-
Hey guys new to this form. My name is Terry and i picked up on a 1974 chevy longbed with no motor for free..It had an engine fire so i know the electrical part will need replace but all of the glass doors and body parts are there, also have a 350 sitting in garage. Hope to have all you help me get this project started....Terry
-
Welcome to the forum Terry. will be happy to help out.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
-
well went and looked at it, it's a little beyond my repair so i guess it's back to the drawing board, darn and i was looking forward to it....Terry
-
What all did it need? Most people here know at least a little about everything and some of us know more about specific areas of the trucks than others, so, if are really set on it and wiring is an issue, go to a salvage yard and simply remove the wiring from another truck. One bolt, 3/8" I think, hold the plug into the cab, everything else simply un hooks other than a few keepers here and there. About an hours work and I would guess no more than $20 and you have the wiring solved. If you can't find one then I will try to come up with one and will try to get it to you.
-
a free truck is the best deal you can get, i don't care what kind of shape it's in.good luck.
-
well when i looked at it the wiring harness was fried and the dash wasn't there no steering column and the bed was shot the cab itself was alright grille didn't look to bad so do you think that is worth it. The place it's at is a body shop and the laughed at me when i said i thought about putting it back together...Terry
-
Go back after you rebuild it and laugh at him when you DRIVE it back to him to show him.
SgtDel
-
yeah but sometimes that can be more to fix than it's worth right? Is the wiring harness really that simple to put in? need some input from all of you what should i do? What would you do if you were in my shoes.....?
-
ok i need everyones opinion? It's a 1974 chevy truck longbed it has no motor and but the tranny is there. the best is rusty around wheelwells and cab forward doesn't look to bad. Inside all the interior is pretty shot the wiring inside the dash looks to be burnt up due to the battery falling over and starting a fire, and there is no steering column or wheel. So if it were you what would you do fix it up or what need some input? Are there alot of these trucks out there cheap? also show me pics of ugly trucks that everyone else would of parted out but you fixed them up?....thanks for your time....Terry
Pasted from another post... -roundedline
I need everyones opinion...The 74 I told you about let me go more into detail about it. 1974 chevy longbed it had a fire the battery fell over and fried the wire harness inside the dash lookes to be fried it got so hot it melted some of the dash benzel. From what i can tell the wiring looks to be burnt all inside the dash and there is no steering column has no motor and the trans is still there. The bed has rust around both wheel wells and a busted taillight, the doors are ok along with front clip and it's a freebie, and all glass is also there. Would it be worth fixing up or what don't know the general market and cost of fixing a truck of this year up? Well let me see pics of everyones fixer uppers if the look worse than that and give me some input on this...Terry Edited by: roundedline at: 2/7/06 2:14 pm
-
An option would be to go ahead and get it. If it is pretty bad, find another truck around the same year that may be in pretty rough shape and combine the trucks...using all the good parts from both vehicles.
Years ago in my teenage days, i did this w/ old mustangs. Its funny how parts interchange w/ those old fords...65 and 66 were the same body, 67 and 68 were the same body, 69 and 70 were the same. I'd buy parts cars and throw the good parts on a running vehicle.
SgtDel
-
Okay, the wiring is not bad. It will take a little while if you want to do it right. The bed can either be replaced or have new sides put on. These trucks were well known for rusting in the bed and rockers, therefore, don't worry too much because Roundedline has most if not all of the parts you need to fix it. The wiring in the cab as I said will take you a little while to run. Once outside, however, it is really really easy. Take some baking soda and put it wherever the acid might have spilled and then wash it off. This will neutralize any acid left over. For not having an engine, this is kind of a blessing since you will usually need to put a new front seal in the transmission. Engines can be bough relatiuvely cheap. I also rebuild them so I can help you with advice if you want. I also have a few engines lying around and so do several people on the site. send me a PM if you have questions.
-
you can find most of these things in junkyards. just grab an old wiring harness out of one, may be hard to find but you will come across one. engine, doesn't have to be new just one that will run, new, old, used, doesn't matter just something that will work. the rust spots on the bed you can find a good bed off of an old truck, just look around, if you can't find one you can buy those weld-in pieces from JC whitney and that goes for any other rust spots. if you get the truck and think it is a mistake you haven't lost nothing, it was free. it's a good feeling when you get something and fix it up and when you first drive it. it can be something to just tinker with.
