Is it possible to restore a truck to the point where you can't tell if it's original?

[ubtripn]

Hi everyone,

A little craftsmanship question here. Is it possible to restore a truck so well that a person could not tell? What I mean is can you restore it to the point where it cannot be distinguished from an original truck with 6 miles on it that has been garaged and not driven since it was bought?

-I'm not trying to see if a person could rip somebody off, I just want to know if it is possible to build one that well if you have the skills, money and determination. (and understanding wife)

[jojo]

Not with my budget. Or skills.

[2manyprojects]

I think you could make it very hard to tell the difference. I think you would need to find the mother load stash of NOS parts and be able to not make it look perfect. I've seen a couple unrestored very low mileage cars. the gaps and paint weren't perfect. there was over spray etc. There is still the smell and dust in cracks of a truck that has been sitting for 40 years that I think would be impossible to duplicate.

[VA72C10]

Is this in reference to the 80 mile truck on ebay???

[gkesseru]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Is this in reference to the 80 mile truck on ebay???

The odometer has 80 miles on it, while the truck may have more. I don't think there is a tamper seal on either end of the speedometer cable.

[bitchin85]

Originally Posted by gkesseru

The odometer has 80 miles on it, while the truck may have more. I don't think there is a tamper seal on either end of the speedometer cable.

couldnt someone just take the speedo cable of the back of the cluster and drive it?... wouldnt that stop the odometer?

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by *****in85

couldnt someone just take the speedo cable of the back of the cluster and drive it?... wouldnt that stop the odometer?

It was very popular to take the cable off the trans or cluster back then. During the early 70's they switched from 3yr-36month and 4-48 warranties to 1-12 and 2-24 so many pepole disconnected the cable to extend the time that had for free repairs.

[MONTEZ]

Making one look original can be done. Making it so you can tell can't. There will always be give aways, the biggest being the paint. Anyone who has ever worked with paint knows that paint in the 70's was made of different materials and looked and felt different. I don't think that anyone who knew what they were looking at could be fooled.

Also on the auction I call BS....

[1LoC10]

I think if you restored it to that point, every nut and bolt etc... it would be worth more than a survivor anyways

[WIDESIDE72]

Auction in question:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...36#description

[dougo]

In my opinion, yes - I've seen it done. I have a couple friends who are in the restoration business (as well as car collectors) - corvettes, muscle cars, el caminos... and have done frame up restorations (down to the bolt/clip - 2-3 yr restoration projects). I've seen them do it and get different results = better than factory built (but all original, or NOS parts), and the appearence of factory built (perfect in all aspects of an orginal). This is not really the, or their, objective (to trick someone), it's more or less the results of their build.

To this day, even some of the frame off restorations they completed 15 years ago (and still have in their collection) - nuts and bolts (for example) have the patina that you'd see on an all original un-molested car.

Anyway, just sharing what I've seen...

[dougo]

Originally Posted by dougo

In my opinion, yes - I've seen it done. I have a couple friends who are in the restoration business (as well as car collectors) - corvettes, muscle cars, el caminos... and have done frame up restorations (down to the bolt/clip - 2-3 yr restoration projects). I've seen them do it and get different results = better than factory built (but all original, or NOS parts), and the appearence of factory built (perfect in all aspects of an orginal). This is not really the, or their, objective (to trick someone), it's more or less the results of their build.

To this day, even some of the frame off restorations they completed 15 years ago (and still have in their collection) - nuts and bolts (for example) have the patina that you'd see on an all original un-molested car.

Anyway, just sharing what I've seen...

I forgot to add... one friend of mine is doing this with a '72 burb. He's been collecting NOS parts (to replace some original) for about 2.5 years now... and slowing getting to a point where he can start the restoration. I'm going to assume he'll have over 30K in it when done and total time will most likely be 3-5 year project when done. It's pretty amazing.... I'll definately post pics (but it might be awhile).

