The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk New to restoring

Hi everybody new guy here just wondering I have a line on a 50 1/2 ton I think. 6 cyl stick on the floor it needs a floor pan but the fenders, hood, and cab are in prety good condition I think they will need a little patching and straighting the bed is inpreety rough shape around the bottom it is in need of some work and someone installed some sort of a hopper box on the tail gate. the ad says that it runs although I havent actually heard it yet. The gauges are bad and the there is no glass over them the seat has been covered in velvet the doors are in pretty fair condition and there is a broken spring on the right front side. The wippers are missing the left front wing window is cracked. and the price is 1500.00 or best. Just wondering if this might be a good vehicle for a first timer. And is this a good price. Im in northwest Indiana. So totaly clean bodies are impossible.

That seems rather high even for our part of the country. I would offer $700 or $800 and see how serious he is about selling it. I put my 50 up for sale once and couldn't get $800 out of it. I'm going to part it out after winter is over so several people can get usable parts to keep other trucks from the crusher,
Scott

And, by-the-way, welcome to the Stovebolt,
Scott

Welcome to the stovebolt pages! Since you are asking the opinion of several hundred bolters, expect several opinions! First thing you should do is read this article: Stovebolt article Decide why you want an old truck (to restore, to modify, to hot rod etc.) What are your limitations, how much of the work do you plan to do. If you are skilled and have the tools and place to work on it, a project truck will work for you. If you have never done one before buy a better shape truck and do the cosmetics and small engine modifications until you are ready to tackle a larger project. Look at ebay for ideas and price guide (although not always reliable) Read the stovebolt pages, there has been lot's of info shared over the years on this subject. Tour the gallery and see what others have done.

Here's one on ebay now: TRUCK

Don't be discouraged with us giving advice, listen, observe and enjoy the hobby.....I do!

Well except for the bed I feel I could handle just about all the rest of the work I think repairing the bed for me atleast would be a bit over my head this might be a silly question but is finding a good bed a hard thing to do

Jim,

You can easily find any/all replacement panels, (as well as the wood kits)for the bed through any of the classic chevy truck places so I wouldn't worry about that portion too much. However, I agree that $1,500 sounds a little bit high for what your describing. Just my $0.2

your $0.2 worth, would you happen to mean $0.02? I am just being a smart ***. Anyway, if you have a local classic parts store around your area, you might go and ask them where you could find another bed, they are out there. We have a Cliffs Classic Chevrolet here in Portland that has all kinds of reproduction, and used parts they sell from their stripped classics.

Good Luck, and I hope you have a fun time restoring you truck!

- Shane

$800 for a '50 and still not selling? It would easily sell for £3,000 (about $2,200) over here. A $1,000 to ship it and still loads of profit!!

Andy

From the description you provided that truck sounds more like a $150.00 value not $1,500.00. If the floor is rotted out then you will probably have problems in the inner cowl area as well. It sounds like this truck needs to be passed on as there are many others out there in better shape for the same or less money. Be patient and the right truck will find you.

Thanks everyone for your input I will definitly wait and see awhile I dont want to rush in and get burned.

I agree about buying something that is almost complete even if it costs a bit/lot more. At least that way you can perhaps drive it while you play with it. Years ago before my first truck purchase I went to the big swap meet at Monroe WA with a friend. Eating a hot dog at lunch he commented on all the people walking out with pieces for their vehicle project. He said "they are all chasing their dream!" which was to me a valid comment. When you have to go looking for parts you have to know what to look for. Swap meet vendors seldom label their wares and as a beginner trying to identify parts can be a problem if you don't know them. My thoughts.

Its important to know what you want to accomplish.

I love wondering through swap meets and dragging home rusty iron. I wouldn't know what to do with a finished project, 90% of the fun is figuring out how I'm going to solve some problem.

Others like showing a restored or hot rodded truck. And others like driving something more than working on it.

Within civilized limits I think you should be able to do as you please with your truck, and most satisfactory purchase will be the truck that gets you closest to doing just that!

Jim -- You may also want to consider the possibility that you may become an addict like the rest of us. Stovebolts are a powerful drug that will use up ALL your time and money if you get bit hard by the bug! However, it is a great hobby, more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Now that truck you mentioned does not sound like a bargain at all. I bought my truck for $1100, and drove it home, and then after a tune up, drove it about 300 miles the first week! It has some dings and dents and a little rust, but no major problems. Patients is the key, and try not to get lock into NEEDING a specific year and model. As long as it's a pre 1972 GM you'll have a blast with it!

Boo

I am pretty open minded about the year and style although I would prefer a pre 67 stepside a flareside 72 with a 402 would be pretty cool also.