No time no money and very little desire!

[sameyrasmea72]

I have come to the conclusion after 7 years that there is a better chance of the RAPTURE happening before I ever finish my project truck. My schedule with the railroad leaves little to no time to work on my truck.

My shop has become a $750/month 1500 sq ft storage building full of hundreds of parts I don't have time to sell.

So, I think I am down to the following two options:

1. Sell my survivor and use that money to finish the project. This would not really solve the time issue.

2. Sell/partout the major stuff of the project truck, and paint the survivor truck and use the tons and tons of NOS parts the I have gathered over the years on the survivor truck instead of the project truck.

Whatever I do I need to get out of my shop. I don't want to spend Another $9000 next year on a shop I don't use. I literally have thousands of parts ill have to get rid of 1st.

What option do you think I should do? Any suggestions?

[darkhorse970]

Your survivor truck is one of my favorites,ever and I'd love to own it. But I also understand the issue with the shop, time, money, etc...do what's right for you and your family. Trucks or other hobbies will be around when you have the desire and time.

Either way, I would ask that whatever you sell, give us a shot here.

[69moneypit]

I understand not having time to work on a project due to the railroad . I sold two projects after I join railroad for same reason . Ended up buying a completed truck .

[special-K]

Find cheaper storage until the day you have more time. I have been,and still am,in a similar yet very different situation. Long story,but I had to downsize and seem to be going nowhere with projects anymore. Going through what I have I'd say hang on,but find a way to cut down that idle time expense...if at all possible. I've never given up hope and just do whatever little I can when I can. Can't let life keep you from your dream(s).

[jjzepplin]

I try to do just one little thing a day. Eventually it will be completed. Storage is a problem though. For that kind of dime I could have a real nice garage.

[quick60]

Can you not have a shop built on your property, a family members property? 750 a month would build a dam nice garage.

[Mister-B]

Your survivor truck is nice. I'd just focus on that. Sell the project quickly on CL and/or the forum for less than you may like, knowing that if you hold out, you'll have to keep paying the monthly garage fee. Then, move the rest of the parts to your residence or get a storage unit. Install the NOS parts on your survivor and sell the rest.

One of the biggest things you said, was lack of desire. It's hard to get desire when it's taking forever, you're paying hundreds a month for a shop, you don't have time at home to work on the project... And all the while you've got this sweet survivor truck whispering to you "I'm as good as she'll ever be, and you can play with me NOW"

Maybe you can take some of your new cash and monthly savings, and get yourself a brand new Harley? They don't take up much space

[68bowtie]

dump the project. find a way to keep that survivor! a truck like that is hard to come by.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

dump the project. find a way to keep that survivor! a truck like that is hard to come by.

I agree with this.

[Daddy Brim]

Keep the survivor truck for a daily driver. Find a good shop that will finish the project truck. Get rid of the shop.

[hugger6933]

The way I see it either truck you sell there will be regrets. the regret now seems to be the space/ time thing. If there was a way to consolidate all of your stuff into a smaller[read less expensive yet as secure]space where you won't lose the truck or the parts collected because those most likely won't come your way again. I don't know much about your truck except what a few posts I've seen on the one you drive and I had no idea it was anywhere near that nice. Seeing what your driver is like I can only imagine the great pains you go to to make the resto the absolute best it could be, and seeing the pic in this post it would be a shame to let it go and six months to a year from now the fever return and the truck is gone, and your starting really from less than zero. That in itself would be depressing enough to stop or slow another project. Jim

[TxTan]

It doesn't sound like having money is the problem...It's having the time! Keeping the survivor saves you time & money!

[Sicklajoie]

No f'in way would I get rid of the survivor.

[Hart_Rod]

Tough call either way. I figured out a while back that you can't have too many toys, but you CAN have too many projects..... I'm sure you will figure out what is best for you. Please tell your Dad I said hello. Take care,

Rob

[sean1969c10]

I think I agree with the others, sell the project and keep the survivor. It's hard to stay motivated with long term projects. Good luck!

[Jahloha]

Man, thats a tough situation; but having a finance background, that monthly payment is just screaming at me. Here's an option that is focused on finances and the survivor truck:

-Sell the project truck...pocket the cash
-Do an inventory of all your parts, take time to type each piece out. Then go through that list, decide what you want to use on the survivor, then post that newly created list on our forum. The more organized you make all these pieces appear, the better selling results you will have.
-Search around storage units. A lot of these storage places, if you give them a heads up, can offer you a large unit (to house all your current parts/pieces), then downsize the unit as your sell off parts. This will allow you to even lower that monthly storage fee, saving money in the end.
-Lastly, you can change your way of thinking about that garage monthly charge. If you have been able to financially survive while making those 1500/month payments. Get your stuff out of that garage asap and continue to budget as if you were making this payment, but instead of paying for the garage you are now out of, put that money to your survivor and get it primo; even farming out work if needed.

