Where to begin?

[jarkill]

Now that i seem to be done fixing all of my friends four wheelers and dirt bikes, i thought i might pull the truck out and give it a look over in the daylight. My motivation was quickly distroyed by the overwhelming amount of work needed to be done. I am at the point now where i need to buy a clutch and fly wheel in order to start puting the front end back together, That is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out where to start on the rest of the truck. Any ideas? And what keeps you guy's motivated to get out there and tackle it?

[Clyde65]

Set yourself small goals. the first being getting the truck running and driving. once it is driving, then set more goals. If you get it driving then the truck is more enjoyable and you get paid for your investment to that date, then you work on the next goal and upon completion of that goal, you get paid for the, etc etc.

If you blow it apart and start from there, you have a hard time getting paid through the goals, it will overwhelm you and fast.

[Heater63]

Unless you want to commit to a frame off restoration, just get it running so you can use and enjoy the truck. That will motivate you!
Always repair safety issues first, like a brake upgrade, rebuilding steering, etc
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[jimmydean]

I tell my wife that there are 2 lists in the garage:

1. Things I want to do to the truck

2. Things the truck needs to keep it on the road

There are lots of overlap, of course. But I don't have unlimited time/money/space to be able to just knock it out in one swoop (I wish I could).

I love driving my truck an every little thing I do to it makes driving it more and more fun. I installed a set of new shocks on Sunday ($50) and now I don't bounce down the road. I fixed a bunch of busted springs in the bench seat (8 zip ties) and now I don't lean to the left.

I made a pretty extensive list I have hanging above the bench. As things get marked off, the list gets shorter. I started this project with a general idea of what I wanted and let the truck shape itself up into what it should be when I'm all done.

Please tell me at some point I'll be "done".

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

I tell my wife that there are 2 lists in the garage:

1. Things I want to do to the truck

2. Things the truck needs to keep it on the road
........................

Please tell me at some point I'll be "done".

I am with ya, though I tend to really enjoy everything on list 1, and list 1 seems to get longer all the time 'cause that's the nature of building a custom instead of doing a restoration.

As a certifed "older guy" I got a question for ya'll that are chomping at the bit.

Do you really want to be done? Do you get more of a kick out of driving your truck, or building the truck?

Give me the option of driving or wrenching on my '65, and I will take wrenching. Don't get me wrong, it's all good, and a mixture of the two is great, but it's the thrill of the build that keeps my batteries charged.

Don't set artificial deadlines, just enjoy the ride, or the build: whichever floats your boat.

This reminds me of an old joke that my old welding buddy McGhee told me about 15 years ago, 'cept he didn't use the word "shag"

There’s an old bull and a younger bull sitting on a hill. The younger bull says, “Look at all those cows. Let’s run down and shag one of them.” The older bull ponders this for a moment, considers his answer carefully, and says, “How about we walk down and shag them all?”

[jarkill]

Heh! Ive heard that one. Yeah im sure once it runs i wont want it to end

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

As a certifed "older guy" I got a question for ya'll that are chomping at the bit.

Do you really want to be done? Do you get more of a kick out of driving your truck, or building the truck?

I'm more middle aged, I guess, but I would say "both". I just wish I had time/money

I love the build process and I love to show off my hard work, too. When I am tired of the '66, I still have another street bike to build, a chopper, and my daughter still wants a Vette (I have 6 more years to build that, though).

So it's not like I will hurry the '66 and have nothing in the garage. There is always at least one drawing on the board.

[Heater63]

And enjoy that garage!! We all wish we had bigger. Under the Shade Tree in winter is no place to be.

Winter gets us all down a little, I'm sure its really cold and gray for you. But now is the time for prepping all the the little things / parts--when spring and summer arrive i bet you will have renewed energy and enthusiasm, and you can make rapid progress.

Like lakeroadster said, enjoy the process, and the satisfaction of each little step.

[Clyde65]

you will my friend you will!

[smilts60]

I like to make a plan that is focused on steps. That way at the end of each step i can look back and say, hey step one down, step two down and so on. makes me feel better being able to check stuff off my list and know Im making progress.

[jarkill]

Good advice guy's i love it! I guess my problem is that when i am waiting to find parts (or money) i keep looking at the whole thing at once and getting blown away. Some of my motivation stems from having to move the darn thing everytime i need to use my TINY garage.

[Clyde65]

Jarkill, Tell us what needs to be done to get it running and safe.

[jarkill]

Just need to save a couple more bucks and buy my clutch and flywheel setup, then put the engine in, plumb and wire, Brakes, May need a little custom driveline work, Really thats about it to get her back to life.

[tenni126]

Between old motorcycles, boats, and the honey-do list, I always have (as does everyone) lots of projects going at the same time. When I get overwhelmed (often), it helps to just pick something small (clean and paint the heater box, for instance) that you can do easily and has a recognizable result. It just takes the mental edge off until you get time and resources in the same place for the larger jobs. That, and just f!@*ing do it already!

[Clyde65]

jarkill, seems like you have set yourself a few goals already.

1. Clutch/flywheel
2. Attach tranny to motor
3. Put motor in truck
4. plumb and wire motor

[jarkill]

Yeah i guess you right. I just got to dive in and get after it.

[jarkill]

Yeah! I have alot of just do it already moments, Then i end up standing there looking at it for an hour and drink beer.

[Clyde65]

When I was doing my LSx swap, I was just like you are now. but I found if I spent 1hr a night doing something, ANYTHING I would be done soon. I did just that, now I am driving and enjoying. does he need more stuff, hell yea! but I am able to do those things as money and time allows. I wish I was closer, I could come help you drink your beer....I mean with your truck, yea with your truck.

[jarkill]

HaHa! Yeah i could use the help with both HaHa! I appriciate the knowledge. I hope to get back to work on it very soon and post a build thread on it to show the progress. Almost got all i need to get it running.

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

When I was doing my LSx swap, I was just like you are now. but I found if I spent 1hr a night doing something, ANYTHING I would be done soon.

That's kinda how I am doing it. Like last weekend it was nice, so I could work on the truck (it doesn't even fit in my garage, so I'm in the driveway). But the weekend before it was raining, so I worked on getting my fiberglass pods built for my speakers. Didn't cost any money as I used scrap glass mat I had and some resin.

2 weeks before that I built my kick panels. There are so many little somethings to keep me busy at this stage that cost little or no money while I save for my big ticket items.

But as others said, small goals can be est because you get early wins often.

[jarkill]

I know what your saying jimmydean, i have alot of stuff i can do that doesnt cost money and i have been slowly knockin em out. I have enough grime scraping in the engine compartment to last me coon's age. But i cant help but sit back and think "this will never end"! I love these trucks and my dad stew64 does too and it has helped me keep going.

[glos55]

Hey jarkill,
What route are you taking? All orig? Custom? Taildragging? Slammed with wheels and faded paint? Once you decide I would get her on the road first and safe with seatbelts, updated brakes then dive in as your money and time allows!!!!

[jarkill]

Well glos55, I would like to do a custom kinda ratty but i want to keep it 3/4 ton. I plan on using this truck as well as show it off. And to tell the truth ive kinda fell in love with the color. As far as wheels i havent given it much thought. I will most likely be stuck with the ones it has for a while. Ill just clean em up.

[Clyde65]

hey! that is something you can do for free! clean up the wheels, maybe throw some paint/polish at them? instant gratification dude, your really thinking now!

[jarkill]

Ha! good idea clyde65! That would be a nice break from scraping crap off my frame! You are starting to get me remotivated thanks!