philosophy of thought, in rebuilding an old ford pickup

[ken's1971]

I'm wondering what your individual opinions are on this. Basically i'm wondering what you think of the different ways too go about rebuilding a ford pickup.

Last time i looked at NADA prices for a 67-72 ford pickup it was about 9,000 for a fully rebuilt pickup.

And compared too Chevy, that wasn't very good comparative wise.

So to make my point clear what is the best way to restore or rebuild an old ford pickup. for instance using bondo or similar filler to repair dents instead hammering them absolutely smooth then using lead. Well maybe get the dents close then bondo them:) Or for instance spraying 5 coats of clear on a 3 stage paint product then actually using your rig and scratching it! Just stuff like that.

I'll say anybody can do what they want with their time and money but i don't want to waste mine.

I did paint my 71 and it really did'nt turn out like i wanted. At first i started off that i wanted everything perfect. And this seems the way alot of you guys feel. But stuff like getting quality parts for body pieces or repairing every rust hole with a mig welder with original spec sheetmetal would be both time consuming and expensive and is it going to be worth it?

Well about 7 months have gone by since i painted my 71 i had to park it because i ran out of money because of the gas prices. And i am just feeling the way i do because i am more money concious. When i get money back again i am going to stay feeling this way. I might redo my own paint job again and make it look even better in the future but i can't justify any perfectness.

[hardtailjohn]

It's a personal thing Ken.... I happen to be a real perfectionist, so I dont' want ANY bondo on mine... I'll spend days hammering and shrinking to get things the way I want it... or strip paint because I don't like the way it looks... but that's just me... To each their own... I'm more in it for the "journey" than the destination, but that's the way I am with about everything in life...
JH

[trukcrazy]

First off, you can't look at total dollar investment versus actual value. The investment will always be more when you are rebuilding/restoring any vehicle. If you build a quality truck similar to The California Cowboy, you might have a value close to the investment but it is a truck that gets driven. If you restore one back to original with certain safety upgrades, you might have a value close to the investment. If you are willing to buy a new 20-30,000 dollar truck, you could redo one of these for a lot less and have something worthwhile. If you want a "show truck", you will never equal out on the cost versus investment and you probably wouldn't get to enjoy it much.

My opinion is to rebuild/restore back to original with the safety upgrades and maybe a more modern a/c system. Excellent fuel mileage with these trucks just won't happen. 10-20 mpg if you're lucky. I don't drive these trucks for the fuel mileage or creature comforts. I drive these trucks because I want a truck that I can use anyway I see fit and not be afraid I will hurt it. Even my new truck is just a basic STX without the bling. I would buy a Cadillac or Lincoln if that's what I wanted.

If you stick to the basics, you won't be wasting your time or money. If you want bling and useless accessories, then you will be.

Check out the 50 dollar paint job thread here and you will find what you are looking for paintwise.

If you need anymore opinions, just let me know.

[71 LONG BED]

If your looking at your truck as an investment then I think you might want to think of another hobby. You won't make any money restoring your truck. Most of us work on our trucks for the fun of it. It is a proud feeling when someone compliments your truck and you can share with them the stories of how YOU did all the work. If your not going to have fun then why bother.

Like hardtailjohnsaid
"I'm more in it for the "journey" than the destination, but that's the way I am with about everything in life..."

[Galaxie64]

Not to mention NADA is one of the worst things to use for pricing. IMO the only way you could "make" money on these type of trucks would be to do a lot of searching for those $1000 and under trucks that will only need $1000 or under to get them looking and running really good and then you can sell them for $2000-$3000 and make a grand or so.

