My son turns 16 in Jan:eek:

[special-K]

It`s got me worried,but whatcha gonna do?He helped me load the CheyenneSuper and it made me feel guilty that I wasn`t just giving it to him.Just the sight of my little man at the wheel of the truck got me going on what I need to get together for him amongst all else that`s going on.He looks right in there:

I asked if he`d like that one.In his few words style he said,"needs too much".I guess he has his eyes on my Sierra.I was planning on getting him into the`91 Suburban.But,he`s showing interest in these 67-72s it seems.I know he`s get broke keeping gas in them,so I`m thinking...Yeah,the`Burb gets 20-ish and he can drive that.But,I want to put together an economical 67-72 for his pride`n`joy.I`m thinking to put together a shortbed/250-6/4L60E/3.42 or 3.73 truck,with him of course.Maybe let him have a 283 if he`s good(doubt it ).I`m wondering about the power/gears/overdrive thing.Has anyone had experiences with simular combos?

[FleetsidePaul]

I'm with you, my daughter turns 16 in Feb. and is already all over me about getting a car

The 6 cylinder may be the ticket not only for gas but for insurance rates as well.

Yikes! auto insurance for a 16 year old

[Musclerodz]

Same boat, my sone turns 16 in January as well. Trying to get the K5 done so he can drive the 95 Camaro I drive now. Thank god it has already been through the ringer because if he tears it up, I won't care that much.

Mike

[Yukon Jack]

That's a tough call on which would be the better choice. Will he be driving very many miles. I sure would try to get him into a vehicle that he has to put his sweat equity into - a buddy of mine is doing that with his son right now and I just know he is going to take care of that vehicle since he has put so much time and effor into it. I think the one he is pictured in sure would be good as long as he won't be driving alot of miles.

[special-K]

That`s just it.I want him to be free to run like I was.Not have gas limit what he can do.Mostly he`ll be local.We are rural and town is 5 miles.Bigger towns are 1/2 hr away in different directions.The Suburban would be great since I`m not worried about dinging it up and he`s a snowboarder.That thing loves to travel.But,if we can put together a thrifty 67-72 it would be cool.And,yes,he`d be building it.I`d be helping.

[Pl4yboy]

I'm 18 and I just finished my 69 a few months ago. While my father and I were building mine, I came to kinda LOVE it you know? I swear if something happens to this truck I'm probably going to kill someone lol. I drove an 84 jeep that I basically treated like crap until this. I know that if you build something with your son, he's going to do the same thing I did... Fall in love and treat it better than a girlfriend.

[special-K]

That sounds great.I`m always happy to hear about the love of trucks passing on down the line.There`s hope for the world after all.
I figure we`ll do a project and I`ll let him start off in the Suburban.I banged that thing enough.I guess I can`t say much if he does,right?We wouldn`t have anything ready to drive for a while and I`m not restoring something for a first car.I just need to get the clip off the`Burb and start swapping another motor in(got it).I have a decent 81/82 egg crate dual headlight grille/support for it.

Then,I`d spray it desert tan in no-glare/semi-gloss.I was going to part it out.Then I realized he`ll be needing to have something and I have another motor.I`ll wait to part it until he gets his first miles out of it.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Our daughter just turned 24 and we decided to buy her a car. She can afford to run a car now and when she was 19 she couldn't. We didn't think she showed the maturity at 19 to handle the resposibility needed to drive a car as well. Too many teenagers wind up dead because of premature gratification on behalf of their parents. Legal driving age was raised from 16 to 19 here in B.C. where I live and it's amazing how many fatalities there still are.

esll.

[MyakkaJeff]

You guys have got me worried. My son turned 16 in July and is going to get his license on Monday. I got him a 68 long fleet this summer and we've done some upgrades. He's put his sweat into it and I think he values the effort. He CAN be a little cocky behind the wheel though. Weren't we all? He wants to drive it to school this year, which is 14 miles round trip, plus a few side stops I'm sure. 20 gallon tank = 60$ a week so LOOK FOR A JOB!!! Oh CRAP...

[jc]

nice to see he showed some interst finally

im selling of all of my parts and 53 ply and 70 gmc to upgred my second daughters inheritance.-------1959 --------





BIG FIN






















CADILLAC

[special-K]

[MyakkaJeff]

What were we thinking???