Once again, my mind thinks by numbers. I see your situation as a good one. You have a way to cut costs (garage to storage units), make money (sell project and extra parts), and finish your truck using the savings and earned money.

[Jahloha]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Tough call either way. I figured out a while back that you can't have too many toys, but you CAN have too many projects..... I'm sure you will figure out what is best for you. Please tell your Dad I said hello. Take care,

Rob

PS...first time I have seen your signature Rob, that scripture is one of my favorites. Great choice!

[Joesjunk]

Keep that survivor truck for sure! And find a cheaper storage building ( may be easier said than done though?)

[volksworld]

paying rent to store a project is insanity....its one thing to leave a project in the corner of a shop you're making a living out of,or letting it sit in a home garage....they don't cost you money... renting is just flushing money down the toilet...you could own an awfully nice new vehicle for 750 a month....don't you have a home garage? if not I think you'd better build one....cause what are you gonna do with your project once its done? keep renting or leave it outside to deteriorate? look at the big picture....if you're a car guy you're probably not gonna finish one truck and quit and scrap all your leftover parts....there will be other projects....so if you have a house with no attic,no basement,no garage and no place to build one and nowhere to stash your stuff I think you either have to move or give up your hobby...consider buying a used enclosed trailer in the meantime,you can stash a lot of stuff in it and park it in the street if you have to

[volksworld]

when I try to edit it I screw it up....in the mean time,keep the survivor...its driveable....and you can turn it into your project at some later date....turn the project into a roller...4 tires that hold air,set the body and bed back on, hang the nose with a couple of bolts....make it take up one parking space....if you sell it this will make it easier for the new owner to transport...all the parts you've accumulated still add up to one truck when assembled and should not require 1500 sq ft to store....if you're good the truck and its parts should fit in the trailer

[sameyrasmea72]

After reading some of your posts, I realized that I did not give enough info about my shop to those who don't know me.

The shop is mine and my dads, and over the past 6 years or so we have parted out/ freshened up 30-40 trucks. (you can imagine the parts we have). MY dad had a stroke about 10 months ago so the rent is coming right out of my pocket now.

The problem goes way further than 10 months though. Its seem like what free time we did have we spent selling parts.

Anyway I wanted to add that so everyone did not think I rented the shop just to build... I mean store my project.

[BrianG]

I'd say it kinda depends on where your heart really is with the survivor and the project. I think the consensus with most (and I agree) is that your survivor is REALLY nice. Many would love to just have one in that existing condition. If there is some sort of emotional tie to your project and parts, then maybe find a place to just store it for now. You should be able to rent a storage garage for well under $100 a month. Take the difference and eventually you will have plenty enough to find a shop to finish it for you. But again, as you just said, you were into that. It may be kinda hard to pay someone else to do what you are capable of and just don't have the time to do. I'd say store it until you have the time, unless that's not an option, then I'd say drive the survivor, keep what you need to finish it, and sell everything else.

[71 super]

I understand where you are, the survivor is a great ,rare truck, but so is the
Project, a lot don't know what type of restoration is taking place on the project , this is not a back yard restore this is a 100 point correct restore, that if parted out will reach upwards of $40,000 in parts alone. Find someone to finish the project to the big parts, you finish the small and have both. Down size on the rest of the others and step back. I hope your dad is doing better, I really miss our talks. Harold

[burnin oil]

Find a storage unit or a friend with property. Even if you sell off one truck you still have parts to deal with. My sugestion is store everything somewhere a little more reasonable. You can always bring small pieces to the house and rework them when there is time. This way when you get time and finances you can roll through the assembly process. Nothing is a bigger drag than making major progress on a projec and then getting ground to a halt for something like reworking a wiring harness.
As a little motivation for you. I repaired my trucks sheet metal on the weekends and drove it back and forth to work. Over a 2 1/2 week period of vacation I stripped the truck down to bolts, sand blasted, painted, rewired, and reassembled the whole truck. In fairness I only painted the bed and hood but you get the idea. I understand time limitations and preplanning is what makes it work when you finally get the vacation time. My truck is no restoration but I get comments all the time on how nice it looks and a few of those want it in their stable.

[volksworld]

sorry to hear about your dad...so I understand why you had the shop, but obviously all that's changed now...you still have to look at it as a business and it has to cover its expenses....if your dad cant work and your real job takes up all your time its time to close up shop....it makes no sense to spend 9 grand a year to store used parts....when I moved south I scrapped 8 cars and vans filled to the roofs and 2 20yard dumpsters full of parts...why? because it would have cost more to move the stuff than I could have sold it for....so I picked only the best stuff and still had a full tractor-trailer...so cut your losses and downsize