Calling all low buck builds

[Liz]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=581873

[Rude Dude]

What do you mean by Low Bucks these trucks ain't cheap!!!

[meter swinger]

Originally Posted by Rude Dude

What do you mean by Low Bucks these trucks ain't cheap!!!

LOL. Aint that the truth. How about "slow buck" builds. I would make the list then.
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[Liz]

Agreed, but some manage to do it

[mknittle]

I have about $500 into my 52GMC frame so far .It will end up costing another $1500 by time its a complete roller.

[av8tr33337]

Mine

[skymangs]

We have right at $5000 in my kid's 48, complete with 350/350 combo, Air conditioning, etc, etc, etc. Drove it for 1300 miles in Hot Rod's Power Tour a couple weeks ago. That's pretty low buck for a truck that's 100% brand new undernieth!

[fabguy]

what is the $ amount VS completion, that would be considered "low budget" a full frame off and paint, interior, stereo, suspension, engine/trans, cancer repair, for lets say under 10K?
or am I too high on the price?

[rusty76]

Thanks for the help.

[mr48chev]

Fabguy, from 40 + years experience one guy or gal's concept of low buck is someone else's idea of high budget.

We have guys on here with 4K crate motors and 1500 dollar custom built transmissions in "patina" trucks that they claim are low buck because they don't have any bodywork, paint or new interior in them. On the other hand we have guys who used a low mileage engine and trans out of a vehicle they bought at a bargain price, salvaged everything they could use and sold the leftovers and regained a pocket full of cash to be spent on the truck a second time and that truck sports body work that they did themselves and a fresh but rather simple paint job that is a non metallic color. They had the interior redone and added the sterio that came with the donor car hidden in the glove box. They picked up the wheels and tires off a street rodder in town who only had a few hundred miles on them before buying the latest hot lick wheels and tires and sticking the ones they bought on Craigslist because they took up room in the garage. It's about spending what you spend right and knowing what to pay along with having a plan and sticking to it.
I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to having a bunch of parts sitting around that I bought and never used. I have almost all the pieces to build and put a 396 in the 48 including chrome headers, Edelbrock Elite valve covers, A polished aluminum intake, chrome pan and what not but it won't get used in this truck because I changed my mind.

I figure to have somewhere between 6 and 8 k in the 48 when it' done with about 1000 of it in the engine compartment, 800 in tires and the rest in paint, glass and interior. The interior being the largest single outlay. I have a couple of friends who will shoot the paint for a reasonable price if I do all of the body work and paint prep and use the materials they ask me to use. The local trimmer does great work and is fairly reasonable but that will still be the largest single outlay. I may not come in at those prices but I won't be far off.

[fabguy]

Thanks Mr48chevy, now I understand.
Flipping old cars, trucks and parts is how I have paid for 75% of my pick up build. I sell stuff on Craigslist, eBay, swap meets, and just about any where I can post it.
The wife and I sat down to budget out our next project and figured it would take about 8K to do a frame off on our 55.2 Burban considering we will be re using most of the parts that are in it, and selling off what we don't use to buy parts.

Considering I have a friend who spent over 32K to build his truck that he sent from shop to shop to have things done, I guess comparatively mine is a budget build.. Lol
Although I will say that his truck is completely flawless.
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[54 jimmy]

yea but any one with money/plastic can pay a shop to build you your truck. I take pride in that I built my truck by me for me. I know every parts and piece. that is pride in your truck and your self not to mention low buck. just think of the labor cost he paid to have his truck done. just saying. my 54 I have about 4k in my truck and it is far from perfect but I love it.

[dubie]

I took my 56 down to the frame, had the engine rebuilt, replaced all the suspension, steering and brakes with new components and I'm sitting at $10,000 in parts so far. It's always the little things that end up killing your budget when you near the finish of the build. I would have liked to do it for about 1/2 that cost but there is always unforeseen expenses when you start poking around with things that are this old and rusty

[Russell Ashley]

Mine isn't low-buck, just looks like it is, LOL. For my truck, it's the chrome stuff, VA a/c, new windows and windshield, and a few other things that I could have done without that ran up my expense. If not for those things I would consider my truck to be a low-buck project.
On the positive side, I got my ego stroked last friday night at the cruise-in. A guy wanted to buy my truck and made me a firm offer of $16K for it. I refused it but he insisted that I take his name and number and let him be first in line if I decided I wanted to sell it.

