C4 Corvette?
 

I've got a 1968 Chevy truck sitting in storage doing nothing.

A guy wants to trade a 1989 Corvette for it. Needs a heater core, and it spent some time in Hawaii.
1989 sure isn't the best year for Corvettes, and this one has obviously been around the block.

For any Pelicanheads more knowledgeable than I:

Are these pretty easy DIY cars, or more difficult to maintain?

How hard is the Hawaiian climate on cars? Does the salty air cause corrosion?

The truck:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1476152773.jpg

The Corvette:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1476152816.jpg

That truck is worth at least 2x what the car is worth. Find a 30 year old kid with a beard and suspenders and sell it. Use the money to buy something besides a 1989 corvette.

+1 ...Of all the Corvettes, that is probably the worst generation to own. Heavy, underpowered, cheap plastic interior POS

Nothing wrong with the car being here if it was cared for. The salt air is a factor, but it also depends where the guy lived. My house is a block off the ocean and we get salt spray 24/7. My '10 Mini has sat outside since new and shows no corrosion. The same goes for my '08 Boxster and '06 Murano.

If you are worried about corrosion, on the Corvette, just pop the clamshell and the chassis should be exposed.

If it were me, I wouldn't trade. I had a C3 Vette and while they are fun, it is no Porsche. Corvettes of that era creak and can develop cracks in the fiberglass.

It's just a long bed truck, make the trade,

flexi flyer. Take that vette over some uneven pavement and the domelights will flicker from the doors going in and out of alignment.

Had a Z51 6 Speed, a 90. Easy to work on tho.

Old trucks are getting to be pretty valuable Dean, especially if they are clean 3/4 ton, as that one looks to be.

Sell the truck, buy something you are interested in having.

OK, sell it and buy a half ton short bed. but it will cost you.

Come on man, if you don't know a market, don't comment. Old trucks draw a pretty penny these days. C4 vettes....not so much.

agree. that clean old truck is a million times more desirable than that 'vette.

Im surprised at how cheap they are. My buddy just bought an anniversary edition in decent shape for 6k. Nice car for the money. Plastic fantastic .

Long bed trucks are way more useful than short beds, unless yer a poser.

Love the truck, always wanted one.

A neighbor sold a ~89 very nice vette for ~6k, very low miles and pampered FWIW.

no comment on the trucks options ?
or that does not matter any more ?
a 68 could have anything from a stove bolt 6 to a 427
stick or slush box
any power/ B , S, W, or AC ?

likely the truck makes more HP then the vett if a 327

I owned a 1996 C4 Vette.

I would take that C20 truck any day of the week over that Vette.

Trade? As Frankie would say: Don't do it.

Thanks for all the comments. Short-bed trucks are worthless to me as I use trucks as.... Trucks!
Not uncommon to carry sheets of plywood or sheetrock. Drop the tailgate and long stuff lays flat.

The current trend is to cut down long beds into short beds. Kinda like when it was popular to "upgrade" long-hood 911s into a platypus. No thanks.

Most of these trucks are either rusted out junk worth $1000-1500, or restored show trucks going for $20,000+.

Took my a while to find this one. Bought it from the original owner's son. The plan was to swap in all new running gear. An LS-based engine, overdrive tranny, disc brakes, and paint it a different color. I'm a sucker for Hugger Orange, which is indistinguishable from Porsche's Tangerine.

Then I find out the Gold/White combo was a 1968 50th Anniversary special edition, and this one dropped into my lap:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1476198341.jpg

which is what I'm driving now. Hugger Orange and disc brakes from the factory.

Kinda fun when loading something at Home Depot and have guys with $50,000 Silverados and F-250s tell me what a cool truck I've got.

I have no need for two trucks, but it's hard to find one of these that is so original and rust-free as the '68.

Had a long phone call with the Corvette's owner. It definitely needs a bit of TLC. I may go look at it, but I'll probably let the gold truck sit and do nothing for a little while longer.

corvette
 

Here is your answer, leave the vette,that year for sure,
electrics, emission adjustments,front suspension,and many other
items to much to mention.The 68 great truck especially 68 ,one of the
best front end grill designs by Chevrolet, and prices rise by at least $500 to $800
a year.

i bought my '67 GMC truck for 800. sold it for 10000.
i drove it for 28 years.
it's now worth around 20000.
i sold it back to the original owner's son.: )

I'm liking the look of your gold and white truck.
Is it four wheel drive? 3/4 ton?

If you are thinking of moving it on, you might look at the vintage trailer world.
Many there are into period tow vehicles. And have an appreciation of stout classics .

Airforums has a classified section, that may put you in a good market.

Unless you are really interested in that corvette, you may be able to go looking for what you do want.

Cheers Richard

The biggest issue with C4 IMHO is the 4+3 transmission. Dropping in a 5 speed is not a simple bolt in operation. I guess if you want an auto, it doesn't matter....

If you want a Vette, sell the truck and step it up to the C5.

G

1988 was the last year for that.
Starting in 1989, the manual was a ZF "real" 6-speed.

I am pretty sure I have a clue, it's a long bed, so I guess you farm guys use them but hot rod types like the short bed, because, they just look better. And I haven't seen anyone cut the frame on a long bed to make a short bed. It's just easier to find the short bed. and cheaper than cutting the frame and changing the wheel base

You obviously haven't spent any time on the pelican equivalent for Chevy trucks.

As often as "What oil is best" here, are threads about the best way to cut/re-weld the frame. "Best" is a particular Z-shaped cut. There are aftermarket splices now available.

Another common post: "The seller told me this was a factory shorty, but I found where the frame has been cut. Boo-hoo".

By the way, the proper proportions: Take 12" out in front of the wheel arches, 8" behind. Shortys are 20" shorter than the standard 8' box. No big deal to have a drive shaft shortened by a foot.

Me? I use all eight feet on a regular basis. No interest in show trucks.

You are correct, I never visited that site. I have never been interested in cutting one and don't know anyone that did. If I wanted a short bed I would find one, the only PU s I have had are short bed.

+1.

That's why the factory makes so many options with full-size trucks. Shortys look nice, and are easier to park, but are too limiting for what I do.

Get a new four-door long bed truck, and you pretty much need a pilot car front & rear in a parking lot. No thanks.
My only trucks are regular cab, long bed. Its what works best for me.

I did buy a extra cab short bed to drive to Costa Rica, I was looking for two tanks and four wheel drive. If a chevy it would be V8 but if a ford it would be a straight six. I found a very nice Ford six five speed and it worked very well for the trip. Other than that, my other three chevy pu s and my other ford were short bed. I don't haul anything I need the bigger bed for. I have been thinking of another truck though and have still only looked at short beds. I think they have better resale.

I've never liked the C5. They are a far superior car than the C4 mechanically, but between the bulbous nose and fat tail, they are not an attractive looking car.
I remember looking at a new 1991 Corvette on a dealer's turntable. That was the year they freshened up the C4, and I thought "I have to have this car!"
Oh, the wishes of a youngster with no money in his pocket.

Maybe I should just forget it. A C6 trounces both the C4 and C5.

Dantilla - I'm jealous. Your '68 PU truck is my alma maters colors - Gold/White - Ga Tech!