New member in ATL - help evaluating a truck

[toddspeed]

Hey there,

Nice forums!

Just sold my newer Dodge Cummins 3500 in favor of getting something more fun, less expensive, and practical (parking a dually in downtown ATL not so practical). Like the look of the older pickups (my dad is restoring a 52 Chevy) and figured I would pick up a driver that only needed minimal work. I don't need a full blown project, but ongoing repairs/upgrades fit my time/budget. I will use it for occasional trips in town as well as to haul a new appliance or couch every now and then. I do want something that looks nice and has good power, and keeps me under $5000 total.

Did a lot of searching and found myself interested in getting a Bumpside. I have been reading forums over the past few days and taking in as much as I can digest.

Prior to that I was watching eBay and CL and have been searching daily for F-100's. I am amazed at how much some trucks go for, and how little other trucks go for. I come from a road racing background and play with sports cars, but the vintage stuff is all new to me.

I have my eye on a 68 longbed which I am going to see in person tomorrow. It didn't meet reserve on eBay but the owner wants around $3500. Here's a link to the auction that ended:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-For ... 1011434505
(there is more info in the questions/answers at the bottom)

GOOD:
It has a 390 transplant (originally a 410) with 4bbl and headers/exhaust
front suspension/disk brake swap with a 73
newer paint with a little surface rust, but no major stuff
auto c6
good interior
clean underneath

BAD:
A/C needs work (need it in Hotlanta!)
choke needs fixed
small oil leak (owner says off back of intake and leaks are normal on the FE's)
bed has lots of surface rust inside (I would do a LineX coating or something similar)
not really crazy about the color but not about to repaint it

Also I would like to lower it but with new kingpins and the disk brakes already done I may not bother for a while.

Anyway, I can't understand why this didn't sell for $3500 but every other truck I have been looking at in similar condition seems to be going for $4k-6k, even some stuff that looks like junk to me. Any thoughts? As I said I am going to see it in person tomorrow, so maybe there's some major flaw I overlooked or the owner didn't report.

Thanks
Todd

[Mohillbilly]

That is not a real bad price probably, for your area, but if you can get out in the boonies and do some shopping, you should be able to find a bump that will fit your desires for $1 - $2K. Here in SW Missouri, I'm investigating a 71 F250 minus a motor for $400. Haven't seen it, so don't know any more, but I've seen some fairly nice trucks for under $1000. If your pros outweigh the cons in YOUR opinion, you shouldn't feel too bad with that deal. But consider, it failed muster once, so it might be around for a few more days anyway. I would shop the smaller towns near you and use Craig's List as well.

[toddspeed]

Thanks MHB!

Yep I have been searching CL every day...I do see some going for $800-1200 but they need a bunch of things, not the least of which is a $1500 paint job. Usually missing parts, not running and/or small block, and have a trashed interior/wiring to boot. Most have been sitting in the elements for years without being run. All of that seems like it would really add up quick to fix and have me over $3500 in a big hurry, not to mention all the time spent?

Examples some of the stuff I've found that need a lot of work for not much less $:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3630806474.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3636668950.html

[bluef250]

The eBay truck looks nice. EBay is a funny market and hard to predict.

IMO $3,500 seems high but the truck looks like it could be driven today without much work which is important.

The TV shows are driving the price up on trucks so while you can still find some good deals, you have to wait longer.

[1970FordTK]

Either way, welcome to the forum from North Carolina.

[toddspeed]

Thanks y'all - we'll see what the inspection in person shows tomorrow!

I found this Dent a little further up the road in NC, just FYI...too much immediate work to be done for my liking but it looks clean.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3635863988.html

[sargentrs]

from N. Georgia! I'd offer the guy in canton $1800 for the '68 n go from there.

[toddspeed]

Thanks Randy - was just looking at your resto pics...looks like a full time job, coming along well! How did you get it back a year after it was stolen?

Any meets or anything in the area?

That 68 in Canton has potential, but $1000+ for paint and $1000+ for engine/trans swap (FE w/C6) puts it at $3800+...might be well suited for someone wanting the 302 however.

[fireguywtc]

from Texas!

[sargentrs]

Thanks Randy - was just looking at your resto pics...looks like a full time job, coming along well!

Thanks for the encouragement!

How did you get it back a year after it was stolen?

I PM'd you the story but for the entertainment of everyone else...My truck was stolen at 5:45pm at Walmart in Ellijay. I called the cops, filed a report and at 7:30pm the guy was pulled over in Hiawassee,GA for a traffic violation and they found an out of state warrant on him so he was arrested and my truck towed to a wrecking yard. The ink hadn't even dried on my police report so when they ran my plates it came up clean. 14 months later, at that wrecking yard, somebody wanted to buy my 9" rear end for a hot rod build. They figured they better check again before parting her out so they had the cops run the plates again and she came up stolen. I got a call from the sheriff's dept, drove to Hiawassee, poured some gas in the carb, jumped her off and she fired right up and I drove her home. Cost me $185 in storage fees but I got her back. Crazy,huh?

Any meets or anything in the area?

During the spring, summer and early fall, there's a cruise in at Canton on the 3rd Saturday of every month and in Jasper on the 4th Saturday of every month if that's not too far for you to travel. Keep an eye on the Shows/Events page in the forum for local Meet n Greets.

That 68 in Canton has potential, but $1000+ for paint and $1000+ for engine/trans swap (FE w/C6) puts it at $3800+...might be well suited for someone wanting the 302 however.

I see where you're coming from there. Keep looking, you'll find what you're looking for soon enough and then the fun begins!

[hazelnut]

Toddspeed.
I've bought some parts from the guy that owns the first truck, He was painting it when i was down there. Looked like a solid truck that i would give $3500 for.

[toddspeed]

Thanks!

Yep I drove the beige truck today - not bad but owner says it needs a rebuild soon...so $$$ into the mix there.

I also found a 91k mile 1-owner 1970 beauty today - like walking into a time warp. Bed was almost mint, paint was amazing for original, dash pad like new. Going to probably pull the trigger on that if the price is negotiable. All it needs is intake/exhaust gaskets due to leaks in both. I may be a bump owner by tomorrow!

[Heirloom]

Any pics of the time warp truck??? We LOVE pics!!! Good luck in your search my friend. IMHO $3500 is not bad for the beige truck, until you said rebuild. It would have to be a rust free platform for me to put out that much on an old truck, especially on that needs a motor.

With an FE you are pretty much looking at averaging 10mpg no matter what. All of them I have dealt with over the years fall between 8 and 12 mpg. Plus oil leaks are the norm unless you are or have a top shelf engine builder. There is only one shop in my area that can put out a leak free FE, and only two interdependent builders that I know of (my self included).


And as for the guy that had to pay $185 storage fees for his STOLEN truck.....I would have taken a parting shot on my way out of that yard. Would have cost them way more than $185. That's some bullsh!t. Damn lucky they didn't part it out. Selling stolen property is a big No-No!!!

[toddspeed]

Here's a pic. Just got off the phone with the owner, we agreed on a price and I pick it up this week!

[Mohillbilly]

YeeeeeHawwww! That's a purty truck, Todd. Congratulations, and welcome to the Ford Addictions Non- Anonymous.