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What's it worth with 6cyl?

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agouge888

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Looking at a 72 Blazer. Been sitting for years and has tailgate and rocker rust mostly, but also hints of rust in front floorboards and a little in the bed seams. Ibottom inside door corners are rusted and I'm sure a few spots I missed. decoded the Vin and it's got a 250 6 cylinder with 3 spd on the column....is this a rare setup, or were the 6 bangers around much? Seems I usually see 350's in them. I am wondering what to offer the guy for this thing? Any idea? I'm a newbie so any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Andy
agouge888

image.jpg
 
The 6 doesn't seem to be rare in the sense that it's a desired option. I think what is more rare, is that it's all there, though it is rusty. You have the original trim, uncut dash, complete top, etc.

The question for you is do you want to start here? Me, I wouldn't because I like driving mine and wouldn't have been as into the blazer if I started with what you have. Nor do I have a shop/garage to do the body work myself. So even at a $1000 I would pass.

Also, did you check the windshield frame too? That's a really common area of rust. Up until last year there weren't any parts for that, and still, it's not a complete part, so you would need some existing windshield frame to attach it too. Often if the outer rocker is that bad, the torsion box will be shot too.

If you want to see some sample prices of a place that sells the "better" replacement panels you are going to need, go here: http://gmcpauls.com/Patch_Panels.htm

Stay clear of LMC panels.

Then you can start to see how much just parts are going to be for the restoration. Which obviously won't include the massive amounts of labor required.

If you want all original and can restore it to stay that way, that's a cool find. If you want to just drive it and build it into a off road rig, then I would look at starting with a less rusty shell.

-Jacob
 
Uncut dash, straight unbroken grill, top looks ok. If it'll run and you have the space? I'd park that in the shop I don't have and start to work immediety on it with the tools I don't have just so I could listen to the air compressor I don't have run endlessly while I worked on it.


Sorry for all the pics he says!!!!:haha::thumb:
 
Ya It really all depends on how much work you wana or can do yourself. After doing mine then seeing the condition of that body, I'd run, stage left and never look behind me. From the front she looks ok, grill ain't all broke out, hood seems clean, windows still intact, and her trim is all there. Just be fore warned Rust ain't no joke and what you see is only the beginning because it started on the inside. That being said If it runs and you can use it for a while maybe $500. Just remember 1972 was 40 F-IN 3 years ago and I'll bet there ain't much left there on that ole girl without a sh*t ton of money and hard labor.
 
Thanks for the input. Yeah I figured if the 6 was rare, it wouldn't be a good rare:) in that case...does an older 350 fit in its place, motor mount wise, and bolt right up to a stock auto tranny?? Here's my plan guys and tell me if the swap will be an easy one. Wanna go 350, auto tranny th350 and tcase 205(stock) so I'm guessing I need to find those parts, plus an auto column, etc. if I can purchase the Blazer for let's say 400.00....could that be a wise move and do the metal work myself( have shop, grinders, welders, etc) Would be doing metal work myself. Not going for a concourse restoration, just want a descent driver and an everyday paint job. Haven't checked the windshield frame yet, and specific areas of it ? I've just seen the price of the 69-72 Blazers online in below average to rough shape listed anywhere from 4.5k to 11k and still need body, paint, etc

Thanks a bunch,

Andy
agouge888

ekajkrats said:
The 6 doesn't seem to be rare in the sense that it's a desired option. I think what is more rare, is that it's all there, though it is rusty. You have the original trim, uncut dash, complete top, etc.

The question for you is do you want to start here? Me, I wouldn't because I like driving mine and wouldn't have been as into the blazer if I started with what you have. Nor do I have a shop/garage to do the body work myself. So even at a $1000 I would pass.

Also, did you check the windshield frame too? That's a really common area of rust. Up until last year there weren't any parts for that, and still, it's not a complete part, so you would need some existing windshield frame to attach it too. Often if the outer rocker is that bad, the torsion box will be shot too.

If you want to see some sample prices of a place that sells the "better" replacement panels you are going to need, go here: http://gmcpauls.com/Patch_Panels.htm

Stay clear of LMC panels.

Then you can start to see how much just parts are going to be for the restoration. Which obviously won't include the massive amounts of labor required.

If you want all original and can restore it to stay that way, that's a cool find. If you want to just drive it and build it into a off road rig, then I would look at starting with a less rusty shell.

-Jacob
Click to expand...
 
There was not that many straight sixes in K5's,and most that had 3 speed manuals had a rare chevy version of a Dana 20 transfer case instead of the usual NP-205 ,some with floor shifted 3 speeds had the shifter as part of the transfer case to transmission adapter,I dont know about the colum shift versions..some 307 V8's had the 3 speed drivetrain also..

A V8 will bolt right up in place of the six,but you may need the engine mount brackets to the frame maybe,at least on the passenger side..perhaps not--the V8 mounts might bolt right up to the crossmember..the 3 speed and transfer case will probably hold up OK as long as you dont beat the snot out of them..

As for the worth and condition,pictures make it tough to determine its actual state of decay...
I've seen worse ones up here listed for anywhere from 800-5000 bucks!..
 
You are very far away from worrying about an engine, but you can make any Chevy combination of engine and drivetrain you would like work in that truck.

A 250 with a 3 on the tree is a real smooth around town driver if you decide to stay all original.

What they go for, what people ask, and what it's worth to you are three totally different animals. You'll end up spending a lot of money on it, so I wouldn't be worried about a couple hundred dollars either way at this point. If it was me, and I really wanted it, my offer would be to tow it out of the guys yard.
 
What's your budget to get a "driver quality" 1st Gen?

The truck in those photos is in pretty lousy shape, despite its outward appearance. There is evidence of rust almost everywhere, and not just surface rust... We're taking deep, structural rust that will take a lot of effort and money to resolve.

It's a tough call. If you can get the truck for next to nothing, you might be able to buy the replacement sheetmetal for a few thousand dollars, and spend hundreds of hours of your own time doing proper repairs. (Option 1)... Or you could buy some flat sheet steel and angle-iron steel and do more "creative" repairs to allow you to seal up the bad rust holes and fix the worst structural issues (Option 2).

To me, it's hard to invest even a small amount of time doing hack work because the end product will not look very good and the truck will probably be worth less $$$ than if it was just rusty and unrestored. The paint job that you put on top will end up bubbling and rusting through...so the money you spend on expensive primers and paints will be wasted as well. If you do a correct restoration, you will at least be increasing its value overall.... But make no mistake, you will still be losing money on it. There are simply too many hours required to bring that truck back from the dead. Bringing a basket case truck back to life is a romantic story to tell.... But it's a financial sinkhole of the highest order. :D

Ultimately, the best way to go is Option 3: Find an early Blazer that someone has already restored and pay him 50 cents on the dollar for his work! If your budget is $5000, you can buy a truck with $10,000 of effort/parts already installed. A $10,000 Blazer usually has $20,000 worth of stuff on it....

I can't even begin to explain how quickly the costs accumulate. But listen to the advice you are getting here from guys who own these trucks. The costs are real...and there is no such thing as a "low budget 1st Gen" project.


-G
 
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