I am looking into selling my 95 Jeep Wrangler daily driver and replacing it with a early 60's truck. I found two that I am pretty serious about but need some out side input. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> <o></o> Truck 1 is a 62 Ford F100 Unibody long bed small back window with a 292 and a 4 speed. It has 77,000 miles, the owner had it painted red a few years ago and had the seat redone. It is all stock and if it matched what the owner says it should be a great truck. It is 7 hours from home so there is some expense to get it here. The price is just under $3000<o></o> <o></o> Truck 2 is a 62 Chevy 1/2 ton long bed fleet side with a small back window, 283 with three on the tree. All stock original paint with some surface rust on the hood. The truck is not rusted thru in all of the typical areas for this truck. Price is under $4000<o></o> <o></o> Pros and cons for each truck would be greatly appreciated. I will post picture later.<o></o>
smallblock chevy parts are quite a bit cheaper and easier found than 292 parts when it comes to being a daily driver.
That is what I am thinking. Although I've noticed pickups in the mountain states seem to be a bit more pricey. I drive a 65 F100 with a 300 six as a daily driver. It has been nothing but reliable plus it was cheap ($650 bucks). I also had a 63 Ford F100 (not a uni) with a 292 and a four speed (picked it up for 450 bucks). It was reliable, gas mileage wasn't the greatest (around 14-17 mpg). However unlike a lot of other folks I think the Y-block ****ed. The valves never stayed adjusted, motor had more ticks than a crazy person's eye, parts aren't easy to find. It had very poor oiling. I found the racket, poor oiling, and magical valves that can't stay adjusted for more than a week were very common Y-block problems. The SBC is a much better motor. About the only good thing about a Y-block is the exhaust note (if you can hear it over the deafening clattering and ticking).
Well I'm a Chevy guy. The early '60s C-10 is a definate winner in my book. That said given my options and having cash in hand I would look at or get someone to look at both and buy the Ford. I think you are going to find that both are rusty when you get up close to them. That's just the nature of the beast.
Chevy. Closer to you, original paint, 283 motor. All pluses for me. Closer to you. No driving a long distance and being disappointed. Original paint. I get tired of bad body work. I prefer to buy a good original and repaint it myself. No surprises down the road. 283 is a nice motor in the pickup. I have a '65 with the 283 and 3 speed. All this and I am partial to Fords and Y-blocks. Neal
The ford would be easier to change out the rear end gears....the Chevy is probably better in most other aspects, aside from replacement front suspension parts being hard to find or expensive. But the 60-62 Chevy torsion bar/coil suspension gives a really nice ride compared to the ford's leaf springs.
thanks guys. going to try and look at the chavy tomorrow...take it for a spin. also will be looking at the ford on saturday since i will be 1 hour away from it for the weekend.
Im a big fan of the 62-63 chevy truck, I have missed the oportunity to buy one 4 times now. the 283 is a great motor parts for it are everywhere. as far as front suspension goes on this truck if i can recall the years correcctly anything from 60-87 is a direct bolt on on the front end of this truck which means you could go to a junk yard find some 80s c10 with disk brakes pop off the upper and lower a-arms with the spindle n brakes still attached and bolt it onto the 62 and you have disks up front. and these trucks look awesome slammed!
Went and looked at the Unibody on Saturday and it was a pile. It had a new paint job...from 30 feet away it still looked like ****. The poor Y block was barely running. I could tell that it was on it's last leg. It was knocking, ticking and shaking all over the place. Going to look at the Chevy again tonight. The guy came down below $3,000 and I think it will work. The 283 runs real good and the three speed shifts nice. All in all a good truck. I just want to double check the wiring on it. If it checks out good...I am going to get it. Thanks for all of your input and advice. Matt
Good! now come over here to lean the ins and outs. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/forumdisplay.php?f=6 They really are great trucks. Just modern enough underneath and old enough on the outside. Perfect
bought the 62 Chevy and have been driving it eveyday for the past three weeks. i will post some pics later when i get a bit more time.
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