Found a LHD 70 series truck (with pics). Need some advise. (1 Viewer)

[nickw]

Well, look what I found.
An old 70 series mine truck.
I know you folks down in Oz, find them all the time, but up here a left hand drive 70 series truck are rare like hens teeth.

It looks like an old mine truck from the Cominco mine.
Curious, what would a truck like this be worth fixed up in nice daily driver shape?
And what would you pay for a truck like this?

Here is what I know.
Body pretty much sucks.
Doors are okay, but fenders need a lot of work (just get new ones). Hood is really wavy.
Cab is okay, but needs floors. Roof is okay. Windshield frame might be savable.
Frame is good, but there is some rust on the mounts. Needs sandblasting and painting.

87xxxKMs. Not sure of year. It has a manual transfer case lever, so I am guessing that also means it has the 4-speed. (round shifter nob. H41 perhaps) I am guessing the year is a 1982 or so. Its diesel, so that means the 3b. I am also guessing its a 12v truck. Pretty basic inside for instruments, except for some old gauges that had been badly installed. 12v probably.

Inside its rough and dirty, but workable. Needs new seats (ripped up and non original) and door panels, and a few dash pieces. Rear leaf is broken. It was last insured Oct 05. So it probably still runs and drives. I am not interested in the generator, or drilling rig on the back. So if they will split it up, I would be interested.

I am thinking I would like to fix it up. Drive it for a while, and then sell it. A truck would be cool for a few years, but not really my thing long term. I am looking to downsize out of the 74 I have, and though this might be a good stepping stone.
What do you guys think? What would you pay for it? And what would it be worth in good driving shape fixed up?

I was thinking leaf over (or 2.5 lift), 33's, H55 and turbo. Plus a custom box etc...
I will post a pic below of what I would like. I was hoping to get it for $1000 or less. Then put a few more into it. Maybe be into it for $5-6K not including my time or anything. I figured it would then be worth around 10-12K? But thats just a guess.

Cheers,
Nick

the pics:

The front. Thats one beefy bumper. Notice the Toyota badge has been replaced.

Here is the side. Rockers are rusty, fenders are bad. Its been repainted. Used to be white. The tubing ended up being welded to the frame at the back.

You can see the drilling rig. Doors are okay, minus some missing paneling. It would need a new flat deck.

More rust and other stuff. Also notice the exhaust stack.

Front cab mount. Notice the bondo and fiberglass. Who knows whats under the fenders. It would need new fenders, hood, and rockers. The rest could be saved with some work.

Inner front fender. A little rough.

Sorry, the inside pic through the window didn't work out.

 

[nickw]

This is what I would like to turn it into. Something like Entarans.
Put my 33 inch mud terrains on. Build a box similar to what he has (with canvas back so I can sleep in it). Just have a little more lift, thus I was thinking leaf over (or 2.5 lift). A H55 would be nice. As well as a turbo. Fix everything else as I go, and hopefully end up with something like this. Just a nice clean daily driver and bush warrior. Not a show truck, but a nice truck.

I would do the work myself and with friends to save money.
Build bumper, box and everything myself.
What do you think? What is a truck like this worth here?
I was thinking $10-12K?
And do you think I could turn old blue above into this for $5000 or so?
(not including truck cost or rims+tires which I have already).

Cheers,
N.

 

[crushers]

look at my PZJ75 build and you will get an idea of the money and time you will be investing, it has a complete spread sheet in the thread...

75 series are cool trucks but not worth the cost to rebuild (and the PZJ had a decent frame to start with)

you will be into it for about $30,000 to do a decent job.

the firetruck conversion is already hitting the $13,000 just with removing the firetruck box and relocating the tank back under the cab where it belongs. no box, tires etc. i figure by the time the truck is complete it will be well over the $25,000 mark and that is starting with a perfect cab and chassis and interior.

depending on how extensive your refurbishing is will be the deciding factor...

cheers

 

[denis]

You either build it to your taste, or fix it simple for selling. Since you sound like you're willing to make some money on it don't do both IMO. You will waste some time and earn no money.

