What do I do?  I have a '79 Chevy 1/2 ton stepside with a 350 *** motor, auto tranny, stock suspension and most importantly...needs a lot of work.  A friend of mine has a '79 Ford 1/2 ton with a 300 *** motor and 4 speed tranny.  Both have the potential to be really cool 4X4's but the Ford needs less work.  How about some input?  

Oooops...I should add that the friend wants to trade straight across...No money just slips!  

keep the chevy!!  Parts are cheaper for the most part.  You can get all the parts you need from LMC Truck (on the net).  Just look them up on the net and they will send a book.  The prices are very good.  I've compaired them to the local parts store and they are cheaper on most parts.  

See...that's the good thing about keeping the chevy.  I have a 2-wheel drive Chevy, a 4X4 Chevy 1-ton and several other donor trucks that I could use for parts.  My friend said that he would take $600 for the Ford I just don't know if I need or my wife will let me have 2 toys.  

she will if you let her drive one of them!   

That will be the one I have to work on all the time..ha ha.  Besides, she already has a Grand Cherokee and I have a Z71 so I already have a toy even though it is my daily driver.

my wife is pretty good to me also.  my yard looks like a used car lot.  my daily driver is 96 k2500 hd turbo diesel. i have 4 1970 chevy pickups(2 are 2 wheel drive). 1982 jeep grand wagoneer that has a chevy 327 ifted and has a dana 60 front and a 14 bolt full float rear. 1986 chevt pickup that i put a catapilar 3208 v8 diesel with an alison auto trans with 2 1/2 ton transfer case and axels.  its just about done.  and lastly my baby is a 1939 ford pickup with a built 383 stroker in it.  

I think you have me beat.  I have several 4X's but none are really done.  My '96 Z71 is probably the most complete but like I said, It is my daily driver so it is prety mild.  That is why I want to fix up one or the other...the Ford or the Chevy.  It will probably be the Chevy because I have all the one ton running gear to put under it.  But at the same time, the Ford is running, the 4-wheel drive works good and is ready to go now.  Lifts cost about the same for both, I am really not concerned about the body parts on either.  I do however have a 302 boss sitting in a truck that I drove in high school that would really go good in the Ford....Choices, choices, choices.  There are enough to give me a headache.  

making trucks and fixing cars is what i do for a living and i just plain like toys.  i've been working on cars and trucks and anything else mechanical for 20 years now.  Finally i now have my own shop opening up on the first of march.  when it gets down to choices like trying to decide between two toys, i just get both of them.  That saves the head aches.  the real headaches comes when you decide to sell one of them and then later wish you didn't.  The cars that i had done and then sold that i could beat myself for are: 1966 chevy II Nova, 1966 GTO convertable and my all orig. factory air 289, no rust 1966 mustag 2 dr coupe.  but then that is how pay for all my other projects.  My 1939 is 3/4's of the way done and i've put in $17,000 just in parts into it.  I do all my own labor which helps.  

you would be F'n CRAZY to trade that chevy for a POS Ford with a 300. The skys the limit to the fab work you can do with that chevy. And that 350 can be built to the hilt with parts that are a dime a dozen. Who do you ever hear about building a straight six 300? no one because its not worth it. Ask yourself this, why would he be willing to take a truck that needs more work for an even trade? Besides the 73-79 stepsides are one of the most sout after body styles for collectors. Didnt you see the UA 05 rig?  

hey wheres yer shop at man  

northern minnesota  

I'd go with the Chevy too. I've owned several (70's K5's) and you can't compare 'em to Fords. I used to drive Company trucks (Fords) mostly long highway travel, but I'd rag 'em off road sometimes and it's just not the same as a stock Chevy truck. 350ci is one of the most reliable engines made and like others have said here, parts are cheap, and the sky's the limit on makin 'em mean. malberg's also right about the LMC truck site. That's where I've gotten most of my parts for years. largest selection in my opinion. On line at http://lmctruck.com or call em at 800-541-8525. The only bad thing about 'em is no teck support, but you can always get tech support from other folks like this forum. I also get tech help from Jegs & Summit racing. Hope this was some help to ya.

Go with the chevy i have owned an 81 chevy 3/4 ton for several years and it has the 350 with the four speed and i have been pleased its my pride and joy a 94 ford with a 460 couldnt touch me over 120!!  

Keep the chevy! Thats a sweet truck, do it up.....my opinion but I may be biased I own a chev, although I do like the 70's fords. Chevs are easier to work on.