W350 search, disappointing waste of a day looking at a truck

[RumbleFish]

Mark, that looks like a 4x4. Hubs are sticking outta the wheels.

Sure Does,looks like old school Warren lockers with the gold twist locks.

looks like a chrome center cap thats pitted and starting to rust. rear doesnt seem to sit high like a 4x4. looks like a 2wd with no motor.

[Mark Nixon]

looks like a chrome center cap thats pitted and starting to rust. rear doesnt seem to sit high like a 4x4. looks like a 2wd with no motor.

My thoughts EXACTLY.
Plus he told me it was 2wd and it's missing the 454 auto that was in it.

Mark.

[sb91ctd]

Mark, I'm shocked. Thats 2 chevys in a week you've looked at! Funny thing is I only used to be a chevy guy, as all this asian import trash began to litter our highways I really began to appreciate all of the good old trucks. In my eyes the chevy K30's, Ford F350 4X4s, and dodge W300/350 represent the last good dependable trucks a guy could afford to own. FWIW, I have thought about that running gear you have over there.

Well, the last thing I care to own wears a Blue Oval.

Jeff, if you think about it, in many ways assembling a truck from choice parts and doing a re-paint can be as good as buying a nice, low miles, rustfree truck.
The advantage is that, if you have the time, you can pick and choose the parts, the disadvantage is the time gathering and assembling, plus having a proper place to do it.
The other problem is that no matter how cost-conscientious you are, if you're picky (And I know you are!) you'll have just as much in an assembled-from-many-parts truck as you would buying a nice clean low miles one.

You'll only trade the grieving about the hunt for a nice truck for the grieving about the hunt for the PARTS for a nice truck.

I'll say this much, finding nice PARTS to piecemeal one together a little at a time is MUCH easier than finding "that perfect truck" that you can afford.

Mark.

Thats a two way street Mark, in my situation i didnt have much to spend on an old cummins. One day i was lookin on craigslist and stumbled across a 91 w250 auto standard cab long bed. I only saw the cummins and talkedd the guy down alil and bought it. After that the trick was to get the trans rebuilt considering reverse was out of it and finding another body for it considering no panel was straight including the hub caps, no joke. Roughly a year later and another possible donor truck bought and sold i found my donor truck that was a 2wd gasser and had an amazing body with a junk tranny that i could snag up for dirt cheap. Granted that with limited resourses and doing this outside the entire time of the swap idk which is more worth it. Ive had countless days and friends helping me with this project and quite a bit in replacement parts and the number will still grow alil but all in all after this is done i should have a killer 1st gen dodge(cosmetically and atleast mechanically sound) and with less than 3 grand in it. Thats with aftermarket wheels and tires, trans rebuild and a few other gaskets and seals to make it a nice daily driver. Thought man/labor hours dont nessicarily come into play on value but mine would be gold with what ive put into mine lol including blood sweat and tears, its all on the owner, their ability, and what recourses are aviailble to them to make it worth building vs buying a perfect one. With what ive had to go throught with doing it outside limited cash at times on parts and my only resources and all the bs through this build i would honestly pay the extra if i had it to get closer to something i wanted. Ill still love my home built/swapped 1st gen but in my case it wouldve been so much easier to save up and buy what i wanted. There are always variables to every aspect of what we do including building or buying a truck let alone what we do in life, this is just my novel of my version

[stillsmokin]

Update: since my last post I have called on 2 more trucks, one in Michigan was not up to par, another one in Ohio has been a circle jerk. I have had a few emails from the guys wife, finally a week later the guy calls (while I'm driving down the interstate) . Told the guy to give me a call back 5-6 this evening, not a noise from the phone. F'n people...

I heard somebody is going to score one tomorrow.

[Mark Nixon]

Actually, I finally committed the money to the one I was considering in South Dakota.
I had decided that it wasn't financially feasible, but then decided I couldn't buy the drivetrain for what I have paid for the truck, and if it needs rockers, I can justify it.

Now I just need to fund the trip up to get it home.

Mark.

[stillsmokin]

GOT ONE!

[Mark Nixon]

I'm not one to pester for pics but...
GOT PICS?

Mark.

[stillsmokin]

I'm not one to pester for pics but...
GOT PICS?

Mark.

I'll take some pics later today and post them up.

[dazedandconfused]

Glad to hear you found one.

[CumminsPower59]

We love pictures!

[stillsmokin]

Pulltilbroke doesn't even know I went to look at a truck. Were headed to an event here in a bit, bet he loses it when he see this in my driveway

FWIW this wasn't quite listed right on craigslist, was for sale for 6 months. Heck of story about the truck so far.

[Mark Nixon]

That appears to be a very nice ride.
Yeah, Andrew WILL flip, because that's the same colors as HIS E/C Dually 4x4 was originally.

Funny, there's THREE 1993, DUALLY, E/C, 4x4, 5 speeds in less than a 20 mile radius, right here in eastern Nebraska.

There's actually 4, if you consider the one I have all in pieces in the back lot.

Mark.

[oldestof11]

[PToombs]

Andrews gonna be pissed!
That's a fine looking truck. I'd love to have one that nice.

[CumminsPower59]

That thing is nooooiiiiiicccceee! Good find!