What order to restore?

[jfalesi]

Hey guys, I'm trying to figure out what order to do things in on my truck. I'm in the middle of a gas tank replacement, and decided to do some frame cleaning while I could get to it with the tank dropped. I realized that cleaning the frame would be much easier with the body off (it's a Burb). It does need some body work, but how would I get the body to the body shop and be able to keep working on the frame? Do I need a donor frame? Should I just have the body shop sandblast the frame? I'd like to do what I can myself to keep the cost down but welding and paint work is currently out of my skill range. Any ideas on logistics? Thanks in advance!

[leftybass209]

Taking the logical approach, decide what your finished vision of the truck is.

Is it a show truck where judges will be looking at the underside?
Do you want it to remain drivable while working on it?

Most all projects that get started realistically don't ever get finished and wind up as a pile of parts on ebay or craigslist. Decide if you really have the commitment and dedication to see this project through, and the finances to carry you there.

You WILL absolutely, 100% take a component off you didn't think you needed to replace, and find out it indeed needs to be replaced. The more you pull off, the more of those components there will be.

I say that because you mentioned wanting to keep costs down. I assume you're not made of money (none of us are!!!) so anything you take off becomes a potential cost when putting it back on, especially if you're replacing with aftermarket parts and find that the piece you thought you could salvage just doesn't jive with the aftermarket parts you've already purchased.

Another thing is don't purchase things ahead of time, so far that you can't return them. I had this happen where I bought a part, then a year later finally try to install it and it doesn't work, or it's non-functioning and I'm stuck eating the cost.

Instead of trying to save time by pulling the body AND doing the frame, decide which NEEDS to be done first, and keep the truck as intact as possible to avoid discouragement and overwhelming parts cost.

Most of all... HAVE FUN!!!!!

[Bigdav160]

Do not do any body work with it off the frame.

I would resist the temptation of project creep. Fix what needs to be fixed and enjoy the ride.

[67 chevelle]

mechanicals , then paint ,, then interior ,, you can switch the first 2 , but chance scratching it

[jfalesi]

Mechanicals are good - the engine and transmission are only about 10-15 years old with maybe 40k on them. It's been sitting for the better part of the past 5 years though, so I know I need to do some work to get it running again. The body is the biggest need at the moment. My plan was to install the gas tank so I could drive it to the body shop. Sounds like that is still the best plan.

Thanks, guys!

[hugger6933]

Now a lot of body shops[including mine] doesn't want to spend a ton of extra time taping the underside for every time work is to be done. Now just think about instead of taking the body off to do the frame after the truck is painted , can you spray undercoating[and just plain black paint] on the underside to dress that up?
It is ok if you want the frame all cleaned up and freshened up but like one of the above said do you really need_______? if the answer is yes be prepared to pay some more at the body shop. Also one other thing to consider is doing the body mounts you probably need them bad most of us do. But when doing a frame off as compared to just a fix, clean and paint I think the latter is one you will more likely drive than the former. I seen lots of times people spend so much on getting them as perfect as they can then are afraid to drive them. If those same people didn't do as much it might be easier for them to hop in and go for a ride.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Long ago I'd do a little here, a little there, including some frame "restoration". In my case, at the end of the day I accomplished nothing more than a cleaner surface to strip down again and do it right.

My original intent was a nice restore and refinish everything I could. Thanks to this website (blame you) I came to the conclusion that wasn't good enough either, so I'm slowing tearing it down to just engine and tranny.

It really depends on your ultimate goal, time and money.

[harrisoncole4]

if looking to make it as perfect as possible eventually, but still drive it in the meantime, what would everyone recommend with regards to the steps of restoration?

[hugger6933]

Those two just don't go together, you can make it safe reliable and comfortable to drive but sometime the burb is gonna have to come off the road if you want to restore it. Now first you have to define what you consider restoration there is a wide range from a nut and bolt frame off body rotisserie type that some guys think of and then some guys [i know cause I've seen them post here] think that a new turn signal switch and front brakes constitutes a Restoration. Then most folks fall in the middle ground. So decide what your goal is then make on paper a plan for your truck [Suburban] then try to stick as close as possible to the plan. Jim