The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How much nit picky

Details may be my final downfall, for example, last night, while cleaning parts, I discovered gray engine paint on the generator support bracket & bolts, which means that it was probably there when the engine was painted during assemely. Another detail..gray painted stovebolts holding on the coil bracket. I gotta let go.If its like this on the engine, then the body & frame work will finish me off! How much importance do you put on details?

Hate to cop-out with the standard answer, but in this case...

I truly believe it all depends on what you're planning on doing with the truck.

If you're gonna drive it for personal pleasure and enjoyment, doing the average run of the mill car-shows and weekend cruise-ins, I wouldn't give it too much thought.

On the other hand, if you're looking to build a show winning piece of art... Well that's a whole nother story, and you better get back to work.

I frequently get people telling me this aint correct, or that's got this and it should have that etc.

I don't care. I aint in it for the trophies or awards. My trucks are driven year-round for my enjoyment and pleasure. I'll take the nods and thumbs ups going down the road over sitting in a parking lot with my hood open any day.

Make it safe, fun, and do things to the level that you can live with. Most of the people that see your truck will never know the difference.

I agree........in fact I just came in from a drive in my 52,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I found a another chip in the wind-shield,,,,,,,,,,,,,no big deal to me,, if you want it total correct, get you one fit for a muesum.

Fred

I am a purist to a point. I like to see trucks that look like they did when they rolled off the line from 50 feet. As I get closer, the differences from stock are fun to look at and compare (and if it's a good idea, to appropriate).

I don't have a problem with repop sheetmetal, I don't have a problem with new paint in different colors than were available at date of manufacture, and I don't even care so much about someone doing a ring/pinion or a brake swap.

My truck is my TRUCK. If I need to haul a bunch of dirt, I'll use my truck. If I need to move a bed for someone, I'll use my truck. If I need to go pull someone else's truck out of the lake because they miscalculated when pulling their boat out, I'll use my truck. It will be used, and because of that, I'm not going to be wasting time making it show quality. I want to drive it and use it without being afraid to.

As Eric said, the small things don't matter so much, if you're not looking to build a trailer queen.

if you want it done your way, then you will have to change things done by someone else or start a from scratch

why'd you buy it? did you not look at the nit picky stuff first?

sounds like my truck would put you in your grave

That is the tough question. You want to do the job right, but you don't want to spend a bazillon or go nuts doing it. Some cars had sags on them from the factory and if you don't sag it the same way on the paint, then you get points off.

I always have a hard time deciding when enough is enough, and that target moves around daily depending on project, time, frustration level, and whatever!

Then again, make a list of all the little things to monkey with, then you know what they are, and then come back to it when you are bored looking for something to do.

The way I understand it, is the high level car show judges expect a vehicle to look like how it SHOULD have looked like coming off the assembly line. Paint sags may have been on some coming off the line, but those were not intentional, so should not be placed purposely on your restored vehicle just because the original paint job had one. Same with a little overspray. Yes, probably it existed on most, but it was not intentional oversprayed.

Just my opinion.

Thanks Irwin, good advice, I tend to get wrapped up in details & enjoy repairing or replacing an original damaged or missing part. I'm not looking to restore a trailer queen, but sorta getting the truck back to square one.

My Dad came home to our small farm one day in the fall of '52 with a brand new Chevy half ton PU. As I understand it, that truck wouldn't be considered by todays judging standards. Right or wrong?

Well it would be totally original but the paint fit of the panels etc may not be up to Pebble Beach standards. I did the matching numbers bit with a 1965 elcamino with a 327/300 posi,bucket seats four speed etc. I painted things falt black , some gloss black some zinc, some cast iron. It was really involved and it looked like it did when it came out of the factory. The paint job was way better but it was what I wanted. Restoring a car or truck to stock by # is time consuming and costly. I knew a guy spend $250.00 on a water pump for a 1962 corvette cuz it had the correct build date stamped into it. Then he still had to rebuild it! I dont think I would go to that extreme anymore. I dont have the patients. But you can detail something out and make it nice and stock looking and still be happy. If its your daily driver then dont go overboard if your restoring it stock then draw your line. Either way build it like you want and are happy with . You only have to please one person and thats You!

The way I look at it you sweat the details you want to sweat. If the motor originally was grey amd now is, say orange, then it's up to you to decide if you want those parts to look more original. And if you're cleaning parts now spraying them the 'correct' color isn't that great a step. Trying to find a correct date stamped generator or water pump just because it has the right date for maybe taking it a bit too far if you're not building a concours show truck.

One of the reasons I'm a hot rodder and not a restorer is that I can't stand the thought of sorting out details like these!

It really does come down to how you want to use the truck, and if winning points at shows where the judges care about what was original is your purpose you probably need to be pretty picky...

I can't add a lot to what's already been said. Do it to the level YOU are happy with and can afford.
As for me personally, I'm happy if they look nice-I don't sweat the small stuff, at least to the degree that you would need to if it were being judged. I've read some of the things that judges look for, and those guys are NUTS!!! (IMHO) It doesn't take long to drive the price out of reach for the average guy.
But, if that's what you are into, then go for it! It's your truck, no one else's.
My problem arises when some extra picky person takes it upon himself to rip apart someone else's truck or tractor because it doesn't measure up to HIS standards. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but there are times when that opinion should be kept to one's self.

In some cases its time vs money. If its time then I would do the best I could so that later you don't say to yourself "I could have done better"...do it to the best of your ability and money no matter what the intended use is. Its kind of like getting your car washed. You want it to look clean for a while and then it really don't matter but if the wash job is only half way then you wouldn't like it. Make the "most" of what you have and YOU will be satisfied.