What's the first move?

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cobbisbobobbis

Junior Member
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Jul 17, 2025
Posts
13
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14
Location
California
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
GMC C25
Engine Size
454
Hello, I'm new to the forum! So I've been looking at this 1973 GMC C25 Camper Special (454/400) to purchase as a daily, I probably am going to buy because I got a good price for it. From what I can tell there's one small patch of rot on the passenger side fender, the rest of the rust is very much surface stuff. I am going to look at it more very soon, closely at the frame, the steering box area and underneath the battery tray. When I buy this truck should I do anything other than check the suspension components, brakes, oil change and check the other fluids? Just want to know, I know the owners at the moment have bought quite a few new parts for it and have kept it maintained it's whole life.
 

fast 99

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Location
Spokane, Washington
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
How many miles, was it stored outside? It's very likely every rubber part is dry rotted. That wouldn't scare me off provided the price was reasonable. Just be aware of what is ahead.
 

cobbisbobobbis

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2025
Posts
13
Reaction score
14
Location
California
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
GMC C25
Engine Size
454
How many miles, was it stored outside? It's very likely every rubber part is dry rotted. That wouldn't scare me off provided the price was reasonable. Just be aware of what is ahead.
Yes it was unfortunately, rubber as in seals for the glass?
 

cobbisbobobbis

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2025
Posts
13
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Location
California
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
GMC C25
Engine Size
454
How many miles, was it stored outside? It's very likely every rubber part is dry rotted. That wouldn't scare me off provided the price was reasonable. Just be aware of what is ahead.
Oh and also it has 76,000 on the odometer I believe, it's probably 176,000 because the transmission got rebuilt recently.
 

Chevy 88

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Location
Canada
First Name
f7t6
Truck Year
1988
Truck Model
GMC
Engine Size
350
Attach link to sellers listing and we can sort it out from there. Feel free to crop out what ever info you want, but the price, description and pics are paramount.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
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Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Welcome from Missouri.
 

Sad Sack

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Nebraska
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Goober
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C15
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305
:welcome: ...from Husker Country! Test drive it and if it stops that's a good thing if it don't, ignore the sellers crying.
 

fast 99

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Brian
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Engine Size
350
Yes it was unfortunately, rubber as in seals for the glass?
Suspension has rubber parts, seals everywhere, fan belts, brake hoses, ect. Not trying to discourage a purchase, just be sure to check it out thoroughly. Unless rebuilt at some point every front suspension part will be worn out with 175k miles.
 

cobbisbobobbis

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2025
Posts
13
Reaction score
14
Location
California
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
GMC C25
Engine Size
454
Attach link to sellers listing and we can sort it out from there. Feel free to crop out what ever info you want, but the price, description and pics are paramount.
It's not a post, my co-worker's family is trying to get rid of it and he thought of me first. I have pictures of it that I will attach with this post
Welcome from Ohio
Thank you!
Welcome from Missouri.
Thank you as well!
:welcome: ...from Husker Country! Test drive it and if it stops that's a good thing if it don't, ignore the sellers crying.
That's the plan!
Suspension has rubber parts, seals everywhere, fan belts, brake hoses, ect. Not trying to discourage a purchase, just be sure to check it out thoroughly. Unless rebuilt at some point every front suspension part will be worn out with 175k miles.
Yeah absolutely, I'm sure they are and I'm prepared to put money into the suspension
 

xm20k

Runs on 93 octane, caffeine, and spite
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Location
Girard, Ohio
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David
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
388
Play with all the switches and knobs see if there's anything that doesn't work ie. wipers, washer, heater settings, if it has the auxiliary tank flip the switch back and forth see if you can hear the solenoid click. Will give you an idea of any items that may need repaired right away rather than buying it and find out the first time it rains the wipers don't work or there's an issue with the blower motor or like in my case a full tank of gas you can't switch too.
 

Camar068

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Air Force Supporting Member
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Location
Kentucky
First Name
David
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K10/LM7 5.3/4L60e/np208/3.73/32"
Engine Size
10 yrs Air Force
Driveline and frame (flex at the steering box) is all I would be worried about with your description. If the cab is fine except the corners and the bed floor is fine you should be fine.....again if like you said it's a steal. Fenders, doors, rocker panels, and complete bedsides can be had.....complete bedsides being the most expensive.

Of course you can weld in patch panels on the above mentioned items.
 

ali_c20

Supporting Member
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Sep 20, 2016
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Location
Austria
First Name
Alexander
Truck Year
1974, 1979
Truck Model
C20, K5
Engine Size
350, 350
Welcome from Austria. If it runs, drives, stopps and has no cracked frame go for it.
 

GTX63

Full Access Member
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Location
Tennessee
First Name
Ty
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
If you can daily drive a 1973 C25 with minimal investment after the purchase, that is a pretty rare find.
 

cobbisbobobbis

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2025
Posts
13
Reaction score
14
Location
California
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
GMC C25
Engine Size
454
Here's the photo's
 

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