[ratfink]

In my opinion, to get the most out of this "journey" you have to really appreciate the small victorys. As an example;
I spent a couple of hours the other day getting the interior vent off of the drivers side vent on the kick panel, cleaning out 38 years of leaves, dirt, etc. . Then the next morning on the way to work really enjoying the extra air flow I was experiencing. That is something that anyone else riding in the truck would have no idea about.
Ratfink

[69rangerman]

69 ranger, decent paint job, modern chrome ford wheels, 302, auto, ps, pb, no a/c.
My approach to restoration on this particular truck is basically:
1. Safety (shoulder belts, systems operate without dangerous effect)
2. Dependability (Starts, Goes, stops, turns as desired)
3. Look/Sound nice. (little rust, decent paint/accesories, unique exhaust note)

I bought this truck 2 weeks ago to turn into an above average daily driver because I got shafted twice on a modern vehicle which I could do very little to repair. Never again. The reduced insurance cancells out the higher gas and the bonus is that little kids say "cool" and "pretty", and older folks give me a thumbs up or a wave every day. They get to see it and I get to enjoy it because of the work I put into it. An excellent reward and return on investment I think.

From the monetary side it's like land in my opinion. Every year fewer and fewer of these trucks will be out there. Any one of them with the rust under control, good running engine, and decent interiors and paint will bring more and more money if sold. Reduced supply usually = higher demand. I think it's great that so little can be paid for something truly unique, useful, and enjoyable. It's a win/win. Good luck-hope things work out for you.

[rjewkes]

alkso nada's daily driver iprice is dependant on your location here in missouri daily drivers go for 7150, partialy rebuilt is 11,500 and fully restored is 15,600. not bad for a truck that rolled into the show room with a price tag of under $4,000. also on the chevies you usauly have alot more rust. And more expensive parts.

[Aubrey]

I agree with Hardtail. It is a personal matter. It is also a labor of love for the vehicle involved. Lots of us have had the truck in the family for years and just don't give a darn about what it will be worth when we are finished. We do it just like the man said when asked why he climbed the mountian. "Because it's there" We restore because "Its what we do"

[FoMoCo]

You absolutly have to figure out what you are going to do with the truck before you start, then stick to it. I wanted a driver that I would cry about if it got a rock chip or dent. I spent the most money on things such as brakes, engine rebuild, and reliability. I now drive the truck 40 miles a day on congested highways and dont worry about it overheating or breaking down on me. First and formost, money shoud be spent on good brakes and tires.

Nick

[shanmeg1]

I agree with most of you guys. I want something to drive around and say "I did it" and don't care what they say its worth. I put money in new cars that depreciate at such a fast rate that NADA can't keep up with it losing money. I started this project with a free truck and probibly will put alot of money in it and might not get what I have in it, but then again it will be a project that I did and every milestone such as the removing of bugs/trash from the vents is one step closer to completing the project. I finished bebuilding a 1981 Yamaha motorcycle last year and sold it for just about what I paid for the paintjob. Talk about a monetary loss but I smile everytime I see this guy showing this bike off.

[trukcrazy]

Remember, once you go through one of these trucks you will have a truck that will virtually and literally last a lifetime. Build the right truck and you are done buying trucks. Unlike most projects or hobbies, these are 100% useful 100% of the time. Another nickel's worth.

[ken's1971]

Ah, stirred up the hornets nest. Well good points, where did i get this idea that the truck had to be worth what i put into it? I dunno where i got that idea. But if actually started on it the instant i first thought about it, i'd have a nice truck by now.

Keep second guessing myself guess i will quit that.

I really like my ford pickup, I wish it could be perfect, but to me i can't justify it. So bondo it is for me, to each his own. But i don't think i'll get rid of it EVER, it was my healing truck after my bout with severe mental illness. Spent my time fixing every little thing the first year, barely even drove it, but i'm not getting rid of it. NEVER!

Cheers

[trukcrazy]

Good luck and it doesn't ever have to be "finished". That's another great thing about doing these trucks yourself. You can always change it to suit your mood or needs.

[71 LONG BED]

Feels good when you drive it after you fix it, doesn't it! My truck far from perfect but I LOVE to drive it.

I went to a local resterant that has a big (200 to 300 cars) criuse every Sat. nite. It was the first time I got to show off my fresh engine. I heard a small boy telling his father,"Dad, this truck is all rusty. It's not new, it's all beat up!" The father sounded a little embarrased when he was telling his boy to shush. I had to smile. I wasn't hurt or mad, it's my truck and I like it just the way it is! Oh, I forgot, it was the only bumpside there. Not to many around here for some reason.