[marks1972]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

Auction in question:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...36#description

there used to be vidios on either here or on classic trucks forum about this truck. it was broken down into segments. it actually showed the truck in the barn with 40 years of dust on it and stages of them cleaning it. it was good vidieo's. real dont know. i havent seen the truck personally but they where cool to watch.

[Bob B.]

I don't think it is possible to restore a vehicle to the point you can't tell it's an original. My brother has been into the whole Mopar scene for years, and I have been around those fanatics for quite some time. Only the Corvette guys are worse! I have seen some beautiful 99 point restored cars that won trophys and were judged as authentic, but they just are not quite the same as a real survivor. Recently, I went to see an all original '71 Hemi Charger R/T with less than 2,000 miles on it. There were things about that car that would be impossible to duplicate, like they way the old time paint looks, the original tires, little decals and chalk marks left by the assembly line. They are only original once!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Bob B.

There were things about that car that would be impossible to duplicate, like chalk marks left by the assembly line. They are only original once!

You mean like these chalk marks he 100% duplicated???






And I've seen some VERY convincing Patina paint jobs when they're subtle like actual patina.....I understand what you're saying....but it could be done....

[Bob B.]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

You mean like these chalk marks he 100% duplicated???






And I've seen some VERY convincing Patina paint jobs when they're subtle like actual patina.....I understand what you're saying....but it could be done....

Cool! My truck had similar writing on the firewall. No, I didn't duplicate it! One interesting thing I found while resoring it was a 6" steel rod with a pointed end loose under the dash. It had been there a long time, and with the instrument cluster in the truck, this rod was kind of trapped atop the lower edge of the dash. Had no idea what it was until later when I put the steering column back in after painting. As near as I can figure, the assembly line guy used it to line the holes up when bolting the column braket to the dash. It was just the right diameter to fit into the bolt holes, and when the column is out the dash tends to move a bit towards the firewall.

[Longhorn Man]

with the repro parts they sell today, i think it would be very hard to pull off. i doubt it could be done personally

[67ChevyRedneck]

Franken-trucks are more fun anyway. Power nothing, no A/C, drum brakes, AM/FM stereos, an NO over-drive? No thanks

[big_al_71]

Sure it could be done....without a doubt. I know several men with some huge skills and seen some camaros, chevelles, gto etc built to perfection.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

Sure it could be done....without a doubt. I know several men with some huge skills and seen some camaros, chevelles, gto etc built to perfection.

I think that's the issue: they weren't perfect, back in the day.

I have a 4800 mile '65 GTO that belonged to my dad (original owner), in original unrestored condition.

The paint, fit and finish on that car are terrible. There are numerous defects, like hairs in the paint, they painted right over solvents or something that marred the finish, handprints in the paint, etc that have been there since day 1.

Most restorers don't duplicate that stuff, nor would I want them to.

Having been around original cars my whole life, and "uber restored" perfect Pontiacs out of Scott Tiemann's shop - I think I could tell the difference.


K

[oldblue1968chevy]

It would be awesome, but I couldnt do it. I HAVE to be tinkering whether it needs it or not!!! Id have a 25k truck with drums doing a disc brake conversion lol...

[ubtripn]

I wasn't referring to any ad or truck in particular, just curious. So what I think I am hearing is that it is possible to build one that is even better. (With the right resources.)

[Longhorn Man]

we arent talkinf camaros and chevelles here, we are talking trucks. With a small stash of NOS stuff left over for us 40 years later (unlike the mainstream stuff) and the craptastic repro stuff, I honestly doubt it could be done to someone who knows what they are looking at. To the typical Joe Pedestrian Public, it can be done. but not for people who know what they are looking at.

[PHAT TONY]

It'd be tough to reproduce 45 year old paint technology; I've tried it and eurathane single stage and base coat/clearcoats don't layout the same or over spray the same, and the sh!tee repo parts.....

[Critter]

I agree with longhornman, the answer lies with the person looking at it. I doubt a true expert on these trucks could be fooled, there are just too many aspects that wouldn't be right. The little details like fastners and rivets would be something that comes to mind. Not to mention paint aspects like Phat Tony mentioned