-
does anyone have pics of trucks that look like they needed to go to the junkyard and still they fixed them up? Thanks for all the wealth of information, i really appreciate it guys...Terry
-
well you can check out this website, go to the galleries on the left of this homepage and click on number 8 photo gallery and theres a man with an 81 GMC with a before and after picture and up under that a guy has a clean green 73 LWB chevy. so theres a little motivation.
-
Well, I am currently about to bring home a 1977 Bonanza with the same problem as your 74, except that the mice ruined the wiring and not a fire. It has no bed, a burned up turbo 350 with a good transfer case, and it needs floorpans, rockers, and cab corners. Oh yeah, the doors and front clip are shot. The engine is good though, 20,000 miles on it. Cost me $500.00. T, you and I are going to be very busy with our trucks if you get one. I, as before, will try to be as helpful as possible.
-
yeah i need to go look at it again to see what i really need inside and out and just kinda of get a game plan..but i know it's cheaper than ford but i like my ford trucks to.. I just like trucks in general that are chevy and ford, never been a dodge man...Terry
-
If wiring is your biggest issue, you can pick up a Painless wiring harness that is specific to these trucks, or like someone else mentioned, you can rob the whole harness from another truck.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
-
You have to remember its a project. Now if you go buy a truck that running , it still going to need fixing. So It sound like you hung up on costs. When your doing a project your never going to get you money back if you only going to resale it. It more like you building something for you self for you. nOW OF COURSE, you have to have a budget in any project.
SO a nice clean truck is going for around 3,500 - 5,000
Now I think you could but a truck back together for less than that. Its time and more time hunting down the parts you need then replacing them. I think everyone on this club is doing this in one form or the other.
So you got to ask you self if your up for the task and have something you made for you self to be proud of. I did this Like the Phoenix from the &$%! to be reborn as a nice truck.
Craig
-
Here is a complete engine harness
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/w...%3AIT&rd=1 ...Jeff
'73 swb 2wd
73-87.com
-
that's pretty cheap, i was wondering if anyone has a complete good one inside and out?...Terry.
-
Ok i forgot to tell you i have a large family of 6 hers, mine and ours... So i do alot of horsetrading and trading around to get the parts i need does anyone else do this? So everything is budget minded and i'm not going to get this truck on the road real soon but soon enough...Terry
-
I get most of my parts via horsetrading. Is your truck a long or shortbed? I do have an instrument cluster. I also may have a complete wiring harness inside and out very soon. If I get it, I will work something out with you that we can both live with.
-
It's a longbed if that helps any....Terry...
-
Every chance I get! Money is hard to come by with a family, teenagers, wife. And for some of you out there with the extra girl friends! I trade everything well except the wife but the kids are free.
Craig
-
craig i don't know about the extra girlfriend some of the guys have..i think i would be in big trouble besides one wife is enough for me
..Terry Edited by: terrywolfpack at: 2/9/06 7:58 pm
-
Know kidding who wants one in eack ear. lol lol Well mabe the single guys.
I only have one exwife one wife no girl friends, lol, 3 kid ones out on her own and the other two are in High school.
The oldes boy has a old 89 chevy silverado welding truck from the family welding shop. Which is taking most of my free time. Its a real beater but we have slowly been bring it back to life. I have a 80 1Ton I've been working on for a couple of years and mine is a real rust bucket. I just finish the frame and part of the cab. Oh and Just pick up a 89 Silverado service truck for cheap. And a couple other project just setting in the back yard.
So I two pick up cars trucks for free or all most free and fix them up or sell the part to fund my projects.
Craig
-
I trade plowing of a driveway or two every year for a chevy truck most times. Or trade parts for complete trucks. I just picked up for $100 bucks off a plow bill a 92 Lumina Van
( ugly as sin ). I threw $250 parts at it and payed a backyard mechanic $160 in labor and its now on the road. with title, reg, and inspection still have around $650 into it. good work van for when I am doing the handy man thing.
