The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Throwing in the Towel - how do you know when it's time to quit?

Well men,
Unless you can convince me otherwise, the ground up restoration of my '65 is going to the scrapyard. Question: Before I make a hasty decision (seeing that so many hours and $$ have been invested) how do you know if your truck is worth it or not?

Basically, i am down to the chassis (decent shape, I guess) with a '64 cab and an engine. No other body parts (save the hood) were salvagable seeing that even bondo couldn't do the job. I look around and am jealous at you that are done, and I am generally a patient guy, however, I do not know if this one is worth it, or should I move on.

Opinions welcome!

Its gotta be worth it to you, not to others. Maybe you need a parts truck. I'm looking for a nice hood if decide to punt. Brian

PJ,

These trucks are NEVER worth the amount that we pay to do the restoration.

The other day on eBay I saw THE truck that I SHOULD have held out for! It had exactly the options that I'd wanted!! I didn't bid on it.

Why? A couple of reasons. First, after having torn MY truck apart, I know that there's bound to be just as many things wrong with that truck as there were with mine. And, doing a frame-up, and being a perfectionist, I know that in the end I'd spend just as much money on that one as I already have. The second reason? I tend to get attached to these trucks after I spend so much time working on them and thinking about them. I just LIKE my truck, even if I'm going to have to buy more sheetmetal than I thought when I bought it.

If there was something that just could NOT be fixed (like frame damage), I'd have to give it up. But if it's just a matter of not as much saveable as you initially thought? It will be just the same on any other project you find to replace this one. Maybe next time it would be a rear axle toasted. Or rust along the inside top of the front windscreen. Any way you slice it, doing a frame-up is going to be full of surprises.

Brian

I'm still a young guy, and this is my first one )47 AD), but I've heard waaaaaay too many old timers complain about, "I had this one *blank* this one time..." Really think about why you bought it, what your plans are for it, and what it will really take to get it to be that way. See what happens after a long, hard look at your original thoughts. My $.02.

jay

Before you give up take a look around for a parts truck.

I was in about the same shape you are in and lucked into a parts truck. It really saved my rear, pun intended.

I have seen a bunch of great completed trucks too. Mine isn't even close to being done. Combining the two trucks into one has really helped out.

watever u do.. dont junk it.. theres always somenone wanting them.. its a classic, dont let it die

If you really want to do it,it is worth it.I have way too much money and hard work in my 55,but every time I start it up and take it to a show or cruisin,I think it is worth it all.Right now it is valued at just about what I have in it.In a couple years it will be worth more.When you get to the stage your in right now,just lock up the shop for a while and take it easy.In other words dont burn yourself out,take a break now and then.

PJ -- I've been where you are. It's good you're doing the "Stop. Think. Act." routine, too. The advice above is good, but only you can decide for sure. Lots of guys have gotten into trucks that were far worse than they originally appeared. I bought a '51 3/4-ton off eBay a few years ago that looked (and was presented as being) pretty good "Ran when it was parked." Well that thing was pure junk. About all we save off it was the engine, transmission and the glass. The rest of it was beyond messing with.

If you have a good chassis and cab, that's a start! Start with those and and just work back up. The other parts will come in time (with patience and diligence). You're doing the right thing by doing a gut check. And if that's the kind of restoration you want to do now, then settle in for the long haul and take it one step at a time. That's what I'm doing on my '49 Big Bolt and its working (We're on year 6 and I have a rolling chassis with brakes and steering).

Just my opinion for the group, but looking at these trucks as an "investment" is probably not the best way to look at them. At least in the short term. You have to love the old iron and enjoy spending the money and doing the work, otherwise this hobby can get pretty darn aggravating.

V/R
John

its not about dollar value if you like old trucks.i will probably drive my 63 GMC around with rust holes in the fenders and torn seat covers for a while until i can scrounge up the parts to fix it.I just like driving these old trucks.I probably already have more $$$ invested than it is actually worth but i will keep it around and spend some more $$ on it a litle at a time.

Nobody has mentioned the biggest payback of all, the therapy value!! I know my project gives me endless hours of enjoyment and relaxation. It was a project that most people would not touch but I figured I couldn't make it any worse! It is getting to the stage where I can see a truck emerging, and that is exciting. It will be a few years yet but I am truly enjoying the journey.

Fix it just because it needs fixing! Just for the love of it! Just something to keep you out of trouble! Something to drive around later and listen to how others had wished they had did it!!

Never give up, part of the fun of retoring a truck is trying to find parts for it.

All of the above is excellent advice. Think long and hard on what it is YOU really want. After owning the 59 for nearly 30 years it was part a labor of love and part reward for the old girl for always being there ready for anything. It was a long AND frustrating process that took 3 years and over $30K and personally I would never do it again. At this time I have her up for sale and will never recover my investment but unless I receive what I am asking in order to move on to my next classic she will be in the garage ready to go when I am. If I knew at the start of the project how much time, money and frustration was going to be involved I would have went looking for a truck that was already restored to my liking and bypassed all of the negatives. As mentioned, decide what you want to do and walk away from the project for good or for a time. Should not be a rush to the finish and at times these projects can take years and years to complete.

PJ, My truck was Jan '05 in IRWIPI and most would say that "you are crazy for thinking of starting a project like that".
You have to enjoy the process. You have to have the funds. Sometimes the timing isn't right.
I once sold a project before I started it, just because the "baby needed new shoes". (Actually I needed the money to keep the gas on). That was a long time ago when I was a newly father and had more dreams than money.
I look at the '40 now and can't believe how far it has come.
Just take one part at a time and after a while you won't believe how far you have gotten.
Hope it helps…. Hang in there!

you've all made some great points.

