The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk So do you like to drive it or work on it???

Hi Everyone Stovebolt....

Been working on my Howard Knapp truck since I think October 2014. It got me to thinking as I ripped my finger open on another rusted nut on the front end...

Do you guys like working on them or driving them??...

I have never driven one so all I have done is work on them??? I am hoping the driving part is way more fun than the time I have spent laying on my back and on my knees this fall and winter so far...

I am curious as to what you pro-guys have to say...

MikeC

I liked working on mine, but I like driving it even better,

YES to Bill's sentiments.

Driving it hands down...
I also do most all my own wrenching.
Make it a driver and not a trailer queen and you'll enjoy it much much more.
Good luck
Dave

When I was a young man I really enjoyed working on them. Especially the engines. Now that I am nearing 70 I would rather drive them.

I'm no pro but: I enjoy working on my truck but I really love driving it.It is what motivates me to do the work.---Jack

Both! Nothing makes me grin like a kid again like working through and learning how to do some of this stuff myself. Sometimes a blue word might be uttered, but when the victory is won ALL that is forgotten. The victory laps come in driving it. Especially, going to a cruise in or car show and answering questions and seeing the glee in someone as they recount stories from their younger days.

It seems I enjoy working on them more then driving it. It seems like when I get one done I get bored with it & sell it. Now I'm getting too old to do much work so I'm going to hang on to the 56 I have left. I'm putting Vintage Air in it now so I can use it more next summer.
George

The only reason that I work on them is that I can't afford to buy a finished one, nor pay someone to build one for me.
I definitely prefer driving them.
Can't wipe the smile off my face.
But I do like it when people ask me who restored it.
Carl

I like working on them. When I am done I like the fact that people are paying attention and looking at the truck. Then they ask questions and it feels good that they like it too. If they didn't, they wouldn't comment. Driving them is a lot of fun for me. I guess I still like my creature comforts too. But no one cares about my new vehicles.
What I like is the appreciation I get out of working on a project. When others can see and appreciate it, it makes me feel good.

Agreed with all those above. LOVE to daily drive mine and appreciate when something needs repair learning and tearing into it as I go along.

Now that I'm older I get more pleasure from diving, that from working on them.

Brian

I am sort of like Justhorsenround. Once I get through with the work, I lose some intrest and wind up selling it. Always at a loss!
For me it has always been the fun of bringing something back to life. Like the thrill of the hunt or whatever, I guess.
Kinda like deer hunting, the hunt is over after you have killed the poor thing. I ain't gonna eat it, so what do I do? Hang it's head on the wall? The wife ain't gonna have that.
I am 70 also, so the work part is really slowing down.
I guess I will spend the rest of my days riding the back roads and looking at the old trucks and cars sitting in the weeds. And thinking "WOW" look at that! That thing could be made really nice!! Even tho there is only 2 bumpers and a frame left of it. LOL.

I enjoyed working on mine, 5 years in my spare time. Would I do it again? No. Any regrets? No. By doing the work yourself you learn all about the truck and helps down the road if there are any issues.

Been working on mine since 2006. Been driving it since 2010. Like driving it better . My wife swears that I don't want to get it finished and she's right. I like em both.

You will always be working one em, ........even when your "done"

Spent over 5 years on the 37 and over 6 on my panel....and now I'm working on a 50 coupe.
I've always like working with my hands and also making something "new" again. Its nice to know "YOU" did it. I drive down the road and it makes ME feel good to know what has been accomplished. Good for moral, good self esteem and it keeps me out of the pool halls and beer joints. I like working on just about anything. I'm lucky to that my last two wive's haven't minded me doing it.

hey, the coupe isn't running yet and I'm already looking for another one....if old age don't get me first.

I don't really like driving, period. I guess I like working on it. Mostly, I need a truck and like having a cool one.

It would be a harder call if we were talking about motorcycles....

Now, that is truly an enigma (good title/name/handle)

I am 82 so rolling around under neath it isn't the fun it used to be.Driving it is the most fun now. Even the motorcyle guys give me the big thumbs up, Car shows are fun too because I get to tell the story of the sub and how I brought it back to life. Keep wrenching and when you are done drive the he*& out of it.


weeds

Great job on the 'Burb Weeds! Beautiful!!!!

I love to drive my '57 Suburban and I hate to work on it. BUT I cannot afford to pay someone, so I have to work on it... Engine-trans-rear end swaps, electrical, and stuff... I have done it all myself...
And I still prefers driving!

Working on them is a lot more fun when they at least get to the point where you can move them around under their own power. They're fun to drive but, I get a lot of enjoyment just looking at them.

