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Portland Swap Meet - Swap Meet Shoppin'One Man's Junk Is Another Man's Treasure From the December, 2010 issue of Custom Classic Trucks By Ron Ceridono
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A good swap meet is like a treasure hunt because you never know what you're going to find and one of the best events on the West Coast is held in Portland, Oregon, every April. Although the primary function of a swap meet is obvious, they also serve another purpose-they're a great indicator of the economics within the hobby as the basic concept of supply and demand couldn't be more evident. On that subject, we made a number of observations about the custom classic truck scene and some of them appear to be contradictory. Chevy C series are hot and the price for complete trucks is on the rise, while on the other hand Chevy parts are plentiful so they remain reasonable-go figure. As always, '53-56 Ford F-100s are desirable, although the price for complete trucks seems to have softened ever so slightly, and while later Fords are increasing in value the biggest jump in sticker prices was on F-1s. These haulers are really coming on strong and the price of parts reflects the demand, they're going up. Then there are the Dodges-while Mopar fans are loyal, they're small in number and we didn't see many trucks for sale and not much in the way of parts either. That means building something different, like a Mopar (or how about an International?) could be a challenge, but then it may be an inexpensive way to go and definitely set your ride apart. This '50 Ford F-1 had an asking... This '50 Ford F-1 had an asking price of $10K or obo and is a good example of a solid truck with a fair amount of work already done. Under the hood was a stock Flathead with the original trans hooked to a late 9-inch rearend. It had new wiring, interior, and brakes, the suspension was rebuilt with mono leafs all around. There's an old saying: "Let the buyer beware" and it must have been coined by someone who attended lots of swap meets. When hunting for parts come prepared and make sure you know exactly what you're looking at. We've actually seen few instances of a seller purposely identifying an item incorrectly. But just because someone says a part or piece is one thing doesn't necessarily mean it's not something else-they may not know. A case in point-one vendor was selling an intake manifold with three carbs that was said to be factory setup for a small-block Chevy. We knew there was never any such thing and what he had was for a 348. Out of curiosity we asked the seller for more information and he explained the tri-power set had been purchased years ago at another swap meet but since it was never installed he decided to part with it. After we, and several others, convinced the seller what the parts were the sign was corrected and shortly after the manifold and carbs went to a new home. While some misrepresentations are honest mistakes, others are not. There are those who will try to hide flaws; as an example, take a close look at parts in fresh primer, flat black from a rattle can hides a multitude of sins. Cheap at $1,200, this'66 Chevy... Cheap at $1,200, this'66 Chevy 3/4 ton had a selection of lumps, bumps, and scrapes along with rust here and there, but you often do get what you pay for. A truck like this could cost a lot to fix up, or it can remain just what it was advertised to be-a cheap work truck. When it comes to good buys, abandoned projects can be an absolute bargain. For one reason or another someone's dream of building a truck came to a halt and now it's got a For Sale sign hanging on it with a price far less that the value of the individual parts. For some recouping a portion of a lost investment is often better that letting it sit in the garage. Then there are projects for sale because they became someone's nightmare. It may be on the block because the builder got in over his head and made modifications that were ill advised he and didn't know how or couldn't afford to fix them. We've seen frames that have been butchered with horrific clips, chopped cabs that were crooked and worse and the owner wanted out. In some cases the project in question could be saved in others it was beyond help. In any case, when buying someone's stalled project look it over carefully to make sure you're not getting in over your head, and, most importantly make sure it has identification numbers and a good title. In most states today registering any vehicle without the proper paper trail and corresponding ID numbers can be difficult, if not impossible.  With a 327 under the hood,...  With a 327 under the hood, a Turbo 350, disc brakes, and Flowmasters this very presentable '70 Chevy short box was priced at $15.5K.  Lots of effort and a long...  Lots of effort and a long list of improvements and new parts came with this '68 Chevy Stepside. A 400 small-block with an Edelbrock carburetor and manifold, a Turbo 400 with a shift kit, a new radiator, even the heater motor was new. A factory tach, sport wheel, custom grille treatment, the addition of a '72 bumper with parking lights and fresh paint made the $13.5K asking price seem more than reasonable.  Considerable time and money...  Considerable time and money has been invested in this '53 GMC. There's a blown small-block Chevy under the hood backed by a Turbo 400 transmission and a 9-inch Ford rearend. Nice paint and interior make this truck hard to duplicate for the $39K asking price.  A work in progress, this '56...  A work in progress, this '56 F-100 has a 460 Ford under the hood, power steering, widened rear fenders, and an asking price of $8.4K. A few more bucks for dropped suspension components, new wheels and tires and you'd have a cool cruiser for reasonable money.  Equipped with a 305 V-8 and...  Equipped with a 305 V-8 and a four-speed, this '60 GMC had fresh paint and an unusual set of fender skirts. Asking price was $6.8K.  This may have been one of...  