as far as your claim goes......non running listed truck, you get what you get. I bid on non-runners all the time, and to me
that means I plan on putting a motor, trans, tcase in it....or more. Just no way to know.
no idea what you paid for the truck, no idea of overall condition of the truck...for all I know, you got a good deal on a non runner. You have posted no pics to date...
I completely agree with the above statement. It's the risk you take with something listed as a "non-runner" and you're expecting an awful lot from a business with essentially a monopoly on military vehicle auctions. IP/GP isn't the used car lot down the road that is competing with 50 other use car lots in a 25 mile radius, so they give you just enough info to work off of and that's it. I can't blame them for denying the claim - it was sold as they described and it's up to you to determine what the issue is.
My first M1038 purchased via them I paid careful attention to the pictures, watched the inspection videos closely, etc. I wasn't concerned about paint or easily replaced things like cushions as much as I wanted a straight body with a running engine - operative word being "running". Even with it being a runner, I knew that minor parts were likely to need replacement - I just didn't want major rebuild issues, etc. I wanted one that fired up and I bid accordingly.
My second M1038 I purchased from them was sold as a non-runner, but the overall condition was pretty cherry. Looking at the inspection pictures, it appeared that it was missing an alternator, belts and batteries. I bid not knowing if it was a blown engine or simply parts missing. I picked it up, replaced the obvious missing parts (to include the fuel tank plug - don't forget to check for that) and it fired right up. The engine runs great, but there are transmission issues that I'm working through - probably the reason parts were cannibalized and it was sold as a non-runner.
It's the risk you take in bidding on surplus items. I personally have no complaints and I'd have to say that my experience with IP was actually very pleasant. The closest you'll get to a sure thing would be to buy from someone like Retired War Horses or even one of the recent auction trucks turning up on Craigslist as at least you'll have the opportunity to inspect it completely yourself, but then it's not the "deal" you get by going direct.