Got an 87 High Sierra 4x4 a few weeks back for a plow bill from last year, took them to court for the money, still no pay so I told tehm I would take $400 off the bill for the truck. 350 not sure how many miles but is a replacement motor, no brakes, rusted lines, no reverse, 700R4. Cab is nice bed is repairable inner and outer fenders are shot. decent mismatched 31s, on rally wheels.
About a month ago a freind of my girls husband told me I got a chevy if you want it come get it. 87 short bed 4x4 4 spd. blown 305, factory aluminum wheels and nice 31s, bed, doors, and, cab are very nice, inner and outer fenders are shot.
Also in the spring I am going to pick up a 79 K 20 camper special traded $300 off plowing bill, has a GM replacement 350, runs and drives TH400. has a set of after market doors on it, the bed and cab are repairalbe.
I just droped off yesterday a complete 7 1/2' Fisher plow setup for a chevy in trade for an 86 3/4 ton 4x4, replcement 350 and rebuilt TH400, and 208, approx 20,000 miles on all three. It has an electric dump body, and 8' fisher plow. You could throw a cat through the rust holes in the frame. The dump body itself is rottoed away. Its got two mint doors, two mint inner fenders, and one mint fender. The other fender is rust free but crushed beyond repair. The cab is actully in real good shape as well. I think some one threw good money at a marginal frame.
Thats just this winter alone so yeah I have been know to do the horse trade bit.
If nothing elese as stated before go grab it, and either strip all the good stuff off for future use or sale. Or grab it and find another truck or two and combine them.
Oh yeah and welcome to the board from New Hampshaa! Edited by: Blazin at: 2/10/06 8:16 am
-
Blazin, if you lived in Arizona, you wouldn't have any trucks would ya? You'd actually have to pay for 'em, huh?
-
No snow to plow out there!
Its against my religion to pay more than $600 or $800 for a truck. Unless it is inspectable and on the road. Even then I jew em down as much as posible. Edited by: Blazin at: 2/10/06 5:06 pm
-
LOL, Hey still gotta plow the tumble weeds out here Except in Flagstaff And the I - 40 they have to do it twice a year mabe three.
Remember every car and truck come with a plow as standard equipment up there. LOL
Craig
-
Its been 22 years since I went through Falgstaff on the way to the Grand Canyon. We got to the Canyon it was like 70 degrees out side, next morning we woke up to like 6+" of snow, by that after noon it was almost gone and 75 degrees again. I willl never forget the spectical of the Grand Canyon for the rest of my life. Awesome! I hope to go there again someday.
-
it seems to me everyone is doing what i'm doing. Sometimes there is still alot of life left in these vehicles and sometimes there just for parts for the other running ones. I like the older stuff but the sad thing is once it's gone it's gone.
, and we have all this new stuff which is nice but has made our society lazy and appreciate the simple trucks like ours...Anyone have an inside dash wiring diagram?...Thanks Terry
-
Hmmm, I don't thing anyone can afford to buy a new truck to tell the truth. If you add up all the cost the single in come person or even the two person income can't afford a new cars. Now days what you pay for a car and if you count the intrest you pay you could buy a home. So I think a lot of people buy and fix up car and truck out of need more that anything else. And with the way the old classic are going up in value it just a mater of time you wont be able to buy one. Who would have every though that a 72 restore chevy truck would be worth 30,000 dollars. SO save them if you got them buy them if you can, someday it could be your retirement.
Craig
-
yeah i had to buy a 2005 chevy express love that van really nice but it's a family vehicle me myself right now i drive a 76 ford that i got for 1 buck and it runs that's me, cheap only drive it 4 miles a day so i can't complain but i need to find a chevy now to play with to...Terry
-
I don't think it is a question of affording a new truck, you can get financing for 10 years if you want. It's a question of wanting to spend that amount for four wheels.
If you take the same amount of money, say $500 a month for 5 years and throw it in a mutual fund, heck, I can't count that high as to what it would be worth in 20years.
That is why i drive a 91 sub and a 79 chevy. Sub=$3500 and chevy truck was $2000. Yeah, i threw a $2800 motor in the truck....she runs better than a $30k new truck and i can change the spark plugs without going to a dealer.
I didn't even mention the cheap insurance for these vehicles...me, having two trucks on the road costs less than $500 a year...liability only...of course my primary car is a sheriff's car. That's what i told my insurance agent and he gave me a great deal.
rambling here...
til next time
Sgt Del
p.s. GO GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY basketball.....27th ranked in the nation....yeehaw.
