Some guys have skills and some have bills

[Bull72]

I heard somewhere that some guys have skills and some have bills. I bought this great looking K5 in November 2010 but know nothing about fixing vehicles. As I saw my truck being towed to the mechanics this morning and know for sure that I am the guy with bills. Slowly but surely i will be learning more. I'm ok with it =) as long as they fix this and I get to drive this sweet K5!!!

Over the past 2 months this newbie here has replaced the radiator, plugs & wires, new battery,and installed the softtopper =)

But I have PAID for the install of the distributor/ignition, horn, speedometer cable, temperature gauge, carb cleaning/adjustments, rear brakes, pcv valve, tuffy console, external regulator for the old alternator, and found out today I will be paying for a new alternator =) What type of guy are you, the one with skills or bills? What do you usually end up paying for?

EDIT::: Over the past couple months this thread is now turning into my build page as well. I am learning a bit more than I thought I would from a couple of friends that are helping me rebuild the engine.

6/6 update: Block is out of the truck and being rebuilt, see the latest replies. My buddy the helping me rebuild the engine and refresh the entire bay. It should be done in the next couple weeks. New aluminum heads, intake manifold, carb, camshaft, litters, bored over block, oil pump, fuel pump, starter, headers, etc.

[67swb72klb]

not too be a smart a#* but if u dont learn some basic mech skills u are gona have some big a bills !! and by the way thats a nice blaz i like

[Bull72]

I am all over it 67swb, that is one of the reasons I joined the forum!!! I want to learn more about my truck and at least know some basics. My knowledge base is coming along and slowly improving day by day. As for doing the work myself... I'm realizing that sometimes paying someone who knows what their doing will save me some time and headache as well.

Thanks for the comment on the blaze, I freaking love it!

[NuBomb]

I think I'm kind of a cross. I usually try to do it on my own and I usually have some pretty good luck. Somethimes I get in too deep and take it to a trusted mechanic. I figure even if I try and fail at least I'll learn something along the way. I'd say just keep on trying and realize there may be times when you've got to call in the pros.

[Bull72]

Makes sense to me NuBomb, that has been my approach with a couple things so far... and I will surely learn as I go.

[Clyde65]

I guess I am real lucky, I have always loved to work on stuff, get greasy and nasty ( my ex hated that for some reason?) I just didn't have much experience but was always willing to try. I have a very good friend of mine that IS a mechanic by trade, he owns his own shop and he has helped a lot. I usually trade work with him when I need stuff done and I don't have the time or knowledge. If I have the time, I just call him, offer a free meal or two and we are wrenching shortly after. sometimes it IS who ya know!

[dubds10]

Too cheap to pay others to do my work So in the end, if I don't know it, I learn it and do it. Jack of all trades for the most part though.

[red71cheyenne]

I have found that these trucks are a learn as you go kind of thing. I too am too cheap to pay anyone to do the work, so I do it myself. If I mess something up, I ask questions on here and get the right answers and fix it. Only thing I haven't messed with so far is trying to rebuild transmissions. And not real sure I want to start.

[packers05]

I understand paying a wrench to work on a truck when it is a safety issue,brakes,steering,etc, but for the rest of your list you should go get some tools and use this forum and learn as you go, the knowledge gained will be priceless!!! Bring on da bears

[Old Money]

i paid for paint and fine sanding and carb rebuild. rough sanding and grinding and mechanical and interior i did. buy a 72 10-30 truck series overhaul manual and a decent set of wrenches and sockets, hand cleaner, paper towels,safety glasses, and dont be afraid of asking alot of questions. this place has the answers. if it jams force it, if it breaks its defective. murphys law old money.

[N2TRUX]

There was a time when a I had no bills and no cents. Because of my lack of funds, I acquired skills. Later in life I acquired the bills and allowed someone with more skills to work on my trucks. With the current economy, I find it has been a blessing that I have those skills.

[blazintowers]

skills baby! I prefer to be in the garage wrenching on my own stuff, that way I know it gets done right...If there is something I am unsure of I pull out the trusty owners manual, look it up online, or come to this fine forum and research the problem. Guess it's mostly from growing up with a dad that was always wrenching too! plus i can afford more parts if i do the labor myself!!! your truck is a beauty and you will learn a lot by justing owning a vehicle you can still work on if you wish!

[BLUE THUNDER]

You'll def get skills owning one of these. Just remember, if you can take it off, it will go back on. I've got skills btw.

[allengator]

Skills... But still need to learn carbs, transmissions, and paint/body...
And need to learn to weld!
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[Bull72]

Well I am sure glad I found the forum and will slowly acquire a basic knowledge and more tools owning my new k5...

[yellowdawg]

ill buy your hard topper

[Bull72]

Originally Posted by yellowdawg

ill buy your hard topper

Sorry yellowdawg but I bought it without the hardtop. I got no top to sell =)

[Effeckt]

I'm somewhere in between too. I try to do what I can on my own but am not super savvy when it comes to the engine/transmission work. Fortunately I know some people that are. I'm taking care of everything myself on this build though (which is why it is going so slow) and learning as I go if I don't have the skills on something. I guess if I had to class myself it would be more of a bills guy but since I'm too poor to pay someone to do it all then if I can tackle it I do.

[yellowdawg]

wanna buy one from me.. lol..

[BIGBLU 72]

skills! i grew up in a garage with my Dad so i learned a little there, sadly he passed away before we got into the the complicated stuff ie carbs, motor builds, rear ends, trans etc. so i have had to stumble and bumble my way through these old trucks and cars! skills seem to come quickly tho especially when you take things apart all the time an dont remember how they go back together! be prepared for long sleepless nights and searching for thrown wrenches (if you get frusterated like me lol) but its a heck of alot of fun!

[RustyParts]

I'm an old fart so I do it all, engines, transmission, axles, body work, paint, electrical.

[jsand6769]

I definatly have the skills, I was an ase certified mechanic for 15 years, I have 40k in tools at home now, but here is the bad part, I am so sick of working on cars for the basic stuff like brakes and suspension that I pay the shop I work at (as a service manager) to do that stuff, Ive spent 6k this year on repair type stuff. I think I need to rethink that idea and get back on it myself,

[Big Time]

Just keep at it , with work comes experience, it if werent for this site I would have never been able to rebuild mine. I spent 2 years researching and learned alot of things by trial and error, i have never welded in body panels , never picked up a paint gun ,but I learned . And this site and members helped me prove to all my friends and most importantly MY WIFE, that yes I could build this Blazer , and made a few of them jealous in the process. So spend some time looking around this site , they will answer 99% of your questions. And if you have kids , get them involved , Our hobby is slowing dying , teach what you learn and get the new generation involved . Most of us grew up around hot rods. jacked up trucks .etc. the kids are too involved in video games ,Ipods and the other crap. I built my Blazer for a family project , they love it, We have been to a couple car shows , and when they call our Blazer up for an award, you would think it was christmas. the kids go crazy to know that they were a part of if..... Good Luck

[FoxHound]

I've got skills AND bills haha. Blazer parts aren't cheap, even if you got the skills to put 'em in on your own!

[99-LS1-SS]

Originally Posted by FoxHound

I've got skills AND bills haha. Blazer parts aren't cheap, even if you got the skills to put 'em in on your own!

I probably fall into this category to some degree.

I'm getting to a point in my life where I "can" do stuff but sometimes it's easier to have someone else do it.

With that said, I plan on doing a LOT of the work myself but given my limited garage space and real tools I'll have to farm out most of the hard core body work.