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WTF Do I do now - 1988 K5

T

THEMCGUIRE

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jan 15, 2009
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Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
I failed inspection for rust here in NJ. So I stripped my K5 to the frame, except for Hood and Cab roof. Spent almost 3,000 bucks on replacement metal from LMC and some other places. Put in a new exaust - headers back, Sandblasted the frame and rust bulleted it.

Then wham heart attack. I tried posting it on craigslist here in North Jersey for $2,689.00 cost of the sheet metal but no takers.

Here is the craigslist posting:

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3711263823.html

Looking for suggestions about what to do.. I have to move and I dont want to just junk it and throw away almost 3,000 in brand new sheet metal and a great truck It will be like a 5 year old truck in perfect condition when put back to together.

Anyone have any ideas ?
 
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Really nobody wants that cleaner all I'm jersey?


Do you have more pics to post? That one on Craigslist doesn't show much...
 
I would post more pics, I have came across, as I know everyone else has, the "in perfect shape no rust" trucks and cars. Only to pull the carpet up and see a stop sign staring me in the face. I would try taking picures to prove it. Plus, that must be an old pic of the frame, as its rusty. Its stuff like that that can make or break a sale. Take pics from all sides and angles, plus inside.
 
The worst part is that you will never get back the money you have put into it. No one will pay that for an old truck that needs all that metal work regardless if you have all the replacement parts and material.

With that said, if I had the extra funds I would be on the way down with a truck and trailer ready to drag it home. I could use that engine/trans and some decent gray interior stuff as well as some of the body parts. Then I'd sell off what was left.

Your best bet to recover the most of all the money you have put into it is to part it out. It'll take time and effort but you will have a better shot to recover more than your asking price. But that will require a place to put the rolling chassis and all the parts since you are moving.
 
I wish you luck. I had all new GM sheet metal and a NOS GM frame and had to practicaly give the stuff away when I moved to Colorado. Heck I even had a NOS rear floor
rearfloorpanel.jpg


frame.jpg
 
I think the major problem is its not together. If the bed was on it and the rest of the parts could be put inside and transported would go a lot farther for you. You would maybe do better parting it out instead of trying to Sell complete But in pieces. Other than that I don't know what else you can do. If I still had a garage I'd make an offer on it but where I live now I just have as enough room for the 3 vehicles I have now.ill ask around and see if there's any interest in it.
 
FYI. I know you are not trying to sell it here but putting it up like this but will
Likely get it deleted quickly by mods for being in a non for sale forum by a non member.
 
My idea would be to get at least a dozen good pics of the new parts. Then, (and im sorry) lower the whole package deal to about $1000. I HATE to say it but the harsh reality is not everyone needs ALL those parts. And no one wants to finish a project they didnt start. The sucky thing is that you are going to have a hell of a time selling it even at $1000. Its just something that no one wants as a package like that.
 
chulisohombre said:
I think the major problem is its not together.
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^^^ I agree that this is a major problem.

Im dont live in the rust belt so things are a little different but if I cant get in a truck and drive it home I wont pay more than $500. I see that you have four options: pay someone to finish it and then sell it taking a loss on the labor, sell it like it is for $1000, maybe less and take a loss, scrap it and take a loss, or part it out which make take a while and you'll probably still take a loss.

Fact is, projects rarely make money or break even for that matter. Im $6k+ into my truck and it has rust, dents, and its 4 different colors. I would be supprised if it brought $1500.
 
Thanks

Thanks all for the feedback. I guess there is no one on craigslist who can see what I saw as the restored finished project. I am glad I am not alone in seeing the possible.

I understand that I will never get back my investment. The price I am asking just pays me backfor the sheet metal parts. I did not incude those 125.00 truck fees x3. The brand new exhaust system cost me another $400 and the rust bullet was another 300 ish....

So after writing that post I got a little creative thinking. I searched craigslist and found an experienced welder. The deal would be that he would work when he did not have any other work to do.

He said he would work for $25.00 an hour plus I pay for the welding supplies and act as his helper.

So is that a good idea?

Is $25.00 a great price or what ?

How many hours do you think it will take to get this welded back up?

If I work slow I should be able to do a lot of the interior myself. I am not that disabiled.

Any comments appreciated...
 
The deal would be that he would work when he did not have any other work to do.
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I have seen this work out really bad... Business picks up and he never has time for it. Two years later and he only has a few hours into it.