-
I'm not saying you could not buy one, only your not going to have any money left to have fun with. I stop buying new cars in 85, are newest is a 96 ford windstar. We have no payments cheap insurance. I just don't under having a loan for somethink that is going to loose your money, its just crazy.
Craig
-
with six kids i had to get a new van that would hold us all. I got a great deal on it 2005 chevy express with only 16,000 miles on it for about 18,685 and only about 360 a month so i couldn't go wrong for that deal ya know....besides i have seatbelts plus for everyone...Don't get me wrong i love my old stuff but we do alot of traveling to swap kids with the ex's so what can i say a blended family.....Terry.
-
Terry, been there done that know the deal got to have a good driver to run the kids a round. Man I don't miss that at all. I'm having a flash back wow! all most forgot how hard it was Kids new wife exwife school day care your plans there plans the head games OH MY God! LOL
Now I know why men don't live as long as a woman does. LOL
Thank God for manland, the garage my trucks all is right in the world when I'm there Hmmmmm Hmmmmm. LOL
Craig
-
yeah craig i have an exwife that will put a man six feet under with the crap she pulls and the funny thing is she doesn't think she does no wrong? My wife's exhusband know is to bad but mine is a real piece of work... I could go into great novels on her but she's getting ready to take me back to court because i will only let her see the girls once a month.. I think it would be for the best because she plays to many mind games with them and she just got back from california from being there 2 years and know she wants to be a mom...But like you said thank God for projects keeping your mind busy or i would go stir crazy....Terry
-
Hey Blazin, how much snow ya'll got up there in New Hampshaaa
We got anywhere from 4 to 10 inches in VA
-
I wish we could get some snow here in the midwest it's dry and the poor farmers are going to have a tough year if we don't and that's not good on a smalltown community, cause if the farmers suffer the economy suffers...Terry
-
I'm going to go look at that 74 again sometime this week and i might talk to the owners and make sure they found a title for it before i take things any further, because a title will go along way...Terry.
-
We only got about 3" but about 40 miles south of us got 8" to 12" and from the Mass border down they got hammered. some reports saying 16" to 32".
-
Terry, I could wright that book to Its just amazing what they think they can do. But one think I learned if you let them they will hang them selfs. Be tuff don't give an inch or your in deep @#%$. and taken her to court every time they pull @#%$ it hurts the old pocket book but sends a clear message you not messing aroung. get it together quit playing head games. You gotta tell the courts what she doing to the girl it really will mess them up later been there too. You got the kidds she want to see them, then it has to be earned. I think she may see the old dollars sign now It may be the only reason she want to play mommy. So hang in there God know it tuff but it does get better. Onec they stop beening Mad at you.
any how do you think your going to pick up the truck? That will be so cool to work on.
Craig.
-
Yea gotta have the old title it take so long to get one from the DMV.
Hope you get it. A great stress releaver to go out and tinker with even when you don't have any money to spend on it. the first part won't cost ya just a lot of time taking thing a part clean repairing and painting them putting it all back together.
Craig
-
Your kids are the most important thing in your life Terry. Do what you must to spare them that kind of stuff. Physical abuse is the only kind people see, but the mind games will hurt them even more than anything else.
Anyway, not to seem too cold, make sure to check the VIN on the cab and on the title and make sure they match. One of mine had a matching title and plate for a Chevrolet on the door frame, then I removed the dash and found a GMC VIN plate... what a shock that was.
-
yeah i went and looked at it again yesterday didn't look as bad as i thought under the dash, there is some wiring that is burnt i think it was were the guy said the battery fell over and started a spark and it flamed up so i think it only chard the wiring going to the battery, don't look to bad the front windshield does need replaced, also need to find a instrument cluseter because that one is shot, does not have a seat which is no big deal want it out anyway why your working on it. Overall the body is average, I did find the steering column sitting in the cab, so that is a plus , also have a 350 laying around that needs rebuilt, also may have access to a 350 4 bolt main so stuff is coming together, and maybe get somethings for the guys here....Terry. Edited by: terrywolfpack at: 2/14/06 10:13 am
-
Sounds like its not to bad cool.