Need some advice... 2 trucks What would you do?? (long)

[Ziptar]

I bought a 1979 C-10 with and Olds Diesel in it  I had bought the truck thinking I would put the engine and air conditioning in my 85. The goal was a decent looking and running truck that got excellent mileage.

To be honest.. I paid $650 ($250 for the truck and $400 to have it hauled 500 miles) for the 79. The 79 is nicer than my 85.. I paid $800 for the 85 and had to put a tranny in it ($150 for used tranny and new mount, seals, etc). when I climbed underneath the 79 I couldn't beleive my eyes. The frame and cab floor are rock solid and absolutley rust free. They don't look like they could be older than 2-3 years. The paint is still shiny. Sames with the exhaust newish Dual exhast shiny still on some parts all the hangers and such in place.

I got the 79 running yesterday and it runs nice and drives much better than my 85. Just feels tighter more solid.

I just put a used 700R4 in the 85.

Pros of the 1979:
Runs ands drives. Body is pretty tight and complete. Has A/C (much needed in Florida summers. Cab Floor, rockers, and coners are perfect. Bedsides and front panel are perfect. It's a Diesel.

Cons of the 79:
Transmission (TH400) leaks a bit and makes a high pitched scraping noise when in park or when at a stop in Drive (loose TC Bolts maybe??). Bed floor and wheel wells are rusted from having a plastic bed liner in it for years. Bottom of the doors are rusted through. A/C doesn't come on. Temperature Gauge Pegs. Paint is peeling and has surface rust on hood, cab, and bedside. Left front corner has collision damage and insides of both fenders, both inner fenders, battery trays, and inside of outer fenders have been eaten away by leaky batteries. Frame and suspension busings are dry rotted. Guy I bought it from took the headliner and rear bumper off. Has a 3.40 12 Bolt rear. No VIN or Title. (I Can get a title and VIN from an 84 truck for $30)

Pictures here  most of them are from before I bought it when the guy I bought it from bought it in this auction So far most everthing the seller of that auction claimed is true.

Pros of the 85:
Has the 81-87 front clip which I am kind of partial to. Has six leaf springs, 3.73 10 Bolt rear. Has a 700R4, Bed Floor is just about perfect. Doors are not rusted through.

Cons of the 85:
Bedsides, front bed panel, rockers, cab corners, drivers side floor pan, bottoms of fenders, and inner fenders have some rust through (truck came from Michigan based on a sticker I found inside the glove box door. Interior is trashed. 700R4 still leaks from the input shaft even though I put a new seal on it when I put it in. No A/C It's a gasser 305. Has a Step bumper (tweeked on the drivers side) and a class 3 hitch. Exhaust systems is hacked together and leaking.

Pictures of the 85 here

I was going to do a frame up on the 85 but with everything it needs I don't think it'd be worth it and I still need a truck for hauling stuff so I'd loose that. If I could I would swap the trans, rearend and rear springs onto the 1979 but, I don't have space right now to have two trucks apart while I swap stuff.

I would like the 700R4 so I could get maximum MPG and the six leaf springs would be nice to have.

Swapping the Doors and bed floor I could do as I'd still be able to move both trucks around.

Ok, so after all that what would you??
1) Swap all the parts from the 85 to the 79 (including the VIN) and junk the 85 assuming I could find space to take them both apart I sort of know one of the local wrecking yard owners. it's possible i could strip the 85 there and leave what's left??

2) Swap the doors and bed floor between the Two buy the 84 title and then sell the 85 for what I can get for a rough but good running work truck.

3) Sell the  85 the way it is. Find the parts I want / need for the 79 at wrecking yards. Sand and prime it and take it in for a Macco paint job. Drive it the way it is while I find a better 81-87 to fix up.

Thanks for the input and sorry this is so long.. I just need some outside perspective.. Mulling this over has made my head hurt. Oh and of course the Wife would like to only have one truck as soon as possible..  

[123 pugsy]

Make 1 decent truck from the 2.Don't get rid of either truck till you got 1 finished.There's always some part you will need and you've already gotten rid of 1 truck you start kicking yourself in the a**.

[ccb]

If it were me I would fix one and sell it. Then use that money to fix the other one. Or mabe I would keep them both. or part one out to fix one. choices, choices, Hech I think everyone would keep them.

Craig  

[777884chevy]

that diesel engine truck has the olds diesel if I am correct. So your chevy bolt pattern 700r4 won't bolt up to that motor, correct me if I am wrong here guys. On which truck to fix up is a matter of preference. I don't like diesel motors, and this is coming from a guy who drives a tractor trailer for a living lol. I think the 81-87 front ends are ugly. So if it were me I would put the newer truck drivetrain into the older truck. But you may have totally different tastes. I say fix one up as a beater to drive while you restore the other.

[Ziptar]

Nah.. I am keeping the diesel.. it'll bolt up to the 700R4 Just needs an adapter.

Thanks guys. I'll start swaping parts and see if want build a beater 85 or just junk it.

[Doubledglass]

I' d keep the diesel truck, beefier drivetrain. Rearend should be a posi from the factory, used to have one, the diesel conversion was one of Gm's worst ideas.  But for info, an Olds 403 will fit right in and everything will hook right up--exhaust manifolds, a/c brackets, P/S brackets, radiator hoses EVERTHING. And POWER, oh boy, that 403 will smoke the tires right down to the rims.  As far as the body parts, I put an "84 front end on my '78, and most of the bolt holes lined right up.  But you are the one doing the labor, good luck.

[Mr Diesel]

I would frame-up the 79. Those were really cool trucks.  

- Mr Diesel
'76 C30 Crew 6.2

[81C10]

I would keep both . but if I had to choose one I'd fix up the diesel. It's quite rare and I think diesels are sweet! Question- did all 5.7 diesel have factory posi? Mine has a 12 bolt posi but the tag doesn't list the gear ratio.

[Captkaos]

This post is almost 2 years old...

[81C10]

LOL oops.. I didn't even notice.

[Hank Hill]

I like diesels but not the 5.7L
As far as body style a prefer the 81 to 87 square front ends with 87 being my favorite.

[Blazin]

Well I guess we need an update. What did he end up doing???

[Bowtie Bomber]

Well I guess we need an update. What did he end up doing???

I'd have to guess he kept them both. 

And is it just me or does Mr. 81C10 have the same avatar as me? Every time I change it, his changes too. Weird.