[meter swinger]

So far ive got:
Truck: 5000.00 (59 fleet)
Donor truck: 400.00 (k10 4x)
Misc. :300 (bumper mirrors etc.)
extra 4x stuff: 300 (axles, leafs, steering stuff)
Stuff not used: free (jag front clip)
So im around: 6k
Ill recoup some when i sell off the extra stuff. Bed wood should eat up some money, and i have yet to buy 4WD tires. Ill be happy to stay under 10K.
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By comparison, i stopped saving reciepts of how much money i have into landscaping my yard when i got to 25k. LOL. And its all materials, i did all the labor. So i wont feel to bad if i get a little carried away on the truck.

[mr48chev]

Take a good look at this one and tell me low buck build or high dollar truck


It's the same truck that was in my current thread on the trucks at Billetproof NW last weekend when it was a fresh build and before it was lettered.

Take a serous look:
New and nice but probably single stage non metallic paint.
Reverse but painted or powder coated wheels.
A Gaylord (or clone ) bed cover that does add a few bucks but keeps stuff in the bed secure.
An aluminum "injector" scoop that we now know sits on a very plain 350 that has a long snorkel going up to the scoop that was sourced at a truck supply shop.


The truck absolutely rocks but he spent his money very wisely and came up with a great looking truck that didn't cost his kids college fund to build.

[sqrlnts]

I will give you all a good laugh. For some reason I am fanatical about keeping all my expenses accounted for. Dubie is right, its the small stuff that kills. Shipping also hurts, I have spent close to $500 shipping crap around the US. This was my first project and here is the tally.......so far.

3000# 57 truck purchase price no engine or tranny
100# truck delivered to my house
250# rims and tires
725# 350 chevy, 350 trans, starter, HEI, carb, exhaust, mufflers, drive shaft
225# V8 mounts, trans cross member, striker plates 30 ship
68# a/c condenser, electric fan, radiator fan, 7 blade clutch assembly, overflow reservoir
200# drop axle 50 to ship
23# defrost ducts, vent grills, gaskets and dome light cover
50# gas tank
55# new king pins
160# sandblast chassis
165# cab to frame body mount, body panel alignment shims, wheel studs, lug nuts, front and rear brake hoses, fender gasket set, floor plug, door hinge rebuild kit, door bumper set. 46 to ship
12# harmonic balancer bolt
35# rear brake tee, line, and fittings
100# 1 instrument panel complete plus all of a second one minus the bezel, 1 front end complete except for brake shoes with real nice springs, new in box King Pin set, nice drag link with upgraded tie rod ends, 1 rear end complete minus brake shoes,
set of original V8 motor mounts, pass side door needs work, vent window frames, electric wiper motor, 2 steering boxes
35# Rustoleum chassis paint
19# kick panels
70# front wheel cylinders, parking brake cable, diff cover gasket, master cylinder rebuild kit, brake hone 12 to ship
150# EZ wiring harness 10 to ship
53# turned brake drums
45# tapered hub bearings from Chris
50# ceramic coated headers from Jim on the HAMB
23# tail lights 5 to ship
7# brake fluid
52# Rear brake shoes, wheel cylinders and entire spring hardware kit. Rock auto 14 to ship
50# Gas tank
75# Oreiley, header bolts, washers, intake gasket, exhaust gasket, vaccum plugs, high temp silicone
40# black seat cover 15 to ship
54# HEI components
75# 68 1/2 ton rear end
90# Speedway order, header reducer kit, rear leaf spring ubolts, shock mounts, axle pads, front u bolt set. 13 to ship
25# Front drum brake shoes
101# battery
105# step notch kit 15 for shipping
84# door weatherstrip, vent window weatherstrip, vent window rubber molding 14 ship
12# vent window rivets 7 ship
125# rear bumper 25 for shipping
50# front bumper and brackets
80# short water pump, crank and water pump pulley 15 for shipping
21# new tie rod ends 8 ship
60# Hurst shifter 11 ship
170# radiator 25 ship
61# fuel sending unit 8 ship
36# exhaust cutouts 11 ship
300# 58 cab
0# 58 Fleetside bed, cost neutral, sold stepside bed
141# 57 grill 42 ship
161# Flexplate and Exhaust kit
81# Mufflers and exhaust hangers
30# B&M shifter bracket kit
25# axle shock mounts
20# headlight switch
113# Flex-a-lite speed controller
80# Sid to machine steering arms
50# Lokar trans dipstick
20# valve cover gaskets
160# shortened and balanced driveshaft
85# Fan shroud
52# brake hardware kit, wheel cylinders, brake shoes
30# trans filter, detent cable and case vent
100# grill filler panel, emblem, grommets and ****
206# O'Reilly belts, hoses, fluids, ****
121# Ace hardware, for hardware
120# Stereo, front and rear speakers
100# Lopers, brake lines, fittings
25# Peel and seal and ****
30# floor mat, cargo
40# Suburban 2nd row seat
20# LMC gaskets
100# Front shocks from Performance online
$15# front shock mount studs
38# rear window seal $ new brake light switch $10 shipping
24# oil and filter change
350# rebuild tranny
85# rear shocks
20# fan shroud
25# locksmith to cut keys
34# front wheel cylinders
30# rear axle extended shock mounts
73# Maradyne electric fan

