May be buying K5 tomorrow (Sunday), quick question...

[kevine001]

Taking cash and driving one of these home tomorrow...

1970 with rebuilt 350 (no paperwork, but appears rebuilt). Has 350 trans, original hugger orange paint (appears repainted with adequate paint job), original seats and rear looks brand new. Full (square) roll cage. Some minor rust and needs sway bars

1971 with crate 350 and rebuilt 350 trans; needs paint job, but no rust. Has early 90s seats; no roll cage.

Prices are about the same. Not looking for a show truck, but a nice weekend truck with some issues that will give me some things to do, but mainly cruising with family.

Thoughts or recommendations on which one without actually seeing either?

[hopped up]

How does an engine look rebuilt? Just because it's painted doesn't mean any thing!
I always go for no rust! Mechanical stuff is much easier and cheaper than bodywork

[underliner6]

Originally Posted by hopped up

How does an engine look rebuilt? Just because it's painted doesn't mean any thing!
I always go for no rust! Mechanical stuff is much easier and cheaper than bodywork

I agree! The rust cancer spreads quick and is a pain to repair. I say go for the 71

[asolde]

Stay away from rust

[Tom Vogel]

Rust is expensive. Depends on what you want to spend, but if it was me, I would be patient and make sure it was what I wanted.

[71swb4x4]

I agree with the others, rust is going to be the big thing.

[richard2717]

The 71 will have disk brakes up front I think the 70 will be drum

[truckster]

I agree with the others on no rust, but I've seen a lot of trucks advertised as "no rust" where I could see daylight through the sheet metal.

[kevine001]

Thanks for the responses...I went and saw the '70, and it did have some minor rust (very minor), but it had a lot of leaks, oil, transmission and power steering unit. Had some small stuff, but not worth what he was asking.

I've now gotten enough pics of the '71, all metal work has been done and crate 350 is very clean, so is undercarriage. Has one small leak from the trans/diff, but I think it's because it's over filled, as the leak appears to be coming from a bolt in the center of the diff, not the seal around it. I'd go look at it today and likely buy it, but I can't find anyone to ride shotgun....

Anyone in the LA area want to hang out with another K5 enthusiast for a couple hours and look at a K5? Lunch on me!!!

[kevine001]

BTW, thank you very much for the comments. It is much appreciated, as I've been waiting a long time for the $$ and the wife's permission (not sure which is harder to obtain)...and now I can pull the trigger on my K5.

[richeilers]

Waiting on the pics......

[kevine001]

Here's a pic from the CL ad

[Chulisohombre]

Yeah go On the 71. The 70 if it has no
Paperwork on the engine you have no clue what it is or who built it. The crate engine is a solid start and sounds like has a lot less problems. You're in Cali do not usually a ton of rust to worry about. If the 70 has rust then the cancer had already hit it and it will cost a lot more to rebuild it when the time comes. Sounds like the 70 has a lot more minor issues to deal with as well. If I had to do Over again I'd save more money and buy the best least rusted one I could find.

[richeilers]

that 71 looks like a good start

[kevine001]

ok, both the 70 and 71 had issues. the '71 looked like everything done on it was done by a bunch of guys in the garage with too much beer and not enough know how. they rattle canned the undercarriage rust with black paint! no go

[burb630]

I looked at the ad for the '71 and it looked rough and to "non original" for the price. It looked like it was pieced together from multiple sources and like you stated, from garage mechanics with a lot of beer in the belly.

If you don't mine traveling for one look up in the Oregon/Washington state area. They seem to be priced pretty decent in that area. I like mine more original needing work than pieced together from multiple trucks.

Just a thought.

[Chulisohombre]

Sucks neither was worth the effort. Keep looking. You don't want someone else's hack job. I was just going off your description. Never looked at the add. Youll find the right one for you. I know it's frustrating though when you want one so bad. Like I said I wish I would have had more knowledge and waited on oñe in better shape. But I was young and dumb and just wanted it so bad I didn't care how much work I had to put in. You live and learn as they say.