So I'm looking for a highboy to add to my stable of rigs......Problem is decent ones have been pretty hard to find for sale at a reasonable price in TX recently. I found this one, 2500 miles away in the northwest. Couple questions.....

1. any idea what that is in the rear underneath, between the tailpipe and the bumper?
2. what do you think of the rust on the driveshaft (it's a CA truck, located in WA now)?

It's lifted with 38" super swampers, has a 40 gallon fuel tank in the rear (my guess is that is the answer to question #1), has a 400 w/ C6 and divorced transfer case, serial # in VIN is pre Y20001. I'd have to fly out to WA and drive it back to TX, so I'm extremely leary about moving forward on this truck (online shipping quotes were about 3x the cost of flying & driving it back). The price seems ok to me, and the current owner has lots of extra performance engine parts to throw in. Pic is below, with more in my gallery.

Here is an email reply from the seller when I asked about driving it 2500 miles:

"I wouldn't advise driving to Texas with the engine as it is, it may be cheaper to ship than buy airline tickets and gas prices back!
It has a divorced transfer case, c6 auto tranny It's an early 1977 model.
The power steering belt squeels. It smokes a little. It needs door gaskets/anit rattle kit. There is no rust spots. Has a new front windshield and gasket.

VIN# F26HR001267" (I think they meant O01267??)




Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Chris

 

I see what you are talking about back there but can not tell either, maybe he painted the rear tank blue or it has a tank guard thats blue? also the body looks as if it was rino lined, that may be a good thing or it may have been done to hide crappy body work? how much is he asking for it?, when he says he wouldn't drive it back that would make me a little wary as well, why is he saying this, does it run like crap and may blow or is it just ruff on gas, I don't know what to tell you my friend, it does look cool, does it have the D60 up front?

 

I put all 5 images I have in a photobucket page, link is

aldridgc - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The owner stated that:

"Starts & runs but could use an engine overhaul. Needs door gaskets."

When I zoomed in on the rust, it looks like the driveshaft is painted light blue and the exhaust is all that is rusted.

As for the rhino paint job, it seems pretty good, and that it probably isn't hiding anything major. Would be good for taking to the ranch to go hunting to stop scratching the sides of my father-in-law's truck!

Thanks,
Chris

 

Rino lining can be a great thing, but someone could use it to hide a lot, it looks like a really cool truck with a lot of potential, but it sounds to me like the motor is on its way out by his comment??, but like I said, I don't know what to tell you, its your call, maybe find a member that lives there and ask if they will go look at it for you??

 

The seller said the 40 gal fuel tank was painted Ford Blue, that must be what is in the pics, along with a hitch on the frame.

Does anybody have any advice or recommendations for me?

-Chris

 

I forgot to answer the price question......between $1500 - 2000, depending on the extra engine parts.

-Chris

 

It looks reasonably clean, I would not worry about the exhaust, it gets that way a few years after its put on in the right conditions. The rhino lining is a trip, not sure what would posses somebody to put that stuff on a truck unless they had some money to burn, or wanted a scratch resistant surface. If that was the case, I wonder why they would put the stock trim back on, or how they managed to get it back on, unless they masked over it.

I'd throw a new belt on it, find some 235/85/16s to put on there for the trip home (those tires will wear like butter and eat 1-2MPG in fuel economy) make sure your AAA gold membership is paid up, bring a cell phone, survival supplies, tools, bring a friend and make the trip. If the truck runs like ash, tinker around with the carb, see if it needs a tuneup, and run with it. I doubt the motor will blow up if you keep water and oil in it.

 

im with master beavis. just take it easy, keep an eye on the gauges, smaller tires and i'd do it. id flush the rad 1st and put straight water in it to make sure it didn't overheat. looks pretty good though.

 

When I moved from Iowa to Maryland in 94 I rented a u-haul car trailer and pulled my 5800 lbs 73 thunderbird behind my 75 truck. It didn't cost that much, was open in the middle and had a kind of trailer brake with the tongue that would engage when going down big hills. If it was me and you had something that could pull it I would rent or borrow a car trailer and haul it that way. Then you wouldn't have to worry if it would make it.

 

Looks like a solid truck, except I'm not too sure what the rhino lining is all about. The only times I see people do that is when their trucks are rusting out and they have a buddy who will spray the whole damn thing for cost.

 

For the price I would think you could find something similiar a little closer thn 2500 miles away.... just my .02

 

I agree with DIRT, have you thought about taking a bus instead of flying to save cash, and rent a Uhaul and trailer, or tow it back, and throw all the extra parts inside the Uhaul. I never saw a truck rhinoed like that, but for some reason I kinda like it. Just think of all the money and time waxing it you won't have to waste!

I bought my 77 dent this past August, and the seller talked it up real good, but when ask if they woulld drive for the six hour trip home, they warned against it. After I got there the tires were all different sizes, and appeard to be 30 years old, the carb needed rebuilt bad, and several other rusted tight fall apart when you try to fix issues that made driving is back totally out of the question.

Bottom line you are better to play it safe then to be stranded somewhere where you have to leave it and it's gone forever. Or some one sets it on fire, and steals/strips it and you come back to a striped shell. Just play it safe and let us know how/what you do, and make out.

PS:Remember these old dent are to be an enjoyable time working on them and driving them, not a lesson in misery!

 

Not a lesson in misery? The 73 I am working on sure is. Once one thing is fixed, another issue pops up, or I have to fix something to move on to fix the problem I "was" trying to work on.

Uhaul does not rent a trailer large enough to haul a fullsize truck. That truck definatley would not fit on most trailers with the rims and tires it currently has on it. A tow dolly is pretty much the same thing. No they will not let you rent it to tow a fullsize truck, and you need super small tires, like 205/65/16s on factory rims for the wheels to sit in the pads, and for the straps to reach over the tires to reach the ratchets.

You are taking a huge chance with going get a truck sight unseen. I have scored, and have been angry for sellers wasting my time. Maybe you can hit up the regional forums and find a member who is close by, who can check the truck out in person, and possibly could help you out once you show up there once the truck sets out.

 

I'm not saying don't go get it, but that sure is a nice truck from the pictures. it's your choice.......good luck!

 

Sorry bro,......