Thread: What do you think?

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http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/car/364529629.html
I have another thread going about building a truck around a sbc. What do you guys think of this as a start? The truck is early 50's and has had the suspension converted to 85. I have enquired as to this conversion to see if it was a cut job, but haven't heard back yet. What should I look for? What is the average to see in this condition? Anything that is an immediate sign to just walk away?
Thanks for the input.
Chris

I just recieved an email........truck is not cut, all bolt on parts.

Appears to be a pretty solid truck for the money.

It's gonna be pretty difficult to tell if it was done right until you're able to drive it. If it's a front and rear clip job, I'd want to know where it was done and if reasonable attention was given to making everything level and square. I mean, did they do this on a couple of sawhorses in the back yard or what?

If you can get the truck to a place that is absolutely level and flat, drop a plumbbob to the ground from the same point left and right (with the same size tires and aired the same) and measure the string to see if she's tilted or not. This won't be as accurate as gettin' it on a frame machine, but you might find out pretty quick if she's botched. Check the position of the clip rails to the original rails on both sides. Do they look close to the same or not?

If they used the entire late model frame, then there isn't a whole lot they could have done wrong.

The side shot isn't too clear, but it doesn't look like the tires fit the wheel well very good.... and IMO it sets way too high, doubt the engine and trans weight will settle it down very much. Also, I would have to wonder what the body is like under that primer... When somebody dumps a project that cheap, there is usually a good reason he gave up on it!!!!

It looks to me as if the track width is to wide to drop it any lower. I have a '51 that I got bone stock for about the same $$ and that one sits higher by several inches.....
I did a MII front with a 4 bar rear it dropped it down about 4 inches....
This is it as it sits now....

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I took a look at it this morning and I got a funny feeling about the deal. I cant say exactly what, but I trust my gut to say something isn't on the level. The truck was actually pretty clean but I just couldn't get straight answers.........I will keep on the hunt. Nothing but time and I can afford to wait.
Chris

Here are links to 3 trucks we have done or are doing.
All have Camaro clips and rears in them.
These trucks are getting harder to find but they are still out there. You can almost always expect to put in cab corners, floors and toe boards.
Done nice and take your time to find a good truck you can do these for abot 12K -18K
paid $850 for this one
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...uck/?start=all

This one was $1200 but not complete at all...basically part of the cab and frame no doors
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...uck/?start=all

This one was complete very little rust and other than cab corners , grille and 1 toe board everything else cane be used. paid $2200 for this
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../1953%20truck/

That truck looks like the newer front suspension was just welded on underneath the stock frame. No 1985 frame ever sat that high!

That track width is way to wide. Those things take to an S10 stub nicely.