Which one??

Dapper Dan · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:09 pm

I've been leaning toward an M880 long bed that I can make a Macho clone out of. Would you go with...

This one which is nearer and much cheaper but has a busted radiator.

Or:

This one which is farther and more expensive but purportedly has less than ten thousand miles! (Since it was a military/fire vehicle, the mileage isn't hard to fathom.)

From here to Charlotte is three hours. To Asheville it's about an hour and thirty minutes.

Or:

Should I be patient and wait on a real Macho?

Dapper Dan · **Posted:** Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:20 am

I contacted the owner of the second truck and asked for additional pictures. Would the body panels be too hard to find?

RumbleFish · **Posted:** Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:22 am

sounds like they both need a radiator, and maybe the camo one needs less overall. the way the first ad says granny gear makes me think its a 4spd, which is a big plus (for me anyway). the $1500 difference in price will go a long way to fixing it was well, plus its closer. eventhough the sub-10k mile truck was a well maintained fire vehicle, i'd still have reservations about buying a truck that old with hardly any miles. sitting that long takes a toll on gaskets, seals, etc.

LAST440 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:51 am

I like the fire truck.

Pretty hard to find used parts with less than
10K miles on them, let alone new.

Usually they are well maintained.

No doubt you would have to go through it.
Gaskets etc.

Saw a similar truck similar at the NATS.

palomino · **Posted:** Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:51 pm

honestly I would wait for the right one, a long bed bar is going to be tough to find...I passed on one at Carlisle this year, and KICK MYSELF FOR NOT GETTING IT!!!ARGGGGGGG 150 was cheap for the bar.....

I would wait for a macho to come along, it will cost the same to restore right, and be worth more in the end....

Dapper Dan · **Posted:** Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:10 am

The guy with the fire truck has been very forthcoming. I haven't heard back from the camo in Asheville yet. Here's what the guy in Charlotte sent me:

Quote:

Road worthy = yes
Air = sorry (I mounted a fan on the dash) :-)

I could meet you at Fort Mill - that should make your trip a little easier.
The truck is solid, but here are things you may want to consider.
Starts = the carburetor needs a tweak - it takes mashing on the gas to choke it
Breaks = the lines need purged - fluid is cloudy
Radiator = there is a leak. I re-add fluid.
Cosmetic = dash is falling apart in places and body has dents
The trucks biggest asset is the mileage on the motor. I would be keeping it if I had more time to put into it and didn't already have 3 other vehicles. Also, the water pump and alternator are new.

And these:
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw
http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=68 ... =inline&zw

What do you think?

LAST440 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:55 pm

I agree with that other guy.
Costs as much to restore a
Clone as it does a real macho.

The body is pretty rough,
That truck in Calif would
go begging at $1000.

hmmmm.... :roll:

palomino · **Posted:** Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:33 pm

LAST440 wrote:

I agree with that other guy.
Costs as much to restore a
Clone as it does a real macho.

The body is pretty rough,
That truck in Calif would
go begging at $1000.

hmmmm.... :roll:

SOOOO TRUE!!!!!
I bet you could get a decent truck that has expired registration for 500 bucks here....

palomino · **Posted:** Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:44 pm

here is a skylight red 440 power wagon....
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1333972880.html

Dapper Dan · **Posted:** Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:29 pm

LAST440 wrote:

The body is pretty rough,
That truck in Calif would go begging at $1000.

I did think the price was high but he said to "make him an offer." The other truck in Asheville is not roadworthy. He said the radiator was shot. He bought a replacement out of a junkyard and it was bad too. He sent these:

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I'd certainly prefer a real Macho but they are extremely rare in the Southeast. I've never even seen one for sale in the state of South Carolina let alone at all! I think the nearest one I ever found to me was that one up in Tennessee. I'd prefer to pay a little more for one more complete than that one was. To get a real Macho, I'd likely have to find one out West, (since that seems to be where they all are) and have it transported.

Guess I'll have to keep looking.

Which one??

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