Thanks for the input guys. I'm leaning towards the '50. It's going to be a weekend driver so the rear end ratio of 3.90 is a good thing, and I can live with it being 12 volts; for now anyway. Later may convert it back to 6v for originality and so that it occasionally doesn't crank the engine over and I have something to curse about... I may offer the seller a little under his firm price of $16k and hope to come to an agreement on price. It really is a sweet truck just the way it sits. If I drive it for the next five plus years and end up putting another 5k to 7k into it, I can live with that I guess. Maybe some day I'll be able to sell it for the $15k to $16k I'll have paid for it.
At the end of the day, it's a hobby and hobbies cost money. I'll have to live with that. Just trying to justify the expense in my accountant's mind. Us number crunchers tend to remove the fun/joy out of every transaction and simply boil it down to dollars and cents. Doesn't always work I guess.
I've been looking for months now and the trucks I've found under $10k or so have been in a condition where I'd have to do quite a bit of work to them - both mechanically and cosmetically. I just don't have the time or mechanical knowledge for this level of restoration. So I'm having to go for options at a higher price point. Amazing that there are trucks nearby being sold by classic car dealers at $30k to $36k. They sell these things as quickly as they get them in the door. Shipping them all over the world. Just last month a local dealer sold two at over $30k each. Granted, these are in top condition - you could eat off the engine bay or under carriage. All frame off restoration mint condition trucks. All 5 window, show beds, "as new" interiors, Chevy 1/2 tons. I'm not looking for this as I want to actually drive the the truck instead of parking it in my living room...
Thanks again for the input and please keep it coming!
Marc
