73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: 780K20 on October 29, 2015, 02:54:18 pm
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Hey everyone, I would like your honest opinions on what to do with this truck body wise. I bought it two weeks ago solely as a project - fix it up a bit, lift it, make it into a nice little daily driver/trail truck (no insane mudbogging). By no means this will ever be a show truck unless I win the lottery or take the next 30 years of my life to save up and fully restore it haha. Can someone give me a rough idea what this may cost to repair the gaping holes/rust, and paint?
I imagine I can't even patch these holes very well...should I just give in and buy new panels? Or should I hack those cancerous pieces off and weld some patches on? These photos taken today are the worst areas. Everywhere else is in quite decent shape and just surface rust. The fender on the other side does have a steel patch on it, I forgot to take a photo. If you don't think its worth the money to restore and just leave it looking like a bush beater, I will not have any hurt feelings.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b222/pro_rodeo_chick/IMG_73011.jpg) (http://s20.photobucket.com/user/pro_rodeo_chick/media/IMG_73011.jpg.html)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b222/pro_rodeo_chick/IMG_73001.jpg) (http://s20.photobucket.com/user/pro_rodeo_chick/media/IMG_73001.jpg.html)
(Sorry, forgot to rotate this one)
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Mirror arm ate a hole in the door :'( those ugly things have got to go! I will have to either patch the holes or buy new outer panels....
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How deep is your pockets? I would go over the frame well to determine if replacement panels would be worth it. From the pictures I see new doors, bed and fenders at a minimum are needed. How's the floor board?
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How deep is your pockets? I would go over the frame well to determine if replacement panels would be worth it. From the pictures I see new doors, bed and fenders at a minimum are needed. How's the floor board?
Floor board is in good shape as well. I could definitely buy a fender or panel here and there a month at a time, but not all in one shot (not at the moment anyway). Maybe I will see how my tax return looks this spring and will be able to get it done all at once :)
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The first thing I think of when I see a rusty truck is how are the brake lines? Make sure its safe to drive before starting the body work.
As far as the body, in my area a nice clean bed is $1,000. Figure another $1,000 +/- for aftermarket doors, fenders, front fender wells, rockers, & cab corners (all available on this sites store). You said your floors are good, so I'm thinking around $2k in parts to do the rust repair yourself. Options are endless $$ wise when it comes to paint.
How is the rest of the truck? Drive train? Tires? Brakes? Exhaust? Brake lines? Fuel tank & lines? Get the idea? A simple rust repair project can get expensive quickly.
It could be a fun project if you keep the budget under control. Just keep in mind these things have a way of spiraling out of control.
Only you can make the call on what to do.
I've seen guys take worn out trucks and turn them into nice daily drivers they are proud of. Others have gotten in over their head and had to sell the truck off as an unfinished project. These people usually end up loosing big $$ in the process, and regret that they ever bought the truck.
Yours is not simple question to answer.
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I would scrap the bed and build a flatbed with angle iron and wood floor, would probably be cheaper then fixing that rust or finding a new bed. I would find a better shaped door, chances are with that outer rust, the bottom is probably pretty far gone as well.
if you can weld yourself, you should be able to do rockers and cab corners for under $100 a side
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With these trucks as stated don't bother with the body. Worry about the chassis first and look over the brakes, bushings, shocks, ball joints and ujoints.
90% of the time they are or will be near original to the truck and need to be replaced.
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The parts for rust repair aren't that expensive. The tools and consumables are what get expensive. What is your time worth, you'll have a lot invested. I think it's worth it, but you have to decide. Maybe you have a lot of tools already. With what you're goal is, I think it would be a great project to learn body work on. It doesn't have to be perfect but you get to see if you like it.
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Y'all's suggestions and information is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Originally an older farmer, who also has his own little mechanic service shop, owned the truck and rebuilt the engine, and did a lot of work to keep it running well and only used it seasonally for summer farm work (spraying). I crawled around under there and everything is in remarkably good shape including brake lines and all. No leaks or anything, no gashes or rusted out holes in the frame, no vibrations or any concerning noises. It passed inspection so we are off to a good start :) I bought it off a friend for $2000 (all he wanted was the value back for the brand new rims and Fierce Attitude tires). He was going to restore it but it just sat there for 3 months till I came along.
I think I will slowly acquire some panels and supplies! I have all sorts of access to tools at my dad's shop, and my brother is pretty handy when it comes to detailed body work and mechanical/electrical so he can help me if I run into technical problems. I work at a diesel shop too, which is convenient. This will definitely be a learning curve and should be a fun project. It will give me something to tinker away on.
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You got some rust there. You must live near me. If you have a garage and the truck is not your primary vehicle, then you could do a full blown restoration, a little at a time. Money determines all.
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Come to GA and pick up some parts
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IMHO, I'd make that truck a beater mud truck and look to the south/southwest for a clean daily driver.
I see cherry 81~87 4x4 trucks on craigslist from time to time. Every so often grandpa decides, or his family decides for him, he no longer needs "that old truck". The time, money, and effort your truck is going to require would pay for a nicely perserved time machine, or barn find.
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Northern Alberta is a LONG LONG LONG ways from any area that would remotely have good clean trucks. Most of the trucks up here are rusted in one spot or another and you either flog it off, keep it as a beater or scrap it.
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Thanks again everyone!
Yeah way up north here in Canadaland it's tough to find mint old trucks unless they've been parked in a barn or machine shed most of their life. I wish I could take an enclosed trailer down to the States and load up on parts!
