Why do people Nickle and dime this hobbie

[stsalvage]

Something i hear so often from so many that wonder in to this hobbie or way of life.

Most say they are not a Body man or Mechanic.I hear i want a cab with no cancer and i want a running truck that has no problems.It sounds simple.

Most of the veterans that bleed for this hobbie that have over 15-25 of of these truck Know what to look for when they go looking at trucks for sale.Some of the guys are flippers.Good money in there trucks.

Now here is the rear Question.When is it best to spend a little more then be cheap.Will explain.

Lets say you are looking at 2 trucks.The cost of one is a steal $900.00 they other one is 2500.00.

Ya you can pay 900.00 for a basket case Needs cancer work needs interior wire harness motor.

Now for a new comers what is the best advise you can give them.

A check list easy real easy.

first of all is now days a cab with AC That's first on my list.But what you really need is a cab with NO cancer or only 5% max is 15% for me.

so CAB with NO cancer and AC some times best to bring a flash light and a Creeper or a big peace of cardboard If there is a lot of Grease under the cab that's good cus road salt grease don't like each other very much a dry under carrage is not always a welcome site.

One thing i look for is abuse.Mostly on the frame look for the front shock holes most in the back east states with salt eats up Frames and the shocks get loose and you have a bigger hole Cancer like to east steal as much as tin just takes a little longer.

Making sure the frame is straight

But my main this is If you can spend a little more for a trucks that has has the body work done and the wiring down right and you have a good rolling chassis with no motor for 5000.00 BUY it if your not good with body or putting stuff together.

Motors and transmissions and rear ends are easy If you can wait and find some one that having a hardship and they spent the farm on there truck and need to sell it for dirt cheap Buy it you will like you and your pocket book later.

Most of the Flippers Call them scores Big money scores

[Nitis]

In my opinion I wouldn't even fret over an ac cab anymore. Even with one is likely to upgrade to vintage air anyway.

So my priority would be structural condition of frame and body. Everything else one does with these anymore is so personal paint scheme stance wheels tires even powertrain

[GASoline71]

My favorite is listening to people gripe that a body panel made overseas on dies that are a copy of a copy of a copy of an original 45 year old die... don't just bolt right in with no problems. Heck the OE and NOS parts don't even bolt right in without a little finesse!

Gary

[YBNORML]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

My favorite is listening to people gripe that a body panel made overseas on dies that are a copy of a copy of a copy of an original 45 year old die... don't just bolt right in with no problems. Heck the OE and NOS parts don't even bolt right in without a little finesse!

Gary

Truer words were never spoken. I wish more people would realize this. Hell, when these trucks were built the panels didn't fit that great.

Here is an all original, one owner truck that has never been hit or repainted. Look at the door fitment, it's definitely not up to today's standards 😬

[YBNORML]

When I started this, one of the old guys I knew told me that a project should be broken into three parts. Body, interior and mechanical. And in order for a project to be viable it must have 2 out of 3.

Nowadays things are a bit different. With the sky high body shop rates, body condition is all I care about. Obvious abuse not withstanding. I view cancer as an iceberg. You can only see 15% of what's there.

[YBNORML]

Another.

[In The Ten Ring]

I have never bought a truck, even got this one for just completing a "contract" of sorts. *Mafia hit, old mobster was low on cash so gave me this truck for a successful hit

People get what they pay for......and most people want to pay as little as possible!

If I was going to buy a truck, after finding LWB and manual transmission, I'd be checking out the body.

[Already Gone]

Mechanical stuff is easy to fix and cheaper than bodywork.

[Grumpy old man]

if you have to pay someone else to build it for you your just better off buying one that's already finished and ready to drive down the road . you'll be cruising next week and for less money and time .

[snipescastle2]

I bought my '71 as a "Basket Case" and I have done everything except paint, and with the initial cost of the truck (parts and more parts) rental truck/trailer, etc... having built the engine myself, totally rebuilt the entire chassis myself, powder coated everything that I could myself ( my Uncle has a big powder coating oven and powder gun setup) all I had to do was buy the powder. The transmission I had my brother-in - law build for me, because that was what he does for a living, I just bought the parts. the many trips to LMC/Classic parts, Randy's place (Teeitup) and Mike Castillo, I bet I am at least, $8500 into this project, not counting what the labor would have cost if I had to farm it out, I hate to even think what that would have run me.....

My Wife doesn't even want to hear the word "truck" in any conversation, although, when I get to work overtime, that seems to shut her right up....... Nickel and dime you say, I think I wrote the book on that!!! I also did a lot of trade work, traded parts, sold parts, you name it, I've done it. but, this is a passion I feel very strongly about, and resurrecting one of these "Ladies" is a form or therapy for me I guess, my only problem is finding the time to work on it, between my work and the "Honey Do List"

If I had it to do over again, you bet I would!!!
Have a Happy New year!!!
Ben Smith

[northern]

I would like to just Quote all of you. Well said guy's

Happy New Year.

[tcrist]

snipescastle2,

I did that with a Cobra Replica (classic Roadsters). I bought one that someone had completely taken apart. They were going to build a full race car and lost interest in that one.

Anyway, I bought it for a real good $$, less motor and trans figuring as long as all of the parts were there I could just pop it right back together. When I did not like some of the parts that were there I bought new aftermarket parts. By the time that I was done with it (not finished as these cars are never finished) I had over 45K in it and I did not even have to paint it.


