1. It's way easier/cheaper to repair whatever mechanical issues exist and build a driver that build a full on hot rod/custom. But
build what you like, not someone else's idea of a nice truck.
2.The whole "patina look" thing is a good because it would cost at least $5K to make my truck paintable-not perfect, just paintable.
3. The thing with everything costs 3.14 times as much money and time as you initially figure is true.