[av8tr33337]

Originally Posted by sqrlnts

I will give you all a good laugh. For some reason I am fanatical about keeping all my expenses accounted for. Dubie is right, its the small stuff that kills. Shipping also hurts, I have spent close to $500 shipping crap around the US. This was my first project and here is the tally.......so far.

3000# 57 truck purchase price no engine or tranny
100# truck delivered to my house
250# rims and tires
725# 350 chevy, 350 trans, starter, HEI, carb, exhaust, mufflers, drive shaft
225# V8 mounts, trans cross member, striker plates 30 ship
68# a/c condenser, electric fan, radiator fan, 7 blade clutch assembly, overflow reservoir
200# drop axle 50 to ship
23# defrost ducts, vent grills, gaskets and dome light cover
50# gas tank
55# new king pins
160# sandblast chassis
165# cab to frame body mount, body panel alignment shims, wheel studs, lug nuts, front and rear brake hoses, fender gasket set, floor plug, door hinge rebuild kit, door bumper set. 46 to ship
12# harmonic balancer bolt
35# rear brake tee, line, and fittings
100# 1 instrument panel complete plus all of a second one minus the bezel, 1 front end complete except for brake shoes with real nice springs, new in box King Pin set, nice drag link with upgraded tie rod ends, 1 rear end complete minus brake shoes,
set of original V8 motor mounts, pass side door needs work, vent window frames, electric wiper motor, 2 steering boxes
35# Rustoleum chassis paint
19# kick panels
70# front wheel cylinders, parking brake cable, diff cover gasket, master cylinder rebuild kit, brake hone 12 to ship
150# EZ wiring harness 10 to ship
53# turned brake drums
45# tapered hub bearings from Chris
50# ceramic coated headers from Jim on the HAMB
23# tail lights 5 to ship
7# brake fluid
52# Rear brake shoes, wheel cylinders and entire spring hardware kit. Rock auto 14 to ship
50# Gas tank
75# Oreiley, header bolts, washers, intake gasket, exhaust gasket, vaccum plugs, high temp silicone
40# black seat cover 15 to ship
54# HEI components
75# 68 1/2 ton rear end
90# Speedway order, header reducer kit, rear leaf spring ubolts, shock mounts, axle pads, front u bolt set. 13 to ship
25# Front drum brake shoes
101# battery
105# step notch kit 15 for shipping
84# door weatherstrip, vent window weatherstrip, vent window rubber molding 14 ship
12# vent window rivets 7 ship
125# rear bumper 25 for shipping
50# front bumper and brackets
80# short water pump, crank and water pump pulley 15 for shipping
21# new tie rod ends 8 ship
60# Hurst shifter 11 ship
170# radiator 25 ship
61# fuel sending unit 8 ship
36# exhaust cutouts 11 ship
300# 58 cab
0# 58 Fleetside bed, cost neutral, sold stepside bed
141# 57 grill 42 ship
161# Flexplate and Exhaust kit
81# Mufflers and exhaust hangers
30# B&M shifter bracket kit
25# axle shock mounts
20# headlight switch
113# Flex-a-lite speed controller
80# Sid to machine steering arms
50# Lokar trans dipstick
20# valve cover gaskets
160# shortened and balanced driveshaft
85# Fan shroud
52# brake hardware kit, wheel cylinders, brake shoes
30# trans filter, detent cable and case vent
100# grill filler panel, emblem, grommets and ****
206# O'Reilly belts, hoses, fluids, ****
121# Ace hardware, for hardware
120# Stereo, front and rear speakers
100# Lopers, brake lines, fittings
25# Peel and seal and ****
30# floor mat, cargo
40# Suburban 2nd row seat
20# LMC gaskets
100# Front shocks from Performance online
$15# front shock mount studs
38# rear window seal $ new brake light switch $10 shipping
24# oil and filter change
350# rebuild tranny
85# rear shocks
20# fan shroud
25# locksmith to cut keys
34# front wheel cylinders
30# rear axle extended shock mounts
73# Maradyne electric fan

The least you could have done it add it all up for us JEEEEZZZZ!!!!! LOL

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

The least you could have done it add it all up for us JEEEEZZZZ!!!!! LOL

haha $9890 last time I checked!

