Hey, I am thinking of getting a bit of a beater pickup truck to tinker with over the summer. I want to learn about reparing body work and such. There is a Chevy truck down the road for sale. I have called the owner and havent gotten a response yet but heres what I can tell you from just giving it the look-around. The frame and body look in ok condition with some surface rust along the edges and the tailgate but nothing structurally weak. The bed is green, the cab is white, and the doors are black. the seat had a cheap cover on it so i'm guessing it is shredded. The Drive-train and the Differentials seemed in good condition (not leaking). I am expecting the tranny has been built at one time or another.

In general, im not sure actually what model truck it is but its between 78 and 82. i think its either a 2500 or silverado, somthing like that. It is a regular cab with no slider in the back window. Hand crank windows, the radio has been removed, Its a stick shift (im guessing 4 speed). The interior is in so-so condition. kind of like the exterior. From the aftermarket grill and rims, and what i think is a suspention lift not a body lift, I would assume at one time it was a well taken care of truck, but it seems as though it has been let go to rust up some. it has an 8 foot bed with a diamondplate tool box in the bed. the box looks like it could be shined up with some polish.

The for-sale sign says $2500 OBO. Im in RI at college but im going to go home this weekend for a test drive. What do you think a reasonable price for this truck would be worth. I feel its definatly under the $2500. So you know its been sitting out for sale for the last 2 or 3 weeks and hasnt moved. I was thinking of offering somthing like $1000 if the transmission/drivetrain and the engine are in good working order, especially the drive train since its lifted.

Thanks

 

Update: the guy called on the phone. its actuall an 88 chevy and it has a 400 big block in it.

 

They dont make a 400 big block. They made a 400 small block and a 396 big block. Was it a 454?

 

Without seeing it I would say its worth a grand.

 

could be a 396 blown to a 400... See ho the engine is, sometime people but a crazy engine in a beat up truck. the engine alone could be worth 2000 if its a race engine with all new parts

 

wtf...i thought big block meant big displacement? (400 cubic inch) im confused now...

 

Big block refers to the actual size of the block not the cubic inches. 400 small blocks are garbage, and 454 are cool if done properly. If it is a big block I would say go for it, not many people run big blocks anymore. Don't everybody get all over me about the 400 small block comment.

 

400s have a tendancy to run a bit hotter than 350s. I put a 454 in my cousins 71 C10 and it hanged with my 460, so if its a 454 you gonna need lots of gas money!. My dad just bought a 88 1/2 ton 2wd long bed regular cab for $1,200 with a small trailer. The truck is only missing the tailgate and has all the power options, PLUS it has a crate engine. The valve covers still have the stickers on them, says its a 355 (think its a 350 bored .010 over). Its a great farm truck and gets good gas milage with the auto trans. I wouldnt pay more than $1,000 for a truck like you describe.

 

The 88 chevy half ton did not come with a 400 it's not original. The 88 model year was the first of the new body style which ran through 98 (and even later on certain applications) The stock engine in a 88 half ton would be a 4.3 v6, 5.0 v8, or 5.7 v8 all of which was throttle body injected. The 454 7.4 was offered in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks in 88.

If it is a 400 it could be utilizing the throttle body injection which works really good.

A 2500 is a 3/4 ton. A stock gas engine would be either a 5.7 or a 7.4.


They may have sold a 3/4 ton in the old body style in 88, not sure though.

 

They also came with a 5.0 Liter. Is it a 4x4 ?