There is a 79 I may be interested in buying. it's really rusty, but may be a good donor for my current 79, with a knock.

It has sliding rear windows, tilt steering, and maybe a few other small options. Shifts great, and the engine is supposedly rebuilt. It does look the part, having no oil leaks and being very clean. It is running terribly rich, as evidenced by the black puffs and sooty plugs. Vacuum at a low idle (didn't hook a tach to it) is 16-17 and pretty steady. wing the throttle open and shut and it goes 17-0-25-17 like it should.

I didn't have time to do a full proper compression check, but I pulled 5-8 plugs, then went down that side with the gauge and got 4 readings 140-150. this is with the 1-4 plugs still in and throttle closed, engine hot.

Wish I could have had more time and daylight to do it all correctly. I don't want to drive all the way out there again to continue examining the truck. It runs good, except for the richness, and has no strange noises, and the oil pressure on the dummy gauge is on the M in NORMAL with the engine hot.

It'll cost me $1000. what do you think? Normally, I'd jump right on it, without a care, but money's a little tight right now, so I can't build an engine for the one I have, and I need to justify to myself that this would be a good buy, unless it wouldn't.



thanks

 

why cant you rebuild your motor for $1000, i think that is pretty realistic and you would know what you have into it. vs buying this rig only to find out theres more wrong with it. do you feel that the motor sitting in there is worth the $1000 is the question. once you pull the motor and goodies what would you do with the rest of the rig, having that sit in your yard all stripped might not go over to well with others. im just thinking out loud here.

If you were to dump that money into your own rig i think you would be happier and know what you have thats my .02

 

I'm with Kemicalburns IF you have the time and have something else to drive I'd redo your motor.That way your not gambling your time and money.For a grand maybe even less you'll know what your getting with the rebuild.It doesn't sound like the donor has much else to give anyway.Good Luck

 

I don't know how it can cost so little to rebuild what I already have. By the time I get the block, crank, and balance work done for the bottom end, then have to spend the 500-800 to have the heads done, I'll be spending a bunch more and still have to wait for the machine work. I've researched with local machine shops and it's going to cost me nearly 2 grand to build one, and that's not including if I want to put on an aluminum intake and such--pretty much a good, long lasting long block

 

and that's also using the old pushrods and rocker arms, and doesn't include the cost for a cam and lifters, plus things like water pump and oil pump.

the 1000, plus still having extras like the tranny, t-case, axles, and the interior/exterior parts just seemed really reasonable to me. And I have a place for it without being an eyesore. I have a 30x36 shop, plus an area besideit that is adjacent to the woods and out of sight from any angle on the road. I would have the scrap yard around the corner drag away the remains once it was stripped.

 

I would jump on it!