Quote:
Originally Posted by jmon1123
Thanks for stopping by my post, I’m a 16 year old looking to buy a squarebody for my first. From working on a farm and doing landscaping, I’ve made about $4800. I’ve found a 69 C20 Longhorn about 3 hours out from where I live, so if I go down to take a look, I wanna be sure I have the knowledge to make the right call and have an idea of what I’m getting myself into. I guess I’m trying to put together a checklist/ buyers guide.
Here is a link to the truck page: https://bend.craigslist.org/cto/d/19...690085385.html
If you’ve got any spare time, I’d really appreciate all the chevy wisdom I can get. If you know any other 2 tone (preferably a brighter color scheme) for around $2500 or less, I’d also love to see. Thank you, have a nice day  |
Welcome Aboard neighbor! Do a search for rust repair in the search box above and be sure to check the 67-72 box. There you will find lots of photos of the common rust prone areas. Some are not too tough to deal with and others are more involved repairs.
Be sure to start the engine stone cold (beware of sellers who warm the vehicle up for you). Then get it nice and hot and restart the truck. This will help detect common carburetor issues.
Look for wiring that has been cut and patched with lots of crimp connectors. Especially under the dash. Inspect the fuse block for corrosion.
Check the color of the engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and if possible the rear end lube. If your not sure how to check these YouTube will be helpful.
If you have a voltmeter check the voltage before starting and RPM both running at idle and about 2000 RPM to see if the charging system is operating as it should be.
Loud clunks and rattles going over bumps are a sign that the suspension is worn. The truck should stop straight under firm braking.
The transmission should shift smoothly and not pause or delay on gear changes. If possible coast down a hill at 40-50 mph and listen for rattles or vibrations that weren't there while cruising.
Plan on replacing the alternator, water pump, master and wheel cylinders soon after purchasing if the truck has sat for couple of years or more. These are likely to fail.
I'm sure that others will chime in. There is a lot to cover especially if it is your first truck. I recommend making a check off sheet to refer to once your looking at the truck. And when you get there actually look at it. Don't be afraid to ask questions and doubt what you may be told. If possible I find that sleeping on the decision to buy can keep from getting caught up in moment. These trucks are fairly common to find around these parts. So there is no need to buy the first one you see.
Luckily for you there are some good local sources for new and used parts as well as the internet. Longhorns are not very common as they were only built for a short period. That doesn't necessarily make them worth more but they are truly cool to some of us.
Good luck!