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Undecided, parts vs project trucks

kennyw

kennyw

@squarebody.chop.shop on IG
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I picked up an 87 C10 with an OK body this week for dirt cheap. No particular plans, just a deal I couldn't pass up. Made plans with a friend to build a trailer from the bed and frame later that night.

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After posting pictures of it in Facebook, another acquaintance offered me a 1978 K20 rusty bucket for parts that runs and drives. Do I'm heading to grab it first thing tomorrow morning.

I'm now realizing I could move the 87 cab and front sheet metal over to the 78, toss on a flatbed I have laying around, and have a running/ driving work truck and still build the trailer from the C10 bed/ frame.

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I'll have to wait and see how well the K20 runs before I decide if these get parted out or not.
 
That 75 is a wee bit rough. Does the winch work?
 
Looks to me like the only logical choice is to put the newer body on the old frame. Or 4x4 swap the new frame and drag the drive train over. that 75 body is shot. You can make a trailer out of whatever parts you don't use.
 
Mechanically they are pretty stout. Maybe a few electrical trinkets
 
TreeFarm said:
Looks to me like the only logical choice is to put the newer body on the old frame. Or 4x4 swap the new frame and drag the drive train over. that 75 body is shot. You can make a trailer out of whatever parts you don't use.
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That was my first thought until I realized I'm short one motor and 3/4 ton axles for the K5. The motor from this could go in the shortbed and the new TPI motor into the K5. Save the TH400/NP203 for the M1028 for a future doubler option.
 
I bet the '75 is less rotted than my '82 GMC is...
I vote for saving any GM square body if its at all worth the effort,especially if you have all the parts...seen too many here that were still decent and restorable that get scrapped ,just because some idiot lost the title..also see way to many in about the same shape as your '75 that are listed for $1500+ bucks on CL and FB too..
 
K5Jimmy said:
Is that kind of rot likely to be on the frame as well? I don't know northern trucks. It's like getting a new box of legos.
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Compared to a midwest truck, this thing is solid. Frame is more surface rust than rot.

However, I just think it's better to part them both out and make trailers at this point. I have 3 trucks and a tractor to rebuild before I would ever get to these two.
 
Seems like a shame to chop up the '87 when it just needs a drivetrain and a paint job. I'm sure you're propably tripping over SBCs in your yard and then send it on down to MAACO for a dirt cheap paint job. Then kick it down the road for $5k, then you can go buy more squares rinse/repeat.
 
87 and up 2wd squarebodies are popular for the LS swap crowd. Personally, I think you would make more money by converting that 87 to a short bed and dropping a motor trans into it, whatever you can find that is running and local, to turn it into a driver.

SWB C10s are hot right now.

First thing I thought of when seeing that K20 is that the frame is shot. I bet you will find stuff once the body starts getting pulled off
 
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