Dont Know If Its Worth It?

tileking13 · January 9, 2009

My grandfather says he'll give me his 1984 Chevrolet 2500 utility bed truck! The truck has been sittin for a good 8 years or so. But it ran great when he parked it. Are these good years to rebuild and keep in use as a work horse??? It's got barely 100,000 miles on her, it the fully loaded power everything model. The truck looks to be in solid shape minus the faded paint. He lives in palm springs-california, so rust is not an issue, but the sun has taken a tole on the dash and seats . Is there anything bout this model truck i should worry about??? Anything i should replace or rebuild for sure before putting in service again??? It has the 5.7 350 w/automatic.

dietz4ibanez · January 9, 2009

My grandfather says he'll give me his 1984 Chevrolet 2500 utility bed truck! The truck has been sittin for a good 8 years or so. But it ran great when he parked it. Are these good years to rebuild and keep in use as a work horse??? It's got barely 100,000 miles on her, it the fully loaded power everything model. The truck looks to be in solid shape minus the faded paint. He lives in palm springs-california, so rust is not an issue, but the sun has taken a tole on the dash and seats . Is there anything bout this model truck i should worry about??? Anything i should replace or rebuild for sure before putting in service again??? It has the 5.7 350 w/automatic.

Its definitely worth tinkering with!!! I mean I would jump on that and get it!!! IMO

You should do a Carb rebuild on that Rochester assuming that its stock... I think that it will be the Quarda-jet 4 barrel but it could be 2 barrel... And of course Cap n rotor, spark arrest sensor(if equipped) spark plugs and wires. Oil Change of course! and check all your gaskets... Make sure that its got Anit-freeze.. Should be good to go!

Hopefully it runs with little work!

bflat · January 9, 2009

hey Seth,

Think that is a great deal to get a ride like that. Like Chevanater said, DO REPLACE all that jazz, and look at all your hoses, belts, and most important, BRAKE LINES! Picked up a ride in KY that had been setting in a barn for 5 years. Even in the barn, the hoses, and lines dry rotted, that was an easy fix, I forgot to check the brakes though when I got it running. The lines had bad leaks! made it to the drive way, and on the way down, the brakes went out! That was the longest drive ever! I bought my wife a new Mini because she didn't like her old one with the 92 one ton Ford attached to the ass end.

Good Luck!

Jason

grampadirt · January 9, 2009

Hell yes it's worth fixin' up.Look around for a regular longbed to replace the utility bed.While you have the utility bed off it'll be easier to replace any bad hoses,brake lines etc.Go to LMCTruck.com for all the stuff you'll need inside the cab..they have it all..I sure wish I still had my '77 GMC (son wrecked it recently).

tileking13 · January 9, 2009

I actually just order my LMC catalog!!! I love workin with cars and trucks, plus my other grandfather has a huge shop where we can rebuild it at. I really think its gonna turn out to be a great work truck i hope

pennzoil29 · January 9, 2009

That truck sound's like fun to me. I use to enjoy rebuilding the old carb's. They took away my fun when they started using sensor's and shit. Just do like the other guy's said, and replace belt's, hoses, etc. Have fun.

ALange · January 9, 2009

That truck sound's like fun to me. I use to enjoy rebuilding the old carb's. They took away my fun when they started using sensor's and shit. Just do like the other guy's said, and replace belt's, hoses, etc. Have fun.

Resurrecting an old truck is fun and rewarding. Beware of stale gas in the tank. I'd drain and flush the tank straight away as well as all the other fluids. The Rochester is easy to rebuild and a great carb. Change the float while you are at it and pay close attention to the float level setting. How about some pictures of before, during, and after?

Mike G · January 9, 2009

One little thing that I do also when reviving an old vehicle... Pull the coil wire and crank on the motor until the pressures come up (oil, fuel and trans). That way you do not end up with a sudden dry start on the motor. If you change the plugs, I would also shoot a little spray in the holes, just to do a little pre-lube.

--Mike

tileking13 · January 10, 2009

Thanks for the replies! I am glad you guys mentioned the carb, i was wondering about that! I'll take a close look at the floats when i rebuild it! Once i pick the truck up ill get pics up!

dietz4ibanez · January 10, 2009

Cool cant wait to see photos of it!!!

grampadirt · January 10, 2009

Thanks for the replies! I am glad you guys mentioned the carb, i was wondering about that! I'll take a close look at the floats when i rebuild it! Once i pick the truck up ill get pics up!

You mentioned you're gonna be pickin' up the truck in Palm Springs....where you drivin' from?

tileking13 · January 11, 2009

Thanks for the replies! I am glad you guys mentioned the carb, i was wondering about that! I'll take a close look at the floats when i rebuild it! Once i pick the truck up ill get pics up!

You mentioned you're gonna be pickin' up the truck in Palm Springs....where you drivin' from?

Im driving from sacramento! Im having trouble actually renting a trailer that will tow this truck. U-haul says that truck is to heavy??? I have a 03' Duramax that im gonna pull it home with, but i cant get a trailer to tow it! Any ideas as to where i could rent one???