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I am a farely new "Bolter," but have read a lot on this site. There is a lot of information to be soaked up from the veterans, and I do appreciate that.

My question is somewhat of a loaded one. So, stay with me.....I am engaged and want to have my truck on the road for the wedding next June. My soon to be better half has expressed the desire to have it at least movable by then and I am trying my best to make that happen.

I have a '50 1/2 ton with a blown engine in it. I have stripped the bed and most of the front fenders off to do body work and painting to. My fabrication skills are minimal, but I do have friends nearby with great skills. I would like to do as much of it myself as possible. The overall plan for the truck is to have a daily driver capable of long highway trips (around 6 horus one way). I figure the best way to accomplish this is to have ifs and other modern modifications.

So, long story...long what is the quickest, cheapest (have a wedding to pay for), easiest, best ifs I can use? I have seen bolt-in and weld-in MII and Corvette kits and the S-10 option. Just looking for a little guidance here. Thanks guys!

The weld in IFS is the best option but the low end cost of that will be about $1,500. Next you have a blown engine which means replacement. Since you posted in HI-PO forum I venture to guess you have a V8 on your mind. You can spent about $1,000 on average to build up a small block chevy with parts, machine work and labor. You then will need a new transmission so add another $500, a new drive shaft will run about $150, then comes the rear axle which you can cheap out on for about $150 for an open differential. You will need about $500 for a rear suspension kit unless you cobble something together yourself but since you have limited fab skills this is a buy item for now. Then you have new wheels and tires so add another $600 for some basic steel wheels and some decent rubber. Next comes new stuff like glass ($200), wiring ($200), patch panels ($300), V8 radiator ($250), fuel tank ($300), brake lines ($200), fuel lines ($100), and finally bed wood ($250). This does not include painting but then natural patina is always an option.

So there you have a rough cost estimate of what it will take to make your truck a daily cruiser. You may be able to get some bargains on some items but I think my costs are pretty close when you include shipping costs.

So for a total of about $6,000 in parts and the free help of your friends who hopefully will still be friends afterwards, you have a daily driver. Oh and you might want to include in the cost a much larger diamond for the bride as she will probably get very jealous of the new mistress in the house (garage) especially if it takes time away from her and the planning of the big event.

My suggestion is to wait until after the wedding and HOPE you can get the money put aside to pay for the truck before any little tax deductions start popping out or the other option is to put the wedding plans up on jackstands until you get everything bought and the debt is already incurred. You then have two incomes to help pay it off. You will still need to spring at least the same amount on her either through jewerly or an upgraded honeymoon.

Good luck.

I would classify your proposed options as more of a "Rodstoration" or similar term.
"Restoration" only means one thing.
Regardless...good luck with your project..

Amen, Ghostrider.

I'd give up on it until after you get married.

You have too many things to think about and spend money on before getting hooked on the old truck. Just my opinion but in a new marrage there is only room for ONE love. And it better not be a truck or you'll end up sleeping with it in the garage!

My buddy just put a Speedway IFS kit under his 53 panel. Oh yeah, kids will put an end to any project. They are great, but ya gotta feed them.

B T
If you plan on finishing this project by next June in the way Houston54 outlined you better be running. I'm afraid 9 months will produce a little one but rarely something as ambitious as what you have in mind.
Always put off till tomorrow what you can't do today...

Oh yeah and I forgot some things..Steering column ($150 - junk yard to $400 IBuyIt), New 12V electrics - gauges, alternator, headlights, taillights, horns ($500).

One of the first things you need to before tackling such a project is to develop a build plan/budget/schedule. Without one that address all aspects of you project you stand a good chance of not completing it or missing the mark you had planned to reach.

If you only have 9 months to do this or any part of this project you will certainly want to identify which of the following are the critical elements;

Make it Go
Make it Whoa
Make it show

Sounds like the first two are the winners. Do not be discouraged. Projects like this can take 4-5 years or more. With all the expenses of getting married, buying property, saving money and starting college funds, old trucks typically are not in the cards. You may want to go find a truck that is already in drivable condition. Let us know what your decision is.

There already is a word to describe this. Restortion. (Credit PG)

Thanks for all of the advice guys!

I was looking to go the S-10 route, buying the kit from AD Engineering. I figured this may save me both money (over all) and time. I've found an S-10 that runs well and doesn't have any mechanical problems that I can buy for $400. This way I have a truck with a motor and transmission already in it that work. Any thoughts on this approach.

Money $$$ ?????
Time ????
Not knowing how much money you're willing to dole out and how much time you have to dedicate to the project it's hard to say. If I spend too much time watching Coddingham on Speed TV and see them build one in a week or two I begin to think I can quickly whip one out until reality sets in.
I'm sure you can make most any deadline if you have unlimited resourses and time.
Whatever you decide have fun and let us know how it goes.

I'd put off the marriage until you complete the truck. That way if the Bride to be can't handle it you'll still have the truck.

Don

Don--Nice thoughts on the postponement, but I think that may be a little hazardous to my health.

I guess I'm looking for anyone that may have used the AD Engineering kit with some insight??? I am already corresponding with Larry (49S10). Thanks again for your time guys!

Good luck! With all of it!

BT - there has been lots of good advice in this thread, most directed at postponing the truck until after the wedding.

There are 3 "rules of thumb" of which I am aware in the old car (truck) hobby:

(1) Get a consensus of cost from those in the business. MULTIPLY BY 3!!!

(2) Get a consensus of time from those in the business. MULTIPLY BY 4!!!

(3) Never (that's right, I used the word "never") set a deadline to have it finished.

Go to your bride-to-be and inform her that you would rather spend the next nine months helping her to plan the perfect wedding than work on the truck; and that you can work on the truck later.

Jon (old car, truck, and tractor nut for 50 years; happy husband for 41 years).

I have just about completed the task you are about to undertake. I will be getting married at the end of this September and started my project last July. My future wife was thrilled to have a 'cute' little 1935 Chevy pickup drive us away from the ceremony. With limited time and money, I opted for the rat rod approach. However, I cleaned and repainted everything. If I were you I would not worry about changing the front end. My truck is a 1935 Chevy and I upgraded the front end to a 1940 Chevy, so you are already way ahead of me!!! I thought I would have plenty of time to work on a project like this, but to be honest, if I had to do it all over again I would have just borrowed my dad's old car and use that for the get away vehicle. The project has consumed all of my spare time, and what was left for time I spent on the wedding. I had to sacrifice a lot to finish this project, which at the beginning sounded like a breeze. Think it through, and remember, it is the thought that counts.