Front end damage, should I buy it?

Hey all, brand new here. I've been in need of a work truck for a while now and I came across something in my price range and I figure this would be the place to ask for some advice. 1990 K2500, 8 lug, Silverado trim, V8 (don't know what size, I'm assuming 350). 270k miles but the engine was rebuilt last year before the owner passed. So I'm going to look at it tomorrow and I'm hoping that if it's a bad idea someone here will tell me before I go and get myself in over my head. Does this look repairable within a reasonable budget?

Owner says it doesn't pull to the side, drives fine, everything works. But that tow hook...I don't know how things attach, this would be my first Chevy truck, but I worry about the frame horn. I don't need or want a show truck, but I want to be able to fix that bumper and grill so it looks okay-ish.

Most important thing to mention here though, he's only asking $800, and for that price I can ignore a lot of cosmetic stuff. As long as it's only cosmetic.

muffinman42 said:

Hey all, brand new here. I've been in need of a work truck for a while now and I came across something in my price range and I figure this would be the place to ask for some advice. 1990 K2500, 8 lug, Silverado trim, V8 (don't know what size, I'm assuming 350). 270k miles but the engine was rebuilt last year before the owner passed. So I'm going to look at it tomorrow and I'm hoping that if it's a bad idea someone here will tell me before I go and get myself in over my head. Does this look repairable within a reasonable budget?

Owner says it doesn't pull to the side, drives fine, everything works. But that tow hook...I don't know how things attach, this would be my first Chevy truck, but I worry about the frame horn. I don't need or want a show truck, but I want to be able to fix that bumper and grill so it looks okay-ish.

Most important thing to mention here though, he's only asking $800, and for that price I can ignore a lot of cosmetic stuff. As long as it's only cosmetic.

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Yes, that only looks cosmetic...front clip, bumper and some markers? Maybe a fender and hood?

Are those manual locking hubs?

stutaeng said:

Yes, that only looks cosmetic...front clip, bumper and some markers? Maybe a fender and hood?

Are those manual locking hubs?

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All those things are cheap and plentiful at the junkyard by me. As long as the frame is still in the right place to attach them lol.

Not sure on the hubs, I was trying to figure that out too.

I've never seen a manual locking hubs on a GMT 400 (only on the square body solid front axle), but 1990 is still the transition years, so who knows.


The TH400 combined with either of the V8s is worth alone the asking price, not to mention the entire body!..so I think you will do good for the asking price...

Edit: I assumed it's a TH400, but I'm not certain on those transition years...check the oil pan bolts on it to confirm...

The radiator may be leaking; front end impacts on these trucks tend to disturb or break the seal and gaskets between the plastic tanks and aluminum core. Also the tanks themselves can develop cracks and that makes leaks that can be hard to find. Been there on both my 99 Burbs.
But on a vehicle of this age you'd be likely to replace the radiator anyway, because they don't last forever. And since these trucks have so many parts that are used for several years, and there's still so many of them around, parts are relatively cheap. I had the radiator replaced a few years ago on my current Burb, cost $270 and they had the truck done and ready in 3 hours. I could have done it myself, cheaper, but didn't have time and did have another vehicle at that time.
My previous 99 burb got totalled in a wreck in late 2012; guy ran a light and smacked it real bad. Radiator bent around the fan and water pump bad! But she was still running...till the cops shut her off cause fluids were all over the place. The frame was bent in several places, front horns and around the motor mounts. But it was more of a corner impact, and at speed. This truck you're looking at looks like it ran into something straight on, and not too fast. So probably much less damage. You'll have to look closely at the frame horns though; the body may be covering up some damage.
These trucks are designed so that in a collision, the truck crumples and absorbs the impact, so the people in it don't. So the structure is a little more flexible than the older ones. But for the price, you should have something to work with for a project. And in the unfortunate event that it is too damaged to rebuild inexpensively, you can recoup your investment in what you get parting it out. But hopefully you won't have to go there!
Good luck and let us see the progress as you put it back to rights. And there are many of us on here who will do our best to answer your questions.

stutaeng said:

I've never seen a manual locking hubs on a GMT 400 (only on the square body solid front axle), but 1990 is still the transition years, so who knows.


The TH400 combined with either of the V8s is worth alone the asking price, not to mention the entire body!..so I think you will do good for the asking price...

Edit: I assumed it's a TH400, but I'm not certain on those transition years...check the oil pan bolts on it to confirm...

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Yep 1990 8 lug w/auto would be TH400 (aka 3L80), the 4L80E didn't make the scene until 1991.

The wheels look like they just have really large aftermarket centercaps; I don't see any hub locking mechanism, maybe just some dents in the caps because they stick out so far.

The tow hooks do bolt in directly to the bottom of the frame horns, so there may be some damage there - but if it drives straight, the price sounds right.

And absolutely what Hotwheels said about the radiator..

Richard

someotherguy said:

Yep 1990 8 lug w/auto would be TH400 (aka 3L80), the 4L80E didn't make the scene until 1991.

The wheels look like they just have really large aftermarket centercaps; I don't see any hub locking mechanism, maybe just some dents in the caps because they stick out so far.

The tow hooks do bolt in directly to the bottom of the frame horns, so there may be some damage there - but if it drives straight, the price sounds right.

And absolutely what Hotwheels said about the radiator..

Richard

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I knew my 90 R2500 GMC square body Burb had a TH400, but wasn't sure if the new style pickups had the overdrive transmission. That was one of the things I didn't like about that truck; the trans was fine once rebuilt, but combined with the 4.10 rear end, it didn't make a good highway truck. Would get to 55 or 60 but not more.... whoever ordered it wanted to tow something heavy, but not very far.

Yeah FWIU any 88 - 91 truck with a 454 or HD rating came with a TH400 because GM knew a 700R4/4L60 wouldn't hold up

PlayingWithTBI said:

Yeah FWIU any 88 - 91 truck with a 454 or HD rating came with a TH400 because GM knew a 700R4/4L60 wouldn't hold up

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My Burb was a 5.7 TBI, but was rated at 8600# gvw. Towed other trucks with it, and hauled plenty of weight in it going to swap meets (crates of manuals, advertising and books,boxes of toys, and the tables for displaying them). Just needed an extra hour to get there, as opposed to the Burb with overdrive!

It looks like the leading edge of that passenger side door may be affected too.... maybe it was opened after the fender was jammed into it.

Those center caps look a lot like oil filters