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beds cab be found cheaper down south i live in maryland/delaware a good bed can be found anywhere from 400-800. down near north carolina there was a dually bed with only surface rust for 550. it would of been worth it but i didnt feel like a 8hr drive one way for a bed.
on a bad note 2k would be way too much for that truck i dont care what rims/tires it has cause im frugal as im told lol
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I'd say if the frame looks solid go for it. Most all of the sheet metal is pretty easy and straight-forward to replace if you can find the parts. I find beds on Craigslist for sale at the lowest around 350.
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I think 2000 for it was pretty ridiculous honestly you can find rust free trucks for that price. I just bought one a couple months ago for 400 bucks running and driving and in better shape than that.
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I think 2000 for it was pretty ridiculous honestly you can find rust free trucks for that price. I just bought one a couple months ago for 400 bucks running and driving and in better shape than that.
I think 2000 for it was pretty ridiculous honestly you can find rust free trucks for that price. I just bought one a couple months ago for 400 bucks running and driving and in better shape than that.
Keep in mind that location is everything when looking for rust free vehicles.
780k20 is from Canada. I'm thinking that rust free square bodies are few and far between there.
As far as shipping a rust free truck to Canada, I think there are some hefty import/export taxes to deal with.
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I think 2000 for it was pretty ridiculous honestly you can find rust free trucks for that price. I just bought one a couple months ago for 400 bucks running and driving and in better shape than that.
I think 2000 for it was pretty ridiculous honestly you can find rust free trucks for that price. I just bought one a couple months ago for 400 bucks running and driving and in better shape than that.
Keep in mind that location is everything when looking for rust free vehicles.
780k20 is from Canada. I'm thinking that rust free square bodies are few and far between there.
As far as shipping a rust free truck to Canada, I think there are some hefty import/export taxes to deal with.
You're definitely right about that!
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Just my 2 cents, but I have a similar project. My truck came with no bed, and needed some panels as well. The trick is to have money, or be patient. Check craigslist every couple of days, and eventually youll find what you need. I have bought 2 different donor trucks ($600 or less), stolen good panels from them, and then sold the trucks quickly for nearly what I paid for them!
There's a whole community of people out there doing what youre doing, and everyone has a little something different they need.
Keep it up man!
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Thanks for all the replies and thoughts!
Up here in Alberta there are crappy old square bodies going for $5000 :o I don't know where some people get their prices! The salt and sand sure eats holes in everything in the winter. I believe it was used around chemical spraying for agricultural use too, that may have also caused damage as well? Even my '04.5 Duramax has missing paint and rust (no holes though) out the wazoo :(
Over winter I will be tinkering away and go from there. Time to make a priority list!
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As another fellow Albertan, I agree prices are ridiculous here for old square bodies, especially the rust free ones. I would say that was a ok purchase for an ok price.
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At a certain point, the price becomes meaningless. If you're looking at a truck in a condition or configuration you won't ever find again (for instance, a nice, smog-exempt, 1-ton, 4x4 crew cab), price becomes irrelevant. The seller can pretty well charge whatever he wants and you'll either pay it, or revise down your dreams.
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Hey, what do clean square bodies go for up there anyway??
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Hey, what do clean square bodies go for up there anyway??
I tell you what.. If you can find a clean one that hasn't been molested in any way and looks good.. I will personally give you $100 because those things are a rare unicorn my friend. If you DID find one.. You would be forking out $8,000k or more.
I've seen restored ones for over 20k up here
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Hey, what do clean square bodies go for up there anyway??
The problem is there isn't really in Alberta. If you want a clean one it's usually sourced out of British Columbia our provincial neighbor to the west. Then they usually start around $8000. The ones you get for $8000 here in Alberta will usually still come with rust.
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lol enaberif beat me to the punch I made my post without reading his, funny we had the same number.
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Yeah well I'm a Albertan boy who shopped around a long and then just found one I could buy lol.
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Is there still a gm plant in canada? Thats where my truck was made.
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Is there still a gm plant in canada? Thats where my truck was made.
Are you sure about that? From everything I've been able to find, the assembly plant that is still located in Oshawa, Ontario Canada didn't start building full size trucks until 1981? I've owned 2 different Chevys that came out of that plant. Both were the newer body style, one an 89 K2500 and the other a 98 K1500. My 87 was built in the Janesville, Wisconsin plant.
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Is there still a gm plant in canada? Thats where my truck was made.
Are you sure about that? From everything I've been able to find, the assembly plant that is still located in Oshawa, Ontario Canada didn't start building full size trucks until 1981? I've owned 2 different Chevys that came out of that plant. Both were the newer body style, one an 89 K2500 and the other a 98 K1500. My 87 was built in the Janesville, Wisconsin plant.
there are actually 2 or 3 sections to the ontario plant- the north plant I believe manufactured the trucks from 1965 on till 2009, when that section was closed, that plant, I believe, was also the one that produced WW1 ambulances in the early 1900's. the main plant still produces several GM models, and anther section does engine and tranny.
someone can correct me on any part, but I am pretty sure that is the correct info
also
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/VIN2.htm
1 is US, 2 is Canada, first digit beginning 1981 if 3 it is mexico, J is a japan built,
before 1981 the 7th? digit gave specific plant code
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Yup, mine came out of Canada for sure.
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My friend in Red Deer owns a customs shop and was going to sell me this one for $7200, 454, one tons, manual... all that GOOD, FUN stuff haha! I need a Christmas miracle and the winning lottery ticket first haha. I dunno if mine would EVER look like that some day... :-\
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b222/pro_rodeo_chick/IMG_70601.png) (http://s20.photobucket.com/user/pro_rodeo_chick/media/IMG_70601.png.html)