Truck Trade??? what should i do???

[lpapa15]

I want to know what you would do if you were in my shoes.  I have a 79 cheyenne k10, it needs a new bed, doors, and some interior work.  The truck in nice if someone wanted to leave it as is and drive it daily.  It also has a 2.5 lift.  It is a 4 speed with the original 350.  The 350 has never been rebuilt nor has the 4 speed.  It is really reliable, pasted smog with no problem (california).  In time I wanted to go to an automatic because i drive this truck daily and sometimes travel 50 miles in a day back and forth to college.  In time I wanted to get new 33" tires, wheels, a new 4" lift, and paint it blue.  I love the front end of the 73-80's.  I bought this truck for $2000.  It is posted as my profile picture.  It also came with a camper that I removed.  So here's the deal.  I know this truck will take time, work and money to get it to where i want.  I have lack of time (college), money, and the education on working on these trucks.   Today I approached a older man in my small town Oroville, Ca and he had a 1987 k10 scottsdale, AC, fuel injected, body perfect except the paint, everything works perfect, had the AC redone a couple of years ago and it has the original 350 with 160k on it, with an automatic tranny.   It is all stock.  He said he would sell it to me for $3000.  I think that is a sweet deal.  I am temped to sell my truck for $2500 and buy his for $3000.  Or maybe we would just trade the two and i would throw my dirt bike in on the deal.  I would still have to lift it, paint it, and buy new tires but all the hands on work would be eliminated.  What is your opinion?  I need something that I can depend on for the next 5 years, and i refuse to buy a little car even if the gas is bad.  Either way both trucks need smog every year (up to 75 is clear) so that is of no loss or gain.  Tell me what your advice is???

Thanks

Lee

[beastie_3]

Delete two of your 3 posts. only need one.

[756man]

Keep the 79', if you don't you'll wish you had of !  Offer him $2500.00 for the 87' , drive it, then in a few years you'll still have the 79' to restore. And you'll be glad you did !

[modular93fox]

me, I'd trade... if you could sell yours for 2500... your upgrading to what sounds like a better truck for 500 bucks... can you buy a better truck for 500 bucks...? and in better shape..
clint

[jaredts]

I like the '79 body style better, but as far as being practical for a college student the '87 makes more sense.  That being said I don't know how you would sell a truck that needs a new bed, doors, and interior for $2500.  Being a 4x4 helps that, and if its a short bed then that might do it.  Has the guy expressed interest in trading?  I don't understand why he would do that--even with a dirt bike thrown in.

[78 Chevyrado]

I need something that I can depend on for the next 5 years.

Very likely, that would be neither unless the complete drivetrain is new in one of them.  The 79 will be cheaper and simpler to fix when something goes wrong, and over a 5 year period in an old truck, things will go wrong.  The 87 sounds like a better truck reliability wise, but hey how many brand new cars will be reliable in 5 years?   

Sounds like the 87 is what you want other than the front clip.  buy the 87 and later when you're out of school you can put a 79 front clip on it.

[DnStClr]

His 87 is worth more than he's asking. Get it.

[Captkaos]

$3000 for an 87 in good condition and 4x4 is a great deal.  I would dump the other one.