think this is worth buying?

[ssgoodman]

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/car/501985927.html

was thinking for $450 could either scrounge parts off it or put some work into it and make a grocery getter/kid hauler.  i was wondering if i could possibly drive it back to fargo by taking off the rear drive shaft and driving it in four wheel drive. 

Thanks.
Sutton Goodman

[nova801428]

Yes, you could do that.  Nice thing about chevys is the ability to take the drive line off easily.  Fords suck trying to do that.

[VileZambonie]

Definitely buy it! You could make 10x's that just parting it out! But what is a "Has a nice food engine and tranny" lol

[78ScottsdaleK20]

Was brousing through here while I worked hard this morning, and found this thread.

SSgoodman, if it were me I would buy it too...you could easily double your money with a little effort. Man I wish I could find some deals like that around here, I guess you just have to keep your eyes peeled, and sometimes ask if someone wants to part with their undesirable...

[ssgoodman]

i think i will probably try to buy it, i talked to the lady that owns it, she didnt really know what the heck was wrong with it, she kept saying it was the drive shaft.  i asked her if it drove when it was in 4 wheel drive but said she didnt try that.  she said it ran and one of her friends looked at it and said it was the rear end but don't know who he was and what his qualifications were.  only problem is that its about 250 miles away down in the twin cities and i dont have a trailer.  i would like to pick it up though.  would be cool to get the seats and the transfer case from that burban for my 76.

[78ScottsdaleK20]

You said that the rearend might be inoperable...? It might behoove you to simiply ask her if you can test drive it and if the rear end is inoperable, disconnect the rear driveline and slap that baby into four high, and now you have a front wheel drive. Yes it will drive, it'll just drive funny especially in snow. Take it easy and just baby it home. It might be worth the effort.

I was out wheelin with some buddies and one of the guys snapped all of his u-joints on the rear driveshaft. It was cold and dark so didnt even try to put the new ones in on the trail, so he took the rear shaft off, put it in his bed, and put it in four high, and drove it home as a FWD.

Whatever it takes...

[ssgoodman]

i'll have to give her a call tomorrow, she doesnt seem that mechanically inclined, but it sounded like she had a boat load of kids there saturday when i called.

do you think i could drive it 250 miles in front wheel drive?  she said something about it being locked up, will have to try to clarify the situation tomorrow.

[VileZambonie]

Get it towed AAA Plus pays for itself the 1st time you use it.

[1976Scottsdale]

I would not drive one with a blown rearend 250 miles.  Look at it this way, even if it aint stuck, whatever broke is still in there clattering around and could decide it doesn't like getting bounced around in there and stick on you.  I have had an axle stick on me at speed, was not fun and very hard to control, lucky for me it freed back up and I was able to get to the shoulder.  had a shim for the spider gear floating in there and it got wedged somewhere.  It's up to you, but even as a 19 year old motorhead, I don't have the guts to try it again.

[nova801428]

It might not be a blown rear end.

[Blazin]

I have driven many 4x4s home in front wheel drive. I would not recommend that distance. If the rearend grenades it could be some serious rearend skid going on. If it was 20 or 30 miles I would say do it and be real easy.

[chevy754x4]

I drove my 75 around for a week on the front axle while the rear shaft was being shorted due to chopping the frame to a swb and it was fine with it in 4x4.  However, that rearend sounds like something to look into. Wouldn't want to be in the middle of nowhere and have is stick and strand you.

[ssgoodman]

yeah, middle of minnesota on the roadside with -10 below temps doesnt sound fun.  i couldnt get ahold of the lady that owns it today.  i was thinking of trailering it back but i dont really want to have to drive my pickup down there and back getting a whole of about 10 miles to the gallon.  maybe i could rent a pickup and trailer somewhere and go down and retrieve it. 

would you guys think a car dolley would work with the rearend being FUBAR?  i am thinking not.

[VileZambonie]

Just hire a flat bed or sign up for AAA+ and slap a fake plate on it.

[Fordeatinz71]

yeah, middle of minnesota on the roadside with -10 below temps doesnt sound fun.  i couldnt get ahold of the lady that owns it today.  i was thinking of trailering it back but i dont really want to have to drive my pickup down there and back getting a whole of about 10 miles to the gallon.  maybe i could rent a pickup and trailer somewhere and go down and retrieve it. 

would you guys think a car dolley would work with the rearend being FUBAR?  i am thinking not.

if the spider gears are shot but otherwise the rear is ok then yea, you could pull it on a tow dolly.  as long as the c-clips are still holding and the axleshafts aren't broken and it still spins you can pull it...