OPINION: Mechanical or body work first?

[AWEGS72]

Working on my 72 I'm debating which I should do first. Should I put all the high performance parts on first,get the drive train how I want it. Or should I get everything looking cherry,then do the mechanicals. I work for an auto parts wholesaler,so all paint,body supplies,sheet metal I can get at wholesale cost. So according to my pricing,body work on my truck won't run too much,considering that I will also be doing all the work,and paint. The performance parts are going to run me the most. Looking for some opinions before I start down the long road.

Thanks,
Andy

[Oldtruckfanatic]

Most people start with the mechanical and chassis work first and do the body and paint last so they don't have to do any major work after the shiny new paint is applied but it's really a matter of what you have time to do If I have time to do my drivetrain stuff first I do and if I'm busy but I have time to knock out a panel and some bondo work on an evening or weekend I do that instead. As long as you're working on it your going the right direction.

[motocrosschump]

well..personally I would do body work first..because there is nothing I hate worse than having good running truck that I can't drive.

[AWEGS72]

the truck runs and drives and burns one tire very well right now,but i'm looking at putting aluminum heads,cam,MSD ignition,locker,and some nicer wheels on it(Anything other than the white ralley wheels on it now from PO).Which will add the $$$ up fast. Body work consists of, RH rocker, inner cab corner on both sides, and cab supports. The rest is a ding here and there,and paint. SO not too much in that area.

[rauto13]

I say mechanicals first. I see lots of pretty vehicles sitting beside the road, many with big shiney wheels. My first thought is guess you should have spent that money on getting it running right first. I would hate to have to leave my shiney truck sitting beside the road for anyone to vandalize because I hadn't made sure it was mechanically sound first.

[hd78glide]

For me I'm doing the bodywork first, inside cab, firewall and window frames painted, mechanicals then the rest of the truck will be painted. I don't want to mess with the mechanicls after the truck is painted.

[glock35ipsc]

I'm doing both at the same time I just pulled my frame that was finished almost 2 years ago into the shop. So I can work on the cab a little until I get tired of body work, then I can move over to the frame until I get tired of mechanical stuff.

I think the order would go: Mechanical first, get the rolling chassis and drivetrain done. Then do body work, pre-assemble everything to test fit and correct as needed, then disassemble and paint everything as individual pieces, then assemble everything onto the finished chassis, finish interior, then go for a ride!

(Yes, I am doing things bass ackwords form what I think I should be doing!)

[Hart_Rod]

I did all the mechanical stuff first (check signature link). Now I'm installing engine, and then will complete body work.

[Fred T]

Do the work that you dislike the most first. It will give you something to look forward to. Kind of like when mom made you eat the vegetables first.

[raggedjim]

Given the rate I'm progressing (or not progressing) I'm glad I started the body first... I'm not sure how good it is to have an egine sit for 3-4 years...

Rg

[RicksTrucks]

I have had my 69 SWB for over 20 years and the paint and body is still in the same condition as when I bought it, just primer spots to keep rust away. Been keeping it mechanically sound so I can drive it daily. About ready to bring the body and paint up to par after I move it to another frame (got a couple cracks in my original one). So I did the philosophy of mechanical first - so I could keep driving it and not be out of money to fix something because I just did the bodywork and paint - now that things are really tight mechanically I can think about making it purty.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I do the mechinaical when time and $$$$ permits and when I am low on funds I do body work it seem to be cheaper just more time comsueming..

[AWEGS72]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

I do the mechinaical when time and $$$$ permits and when I am low on funds I do body work it seem to be cheaper just more time comsueming..

GOOD POINT

[stllookn]

A running, driving truck is always worth more money...independent of the condition of the body. I don't know how many "Lost Interest - Project For Sale" adds I have seen for a pile of parts! The guy ends up giving it away. I always like them running since you can drive it on a sunny day without a windshield or box or fenders and have some fun. The body work, done correctly, will take YEARS for most guys. In the meantime it is nice to be able to drive it to the back pasture or auto parts store to re-kindle your interest. Just my 0.02 after having done this for about 20+ years.

[ratfreak88]

i say body first, i did the drivetrain first and now i want to do a frame off resto

[Billla]

I'm approaching both at the same time For example, strip the front clip...overhaul the front suspension...epoxy primer the body stuff and put it back. I'm doing the same thing with the rear suspension and the truck bed.

[blazerboy72]

I am doing the mechanical first. I had intended on doing th body first but then decided to use the LS1 with a TH400 and dont want to paint the body then have to cut it if I have clearance problems.

[jbon64]

i see you live in wisconsin . do the mechanicals now. and the body work when it's cold .......i assume you have a garage ?

[texascowboy593]

I say Mechanical first... Id hate to leave a dang good looking truck sitting on the side of the road in the bad neighborhoods I drive thru each morning due to mechanical failure... MY .02

[jake67c10]

Since it runs and drives now I say either way you go is cool, as long as you got the funds to start and finish the project and keep it running for motivation to move along to the next mod.

[poorboy]

I like doing the mech first. It would really suck to have a nice paint job only to scratch it up putting something on/in the truck. When I did my 67 I based the truck to give it some color while i was working on it.

[Sgt.Booya]

Just my opinion, but generally mechanical first.

Advantages:
* You can do it in smaller chunks
* It takes only a weekend or two even for major projects.
* You get to drive your truck while you work on it
* Since you're driving it you'll find all the bugs and fitment issues before having to be real careful around fresh paint.
* Cheaper unless you plan on the bondo and cheap splash paint job.

Save the bodywork for the winter or a period you won't be driving your truck as much because it will be a longer process if it's done right.

[72Chevrolet]

Mechanical first because you dont want to worry about scratching anything after its all pretty!

[Jim_PA]

You can't drive the paint job If it's running and driving now, start upgrading the mechanicals one piece at a time so you can keep driving it. People also tend to lose interest or run out of money/time when they start ripping everything apart, then you end up with a pile of parts.

[bigfredtn]

I had no choice in the matter. I went to a painter that my friends recommended. This was back in March. He told me that the earliest that he could fit me would be this fall. So instead of letting my truck just sit, I started to the mechanical rebuild.

I have started the mechanical portion of my rebuild. I have had both the engine and transmission rebuilt. This weekend I am going to pick up a cross member from a 72 Chevy truck. Next I need to find a five lug rear end. I am also taking the step side bed off and putting a fleet side bed for my truck.

I know that when I get in my truck it might not look pretty, but it will be dependable.