(Been a long time since I posted here, so forgive my absense.)

First, let me explain the situation:

Several years ago, we aquired an '89 RCSB. It was in good shape, just a stripper (manual everything), but would be nice to just run around in. There was no motor, but it had been a V6 truck, and the 5-speed manual was still bolted in place.

About 2 weeks later, we found gentleman wanting to part with a 3.9L out of a '91. The catch? We had to take the whole body! He had used the frame to resto-mod an older truck and had done a motor swap. So, we now have a good 3.9L and an emaculate '91 RCSB body! It is perfect! Give it a coat of wax and it'd be ready to go! Same for the interior, no issues whatsoever...

So, I have a nice '89 body and frame, a great '91 body, and a 3.9L V6.

Then life happens - the project get's sidetracked, and never picked up. Now we're just looking at getting it gone...

I'm wondering, do I sell it as it is for someone else? Do I drop the motor in the '89 and sell it and the '91 body seperate? Do I swap the body to make the truck more appealing?

OR, do I spend a little on a junker 5.9L Magnum, overhaul it, and slide it into the frame under the '91 body?

Which option makes the most sense from a monetary standpoint? Is the swap economically feasible? Or will I just loose money on it? What about the body swap?

Anyone want to buy the whole project as-is?

Please let me know your opinion below.

***This is not my first rodeo, so the swap isn't too hard. I'm more worried about how much this would cost vs. how much it would be worth.***

 

So first of all what do you want out of it?
You keep on talking about value so you want to sell it no matter what?

No matter what you do to it you will never get what paid for the time you put in it. If you do put in a 5.9 Magnum it is still a 90 Dakota and not very desired.

So if your going to do it make sure it is something you want to do and want to keep.

I have done tons of custom modification to my truck and it is 1 of a kind, even with all of that its retail value is still low due to public demand.

Since all you care about is value at the end then I say sell it all as is before you put in the time of fixing stuff up because you will not get what you expect out of it.

 

A very good point indeed.

However, is the truck more valuable running with a V6 and a 5-spd than with no motor?

I mean, seems like it would be worth atleast getting the vehicle to running condition?

 

Get it running if you wish, you won't make enough to cover the time though imo. If you want it gone, cut your losses and sell it as-is.