I think I have another.

We (all us americans) take no mind in buying a $25,000, $40,000 or $60,000 2005 truck and using it for work. putting plenty of miles and lots of wear and tear on it, and thinking nothing of it. That is what a truck is for right? 10 years go by and the truck has paint scrathces and chips, a few door dings, mabye a bad dent or two(or 7). lots of miles in it, and needing all kinds of work. IT might have a bad tranny, or engine. It will definitly need belts, tires, brakes , etc.This truck is worth what, 1/2 1/3rd of it's original value. It always shocks me when people beat up thier new $50,000 trucks.


then the flip side of the coin.

Lets say you drop $30,000 in your 65. That should cover all new drivetrain, some new body parts, and whatever else you fancy. you can now use this truck for the next 10 years, adding miles working it hard. I know alot of you would shudder at actually using an old truck, but it really makes more sense if you really think about it.

even with a few scratches a dent or two and the regular wear and tear(carpet stains, etc) your 65 (now 10 years older) will be an awesome example of the old iron. !0 years down the road there will be even fewer 65's around, making yours all the more rare. Even needing tires brakes and the other maintence, it will most likely be worth more than the now old and beaten 2005. being 2015, your truck will be 40 years old, and what has happened?

the 2005 truck has shot so far down in value it's just disgusting. your 40 year old truck could have very easily gone UP in value, even taken into acct, the wear and tear of ten years of work.

this always stikes me funny when guys say I should park my 71 so that it doesn't go down in value. I just laugh (and know that I can still fix it myself) and tell them, no thanks, not for me...


|M|

Well said Mordachai; from a '49 1/2 ton daily driver, yes, year 'round.

Park it in your garage, box up all the parts and start piling everything on top of it.. in about 6 months, you wont even see it sitting there... 6 more months, you will wonder what is under that pile of junk.... after spending a weekend digging it out, you will be re-energized and you will make a bunch of progress until you get depressed about it again.... just dont park it outside where it will degrade more.

Or you could just put it back together, paint it flat black and drive it for a while, then restart the re-storation.

If you decide you dont want it, give it away in the free trucks forum.

I think it all depends on how much of the work you can do yourself. If you have to take it from shop to shop & have the work done it will turn into an expensive nightmare.

It sounds to me that you want to be convinced to keep it... so keep it.

For what its worth, you can blame us later on... so keep it.

If for no other reason than to save a 'Bolt from the crusher... keep it.

Even if you never touch it again... down the road someone else will see it... and an immagination will spark... and the dream will live on... and you can rest well... for you will have played an important role in the life of a 'Bolt... so keep it.

PJ,

My situation is much like V6jimmy's. I paid about $500 for mine and after putting a clutch in it, I'll start driving it, rust and all. As I get money and time I'll do this and that. I never want to make it so nice that I'm afraid to throw something in the backend and scratch it. I couldn't imagine driving around in something that nice. If you want it that nice, then search for one that's has most of the features you want and then finish it out. In my opinion, the guys that fix them up in pristine condition are just paying your equity, they can almost NEVER get out of them what they put in them. Then all YOU have to do is tweek it to your liking.

As for your current project, trade it, give it away, sell it, just PLEASE DON'T scrap it.

My 2c.

Rance

PJ, I've had several vehicles that have ended up with me asking the same question - "Does this truck/car mean anything to me when it's done?" Is it a truck you really want when it's done? Did one have significant meaning to you as a kid because your Dad or granddad had one like it?..That's one reason I'm doing my '37 Hudson Terraplane resto, is that my mom's Dad had one after WWII just like the car I have. He moved the whole family (wife and SEVEN kids, and a dog) plus a small U-haul in 1947 from Chicago to Los Angeles. So, even though I never saw his car, except for one picture, it has meaning for me to do it up right and give my Mom a ride in it before the end of this year.

What is your ultimate desire for this truck, is it reasonably acheivable, and can you do it without driving yourself crazy, or sleeping in the garage with your truck because your wife isn't as crazy about it as you might be?

If it ain't fun, don't do the truck...BUT, sell, trade, or give away what you do have for someone else to work. Don't scrap it, whatever you do!

here's how i look at it. if you buy anew or new used truck iwould have to plunk down 400-600$a month for 60-84 months.if you take what you could afford to spend as a payment to your truck each month you can move forward on your project. if you get tired for a month or two(or6 as i have,work has got in the way now it's hot ) the can't come get mine because i haven't paid him because i don't owe him. now all this time off has given me time to plan ,aquire parts and gather information ididn't have 6 months to a year ago. have faith atleast it makes fora great conversation

PJ - #1 - Was the truck your grandfather's? Father's? your first truck? Does it have special sentimental value to you? - If yes keep it, if no, go to #2
#2 - It costs about the same to restore a Cameo as it does to restore a run of the mill work truck. Does your truck have something unusual or rare about it that sets it apart from other similar models? If yes keep it, if no go to #3
#3 Good rule of thumb in deciding what to keep (or buy) and restore is if it passes the 2 out of 3 test.
i.e. divide the vehicle into three parts. The body, The mechanics and the interior. If two of them are above average it's usually a good candidate.
If you find yourself into something that reveals itself as more work than it's worth, fold your hand and start fresh.....my 2 cents.