Greetings from Poplarville Mississippi

[mds47588]

Hello,  I've been looking for a truck for some time as a sort of project/restoration and think that I've may have found a likely candidate.  I've had numerous other cars/trucks before and always liked the styling of the Chevrolet/GMC trucks.  I also have a four-wheeler that I ride quite often and a truck would also be more pratical to hauling it any distance.

So far, my most likely candidate is a '82 (I think) C-10 Long Bed that was a former Mississippi Forestry Services truck  As for options, the only thing I can particulary remember was A/C, but surely it's no longer working. 

From the owner, I was told that it was sitting since around the end of July when the tag had expired.  Also, at or near that time him and his brother had swapped out the fuel tank and when putting the new one in had "crossed some lines up" and the end result was that it won't run without pouring gas into the carburator.  Question:  Is there a fuel pump within the tank, or just the one strictly on the engine block, or would it be a factory electric? 

I've looked at it some during the day before and from what I could tell, the bed panels were pretty straight, but there is a pile of...well, stuff, in the bed.  However, I was assured that the floor is solid underneath.  More to follow on this.  The passenger side was relatively intact, but the drivers side needs quite a bit of work.  The rocker is gone, and without pulling the matting up, I'm sure that a large portion of the floor is going to need to be replaced also. 

Going to take a camera with me tomorrow and I will post some pictures of the rust so that I can get some input and opinions.  I've seen on here where folks have done miracles with replacing body/floor/rocker panels.  I've got about zero welding skills and no equipment, but also parts are indeed cheap for these trucks. 

Appreciate any/all input and thanx to all!

[VileZambonie]

Welcome to the site.

[ccz145a]

Welcome from AL

[Captkaos]

Welcome to the site!
anything Prior to 1986 with a Carb will NOT have an in tank pump.  If they crossed up the lines they just crossed up the feed vs return lines.

[JJSZABO]

Welcome from Maryland

[mds47588]

Well, I did go look at the truck in alot more detail today.

The bad:  The floor was actually alot more solid than I remember, with only minimal rust and very very little perforation.  Again, this is **without** pulling the rubber matting back up.  The passenger side rocker panel was solid, and so was the cab corner.  The drivers side has gotten significant more rust damage.  The rocker (both inner and outer) are pretty much gone but that's not a big surprise, is it?  What has gotten me the most concerned is the door jamb seal (if that's what it's called?)  Both the passenger side has damage, but the drivers side is much worse for wear.  Also, there is some perforation at the top forward corner of the drivers side cab drip-rail. 

The good:  Truck is straight with no body damage other than the corrosion.  As mentioned, the cab floor is pretty much solid, including behind the seat.  The interior is not cut up, hacked up, or drilled into like swiss cheese.  No speakers were hacked into the doors.  Speaking of the doors, both are very solid with no rust, even at the bottom.  All the glass is intact with no rust bubbling around the weatherstripping and crack free.  All the glass is crack/chip free.  The grill is intact and not cracked.  Engine is a 305 and about the only option it has is A/C and it all the componets seem to be in place for it also.  Realizing that I'm older and a wuss when it comes to being wthout the A/C, this makes it that much easier to get it working again if desired.   Underneath the hood, all the engine componets seem to be in place and free of all the aftermarket wiring of someone hacking something in.

Gonna be out there in the next day or so, and if I can hear it run, and pretty confidant it will I'm gonna get it. 

My intentions are to restore it at least into a clean, safe, reliable transporation.  While maybe not daily transportation,it will at least need to be reliable enough that it won't leave me sitting along the road.  And for this, I think this is a good candidate as any.  Lastly, it's only about a 6-7 mile drive and maybe 10min drive from my house.

There is some rust on the bed at the bottom and behind the wheels.  The tops of the wheel well opeings are still very much solid.  Too be honest, the corrosion on the bed is so little in comparison to the cab I'm not too concerned with it at the moment.

I was quoted $500.00 and if it runs, in spite of the rust I think it would be worth it. 

Comments and or opinions welcomed.

as it appears now:


Interior:


Drivers side door jamb:  This is the worst here, and above on the inside of the door sill.


Top of door sill perforation: (Passenger Side)

[mds47588]

Forgot, it's indeed a '85.

[ccz145a]

Those are tough areas to fix... I'd rather have rotten floors.

[mds47588]

What would be the best procedure to fix that area?

[ccz145a]

You can fix what you see. That is usually the tip of the iceberg. That pilar worries me and I would consider a donor pilar and weld it in. With the rotted line up the door jamb, I'd poke around in there if he'll let you so you can maybe find out how bad it is. You could clean it up (blast it) and seal it with POR15 or Chasis Saver, but it will most likely be back in a few years if the rust is where you cant get to it.

Mine was more gone than this one so I got a donor cab. Don't get me wrong, you'll get some good use out of it. Just depends on what you want. Me, mine was just falling apart and was not really safe anymore.

[JJSZABO]

Good buy

I would replace the pillar area with donor pillars from junk yard or put on a new donor cab where those areas are in better shape.  I agree with CC, I would rather have to fix the floors and rockers than the pillar area. 

Maybe Blazin will chime in with his wisdom.  He has fixed the pillar areas before.

[frogman68]

I got a cab at the house that the floor is gone I think these area's are ok its a 76 should be the same you can have the pieces ya need for the cost of shipping

[mds47588]

May take you up on the offer of the parts.  Thank everyone for their input and there will be many more pictures to follow.  I had talked with the owner tonight and made plans to get it next Friday (17 Oct 08) and will be browzing around here until then.  Really, just waiting for them to clean all that stuff out of the bed now and my work schedule to cooperate.  He seems to think that they fuel line is kinked.  Once the bed is cleaned out, my plans are to pull it away from the weeds/high grass and fix the fuel line and then drive it the 6 miles home. 

[Blazin]

I have fixed that rust before. I have done it two ways, (1) Was cut out the top layer of metal, sand blast the under layer to get rid of the rust, & weld a patch of my making in.
Two if it is only pin holes, sand blast it and weld up the holes with the mig. I agree that it will eventually come back, but so does floor rot! Rust never sleeps!
Oh yeah and welcome from New Hampshaa!

[bigkountry]

Welcome from KY