Teenager rant (long winded, sorry)

[big bad orange]

So some of you might remember that back in July I bought my 72 c10 and since day one it has been a pain. I know old trucks need some loving but I cant go more that 50 miles without a problem and I am really starting to think about selling my truck.
Since I bought It I have had to replace the cab supports as all 4 rusted away, patch up the floor,replace the alternator (twice), put new hoses on, replaced the battery, replaced the air filter, had the trans rebuilt, put a new starter in, and right now I am putting new spark plugs and voltage regulator on.
after all was said and done I have about $5800 in it and I am kinda fed up. My money is always going into this thing and it just seems like it doesn't stop. I like the truck but I am still 5k away from having it in ok shape. I am at a loss as this is my only truck (being 16) and I useing it for work and it does not help that the truck never works right. I guess I need to hear sell or keep it like I said I am at a ticked off cross roads

[big_al_71]

sometimes is cheaper to have a second vehicle that is reliable for you to go to work, school etc then little by little rebuild the truck. these trucks are always in need of something

[69GWC]

I know just what your going through, my first truck was a 64 ford a really sharp looking ride. It to broke down alot and I allways suck every dime I had in it to keep it running, i gave up and traded it off for a newer car.
What i learned from that is I wish I had never sold it and wish I could find it now but I was 15 and now Iam 44 so Iam sure that will never happen.
Make sure if you sell it that you are very sure thats what you want to do because you might not ever see it again and it looks like a nice ride.
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[big bad orange]

I wish that was a possible but its not,

[vectorit]

I have always had a reliable small truck to use as a DD, and useful enough to do truck part runs.

I know I could never have made it this far with my burb, if it was my primary vehicle on a close to the bone budget.

Old cars/trucks will drain your bank account if they are your primary mode of transportation, and being on a budget like yours the cost of 8 spark plugs is a big purchase. Let alone feeding a thirsty V8 in a old truck with expensive fuel.

[big bad orange]

It looks nice but a lot of hidden rust, The bed floor and cross member are rusted real bad (did not know when I bought it) the rockers broke through, and I am trying to rewire the blower switch. I like the truck but everytime I fix something its 1 step forward 2 steps back. I just had the trans rebuilt and the next day the rear seal on the motor started to pour oil.

[low&slow]

I say KEEP IT. I do agree that by having a second vehicle does help out a lot. Makes things easier when working on the truck. I was in your same position when I was 15 and 16 with my first 69 c10, well actually I am in your same position now and I'm 19 and moved out of state and the only vehicle I brought with me was my project truck. My truck is also for sell, but with as bad as I don't want to get rid of it, I have it priced about $1,200 more than what it's worth. I figured if its priced too high then I get to keep it, but if someone does buy it then I get more money out of it to not only buy a newer vehicle, but I might also have enough money to buy another project truck.

That's just my little story for ya. It might give you a little to think about, but I do say keep it. Nothing cooler than to show up at school or your gf's house driving an old truck that you yourself is working on.

[GMCJOE]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

sometimes is cheaper to have a second vehicle that is reliable for you to go to work, school etc then little by little rebuild the truck. these trucks are always in need of something

Agreed. There is always something. I suggest finding a s10 to run around. I had a 92 with 2.8 v6 and 5 speed when I was in school. Got me back and forth to school and work. Loved the fuel mileage I was getting too.

[HalfTon]

I'm in the exact same position as you right now. I am 17 and my truck is my only transportation but i agree with everyone else. Try to save up alittle cash and buy a little pickup. If I ever sold my truck I know I would regret it.
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[67ChevyRedneck]

When I was your age my 67 was the coolest thing in the world to me. I would have never dreamed of selling it, even after dumping everything I made into it.

Apparently that's not your dream. Sell it and move on.

[big bad orange]

thanks guys I am going to talk to my mom about a little loan to get a small truck in the spring right now I think I will try and fix the small stuff and try to get it up to a dd

[low&slow]

That's the spirit. Glad to hear that. Hope your mom can help you out. It would be really cool if you could keep it and build it up to something real nice. Good luck.

[71Sixer]

It's a learning experience...nothing you won't be thankful for some day. Plus, nothing good is easy...or cheap for that matter. Keep on truckin'!!

[71K20chevy]

I say park it, buy a more gas efficient vehicle, and, when you have the money saved up, make it road worthy. THEN worry about paint and whatnot.

