What to look for when buying

[72velle]

Hello folks,
I am still pretty new here but i haven't found a buyer's guide. What I am looking for is a post on what to look for when looking to buy one of these trucks. I am looking for something in the 68-72 range, short bed.
So, what do i look for and what do I look out for?
TIA,
72velle

[leddzepp]

Rust...

[SC1969c10]

Test drive, for a decent drive. I should have done a mych longer one on mine as I inherited a handful of problems. Test drive that includes different speeds to run in through all gears, and to get it at higher RPMs for atleast a few minutes. Pop the hood after the drive to check for leaks. Let it sit for a few and see if it restarts quickly. Any maintenace receipts are great to prove the work was done by a pro. Make sure all gauges working, check all signals, all accessories.

Another thing if your not too familiar, get a general idea for parts so you know what you might be getting into, or where the price might need to be for you.

Dont do what I did and get too darn excited to not run through all of this. My guy swore it was his daily driver, and theres no stinking way.
Posted via Mobile Device

[bill3rail]

If you are looking for specifics, any "Used Car Buying Guide" will do.
I say, typical of any used car purchase, look for signs of hidden damage.
Gear oil in the crankcase.
Excessive Bondo or body damage.
Vehicle tracking at an angle.

Look underneath very carefully section by section, piece by piece.

Bill

[cornerstone]

Check V.I.N. numbers to verify that they match, as in whats on the title is the same as the door tag, etc. Also you mentioned short bed... I think you will find that a large portion that will be for sale at a realistic (affordable) price are probably cut down long beds and thats ok as long as you know what you're buying, and trust the work was done right. Then there is always rust, some areas are relatively easy/ affordable to handle and then there are the trucks you might want to avoid if it is rotted out. One of the more difficult places would be the cowl area. If you're not interested in doing a frame off I would avoid any truck where the cowl and or the windshield surround / roof panel or pillars need structural support to be safe. That is major surgery and can quickly put the brakes on what started out as a fun project. Happy truck hunting!

[Coley]

What to look for...that is a very good question, lol.

First a lot depends on your budget. If your budget is small....say $6000 or less, then you can't be too picky if you are looking for a short/fleet truck....just try to get one with as little rust as possible and one that is an original (not cut down) truck.

If you are in the $6-$12K bracket you have to start paying more attention to not only the body but the mechanics....ie: a good running motor and as many accessories on the truck working properly as possible.

If you are up over $12-18K...you have to and can start being a little more picky in the quality of truck you are looking for.
ie: nice interior, performance upgrades, little to no rust, recent paint, absolutely reliable and driveable, nice bed, very nice chrome, no base model stuff unless it has very, very, very low mileage....easy to show'n shine, etc.
Anything over $20K....should almost be delivered, lol.

my two bits.
Coley

[oldhokie]

i am a c10 newbie, but my advice is buy the best truck you can, i am learning quickly that my $900 truck is basically a title and a pile of rusty parts.

it was probably a "good" deal, running 350, '71 shortbed, solid frame, power brakes and ac, but the costs add up quickly and i'm not even road worthy yet.

in hindsight i would have held out for a better truck.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by oldhokie

i am a c10 newbie, but my advice is buy the best truck you can, i am learning quickly that my $900 truck is basically a title and a pile of rusty parts.

it was probably a "good" deal, running 350, '71 shortbed, solid frame, power brakes and ac, but the costs add up quickly and i'm not even road worthy yet.

in hindsight i would have held out for a better truck.

THIS ^^^

That good deal feeling wears off reallllll quick when you can’t drive it

[S_Gibson]

As a new owner of a 70 C-10 I can safely say rust, rust, anywhere and everywhere. I bought a rusty truck, but I had an idea what I was getting into when buying it. Fortunately the one I found has a good powertrain and runs great so I couldn't go wrong with what little I paid. I will be spending a lot of time and money later when I start repairing or replacing rusty parts.

Don't pay too much for a rusty truck.

[Southpaw69]

Originally Posted by oldhokie

i am a c10 newbie, but my advice is buy the best truck you can, i am learning quickly that my $900 truck is basically a title and a pile of rusty parts.

it was probably a "good" deal, running 350, '71 shortbed, solid frame, power brakes and ac, but the costs add up quickly and i'm not even road worthy yet.

in hindsight i would have held out for a better truck.

I should have held out too. Get the best you can afford. Check the cab closely for rust. Way up under the dash, kick panels, around the drip rails/windshield, get under it and look close. People can hide some pretty nasty situations with spray foam and bondo...

[weq92f]

What everybody is saying. Get yourself a bright mini flashlight and crawl around under there checking out everything. Make sure it jives with what the owner is saying and matches with your own expectations.

Use a magnet to test common areas for metal under paint to ensure it's not a bunch of filler covering empty rusted out areas. I use a small credit card sized fridge magnet that's soft and pliable and will not scratch paint.

Hth,

-klb

[Coley]

The fact is you are very, very unlikely to find a truck with no rust.
So what is the happy medium?....
The worst culprits seem to be all cab related....rocker panels are first and highly visible, cab supports underneath and then the cab corners....so expect something in those areas....just how bad or solid is anybody's guess.
Well, in my opinion try to find one that doesn't have rusty doors to start with...particularly on the bottom.

All good
Coley

[demian5]

This thread gives you some indirect insight:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=768206

[Bearhawg]

I received this in my Hagerty's newsletter. Have not watched it yet. may be helpful.

https://youtu.be/jaibDkuLi48

[72velle]

Originally Posted by demian5

This thread gives you some indirect insight:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=768206

I have a post in that thread

[Jason Banks]

Originally Posted by Bearhawg

I received this in my Hagerty's newsletter. Have not watched it yet. may be helpful.

https://youtu.be/jaibDkuLi48

Nice video...not super thorough...but it's a good start