1981 GMC.....Is it worth it?

[Bowtieman90]

I just ran across a 1981 GMC 3/4 ton reg cab long bed truck with "96,xxx" miles, Automatic, 4x4, 350. The truck has the usual rust, but isn't rusted completely out. He says it runs and drives good. Has decent looking chrome wheels with like new 33-12.50 mud terrain tires with a small lift. The asking price is $1,600. Does this seem like a good price to you guys?

[darkfox1]

LWB k20 in decent condition for $1600?

 

Yes please.

 

Now the 73-87 guys are gonna have to chime in to let you know on this but back when GM switched from the 67-72 body style to the 73-87 they had a SEVERE rust problem. I don't know when that was resolved, so be on the lookout for that. My dad's 73 C20 was about rusted to oblivion by 1993. By 2001 when he finally sold it the bed was almost falling apart around the wheels.

 

If they fixed that problem before 81 you should be golden. Goodmark, LMC truck makes a lot of replacement parts and panels, cab corners/rockers for these trucks but I see a good running truck go for more than this guy is asking around here in GA all the time.

 

Just for rounded numbers.. talk em down to $1500.. that extra $100 is probably on the wanted add for that very purpose.

[Bowtieman90]

Thank you for the advice! It has the usual rust over the rear fenders and the bottom of the doors, but I don't plan on making it a show truck. I am just wanting a beater type truck that I can make look decent and haul some wood in at the same time.

[darkfox1]

how equipped is it? factory air? tilt? cruise?

 

if its a well equipped truck it may be worth more than if its just a "work truck."

 

Course.. the more options you have the less likely they are to work. Those old power windows were well made, but the motors would wear out over time. (my dad's 86 used to take about 30 seconds to close the window on the driver side before we finally replaced the motor. )

 

I've seen some trucks with almost no rust that are BASE C20s go for closer to $1000 around here in running condition. having the K designation adds a lot of value around here, cos everyone wants a 4wd.... unless its a short bed, then you can get folks looking to make sport/muscle trucks out of em.

 

I've seen 86 K10 SWB trucks here go for $4600 in fair condition.

 

I've been "looking not looking" for a good k10/20 project truck for years now so I keep my ear to the ground.

[Bowtieman90]

 

Here is a picture of it

[darkfox1]

Looks like its got a lift.

 

Doors and cab look pretty rough.

 

bed doesn't look like it matches.

 

doesn't look like a high trimmed or well cared for truck.

 

Eh... I'd try to talk em down.

 

 

Is that a dent in the bed side? I look at older trucks as the combination of parts basically, what are you REALLY getting.

 

Is the bed solid? Cab is "shot" to me, but here in GA its very easy to find a later cab with literally no rust in it, so having to deal with holes isn't common. Cabs worth about $200 to me with a good title, might be more like $400 nowadays.. I used to part trucks as a hobby fund back 10 year ago. front fenders look good. Inner fender is probably shot on the battery side, thats normal. engine/tranny is worth $500 in good condition, with T-case its worth ??? $600-700? LWB bed.. $350? rolling K20 frame.. if they're 3:73 axles and/or the rear locks you're looking at $100 each in good condition.. (these prices are obviously subject to the area, demand, and condition..)

 

so you can part it and make money on $1600, but as a driver you're NOT planning to gut.. I'd try to get closer to $1200. 4wd is still a good feature but the doors/rockers look worse than I thought.

[Bowtieman90]

Also, I have a best friend that owns a body shop so all I have to pay for is materials. Like I said though, I'm just wanting a good Ole work truck. I'll try to talk him down. I figured the wheels and tires are worth 600 at least

[darkfox1]

Oh yea.. I forgot about those. I tend to ignore the rims on a project truck so long as the tires have air in them.

 

You're right, those add a few hundred.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

That truck makes me wish my 1st truck/vehicle would have been a 4x4 so I could have kept it for a mud truck. It was an 86 Chevy Custom Deluxe C10 regular cab and long bed. I sold it in early '04 for $1,500 with a straight body, but it also didn't have a stereo or factory A/C, no A/C at all other than the vent windows. It also had around 300,000 miles on it. It was also the truck I learned how to drive a stick on.

 

Anyways, that truck for $1,600 even though it has some body problems as long as the body is still strong I say it's worth it, especially having less than 100,000 miles on it.