 

[lshobie]

You could buy it, buy a complete front clip and fenders, doors from G and S, buy the front end and rear end from G and S as well - just to save the messing around with the old rusty stuff. Get new springs and lift from them as well.

A new floor from ens is about 600 for the hzj75 model so that might fit. windshield frame is 1200-1500 new. The interior will bankrupt you as well as odds and ends.

In the end you will spend 20-30K and still have an old 3b powered truck. Don't do it.

Or, if you can get it for 1K then buy it for the registration alone. Then find a good mine truck with 1HZ and rebuild it - prefectly legal.

 

[crushers]

get it for $1000 and beat the s*** out of it...ummm ...er... i mean enjoy it to it's max...
then it is worth every penny...

 

[lshobie]

Awsome point wayne, 1k is a great deal on it the way it is.

 

[nickw]

Hmmm, sounds like way more that I am looking to spend.
Right now I am wanting to downsize. The 70 trucks are super cool, but not for me long term. My idea, was to get it, fix it, drive it for a few years, then move on. and hopefully put some money in my pocket to offset some other losses.
Sounding like that is not possible.

I will still go back and try and connect with the owner.
Still curious on how much they want for it.
Your right, for $1000 bucks it would be a blast.

 

[nickw]

Also curious guys, why will it cost 20K to get this thing going nice again?
I am not talking about total resto. I am thinking resto for daily driver.
I know cruiser_guy did his turbo 3B 55 series for way less.
It's not that I don't believe you. I do. You guys have done it before.

I was trying to add it up and it doesn't make sense.
I guess you guys probably though the same thing going in the first time too.

Also curious (for interests sake). What would a nice daily driver like this sell for?

Thanks,
N.

 

[lshobie]

Look at waynes thread on his PZJ and you will see. The big parts cost alot, and the small parts cost more - and you will need lots of them.

 

[Stumpalama]

Clearly you have it in your head to make a large sum of cash by buying this rig. I think you've already convinced yourself it would be cheap and not too difficult and would net you around $5k profit and now your looking for someone to validate your idea... I've been exactly in that same position. Albeit with a 1966 Land Rover Series IIA 109" Station Wagon. It was alot more than I bargained for and fortunately, I was able to sell it for what I paid for it. A couple other times I was convinced I had found a good project truck to clean up and flip. I talked it over with my Pops and he set me straight.
Bottom line: If you have a cruiser (or two) (time spent on restoing this 70 will take away time and $ from your other trucks... I know this too) and are looking to make some cash by fixing and selling one truck, you're almost guaranteed to lose money.
How much does a new cab cost? how 'bout the steel and fabwork for the trayback? There's 3/4 or more of your $5K.
I hope this helps...
I like the $1k and beat it idea Crushers put forth. Of course, that will grow into a project as well.

 

[nickw]

Clearly you have it in your head to make a large sum of cash by buying this rig. I think you've already convinced yourself it would be cheap and not too difficult and would net you around $5k profit and now your looking for someone to validate your idea...

Alright guys. I guess I was not being clear enough up top.
My idea was not to fix and flip for profit (with profit bieng primary goal).
My idea was to fix and drive for fun. I like the 70 trucks. But they are not my favorite - Troopies are my favorite. I would drive it, then sell in a few years when I want something else. The reason I was wondering what one is worth, is becuase I am curious what it would be worth later. I wouldn't want to throw money away on something thats not my dream rig. And yes, it would be nice not to come out ahead a but after all my work.

Also spending all this money to have a flat deck made, or this or that. I wouln't hire any one to do any of that. I used to be a blacksmith. My room mate is a blacksmith (and awesome fabricator), and other friend is a heavy duty mechainc, and another good friend is a body man. We have full shops. Hoists, plasma cutters, lots of welders, tubing benders, access to cheap still through the blacksmith shop etc....

