RamblinRover/TheBloody advice needed

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux)
12/04/2014 at 10:05 • Filed to: None

OK so I went to look at this truck roughly 14 months ago when it had 45K miles on it. It is creeping up to 60 now, and never sold for the owner. Probably because he was looking for offers in the 5-6000$ range, which was utterly laughable (he said to make offers, no price suggested). I offered him $1300 due to the issues I have listed below last year, he wrote me to say $1500 and it is mine yesterday. It is a 5 speed Range with a beautiful cloth interior. But is it worth the $13-1500 or should I let it continue to rot into the ground. The list is large, and may have gotten larger. I can however Antique plate it and just drive the piss out of it without inspection

From my email back to him last year

"I think I will take a pass on that one unless it comes down to around $11-1300. If it wasn't a stick with nice cloth it would be a $500 truck. If it gets to that price point keep me in mind. What it needs:

Drivers side inner and outer rocker panels need replacement.

Passenger side inner rocker needs replacement

Drivers side floor pans need replacement

3 body mounts need replacement

All brake lines and hoses need replacement, possible master cylinder rebuild required

Hole in right rear door jamb

Carburetor leaks vacuum and needs rebuild, non-original (edelbrock, possibly too high CFM)

HVAC switches need replacement

Fuel tank needs to be removed and cleaned inside and out

Rust on hood and tailgate

Rust on tops of C and B pillars where roof is welded in place

Windshield gasket dry and shrunken

Window electricals need work

Engine leaks oil (they all do though, yours was one of the better ones I have seen, probably due to mileage)

Tires dry rotted

Rims are rare but corroded

Various body dents"

DISCUSSION (23)

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:12

Kinja'd!!!

My God, do I want this!!!

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:13

Kinja'd!!!

So many hoses and cables. SBC anyone??

area man > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:13

Aren't the 5-speeds really rare over here? Or am I mistaken.

505Turbeaux > area man
12/04/2014 at 10:14

most of the grey market ones are 5 speeds I have seen, I know of 5-6 around

505Turbeaux > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
12/04/2014 at 10:14

no doubt. Cloth and a stick!

TotallyThatStupid > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:16

$1000 parts donor, $1250 if you absolutely have to have it. Buy it, strip it, flush the rusty dilapidated carcass. Hoard the parts for a nicer example.

Think 5-speed 1995 County LWB.

Kinja'd!!!

505Turbeaux > TotallyThatStupid
12/04/2014 at 10:16

yeah, that is one idea for sure

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:17

My first, unthinking response on rocker panel rust:

Kinja'd!!!

My more reasoned response: it's a shame that body steel for these isn't as easy to play with as a Series. That being said, Paddock Spares is your friend, as exactly as I expected, they have All The Things for patch panels. Pretty big pieces for 45 pounds or so each, not including shipping, so if you see welding in your future, it isn't as insurmountable as it would seem. I am glad to see the engine compartment is not RustLand, if it were, that would be another entry to the "no way in hell" ledger.

Also, a pristine interior, and a York a/c compressor? Fuck yes. Carb could be fiddly, but there's a lot available to do it right. Also, those are some very low miles. I think that 3.5 could easily run for another 40k or more before needing a cam or other work, and being a 3.5 (I assume) it won't be playing Silly Buggers where liners are concerned.

All in all, you've got enough there to fix with about $1500 and elbow grease into a $4000+ Rangie, but some of that elbow grease will completely suck. You could also combine with another $1300 Rangie with good metal... maybe, but I'd be more tempted to work with what's there. This looks more like a driver than a flip, TBH, and if you approach it that way and just fix little issues as they come while driving (after the rust, obvs) it should be quite nice.

I don't think $1500 is a ripoff, per se, the RRC is becoming very much A Thing, but may be quite a lot of effort to fix up, if not expense. It's all on how much you value your time.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:21

I'm with Stupid. I say tidy up the necessities, fuck fixing the rust, and drive it into the ground or until you find an example with a clean body and mechanical needs to swap things in to.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:21

The trick with a county is that not all the interior parts match up, I don't think, and the countys have an issue that the mild facelift caused - the radiator hose setup encourages overheating.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TotallyThatStupid
12/04/2014 at 10:22

It's surprisingly cheap to unrust them, but it's down to how much time he wants to spend doing that.

505Turbeaux > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
12/04/2014 at 10:23

Yeah the carb I dont really care about, parts at advance auto for that thing, which is a plus. I am always working on something, and I just sold 4 projects so I am slightly idle. This runs, drives, and can be just pounded out through the winter with no work, then handles spring/summer time. I am tempted to take another drive down to make sure it hasnt deteriorated much further. I asked what had been done since I last saw it and all I got back was, it is $1500, do what you want. which is sort of cagey but whatever

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > 505Turbeaux
12/04/2014 at 10:23

Seems like all of the issues are due to it being a Yankee car. Bring it down south and it will thrive. especially with that bonkers simple engine and transmission setup. Gawd I wish I could afford to scoop this up and had mechanic friends to help me start working on it to great condition. Seriously, you're looking at maybe 5k investment to fix the rust and other issues if you DIY or at least source your own parts and don't take it to the stealership.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
12/04/2014 at 10:27

He can actually get about all the rust replacement panels he needs for under $500, probably. Paddock Spares in the UK has all that.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
12/04/2014 at 10:27

He can always get it, make it drivable, and decide whether to fix the rust later.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
12/04/2014 at 10:34

Well, yeah, if you don't mind the front end weighing 150lb+ more and having just enough power to break the trans without being terribly useful. /negativism

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
12/04/2014 at 10:36

Or what about an older Chevy SBC (read not LSx) so you can double carb it and keep the simplicity?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
12/04/2014 at 10:41

Nope. Quad Webers on the existing Rover. Quad carb it, and to hell with simplicity.

Kinja'd!!!