Pulled into 7-Eleven the other day and the guy next to me gets out of his 99 Chevy 3/4 ton and starts talking to me about my truck. Says he's had 3-4 of them and really liked them. Jokingly I say "trade ya" and he turns and looks me straight in the eye and says "OK."

He's willing to do a straight up trade and I'm strongly considering it. My truck is mostly a POS that still needs work that I don't have time for. The thing I don't really care for are the manual brakes and the fact she doesn't just fire up. Sometimes fires right up immediately, sometimes I've gotta crank, and just about all the time I've gotta feather the pedal in some way.

I look at NADA and KBB and find his truck to be worth anywhere from $800-2000 but then I look at NADA any my truck is worth $9000.

What I'd like to know is, how do I find this dude that will pay me $9000 for my truck?

 

9-grand for a truck that has running issues sounds a bit bloated in value. For me to spend 9 thousand dead presidents, it better run right.

Drums are easy enough to get rid of --get the parts from a Dentside donor.

Engine problems can be fixed by addressing the problems that make it not run well.

A '90s Chevy truck is going to get little-to-no recognition when you're out and about in it, the Bumpside will be a different story. When the Bumpside is completely worn out, it will still be desirable. When the Chevy finally wears completely out, it'll be worth it's weight in scrap metal prices.

If you do trade, you'll probably just inherit each others problems but, it's a choice only you can make.

 

For those that go by NADA, your living in a made up world. If your truck is worth $9000.00 and has the issues it does, would you buy it for $9000.00? If you put $9000.00 into your truck it will probably be worth $5000.00.
There might be that Jo-Shmo out there willing to hand over all his money for that truck, chances are that will never happen.
NADA is worthless when it comes to these trucks. Time to get into the real world and research prices.
I like when sellers say "When fixed up these trucks are worth $25,000.00" Maybe so, but your putting $40,000.00 into it.

 

Clearly you know the value of your own truck and it doesn't sound like it is $9k. The issue for me would be how much you really want the Bumpside Experience. If you can manage without your truck when you have to take it down now and then to fix it, then I would not trade it for someone else's problems, as ultra said. But if you need that truck every day and are tired of fixing one thing only to have a couple more catch you, then I might make the trade figuring that the 99 will have a better chance of going longer between breaks. And then, when you have extra cash and a deal comes along, buy another bump and fix it up right. For me, vehicles are always about reliability. It just sucks t have to work on a truck all night just to get it to run so you can get to work the next day. It wears you out. But working on it when you know you have a little time and if it doesn't get done your family won't starve, that is a different story.

Good luck - either way.

 

2X gangstakr
I get sick to death of people pulling a POS out of a field and post on C/L, NADA says it's worth $10K. BS! its worth $500.
not to burst your bubble. it's a good deal if YOU think its a good deal. 99 chevy still has the 350 vortec and are good engines. Do your homework tho, it could be just about the mileage idiosyncrasies start to break and wear out. My 97 burban is there.

 

No bubble to burst here. In no way do I think this truck is worth $9000. I laughed when I pulled up NADA. I nearly sold the truck last summer to a buddy for $1500 but had to back out because we were both loaded at the time and my trans poured oil like a bartender pours booze and I'd have felt bad dumping that issue on him. That's why I did all the oil sealing this summer.

This truck is nothing more than a work truck. I haul stuff in it and the neighbors borrow it to do the same. As a classic bump it means zero to me. I have had a handful of folks over the years give me some props for the old truck but really, it's just an old truck. It runs fine but just does not start right up every time. The odd thing is, if I've been driving it, park it for 5-10 minutes and get back in, it fires right up. If it's been sitting for 20 minutes, it takes some cranking before it will start. Makes no sense to me.

Anyway, I was just looking for some opinions on the Chevy trucks. I'm like you Teach, I have a 94 burban that was our family car when we had our 4th kid. The thing has 200,000 miles on it and that has been the least maintenance needy vehicle I've ever owned. I've owned 5 Fords (3 trucks and two Tauruses) and these things are nothing but work.

 

My thoughts exactly. You would be trading down - an old truck with mechanical issues (but with character) for a newer old truck (with MUCH less character) with mechanical issues.

Grass is always greener... the devil you know... a bird in the hand, etc, etc.

Fix what you got is my advise.

 

I had a 99 Suburban, and my dad had a 97 GMC pickup. Both had the Vortec 350 and the 4-speed OD tranny. Those were solid trucks. The 2000 models had some issues, as the first run of a new design, but the late 90's models were strong.

That said, if it hasn't had the master-cylinder and booster replaced, it will almost certainly need it. Same for the A/C lines (and possibly the compressor). Never had any problems with the engine or transmission. My dad's was a 4x4, and he never had any diff or transfer case problems.

I had my 99 until 2012, so there's been even more time gone by. I guess what I am saying is that the trade is probably fair or close to it, but don't imagine you're inheriting a problem-free ride.

 

Ford for a Chevy ??? Run !!!
not a fair trade in my book .

 

National Auto Dealers Association
It's in their best interest to ensure the prices are as high as possible. NADA means exactly nothing in the old car market. Just a little bit of research into any particular old vehicle will show this in spades.