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I've been in the market for a 1st gen donor with no luck. I realize that our trucks are getting harder to find, but junk is still junk. I almost paid $4k for a '93 W350 club cab 5spd with 300k on it, what a mess. One of the previous owners destroyed the OE dash harness, the getrag needed overhauled, no good body panels, and the frame was rotted through!!! The only reason I even looked at it was because it was the only 1st gen that was within 2 hours and didn't have an $8000 price tag. Is this where the market has gone? I realize good stuff brings good money, but the price of scrap is way down.
Sadly, that's what I faced for 2 years while I looked for a donor for my Ramcharger.
Of course, as soon as I gave up and sold it, i found a couple for 2500 bucks with rotted frames.
You just have to gut it out and be patient, more patient than I am.........
Finally!!!! After much debating how I should attack the swap in my Original-Gen Crew I found a 91.5 1st gen. Typical rotten cab and front fenders, homemade bed, most electrical stuff broken, front main leaking, high mileage farm truck. However, it has a newer radiator, a recent professionally rebuilt IP, air conditioning (doesn't work but intact), smooth shifting Getrag, gray LE interior, new rear drums, refreshed PCM, good frame, and not a highly hacked up wiring harness. I plan to check the mains and rods while its out, and new seals, gaskets etc. Now I can finally start making a pile of parts.
I think I do. Even with 300k plus miles I got lucky with finding a seller tired of putting money in a project, because I got lots of new parts. I want to use the dash, wiring, HVAC, wipers, and maybe even power windows out of the donor. I know I'll have to rework the firewall for the HVAC and wipers and I have seen the Original-Gens with the OE grill and I/C and AC stuffed in behind. I like the look of the "Crawler Hauler" on the FourWheeler website, vintage sheetmetal and later dash, HVAC, and wipers.
I finally got the wheels turning on this project. I got the utility bed off and the stepside in the shop to remove broken fasteners and weld the front mounts on. It's going to sandblasting asap.
I've been debating on how to attack the driveline. Married vs Divorced transfer case as I have parts for either. I'll probably post this question in the 1st gen forum too, any input or experience is appreciated.
I finally got the wheels turning on this project. I got the utility bed off and the stepside in the shop to remove broken fasteners and weld the front mounts on. It's going to sandblasting asap.
You know, with all the patina look craze, and since that bed is the same overall condition and color......
That would be a seriously cool truck left with the old fire department lettering on it...........
I am seriously considering it. However the bed has some rust issues that need to be addressed. It will be getting blasted and primed to preserve it. I talked to a friend that owns a body shop, he said going to try to match the cab paint to do the bed in the same flat look.
