Implications of being a northern truck

[niamedregel]

I live in Southeast Louisiana. After the hurricanes came through last year, we started seeing a number of out-of-town workers coming in. There was a lot of work here, and the money has been good, so many people drove old trucks in, and it seems they're driving new trucks home.

Now, I'm 30, and a local native. In my life, I've seen snow perhaps eight times, and accumulation twice. We don't salt the roads here. Don't have the trucks or the salt handy anyway.

I'm looking at a Chevy standard cab "Custom Deluxe" C30 (photos) with Missouri plates.
I'm pretty certain it's pre 81, and I think it's diesel, but I'm waiting for the owner to call me back with more details.

I don't usually have to worry about rust. The Louisiana-native rounded-line trucks still get little rust spots near fenders, but what, if anything, do I need to look at on this yankee truck?

[Nikodemus]

I can tell you by looking at the pictures that it's a 78 or older (can tell by looking at the headlight bezels). I'll let someone else tell you about what to look for when buying. Since I personally buy the worst ones possible haha.  

[Bucks87silver]

The pics don't look too bad and rather typical of a northern work truck. They can be a lot worse. Look closely at the frame and underbody such as the bed, cab floor, and inner fenders for bad rust scale and/or holes. The outside is not much different than accessing any vehicle such as looking for large bondo patches. Just make sure the frame is solid. Some yankees wash off the salt, some don't.  

[toplessblazer]

The door panels and headlight bezels date this truck as being a 77 or 78. Rocker panels/cab corners and the wheel well lips are usually where they start rotting first. From the pics this truck looks to be pretty solid.  

[niamedregel]

Thanks for the advice. I still haven't managed to reach the seller. Hopefully I'll get a chance to try it out tomorrow.

[WickedC20]

look really close to the brake, fuel lines, these will rot or build up rust quicker than any other part. You should see some silver, not an abundance of rust build up ontop of the lines. Other areas if exposed to alot of wet/salty roads... axle housing, control arms, cab bushings, cross member etc...

[niamedregel]

Thanks WickedC20. I'll give those areas some extra attention.

Got a return call this morning. Seller claims it's a 1975, gas, and has recent clutch, exhaust, front tires, and battery.

I'll probably give it a once-over later today.

[roundedline]

Places to check:
Lower door rockers (inside/outside)
rear cab corners
lower rear fender bottoms
lower front fender bottoms
ALL fender lips (behind fenders on dooleys)
bottom of frame rails
frame rails at back of cab
fuel/brake lines as mentioned above
core support bottoms
floorboard on passenger side
floor support braces
inner kick panels where they meet the floorboard
inside the cowl below the windshield (inside)

Anywhere else where mud, rocks, salt or water can get trapped is another place to check.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project