Buying a truch for Christmas and have MANY questions

[LindsayMontague]

I am looking @ buying my boyfriend an old truck for Christmas this year. He has been talking about doing it for months and I started looking some time ago. I have found two that could work but I am wondering what I need to look for. Chris, the boyfriend, is a mechanic and has always wanted a project car to tinker with. He wants to put in a new engine so really all that matters is the body, frame ect. I attached pictures.

The trucks are:

1950 GMC Pickup
I don't know much about this one except it isn't running. According to the seller there is no rust and the body is solid.

1949 GMC pickup
100 custom cab with flatbed 3/4 ton.
Engine is a 248 ci out of a 51 GMC
Running , Stored with out fluids.
4 speed (granny low )
Extra cab
Rear end & Tranny.

I am planning on going to take a look at them this weekend and will probably take my Grandfather with me but I am wondering if there are any key things to look for. Also, any ideas about what I should pay for a project start up car? Both are listed at around the same price, $1000 OBO.

Thank you for the help!

[Mr_Mac]

Lindsay,

First, welcome to the board! We love new people who love old trucks or love new people who love old trucks or old people who have old trucks, or...well. Be sure to tell Chris about us after Christmas!

Looking at the two trucks you provided info on, the real decision comes down to what kind of restoration Chris wants to do. If I may be so bold as to assume that since he said he wants to install his own engine then he may be inclined to do the hot rod thing and not a concourse/factory new restoration.

If that's the case, then go with the '50 GMC. While there are folks out there that like the bigger trucks and the flatbeds, etc., there are more options with the 1/2 ton as far as hot rodding and 'streetability'.

Either way, look for rusted out floors in the cab. Rust on the bottoms of the door panels and the rocker panels (the piece of metal below the door) and the floorboards. Look in the interior and see what there is of it. Is it intact as far as seat, steering wheel, shifter, glove box door (door panels and headliners are usually replaced with new upholstery so no worries there) and visors.

What shape is the bed in? Has the truck ever been in a sever accident? Has someone ever tried a restoration before? Is there any Bondo or repair panels or is the sheet metal all-original? Is there a clear title? Ask questions! Ask as many as you can think of!

As for pricing...depending on the overall condition of the trucks, $1,000 may be well worth it. There's nothing wrong with a $750 starting bid. You may even be able to get some money back y selling the stock engine/transmission later down the road! These trucks (when finished) can bring well into the $20,000 range when they're pretty!

Take a flashlight, a magnet and a digital camera. Crawl all the way through it before you decide.

Talk to Gramps and he'll likely have a few more questions to ask. Good luck and tell Chris he's a lucky guy to have you for a girlfriend!

Let us know what you chose and send pics of his face when he sees it!

Mac

[Rich-Md]

Hi there,
I own a 54 GMC 1/2 ton truck that I restored as a street rod. Quite frankly I would steer clear of the 3/4 ton and go with the 1/2 ton as it is a more desireable truck. There is more parts available for the 1/2 ton as well.
As it will be a project truck the engine, transmission and rearend should be trashed and up dated with more modern drive line parts, but to each his own perference as to a restoration.

[dan-pa]

Rich is on the money.those truck photo don't say much.be careful what you wish for./I hope your man is a good all around body man.If so have fun working on your new project.Going too make it pure stock or street rod???.I would up date to a street rod.Ya know on the express waythe speed limit is 65mph+++. the stock can only push around 45 to 55 at a steady push.So I say as Rich said again Update the running gear ,a nice 350,enginean tranny,newer rearend. Then you can kick some butttt.ha.Subframe the truck,a 70 to 80 camaro works fine++ now you go your motor mounts and power steering.disk breaks++++++ air cond opt.Have a happy holiday.Camaro parts are cheap and easy to find

[romeske1950]

Certainly if youre gonna swap the engine dont worry so much how the engine is. Along with the body checking, dont forget to check the frame itsself. Check for rust through the frame and (if its like my truck) check for breaks in the frame where someone had already fixed it or so. Make sure the vin is still original, because that can cause a hell of alot of lost money and time to get fixed up as ive found, aswell make sure they got the title. Check the seat mounts to see if noone has cut them out or anything, unless hes planning on buckets, then that wont matter much. Check the expesive parts that he'll probably keep like steering, suspention, doors, floor, etc. look for previouse alterations to the truck that dont look to be factory made or look some kind of rigged up (location of gastank, bed, breaks, etc.).

Ive never been in or heard much about the 3/4 ton, but my 1/2 ton is great and i do know there are alot more parts for the 1/2. I would go with the 1950.

Good luck and merry Christmass!