The idea would be to do it myself and with friends, on the cheap. I wouldn't need to hire anyone else really. Now when you guys say I am going to be into it for $20K I believe you. In my head I can't see it going that high. But I have also not tackled something like this before (we usually build zuks). But Wayne and Louis and you guys have. I trust your experince (thats why I asked). Heck, even if I budget shop everything, source what I can out of Guatemala and have cruiser_guy bring it up. If I spent $10K it would still be more than I want.

So right now these are my thoughts.
If I can get it cheap and have fun with it I might.
As for resto, I will probably pass. I just wanted you guys to know where I am coming from.
Thank you very much for your advise guys. Thats what I wanted and asked for.

Cheers,
Nick.

Sorry: I don't want to come of sounding rude above. It's not my intent.

 

[denis]

It can be done for way less than the 5-figure numbers quoted above if you have the time.

 

[denis]

How much does a new cab cost? how 'bout the steel and fabwork for the trayback? There's 3/4 or more of your $5K.

give me a break, I built my hilux ute tray for maybe $150 in materials and some scrap steel I had laying around. He doesn't need to buy a new cab he can get away with welding the floor without a problem.

 

[nickw]

give me a break, I built my hilux ute tray for maybe $150 in materials and some scrap steel I had laying around. He doesn't need to buy a new cab he can get away with welding the floor without a problem.

Thats pretty much what I thought.
Fix the floor and rockers myself.
Maybe fix the hood. And find some used fenders for it.

Wire wheel the frame. POR15, paint. Clean up axles, and paint.
(Maybe find some used leafs from someone installing a lift).
There are a couple wreck 70s out there now. Visit someone with one and make a package deal for seats, and some dash pieces (nothing major, just the center stereo console), and a passenger door panel.

Build a flatdeck, and bumper.
Kinda why I was thinking $5000.
DIY turbo (lebaron)

Who knows.
I guess it depends what starts going wrong.
I might buy it for $1000 and drive it for awhile.
Then decide what I want to do, and how solid it is.
If its not great, I could probably flip it for $1000 (with reg), and if it is, I can decide what to do.

But for $1000 I can't loose.
Then go from there.

Cheers,
N.

 

[denis]

For 1K and if I had the cash I would already be on my way to picking it up. But then again I'm known for getting carried away buying some POS

 

[lshobie]

Sorry, I guess it's all relative - and depends on how you like your rig to look and run. I tend to go a little nuts on my rigs and do what is required, maybe it's because I'm a dealer. Anyway, buy that rig and have some fun!

 

[nickw]

For 1K and if I had the cash I would already be on my way to picking it up. But then again I'm known for getting carried away buying some POS

Thats just it as well.
Some things are just are not worth saving.
No point in throwing money away.

I don't think I will buy anything until my 74 is sold.
That will give me some time to think about it.
I still have to go back and get a price.

Cheers,
N.

 

[crushers]

do the forum a favor, go buy it, refurbish it and list EVERY $$$ you spend on it including your time, travel, materials and parts...when you hit $30,000 drop your jaw and see if anyone will pay you what you have into it...

go read the PZJ thread and you will get an idea, i did that one cheap...

 

[nickw]

do the forum a favor, go buy it, refurbish it and list EVERY $$$ you spend on it including your time, travel, materials and parts...when you hit $30,000 drop your jaw and see if anyone will pay you what you have into it...

go read the PZJ thread and you will get an idea, i did that one cheap...

Easy Wayne, I already said I believe you.
While I said, I thought I could do it for $5000 or so, I could very well be way, way wrong. You guys have done it before, thus why I was asking.

To be honest, I still don't understand why it would cost $30K, but thats okay.
Like I said, even 10K is more that I would spend. So its kinda a moot point.

I am not even sure if I will buy it.
Even for $1000, I still have to to think about it.
As is, its not what I want (I would want something like Entrans). And probably not worth me putting my $$ into.
I will have to think about it long and hard why my 74 sells.

Cheers,
N.