This may have been one of the best buys we found. A stone stocker, this one-owner '72 C10 was as original as they come and had complete records from the day it was new. With only a few minor blemishes, this truck is as nice as you're likely to find, and the vintage camper was included in the $9.5K asking price. For those interested in a... For those interested in a stocker, this '54 Chevy 3100 was probably priced below what it cost to bring it up to this condition. Said to be based on a rust-free original, from the powdercoated frame up everything had been rebuilt. Some updates included chrome wheels (original wheels and caps were included), 12-volt electrical system, and an 8-track tape player! We've always found that swap meets were great places to look for a finished truck as there are often bargains to be had. However don't let money burn a hole in your pocket-the trick is to shop carefully and make sure you're not going to want, or have to, make a host of changes to a finished vehicle. Minor tweaks are one thing but major changes can get out of control and become expensive very quickly so factor any alterations into the purchase price. And again, make sure to verify ID numbers. Now with that said we have to point out that when you do find a truck you want, don't hesitate. A good friend found the truck of his dreams and while he walked around thinking about it someone else made a deal and drove it home. At the last Portland event we found a ton of parts and a half-dozen trucks in conditions ranging from salvageable to show worthy we would have liked to haul home; but we were in a rental car so our capacity was limited. The 2011 Portland Swap Meet will be held April 1, 2, 3 at the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center and next time we'll be taking a truck and trailer-just in case.  Second series '55 Chevrolets...  Second series '55 Chevrolets are a valuable commodity-this one had excellent chrome, a very nice body and interior, and a 235-inch six cylinder and a three-speed manual trans and an asking price of $15.5K. You have to ask yourself a couple of questions when looking at a truck like this. Could you build one for the asking price? How much would you change and what would that cost?  With white paint, black wheels,...  With white paint, black wheels, and stock hubcaps this '59 Chevy Apache Fleetside was so subtle it probably didn't get the attention it deserved-that was until the owner fired it up and the twin pipes burbled.  Under the hood was a 235 with...  Under the hood was a 235 with twin carbs and split exhaust. Other updates included disc brakes and power steering. Asking price was $12.5K.  We didn't see many Mopars...  We didn't see many Mopars at this event although we did spot this '71 Dodge D-200 equipped with a 383 and TorqueFlite and wearing a $4,995 price tag. Truly tough trucks, this one was in nice shape and would make a great vintage hauler.  For little truckers this pair...  For little truckers this pair was available, would it be tacky to charge the neighborhood kids for a ride?  The second owner of this '64...  The second owner of this '64 F-100 was looking for $10.5K or trade. In the weeds, the Ford had undergone a Chevy350/350 engine and trans transplant.  If you're looking for the...  If you're looking for the unusual, how about a '60 Ford panel truck-there were only around 10,000 made and this was the last year for the fullsize version (the Econoline came out in '61). All original with a 292 V-8 and three-speed. The asking price for this one started at $9,900 and dropped to $8,500.  For those looking for an affordable...  For those looking for an affordable Ford project, this F-100 was said to be in running and driving condition for $1,700.  Or, for those with a big family...  Or, for those with a big family or lots of friends, how about a '57 Chevy Series 6700 school bus. It had the original 283 V-8 and four-speed, with a $12.5K asking price.  Careful shopping can turn...  Careful shopping can turn up some good buys on abandoned projects. This '56 Ford F-100 custom cab had a Volare frontend installed and came with a ton of parts-price was negotiable.  While it looks original, other...  While it looks original, other than the wheels and tires, this '50 Chevy pickup received a full mechanical restoration up to and including freshening the 216-cubic-inch six cylinder. While the $6K asking price probably wasn't out of line considering what had been done, most prospective buyers will probably want to scrap the six and update the running gear.  Need something in a relaxed...  Need something in a relaxed fit truck? This '42 Seagraves was looking for a home.  For those preferring something...  For those preferring something larger, this '70 Jeep/Kaiser 5-ton truck could have been yours for $12.5K. Notice how it dwarfs the Falcon wagon next to it.  Speaking of shopping carefully,...  Speaking of shopping carefully, this big-window Chevy had some good and some bad. Lots of goodies on a big-block, nice wheels and tires, a shiny bumper, and a chassis that showed promise but we'd want to see if the doors would come anywhere near fitting the hammered, firewall-less cab.  Need a good grille? We found...  Need a good grille? We found a bunch of them, and the inspiration for some cool swaps.  This savable '56 GMC hood...  This savable '56 GMC hood with surface rust was cheap at $25. For anyone with such a truck it was worth the price to have a spare, or how about punching it full of louvers and replacing a stocker for a fresh look.  For $100 this hood was worth...  For $100 this hood was worth buying for the trim we needed for an upcoming project. Unfortunately for us we were in a rental car, otherwise it would have had a new home.  We ran across several chopped...  We ran across several chopped pickup cabs, and while they are tempting if you're thinking of building something with a lowered lid, check the workmanship carefully. In particular the windshield posts should be inspected closely to ensure it's possible to fit glass.  We found what seemed to be...  We found what seemed to be a number of good buys on sheetmetal-the asking price on this pretty nice Chevy bed and fenders was $150.  We found a surprising number...  We found a surprising number of solid, bare cabs. Keep in mind the paper trail necessary to title a pieced-together truck. A title has to come from somewhere, based on serial numbers on something-either the body or the frame, depending on the vehicle.  In the same space we found...  In the same space we found a '58 GMC front clip with the grille. The fenders were nice and the bumper was even straight. Replacing wrinkled or rusted sheetmetal with something better will often save money in the long run.
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The Thinker??? - Haul Monitor
Ryan talks about the friendly badgering that goes on around the shop and overcoming obstacles that seemly pop up out of nowhere during a project....
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