83 359 pete good idea/bad idea-good bad idea

One thing about those big cams, they are the cheapest engine I can think of to rebuild. I priced an inframe kit and heads a couple of years ago, you could still get cummins parts for 3 grand or just a few wbucks over, and a whole set of injectors cost about as much as one late model one. lol

 

Your lucky you can do the work yourself...... it’s dam near impossible to have someone else do the work....(cost wise)

 

This is true. All part of the awesomeness of the Cummins big cam.

 

Man them 359s make the baddest show trucks

 

Every one wants a long hood, standard hoods can look just as cool with some time and money spent, I personally like old trucks, even at 10k you should be able to get whatever money you put into it back out of it, done over 359s are starting to bring some coin, once you go through it, they will be as reliable (probably more) then a new truck

 

If that's the truck that you always wanted, and you are aware of how much work it will be and how much money it will be and you're willing to do that, why not?

That's what this business really should be about. That you have the truck you really like and you really want and you did it.

And best of all, you'll have the Cummins big cam. It doesn't get better than that.

 

If you have to pay shop labor for most of the work, it is not even doable. A guy can get by doing everything and just farming out the biggest stuff that he can't do. I wish I was better at body work and could lay down a NICE paint job.
My problem with those old trucks, is I like upgraded rears and trannys, even if I stay with the old engine, but that can be done fairly cheap too, I just buy a parts truck every now and them.

 

Do it. ASAP!
Put some stripes on it.

 

A friend built an A model, a 77 iirc. He went all out including air ride cab and sleeper, freightliner rear suspension and later rears, All new wiring harness and complete new interior, New headache rack and 8 foot drom, an apu, brand new fuel tanks,nice boxes, yada and the list goes on. He did all he work himself but the paint, and told me he had 90 grand in it. The sad part is he never ran it, it sat in his shop several years before he passed away. His son offered it to me for 25,000, but decided to buy it himself, and still has it, which is fitting.