[70' GMC]

Im 18 but me and my dad fixed it up which was a 1970 yellow and white gmc ugly as I dont what and well I was about 5 in about 93 or 94 I remember sanding off rust and I remember it being painted and when they the primer and new rocker panels on I went to stay with my cousins but on april my dad passed on april 10th 2006 and we had it planned that it would go into a body shop that summer but it did not happen and that year I would go out side and crank it up and let run 10 or 20 minutes about every 2 weeks and kept an eye on everything then got my license about mid march and I drove the heck out of because it would fly it had a holley 4 barrel that he tuned up real good. on the 4 lanes I had up to 85 to about 90 and then about the 4th week I tore up the engine and now its black and not orange then I got a new starter and now im needing a new radiator all my hard earned dough went under the hood. I learned my lesson

well if were you check it out completely replace everything under the hood or check it out

[MyakkaJeff]

70' GMC --See, He's still teaching you. Listen to him, fix it up, and RESPECT it. AND KEEP IT!!

[a1953mdl]

Special-K
What does your son want for an engine?
I don't think there is that much difference in the MPG for a 260 I6 or a 283 V8. MPG will have a lot to do with how it is driven.
Spray-Bomb on this board is my son. He works on his truck mostly by himself and pays for most of his parts. It may not look the best (yet) and often he doesn't drive it calmly, but when it breaks, he has to fix it. The good news is he can fix it.
Letting him make the decisions has cost some, but paid off in many more ways. Not only does he get to drive the vehicle he wants, but he is learning valuable lessons everyday.
Anyway, I would lean toward putting the engine your son wants in the truck. He'll have more pride in it and will be more likely to take care of it if he gets to choose.
If he does want the 250, they can be made to run really well. I personally would lean that way if he doesn't have a preference. Obviously the small block could be easier.
IIRC, On inliners.org, there was talk of one guy getting in the low to mid 20's with a I6 with a DIY-efi on it and an over drive trans.
Lee

[special-K]

Thanks for the good advise.I don`t think he really cares...yet.

[jeffspower]

My son will be 16 in November. He's not a gearhead like me. That might be a good thing. So far he hasn't showed much interest in driving. We run around in the Malibu for "training". The only vehicle he has a lot of interest in is my mom's '80 T/A, but she won't be willing to give it up for a long time. And there is no way I would let it be his first daily driver until he proves worthiness If she would let him have it. She's had it forever, it's the only toy she's had. It's showing it's age, but a solid original yet. He has my old '68 coming to him, but he doesn't show much interest in it other than loves the sound of the headers & pipes with nothing but resonator tips. Not a good setup for a kid. Cops aren't as easy going with warnings like they were when I was a kid. It still needs power brakes & other work too. Other than minor maintenence, it hasn't been wrenched on since I worked on it as a teenager. And it shows. Lots of "novice" work from the early days to straighten up

[CrashBob]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

I'm with you, my daughter turns 16 in Feb. and is already all over me about getting a car

The 6 cylinder may be the ticket not only for gas but for insurance rates as well.

Yikes! auto insurance for a 16 year old

Who are you insured with? My daughter is 17 and her insurance runs $127.00 a year with a discount for good grades. Auto insurance for girls is MUCH cheaper than boys. My son will be 16 in two years and then....look out! Maybe I'll be senile by then and won't notice...........

[special-K]

...and mine doesn`t get good grades...I`ll just tell them he lives with his mother in FL.

[AH619]

My Son Is 13.we Started His Truck When He Was 11 And Painted It On Memorial Day 06. He Had A Good Year Of Driving Dirt Roads And Our Feilds Before Paint.and He Also Drives My Old Beater Wood Truck 69 Which Is A 4speed. He Is Ready Just Too Young.[IMG]LOGANSTRUCK018,JPG[/IMG]

[retodd7711]

My boy turns 16 in February. That's his Blazer on the left. We bought it with a blown motor and he helped out on the repairs and upgrades. I bought my 69 so we could have another project together before he "grows up"
My Blazer has been relagated to dedicated boat-puller and stays hooked up all summer