The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk To buy or not to buy......

All,

As some of you may have read, I recently picked up a relatively solid 61 C10 short step side. It has its typical problems with a few additional issues to boot. Since it arrived in the end of October of 2007, it has been dismantled to a point of a cab on a frame with engine and tranny still in it. I have reviewed many posts on what to do about disc brake, power steering, etc options for this year and all of a sudden, in a local ad, I see the following:

1961 Chevy C10 short bed project truck. frames been sandblasted \ painted, now rolling w/front brakes converted to disc, w/2 1\2 " drop spindles, rotors, calipers, brake pads, wheels bearings all in place. 3 " drop coil springs in rear, 12 bolt rear end. new upper and lower control arm shafts. 4 new ball joints, have cab w/new rocker panels and cab corners not installed. complete drs, hood and 2 boxes of orig. parts, incl. windshield. have complete drs for ' 64 style. Have only front head board and a tailgate for the bed, no front fenders, have inner fenders. have $1500 invested, call w/an offer or for more info.

This may be a brother Stovebolter on here but either way, its about 45 minutes from my house. We all know, more parts are better than not enough but is this worth it? No engine or tranny comes with it? what should I offer if I should?

I'm thinking that with what I'd spend in drop spindles/disc brake conversion kits for $800+, this may be a better opportunity. Your thoughts?

NorthDM

NorthDM

It's really hard to say. We don't know you. Do you have cash, time, energy & space? Do you have tools, experience and knowledge? Are you fairly new to this hobby and still learning allot or are you aware of what you've gotten yourself into :-).

MOST IMPORTANT:
What's your kids, SO & dog think?

Here is a good thread for you to see. Search for it in General truck forum.
"Logistics for a new Restoration" #330917 - 10-31-2007 01:02 AM
Do you need more boxes of parts? I found its easier to put things back on if I take them off.

How common and available are these trucks in your area? You might save on shipping and seeing it in person is a huge bonus.

Here's what it sounds like to me. 5 lug discs & lowered spindle kit, I see these on EBay, but never paid attention to the price. Disc kits are about 375. Will the '64 style doors fit? Do you want those on a '61? He bought cab corners etc but hasn't put them in. Do you want to lower your truck?

Do you want this just for parts? How rusty & pitted are the boxed parts? Are all the parts even there? It doesn't have bedsides and those are pricy plus shipping to you would be a killer. I don't know about 61's but no one repops a 58-59 fleetside bed side. Let's see; a parts truck with no engine, no tranny, no bedsides and no fenders. $1,500 I'm thinkin no way. $100 to sandblast a frame and it could have $20 worth of paint. Unless there is dang good set of doors and the tailgate is great, I'd keep lookin and do research on part costs and figuring out what you really need/want. If its still there in a week or two and you've gotten more homework done, then you'll have a better fell on what its worth.

57_StepSide,

Very good counter questions. Cash, I have, no more than most but probably better than some. Time, I have, space I have, tools I have, experience and knowledge, some but getting better. I'm almost 40, kids are in college, I have a love for old chevy trucks I cannot explain so I feel that I'm amongst friends here on Stovebolt. I had a 53F100 and didn't have the heart to cut into it to make what I wanted so I sold it as I bought it. My intention with the 61 c10 is to make it what I want. A lower stance, better than stock stopping power, a new engine & tranny with some punch but no big block. I would never offer the 1500 he states he has into it but I figure if I could get it for 800-900, I'd be starting with a frame that is pretty much what I'm shooting for. However, the other parts would be nice but 64 doors don't work on a 61 cab. Who knows, maybe another truck??? I live in Maine so old trucks are rare, nice old trucks are real rare. Trucks from the south are very pricey and thats the way it is up here in the Northeast. I was a bit concerned about the bedsides as well but figured, I would take what I need for mine, see what's left over and go from there if I did buy it. We shall see and I really appreciate the input.

NorthDM

Keep looking if you would like to take advantage of a partial build that will save you time and money. Check Ebay etc. there are 100s of old truck out there and the chances are good you will find just that perfect one. Or drop the $1,500 on this one. You can finish it just like you want; it'll just take time and money.

if you have the money and space make the guy an offer the 64 doors are worth 100.00 eh if in good shape on e bay not repoped . frame and spindles by the time you put your labor and all in is worh 800 easy with all the new patch panles also he easyly has 1500 in it but 800 to 1000 is a good buy in my part of the world on the east cost cab alone fixed worth 1500 at carlise just my $.02

Check it out, and you'll know what it's worth. It may be worth more to you than you think, beings you are already interested and involved with '61s. You may not approve of some, or all of the work that has already been completed, if so then you would be buying it for parts only.

It is all pure guess work, until you actually see it.

It never hurts to take a look.

Good luck

John

Good point J Lucas. The e-mail response from this individual has ID'd the frame as a 64. This explains the doors he has as well. The cab is a 61 along with grill parts. The frame work with disc up front is a kit installed from LMC. Doors for the 61 cab have new lower skins and the hood is actually the Cat's Eye style from 60-61. At best its a mixed batch but I will have to see the condition to be sold. We shall see and I shall report back.....thanks all.

NorthDM