The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) New to this - in Severn, MD

Morning, everyone!
I posted this in the welcome forum and it was suggested I cross post it here. My name is Kevin and I'm new here. I live in Severn, MD, just south of BWI. I work for the Navy and have lived all over the US and world. Why I'm here...

This weekend I found a 1966 K20 with a High Torque 292 for sale down the street, I didn't know I needed it until I saw it. It's not perfect, but it looks better than a lot of older trucks I've seen. It apparently used to be a fire department brush truck in its former life.

I'll post photos when I can, but I'm hoping to get some advice on what to look for before buying. The goal would be to have a nice, classic looking truck, that I don't mind actually using as a truck. Maybe tow a small boat if it's up for it.

Any advice you experts are willing to share with a hopeful new buyer, or if anyone near Severn would be willing to trade their time and knowledge for a 6 pack, I'd sincerely appreciate it. I hope to keep learning from this community and if I get the truck, start giving back, too!

Thanks,
-Kevin

Welcome! Our very own resident expert on the 60's trucks Mr. Hambone will be here shortly. Meanwhile, I say buy it before he does!

TrknGMC - that addicted, eh? Luckily I've built up a bit of a relationship with the seller so I think he'd give me first right of refusal. Maybe I should blur out the phone number in the photos!

Here are the photos! I tried to include some description in each photo. Not as perfect as I'd hoped, but maybe not as bad as it could be. Drove like a pig - the clutch was exhausting, finding the right gear seemed like a treasure hunt, there was a ton of play in the shifter even when in gear (is that normal?), and the steering was worse than a tug boat. Not to mention the rust in the inner fender, and the fact that whoever owned it previously thought they knew something about electrical wiring and clearly they didn't. I also think it's a different year steering column.

-Kevin

Welcome to ODSS, where we are addicts of old iron! Plan on attending our next scheduled event 25-27 Sept 15 at Clearbrook, VA Fairgrounds (outside Winchester, VA) It is the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) yearly gathering. Go on-line and look up ATHS Winchester. Thanks BadNewsBrewery. V/r, Nick Cavallaro, Bel Air, MD

Hi Kevin! And welcome to the gang.

That looks like a pretty decent truck -- it will look even better when the 'Bone parks his '66 K10 next to it ...

Keep an eye on your Private Messages -- you should be getting one soon.

Beat Army,
John

Welcome,

Looks pretty good but might have a fair amount of bondo hiding rust?

Just waking from my nap. Someone say k20 of the greatest vintage ( 60-66) within shooting distance? I recognize those areas of concern. At right price and intentions they are not concerns. Shot me a pm with phone number and I will be happy to talk.

Must have been really anappin to miss the call for beer and the brewery reference. Needs explanation.

Kevin, what is this Brewery you speak of in your 'Handle'?

Brewery, Beer?
Sounds like a trend to me.
Just add in some home made clear water, and you'll have friends for life.

Don

I started brewing beer in 2006 and never looked back. I normally pump out about 70 gallons a year and have a 3 tap kegerator in my basement bar. If I buy this truck, I may need to up that production to convince you all to come on by and lend a hand!

Hambone - Great talking to you, thank you very much for your time!

-Kevin

Hello, Kevin,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com.

My Equatak Brewery has also been cranking out 50-75 gallons of beer for a little longer time. I started brewing a few small batches of beer in 1970 but stopped between 1978 and the around 2005.

I'll be moving to Jarvisburg, NC within a year. Maybe we will meet-up at an ODSS event in the future and share beer with some Stovebolters.

So the real true question... Is it worth $5500?

From what I'm gathering, that price is on the high end of what this truck should be worth given the rust, apparent bondo, balding tires, and screwed up electrical.

It's not a small amount of money, but we can afford it, so it's less about being able to pay for the truck, and more about getting the right value vs. buying this truck just because it's right down the street and we've set our minds to it.

Any thoughts from the crowd?

tclederman, sounds like a great plan! As an engineer, brewing has become a hobby mixed with a passion mixed with a minor obsession at times. The upshot is that you can do it while drinking!

My caveat, is the phrase 'You've got to love it'. If you do then you can pour in several thousand more dollars and make it into a show truck or just drive it the way it is. Yes you can afford it but, Do You Love It? The price seems high to me because, not seeing it in person it looks like a fast paint job is covering up a host of sins and the owner wants YOU to pay for the paint job. Good Luck with your decision.

I think the truck is priced right. Try to find another one in the price range close to home. Ok, so maybe talk him down a little bit. If your going with a full frame off restoration project I would not buy this truck. Find one out west that is dry and un-molested. But if your looking to drive some vintage iron with a little work here and there then I say this is a good buy. Worse case buy it drive it and then pawn it off to Hambone. If your batch of beer is good enough he'll pay your asking price of $9500 no questions asked.....