John

Great question. I enjoy working on my 58 Burb and love driving it. This is my first real project truck and I didn't have much experience with older vehicles when I bought it. I owned a 63 Chevy Stepside about 25 years ago but only drove it and did basic maintenance till I sold it after 3 years. Never should have sold that truck! :-)

One of the screening criteria for my decision process when buying the truck was that it had to run/drive. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on a truck and then not be able to drive it. Like I said, with little hard core wrenching experience I thought it would be overwhelming to buy a true project truck the first time around. I ended up spending more money than I wanted to when I bought the truck, but after a tune up and my first ever carb rebuild, it started and ran quite well. I drove it to work as often as I could at my last job and enjoyed it very much. Unfortunately, I'm in Kuwait for two years and the Burb is in underground storage in Kansas City. :-(

Loving to drive the truck is a double edged sword. When working on the vehicle I often found myself thinking "while I'm under here I should probably replace this part or that." Problem was that I didn't have the part on hand and it would be another road trip out to one of the parts houses. Always wanting to drive the truck to work on Monday morning sometimes had me delaying issues that could have been resolved with a little patience. That being said I never drove the truck if I thought it was dangerous. It kind of came down to doing the job well enough versus really doing the job right.

Bottom line is I bought a truck because I want to drive a truck. Working on it is part of the package deal.

Drivin', I guess. As a result, Only one is running and it is wearing down. I've got to rediscover the joy of building.

Interesting question... makes you think a little. For me I just like old trucks so working and driving them both hold appeal... but for different reasons

I love to work in the garage.. for me its a sort of therapy ... a place to get away and drown out everything for a short while. In addition I get a lot of satisfaction taking something that was broke and forgotten and bringing it back to life. Quality and detail are to my standards, schedules are what I say, costs are what I am willing to pay.. good kharma

At the same time I also love to drive the trucks... sort of the ultimate test of the work you did in the garage. No one to blame or complain to except myself if the truck doesn't drive right or breaks down. I also like the feeling when driving...life seems to slow down when you're behind the wheel ( lol.. maybe that's just me as my 1 ton cruises at about 45 mph!)I also like the people I meet while driving... it seems these old truck are an instant conversation piece and I get lots of smiles and thumbs up when I drive.

this last weekend I put approx. 150 miles on the 1 ton trying to get some road miles on the truck and shake out any problems... the goal is to drive the 1 ton from Kansas City area to Montana the coming fall... at 45 mph it will take a few days but definitely doable.. build them...drive them... all part of the fun

Overall working on and driving these old trucks has been a positive influence in my life ...

Real good question. I guess I love to drive my 1949 more so than working on it. My Dad had a 1953 when I was younger and that's what I had to date in. I loved it. 4-speed and all. Didn't really care if the girls liked it or not! I learned a lot back in the day on keeping it running and I thank my Father for letting me learn. I don't know it all but he taught me a lot. May he rest in peace. I'll keep this 49' going in his memory. One day I'll try to get my 3/4 ton going and add it to my "running" collection. A BIG thank you to "Stovebolt" for all the help I've gotten over the past. When you get older you tend to forget things and all of you jog my memory and that's what I need. Again, thank you so much, Steven

Driving is better!

I hate working on it .

If I have to work on it , that means its off the road and I cannot drive it.

I get distressed when I cannot drive the truck.

Well written, I agree with you 100%

Paul

I bought my old truck for therapy and to get me out of the office and distracted. I wasn't sure what I would do when it was finished and back together because the restoration was the thing.
Now that is it on the road I am beginning to enjoy driving it more than I thought I would. Also, as I get older and stiffer it isn't as much fun crawling around on cold concrete as it used to be :-)
Now that the big resto is done I think I enjoy tinkering almost as much as driving.

I got my 54' 3600 in July 2014 and I enjoy working on it whenever time and money allow. Doing the "homework" before you start on a repair is almost like a mystery novel and once the jobs done, driving it down the road is a huge reward. Then its on to "whats next". Bringing it back to life is just plain old fun, that's all there is to it, and those wave's , thumbs up, and big smiles from people you see doesn't hurt either.

I like driving my trucks MUCH more than working on 'em. I don't mind working on 'em-except wiring. I REALLY don't like doing wiring. Strangely enough though,every truck I've ever owned has needed electrical work. Hint to newbies-It seems that the more you pay for your truck,the less screwed up the electrics will likely be. (Actually,it's MORE accurate to say the LESS you pay for your truck,the MORE screwed up the electrics will be. I can provide examples that bear this out.) Currently,my '54 GMC 2 Ton needs some wiring done behind the dash to make it run again,but my back is sayin' "OH,NO YOU WON'T NEITHER!"I guess I'll figure it out. Okay-sittin' here thinkin' about it,I have a plan now.
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