I posted this in the General Truck Talk but advise was given to me to post it here since I might be able to get some better info! I just copyed and pasted so its the same thing as whats posted in the General truck talk.
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Ive introduced myself in the welcome section of the forum and explained my sutation a bit, but mabe we should just get down to business here.
Im looking at aquiring a Chevy Loadmaster that was once my grandfathers on their family farm. Other then that, and the color, I really know nothing about it. It is a flatbed/stake body and I belive it has duel wheels in the back. Ive figured out how to find out the year using this site, but I dont really have daily access to the truck. So, that leaves me with a few questions from the information Ive found out using this site and others.
I know the "Loadmaster" was the style engine, but what was difference between the loadmaster and thriftmaster, and was there any others out there?
What years were the Loadmaster made, and was there really any reason why it was named that?
Are there any models of the loadmaster that are more desierable then others?
The last question comes as a really open ended sort of thing. I know putting a price on something REALLY depends on ALOT of things, as I know from dealing with people like this from all the antique tractor dealings I do. BUT, mabe I can provide a sort of a price range for me so I know how much to save.
A discription:
The truck has been sitting for 20 mabe 30+ years. When it stoped working (no body remembers what on it stoped working) it was pushed into the barn to sit there until this day. It does not run, and it is not belived to be pushed in there because of something major. The truck is Blue in color (Mariner Blue or Windsor Blue) and has a flatbed and/or stakebody. As of this time I am unable to get the wheelbase or VIN, but hope to do that soon. The truck is located in the east and I belive it is 1 ton or bigger. As I said it has been in the Barn under roof for more then 20 mabe 30 years, and from what I remember from my last visit it hardly has any rust (DUST is a different story). It is complete. There are no dents dings or anything on it, which I found hard to belive being it was used on the farm. It is an Advance Design and from what I can remember, the body looks like a late 40's by what I see here IF my memoroy serves me correctly.
I expect it will need alot of internal work, but since the paint and body seems to be in very good condiction (from what I remember, thats not to say under the hood and bed theres alot of work to do) I would be sticking to engine and drive train work. Are parts hard to find? Are the parts that you can find pricey, and is it something that I may be able to find locally somewhere? I know for our antique tractors they have what they call their "heritage line" of parts for the older tractors, do they have something like that where I can walk into a chevy dealer and get something? Again alot of questions I will think of later on, but for now the big hurdles are:
What is it worth the way it sits?
What would it cost to do a major and/or minor overhall of the engine?
All help is very much appreciated. Anything would help me get further from where I am now!!! Thanks so much!!! I will update as I am able to find out more information.