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Fixing the old truck

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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
C
New Guy
New Guy
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
new to the forum. have not been into the old car scene in 20 years, kids! I went and broke down and bought a 99% rust free 66 c10 stepside in pieces. It is a west coast truck brought to PA 25 years ago and was taken apart and stored. Original other than the 400/4spd. The only rust was in the front fender dog legs and the guy had a brand new in the box set of GM fenders.

Restore/sell Hotrod/original? I may need alot of advice over the next year os so if I decide to try and put it back together. The gallery photos provide some great motivation.

Chris

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,201
F
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,201
Welcome aboard Chris, lots of great folk and knowledge here so post up some pics and lets get started.


1953 Chevrolet 3600
Fried Green T'mater (Vern)
In the Stovebolt Gallery
Caution: Political Statement
Man who runs in front of car gets tired, man who runs behind car gets exhausted.
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 101
D
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 101
I'd say go with your initial feeling. It sounds from your description that it's original enough that a restoration is merited. But on the other hand, its got a non-original engine so if you were originally leaning toward modifying it, go with it.

There is no "right" answer except the one YOU feel comfortable with. Everyone else's "..you HAVE to restore it" or "...it's nothing if its not a hotrod" opinions are meaningless since they're not paying the freight. That's my opinion; feel free to ignore it!

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 131
R
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 131
Well said Dan in Pasadena


1952 Chevy 3804
My 1952 in the Gallery

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5
C
New Guy
New Guy
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Thanks, I will try to get some pictures posted

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,781
G
Master Gabster
Master Gabster
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,781
My 2 cents is to do what you feel you can do. When you bought it, what were you thinking then?

Whatever you choose there are a few things that will stay static:

You will need the room to put it back together

It will cost money

It will take time

The difference between Original and Hot Rod varies too:

What are your skill levels?

What resources to you have?

What type of space will you be working in?

Do you have help or will you be doing the work yourself?

What do you know about 1966 C10 trucks?

What are your intentions of the truck once it is completed?



Many will say, it's your truck do with it what you want.

Make a plan.

Set some goals.

Make a budget (most likely you won't stay within it, but it will make you feel good)

Inventory what you have and make notes on what needs attention.

Look at the trucks in the gallery and other sites, choose something you like and investigate it to see if it's something that you can accomplish.

You can make it look original and still have modifications.

The most notable modification is paint, it changes it from original to whatever people see it as.

Even with after market wheels, a truck can still look stock.

Hang out in this forum


Most importantly, don't listen to me, I have been working on my Suburban for three years and it's still a project! eeeek

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,152
O
Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,152
I'll add my two cents....

Think hard on how you want to enjoy the truck. Do you want to drive it a lot? Do you want to attend rod runs or car shows? Visualize yourself at a hot rod show talking about the truck. Visualize yourself at an antique truck show talking about the truck.

Think about the people you'll see at various events. Serious restorers and serious hot rodders don't tend to be the same people and if you like one crowd better than the other, build the truck to better integrate you into that crowd.

If you plan to drive it, think about the driving you'll want to do, both getting to and from, and the driving at the destination. You may find the driving you want to do requires going one way or another.

I hope this is helpful, I'm just trying to get you to see yourself with each of the options so you can choose one. This approach did not work for me, so I currently have seven trucks projects. My problem is I can see myself with each of the options....


1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble...
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,859
S
Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats
Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,859
Its your truck, do what you want. Its your wallet, it will hurt any way you look. The main thing is have fun. As soon as the fun goes away, sell the whole lot and go fishing.


The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 179
O
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 179
Hey Chris,welcome to the club.Only item i can think of to add to gmoniz's list,get the wife,girlfriend kids,whichever you have,involved,it might make the process easier if they feel they are part of it. thumbs_up thumbs_up

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 202
H
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 202
Hi,Chris, What I would do is get the truck put back together with what you have and then drive it for the summer. From what you say is that the sheet metal is good so leave it stock.(Use water proof primer). If you are adding non stock parts, modify the non stock parts to fit the original truck. Next order any parts catalog that covers your truck, it will payoff in the long run. P.S. have fun.


Keep the 216's running. 1949 1/2 ton model #1314 (US 3104) Brian

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