days, but I'm hoping I can find someone that is looking to move into a more modern truck and the convenience of doing a trade might make up for the difference in value.

This is not a for sale ad, I was just hoping I could get some help in thinking through this... what are your thoughts? Do you think anyone would actually jump at this if I were to place an ad? What have your experiences been with trading?

[sick472]

You should be able to find a $6000 67 thru 72 truck in good to very good condition for a daily driver. You might have to settle for most of that money to be tied up in the drivetrain, suspension, and brakes while it's appearance might be lacking. Now, finding that special someone that needs your 2002 AND has a classic to trade may take some patience. Can you sell your truck and go buy the classic? Maybe get your beater now to drive after you sell your 2002 and look for THAT truck.

Oh, Welcome to the club!

[rsavage]

You have a nice looking truck but I think you are significantly over valuing it with that kind of mileage. Check NADA or KBB. That being said, it is probably a much more reliable vehicle than a 50 year old c10 in the price range/trade value. My advice, be patient, save some money, and get a 67-72 that is a decent truck to start work on.

[Mike C]

Originally Posted by rsavage

You have a nice looking truck but I think you are significantly over valuing it with that kind of mileage. Check NADA or KBB. That being said, it is probably a much more reliable vehicle than a 50 year old c10 in the price range/trade value. My advice, be patient, save some money, and get a 67-72 that is a decent truck to start work on.

I agree completely with this analysis and advice. Nothing like having all your vehicles in project status....

[leddzepp]

Having a 50 year old truck for your only daily driver is not a good idea imo. You will be fixing things constantly and it will nickel and dime you to death. Not only that, you need to ask yourself if you have the time to do so. I use one of mine almost daily, but I have other modern reliable vehicles if I need them, and I do from time to time. Don’t trade your current truck, save your money and buy a “toy” to tinker with on the side when you have enough funds. Good luck.

[LEEVON]

I think the value of your truck is spot on. My father in law has a stock red 2003 short bed with 98k miles, it traded hands from and back to him at $10k. But I would recommend saving your pennies until you can have both a daily and a project.

[Kennuck]

I love my 70 LS swapped shortwide, it's a very nice driver with the LS swap for sure. Having said that I wouldn't be without my modern 2016 F150 5.0 RCSB it does all the heavy lifting and my C10 gets the Sunday afternoon drives. The C10 could do all the heavy work but the F150 does it so much better.

Keep your modern truck and save up for a classic. Your GMC has many more miles left in it.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Unless you're lucky, IMO, 6K doesn't approach a quality rebuild that's a true SWB. With LS etc. is certainly wishful thinking.

Here's a good example what you're looking at for SWB.......Bidding is currently at $4500 with four days to go. This truck is a mess, and hardly a daily driver. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-Chevro...JaelZV&vxp=mtr

On a side, me, I like LWB near as much. Sometimes they look better yet, depends on paint scheme etc. As trucks needing restoration go, you can figure a LWB is half the cost a true SWB. Step sides are cheaper too.

[stsalvage]

Right now is a good time to buy one 2 3 4 5 6 7.As man as your back yard can hold.Ever sense the LS motors came out on the scene.Nothing will be the same again.When fuel injected came out in 1984.The throttle body Ram jet the Vortex.Now the LS an the LS 2.You can buy these things for as low as 1300.00 with motor and trans.Now its you just want to just throw it in the truck Cast you 3000.00 to get one of these things to work in your truck then you get 19-24 mpg depends on how you gear it.

Now the right way to putting one of these in your truck.When you buy it from a place that really test fires these engine and gives you a warranty.

When you get it to your house of the shop that will be putting it in.Most shops want you to do a reseal job on the engine.

Meaning new water pump New oil pan seal rear main seal front seal intake seal all seals.Any part that looks like it will be a mother to change change it be fore you install it.That cost you a extra 2000.00.Now there is a place in Texas that takes your computer and re flashes is for 1000 to 1200.then you still need to buy all the mounts transmission mounts drive shaft yoke possible new drive shaft.

resealing the trans putting in new filter Pulling the pan on Motor and trans to see any abuse.

These thing Most people don't tell you about putting a LS motor in your truck.The 4L60E is a garbage trans it has a lot of problems.

Now they make a 4l70E and a 4l75E One is used in Vans the other is used in 3/4 ton vans.Then you have the 4L80E.The 3 transmission shops i talked to have told me about 1 problem with that trans Who ever did the last front and rear seal if you don't get it in perfect it will leak

Other then that that trans is bulletproof you can abuse that trans.The 4L80E dose have one problem a clearance issue if you had a th400 in your truck your Fine but if you had the th350 you might need to do some work to your tunnel


Now you have the choice of of running 4 engines the 3.8 V6 the 5.3 327 the 5.7 350 or the big block 6.0 witch is the 396.If your have a trucks and you have now a money problem Buy the 6.0 it has the 4L80E that comes with it.


Now some of use are still trapped in the pass like me.You can run all sorts of engines.

But best to buy them new or have them rebuilt.

Engines 283 327 350 400 small block 396 427 454 502 big blocks Now your can get the stoker 383 that's 400 crank is a 350 then you have the destoked 400 with the 350 cranks makes it 377 or a std bore be a 372.

One guy had a factory DZ 302 in his collection so he drop one in his 1969 1/2 ton truck.


What ever way you do it you have a choice of greatness,

These trucks are going up in price so fast.I started collecting these trucks back in 1989.Bout 2 chevy trucks for 200.00 running kinda one had a burned valve the other one had a busted U joint Both where AC trucks fully loaded 1 was a 1968 1/2 ton 396 400 the other was a 1972 Cheyenne 1 ton with a inline 6 with 4 on the floor.

These trucks where all over the place.I had a few people call me up after word got around that i liked the trucks one got dropped off in my mom and dads front yard 1967 short bed fleet side it had the 250 3 on the tree pink was on the seat signed.So ya it was funny back then.

The one i regret for not buying was the 1972 chevy 1 ton Riverside CA NASCAR wrecker it was the dovetail for $1000.00 it was White with red interior it was a 402 ac auto trans blow up so it was sitting in peaces on the bed.One of my regrets or many.

[Barnfind46]

I am currently driving my 50 year old C-20 every day. I have been for 4 months. My regular daily driver developed a rod knock and the weather,sickness and other things have kept me from doing the repairs so that is what I am doing until the repairs are done. I love my truck but I have been fixing things every week. It was parked for 7 years and then I got it back on the road about 3 months before the daily driver broke. Those seven years were not kind.

[Grumpy old man]

Keep your current no payments truck and go find a short bed roller , You'll be way ahead of the game and then you can build one out however you want without trying to use it on a daily basis , Your red shortbed will be one of the next collectables coming down the road in the future ...

[custom10nut]

Take heed to what the wise ones say. You now have a reliable DD now, keep it.
If you are in the situation to be able to put money away, open a "truck account", and put any extra money in it.
To buy a complete truck and expect no issues is a pipe dream. 50 year old stuff wears out, and usually at the most inopportune time.
These trucks are expensive in the least, but not impossible. I've had mine for 25 years now and it has on occasion been my DD, and has not "been without problems".
Please don't think I'm trying to discourage you, only enlighten. Good luck on your quest

[garage_engineering]

I greatly appreciate all the tips and insight, this forum is great! No hard feeling on challenging the value of my current truck or encouraging me to wait, that is why I posted this topic!

I already have my "truck account" set up that I put a bit of money away in every month in case the right truck pops up. I enjoy working on my cars and making them "mine" but I agree with most of the comments here that it's different when you're constantly fixing up your daily driver.

I'm all ears for any other comments or suggestions...