If it runs a drives down the road...maybe offer him $4000.00 and see if he bites a it....these old truck love copious amounts of money...tires alone will be I bet $1000.00...

keep your check book open for weekly withdraws..

My 2 cents..


MikeC

BNB,

For me the mechanical stuff has always been the easy part, the body work on the other hand has always been the pain and this truck has issues in both of these areas.

Rust above the windshield is never a good sign and like others have said the pretty paint is hiding a lot...you only see the tip of the iceburg. With that said it's nothing that time and money can't fix.

Check out Jesse's GMC Brush truck here.

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/walter%20jesse%201964.html

Truck Carlisle is this weekend, are you going?

Mike B

BNB,

welcome to the gang. I think we found the guy to bring the beer next year for homecoming! BTW, I think I can over look the department of the Navy issue once! GO ARMY!

Chris

Cosmo You present a great point, and I agree with you 100%. I think I would love it - the nature of the project, the investment, the researching each and every part and making sure I get exactly what I want. I did that with my Jeep and wouldn't change a thing.

TrknGMC You're one of the few that think the price is right. Though I do like the idea of flipping it on to Hambone with a case of beer...

mikec4193 I could see it at $4-$4500.

Mike B Can't make it to Carlisle this weekend. That's a beautiful brush truck - I don't think I'd be able to go that nice with the pumps, tanks, and hoses. As for the rust - definitely a gift that will keep giving!

ndkid275 Happy to bring some beer, and might even share it with your Army folk. You can 'Go Army' wherever you want... ;-)

So a slight update in the quest - seller called me the other day and said someone else was coming to look at it - I told him that if the guy showed up with $5500 in hand to buy it, that he'd be dumb not to take it. Spoke with him again yesterday and the guy was interested but will be back Monday. Maybe it's an attempt to bait me into buying sooner. Who knows. We told him that we liked it and we'd be willing to put down a deposit, but that we needed to talk price. The seller is out of town for a few days and I'm out of town all next week, so... as it stands, if the truck is still there when I get back from my trip, I'm going to talk to him about $4k-$4500 and point out all the issues. If it's gone, at least the G/F and I know what we want and what to look for and we'll start casting the net wider and wider until we find the right truck at the right price.

Thank you all for your incredible help!
-Kevin

BNB Kevin, good reasoning and good input from the ODSS! Very thoughtful of you to include our input in your decision-making process. Looking forward to meeting you.

Please try to keep open this September 24-26, where a splendid time is guaranteed for all. We are in rare form at this great venue. Several of us are in attendance camped out for a few days. You will meet many if not all of us at this gathering. And do please bring along your friends (read: kegs of home-made brew), as they are most welcome and will be judged on their own merits!

Best of luck,

Kevin ,welcome to the site. I'm a little late to the party and can't add too much to what has already been said. I'm sure when you talked to HB he filled you in on the known places these trucks rust and what he went through to get his fixed. If I was in the market, that would be the thing I would be most worried about, rust. Because one, I don't have the skills or equipment to fix it properly and two, I know how expensive it can be to repair once you get into it and start chasing it.
Here's something similar
I think its Ol Flappy Fenders cousin....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191652888646?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Good luck in which ever way this ends up.
Billy

Wholly cow Billy. That ebay truck is gorgeous even without the beer goggles. I would say the better looking sister v cousin. And twins at that. We should pair them up. You buy the sister.

Dude ... *that's* a little harsh, don't you think?? What's gotten into you??

I agree, the eBay truck looks better than the local truck (less rust) and it might be cheaper even with shipping costs.

Mike B

Kevin,
I'm a little late here, but if you're still looking at the truck and want a second opinion in person, I'm just down in Annapolis. I have a 1966 K20 that I've torn apart and put back together, so I have some experience. I'd be glad to take a look at this one or another one in the future if it's local. Please don't hesitate to let me know!

wilkinst - that's incredibly kind of you. I'm still in the midst of a longer-than-planned trip and haven't a clue if the truck is still around. I plan to swing by when I get back and see if the guy has sold it or not. I figure if it's still sitting in his yard I might have some grounds to negotiate, and I'd definitely take you up on your offer!

As for flappy fenders and the likes - I'm guessing that's a dig at the truck I'm looking at? Either way, the eBay one went for $3900. Good to know a price point for comparison.

-Kevin

Kevin,
Ol flappy fenders is reference to me. If they are flapping I am moving - so that is good. You will see one day what the very raw version of a 66 C/K looks like.
Trey - I will take you up on the offer. Would love to meet and share stories of 4X4 restoration.
Hambone

I guess the '66 didn't sell the first time

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-O...ash=item2ca07a9c70&item=191670951024