Is $25.00 a great price or what ?
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Really good if he is good.

How many hours do you think it will take to get this welded back up?
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At LEAST 100 hrs. Probably more...

Have to really take this whole picture into consideration. A guy thats going to be doing 100 hrs of work in his spare time? That has months/years written all over it. If your willing to take the risk, do it.
 
If he can put it together correct and get good welds, then that ain't too bad you'd pay a shop 50-100 bucks an hour and up for that work. If you can get him to put on a good amount of time on nit you could do it in a few months. Just don't overdo it yourself with the bad ticker. You will be able to sell it much easier if its together and not just random sheet metal pieces.
 
100 hours wow with everything so clean I was thinking 25 hours. I dont mind spending $2,500 knowing what I will have when it is done. Think of it a vehicle with all new metal got to put a value of like 20k on trying to replace that. and I get a Blazer out of it. lol.

The big reason I need it done is because I am moving to Las Vegas this summer. Need to get it done cause I just cannot see towing it out there. :)

Thanks for all the advise and good wishes. I will report back when I know more .
 
THEMCGUIRE said:
100 hours wow with everything so clean I was thinking 25 hours. I dont mind spending $2,500 knowing what I will have when it is done. Think of it a vehicle with all new metal got to put a value of like 20k on trying to replace that. and I get a Blazer out of it. lol.

The big reason I need it done is because I am moving to Las Vegas this summer. Need to get it done cause I just cannot see towing it out there. :)

Thanks for all the advise and good wishes. I will report back when I know more .
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If you're moving to Vegas, don't waste your money trying to restore a rust bucket. Part out your truck and use they money to buy a pristine southwest sheetmetal K5. Trust me you'll save yourself a lot of time and money. I know you already have a lot invested in this one but get out what you can by selling parts individually. No one is going to buy a half of a truck and a pile of metal even for $1000.
 
What parts. I have never done anything like that. And just throw all that new sheet metal away ? My green side is cringing at that ??

Called that welder back and he does not answer?

Would you part it out on ebay or craigslist. I cannot see myself shipping those rear quarter panels even if I could find a big enough piece of cardboard to wrap it back up in . In my mind right now is... If I sell just one part I am committed to selling it all. Can I sell it all in the few months before I move. I cannot take it with me
 
THEMCGUIRE said:
What parts. I have never done anything like that. And just throw all that new sheet metal away ? My green side is cringing at that ??

Called that welder back and he does not answer?

Would you part it out on ebay or craigslist. I cannot see myself shipping those rear quarter panels even if I could find a big enough piece of cardboard to wrap it back up in . In my mind right now is... If I sell just one part I am committed to selling it all. Can I sell it all in the few months before I move. I cannot take it with me
Click to expand...

Post the whole thing on craigslist as "for parts" List all the parts individually, and take pics of the parts. List the smaller parts that can easily be shipped on Ebay and see what sells. No matter what you'll have to take a hit on the list price in order to sell them. But at least this way you can move the majority of it before you move, then you'll have to scrap the rest.

If the welder is already blowing you off, I wouldn't rely on him to weld up your truck then. Find someone different if you really want this truck together.
 
I think the real problem here is New Jersey. A rust inspection:eek1: if I am reading this correctly, you drove a running,driving, operating vehicle to an inspection station and they told you it was too rusty! How do they measure rust? Or thickness of metal to determine safety? I would be moving too:haha:

I would part out individually to make more. It will take longer, but will reward you for your good parts. Craigslist for the items too large to practically ship, and ebay for all the little stuff.

If you don't want the hassle, you will probably be looking at under 1000 for the lot. Americans who buy in volume want a big discount!

I'm thinking I need to go to New Jersey and score some "unsafe" vehicles for cheap:waytogo:
 
Its not a "rust inspection". Back when we had saftey sharp edges was considered to be a hazard. It really took some serious torn metal edges to fail.

If you're really interested in getting it back together PM me some pictures with where its at and we could talk about a time frame for getting it done.
 
We fail inspection for any hole you can push your finger though. You can patch it up to a point but it comes to a point when that is unacceptable here in the northwest. Pa is the same and its lame. You can have a all new drivetrain and it doesn't matter. If the body is rusted it must be fixed to pass. It keep junk cars off the road. They don't want body parts falling off while you're driving.
 
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