looking at a truck to buy

[aprice]

my mom's friend's husband has a 81 chevy 350 4x4 long box crew cab with a manual tranny (didnt ask which one) 4 sale askinf $1000. the body is rusted out, but the engine and the t-case where rebuilt. i know it would be worth the asking price, but would it make sense to buy it.i also heard that the frames were weak since they are so long. any truth to that?

thanks

[Snuke87chevy]

A one-ton truck would have the four speed w/bulldog manual transmission.  It sounds like a good enough setup to me for $1k.  I've never heard anything about the frame though.  

[roundedline]

The weakest part of the frame is where the steering box connects.  It can easily be fixed by putting an aftermarket plate on it.  Otherwise, I haven't had any problems with the trucks, SWB or LWB.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscusotms.com

[aprice]

thanks. i was just worried that it might like bend in the middle if i were doing something that it a shorter frame would handle better. i hope to get it soon and start the teardown and build it in to a puller for the local truck pulls.

[77 K30 Crew Cab Dually]

I would get that truck in a heartbeat if it is a 1 ton. If it's a 3/4 ton, I would pass that up. 3/4 ton has a strong frame but, a weaker rear and front differential. If you were going to use it in a truck pull competition, you should make sure that it's a 1 ton and not a 3/4 ton. I would pay 500 for a 3/4 ton in the condition that you described.


Respectfully,
David