My truck (70 GMC SB fender side) was in good to great shape when I found it. Changed a couple of things on it and still only have less than 9K in it.

[Redline novdog]

I don't know why I get sucked into these opinionated threads, must be fun LOL. There are situations for everyone. I myself just keep mine running, yeah I could sink $30 g's in it but why? It hauls I'm not taking it across country,etc...
For those that don't/can't work/build a vehicle then they have to buy. Unless you are independently wealthy you look for the best you can afford.
I personally like the challenge of repair,fab,weld paint,machine!!! Am I good at any of these,No but it sure is fun!

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by Redline novdog

I don't know why I get sucked into these opinionated threads, must be fun LOL. There are situations for everyone. I myself just keep mine running, yeah I could sink $30 g's in it but why? It hauls I'm not taking it across country,etc...
For those that don't/can't work/build a vehicle then they have to buy. Unless you are independently wealthy you look for the best you can afford.
I personally like the challenge of repair,fab,weld paint,machine!!! Am I good at any of these,No but it sure is fun!

That is what these vehicles are about, Every time I fix one thing I find another thing to fix. 45 years old what do you expect. I still drive mine daily and without it I would lose a ton of function-ability in life.

They haul, move, transfer me and my property everywhere. Most repairs are done less expensive that almost every other vehicle out there. The technology during the day had been around for half a century when these were produced is my guess.

I am thinking of adding a sacrificial anode to deal with the rust like on a boat!

[special-K]

I'm trying..... not to.................get ...sucked......................into thi................................................................................

Nah, it's already been said. If you have to pay for the labor you are better off paying for a nice turn key truck.

If you do it all yourself it costs what it costs and you did it because you wanted to.

[tcrist]

Some of us also are just getting to darn old and wore out to be able to do much anymore. Mostly because we did it for so darn long (without asking for help "because I'm a man", that I/we can hardly hold a wrench anymore because it just hurts too bad.

But in that case, I don't complain on the cost if I can't do it myself.

[Grumpy old man]

Not to get to far off topic but does anyone know if they still offer auto shop/wood shop/metal shop classes in high school anymore ?

[toolboxchev]

Where & When I went to High School they did. Better half of my day. Some kids today do not even possess the necessary skills to clean up after themselves.

[cruisinthe34]

I'll be 65 this month, and I remember they had shop classes when I was in Junior High, mid '60's

[Grumpy old man]

I used to do a lot of dealer warranty work and young drivers would come in with a loose sunvisor and I would walk out with a phillips screwdriver and tighten the screw and send them on their way free ...after a steady stream of these I decided to bring them in and sit them in the waiting room and pull the car in the building 1/2 an hour later ...Cost $35.00 I bought a 23' center consol boat with the extra cash .

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Not to get to far off topic but does anyone know if they still offer auto shop/wood shop/metal shop classes in high school anymore ?

The local HS here (Oak Harbor High School) renovated the school about 5 years ago. The upgraded the "vocational/technical" portion of the school to include an auto shop with full diagnostic work and auto body and sheet metal work. If you provide the parts and for a small fee they will do a lot of work on vehicles to allow students to learn. The wait time to get your rig back can take a few weeks as the students learn as they go. So if you have a rig that you don't rely on for transportation all the time, it is a great way to get some things fixed.

When I was in HS back in the 80's we had auto shop and welding. All we did for a couple hours each day was chew snooze and work on our own rigs and rebuild engines. Plus the occasional patch panel or 2. Our shop teacher was a wealth of knowledge and helped us on anything we got stuck on.

Gary

[BCOWANWHEELS]

because our corrupt government has us all broke by design

[raggedjim]

Because I am cheap.

Rg

[slowcpe]

I just had this conversation yesterday with one of my best friends. He's looking at getting another hot rod. He's actually looking at an 03-04 cobra. He said he'd love to do what I'm doing but don't have the skills, tools or garage space. The sad thing is he'll be driving his years before me.

There are times I think I should've just spent the money on a "finished" project mainly for the instant gratification as I went the route of buying a cheap basket case. My original intentions far outweighed my dream budget and time constraints.

However with that said I'm glad I'm going this route. I've decided I have no budget or timeline for this truck. I'm going to build it exactly the way I want. My job consists of sales and sitting behind a computer. The Sunday's I get to spend out in the garage learning new skills is priceless to me and a good release from normal life. Also building something from the ground up has always been a dream of mine. It's taking me a while but I'm currently at a point in life to attempt to achieve this goal.

My only scare about buying a restored vehicle is seeing all the horror stories where people paid top dollar on a covered up basket case.

[special-K]

To me, to nickle dime means piecemeal, bit by bit, baby steps, piddley diddley, and that is me all over these days. Why? Because I don't have the means to go big time wholesale full-tilt boogie assesnelbows into it. To be honest, with all my other financial and time priorities, I shouldn't mess with my trucks. But, I don't know life without old GM Trucks and refuse to quit. So, I find ways to make it happen.

I took a 1/2 gallon cider jug and religiously put all my pocket change in there. Never seemed to miss the change, bills, the house, etc (and a part now and then) always take my pay, but in a year that jar is full. Started 4 years ago and now I have 4 1/2 jugs. Probably enough money for a get away I can't afford. You do what you can when you can with what you have. If you want it bad enough, you'll find a way.