Just my &.02

[72c10ant]

you have to look at as if you bought another c10 for what you already have into yours im sure the one you would buy would need all the stuff you just did........ keep it and just keep changing parts slowely then soon it will all be new and super reliable

[ole dollor]

spending a $100.00 a month in repairs, may be a little better than $300.00.to $400.00 a month in payments.....i guess it will be up to you....and it will always be paid for....

[trac209]

Ok I have some advice for you. When I was your age about I had a 72 gmc that I loved but also was a money pit,actually money I didn't have pit. And instead of just squirrelling it away until I was in a better financial position I sadly sold it. I regretted it immediately. If you can try not to do anything hasty. Very nice truck you have btw.
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[original-71]

i say keep it one day you will be my age trying to find your old high school ride

[big bad orange]

thanks for the help guys! Now that I look at it with a clear head I know I could not get my money out of it but I don't care. I am going to keep it and fix the major stuff like getting power to the blower to have heat.

what made my mind up was I found an empty parking lot (the real big one like walmart) and I floor it and something about a V8 rekindled the love for the truck.

[LilD]

Im going against everybody elses advise and say keep it. Ive had plenty of newer cars that drained my wallet quicker than my old ones. Id rather replace alternators and batteries rather than computers and sensors.

[67_C-30]

The trick to driving an older vehicle daily is working out the bugs that occur in 40+ years of existance. I have a 2000 Z71 that I hardly ever drive, because I prefer to drive older vehicles. My Z71 has not been my daily driver in 6 years. I drove a '69 C-10 from '07 to '09 until I sold it to buy a '69 Camaro. I have driven a '84 military Blazer since shortly after then. Once you get the little stuff worked out, they are some of the most reliable vehicles there are. Of course, being 16, and driving accordingly causes problems with whatever you drive in and of itself!

[Billett]

no offense, but I can't quite figure out where the 5800 went to. I live in philly right now going to college and I wouldn't trade mine for the world. Your other options are these...





I'd much rather put the money I'd be spending on another car into my c10.

[67ss&99ss]

Just have patience with it. As others have mentioned its 40+ years old and stuff is going to break. I drove mine last week and realized the tail light was out on the passenger side. I bought some new bulbs for it and when I went to replace it, the bulb broke, and then I lost my tail lights, tag light and gauge lights all at once.

Last year I was driving my 67 Camaro and the rocker stud loosened, the rocker arm moved, the push rod came off the lifter, the lifter was thrown out of the lifter bore,and the push rod fell back down in it. It trashed the camshaft. That cost a grand to fix. Its just the nature of old hot rods.

As others have mentioned, save some money for a cheap daily driver and then start fixing up your truck. I remember when I was your age it seemed like it took forever to save up the money to do something, but I fixed them up little by little and learned a lot in the process!

Good luck with your truck.

[rcbildr]

Originally Posted by big bad orange

So some of you might remember that back in July I bought my 72 c10 and since day one it has been a pain. I know old trucks need some loving but I cant go more that 50 miles without a problem and I am really starting to think about selling my truck.
Since I bought It I have had to replace the cab supports as all 4 rusted away, patch up the floor,replace the alternator (twice), put new hoses on, replaced the battery, replaced the air filter, had the trans rebuilt, put a new starter in, and right now I am putting new spark plugs and voltage regulator on.
after all was said and done I have about $5800 in it and I am kinda fed up. My money is always going into this thing and it just seems like it doesn't stop. I like the truck but I am still 5k away from having it in ok shape. I am at a loss as this is my only truck (being 16) and I useing it for work and it does not help that the truck never works right. I guess I need to hear sell or keep it like I said I am at a ticked off cross roads

Aside from the rust repair, and maybe the trans rebuild, everything else is just part of owning an old truck. Most of what you have replaced is what I'm going to be replacing on my 1960 GMC truck. IMHO.... DON'T SELL IT!!!! To me it looks to be in ok shape as it sits.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Billett

no offense, but I can't quite figure out where the 5800 went to. I live in philly right now going to college and I wouldn't trade mine for the world. Your other options are these...

I'd much rather put the money I'd be spending on another car into my c10.

Hey now, S10s can be pretty cool and reliable little boogers, and fairly cheap. I bought this super clean one for $4,200 with 92K on it in june 2008, put maybe $500 in cool parts in/on it, and sold it in june 2012 with 130K on it for $4,000. I actually miss the little red bastard, it was my DD and road trip ride. Went to charlotte many times with it, NY a few times, took it to Spring Carlisle in 2011, and it went all over NC and GA during my 65/66 mustang search. I probably put 2,000 miles on it just going to look at cars.