[dubie]

Originally Posted by sqrlnts

haha $9890 last time I checked!

And if you told people that you're 10 grand into your truck, they look at you like you've even muffing glue. People dot realize the cost of parts when you start from the ground up. And for me being in northern Canada, the amount of shipping and brokerage fees I've paid would make your head spin
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[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

The least you could have done it add it all up for us JEEEEZZZZ!!!!! LOL

I added his list up but won't disclose the total. I believe that there are a few duplicates on the list though.

[mr48chev]

That's pretty good Sqrints and you have most everything but 't blown the budget on things that some guys thing are a requirement for a build. Those trips to the hardware store and the bolt supply do add up though.

And it doesn't include the gas to run to the hardware, parts store or wrecking yard or the cost of the soda and snack that were pretty good at the time.

I'm building a little flathead six powered boat tail roadster as one of my long term projects( I bought the cowl 20 + years ago) and on it the single most expensive part will end up being the tires as they have to come from Coker. I'll honestly have as much in the tires and tubes as I do the rest of the car. Free engine, 50.00 transmission, 200 dollar frame, free rear axle 10.00 in the front axle and probably 150 in the 18 inch six lug 32 Chevy wire wheels when I am done. Almost everything else is left over from another project. It will be painted but the paint will be Ford Tractor blue and fleet white.

My Model A isn't open for discussion on the low buck thing though as even though that car will be real simple and plane by street rodder's standards i'm going to end up with a ton of money in it and probably twice or three times what I put into the 48. I haven't tallied up what I've spent so far but it's close to 2k and I'm not even working on it yet.

[Dan in Pasadena]

I THINK the point is they'll always cost you more than you think they will. They'll always take more time than you think they will.

Now, if you're a guy that does one project after another, year after year and you have welders, plasma cutters, tubing flaring and bending tools, a boat load of hand tools, a big ass compressor & air tools, etc, etc. It's not truly accurate to add up the cost of buying a derelict and a $500 or $1000 donor car and call that a low buck build. You can if you want but those thousands of dollars of tools AND your time are worth something.

Another guy, a newbie, or a guy like me that does not intend to build truck after truck, car after car, cannot really duplicate what you did.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I THINK the point is they'll always cost you more than you think they will. They'll always take more time than you think they will.

Now, if you're a guy that does one project after another, year after year and you have welders, plasma cutters, tubing flaring and bending tools, a boat load of hand tools, a big ass compressor & air tools, etc, etc. It's not truly accurate to add up the cost of buying a derelict and a $500 or $1000 donor car and call that a low buck build. You can if you want but those thousands of dollars of tools AND your time are worth something.

Another guy, a newbie, or a guy like me that does not intend to build truck after truck, car after car, cannot really duplicate what you did.

Lol, not sure I understand. You have a welder, grinder, hand tools, magnets, clamps, etc. and knowledge so does this mean yours isn't a budget build?
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[Zach B]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I THINK the point is they'll always cost you more than you think they will. They'll always take more time than you think they will.

Now, if you're a guy that does one project after another, year after year and you have welders, plasma cutters, tubing flaring and bending tools, a boat load of hand tools, a big ass compressor & air tools, etc, etc. It's not truly accurate to add up the cost of buying a derelict and a $500 or $1000 donor car and call that a low buck build. You can if you want but those thousands of dollars of tools AND your time are worth something.

Another guy, a newbie, or a guy like me that does not intend to build truck after truck, car after car, cannot really duplicate what you did.

Yes the tools and time are worthwhile something but I want you to think about this. Who ever said that you invested any real money into the tools. You will run into people who inherited most of the tools they have and those tools are over 50 years old. I know people with $5000 worth of tools and did not spend a dime on them. They found some on the road, inherited many of them, and some were gifts. So even if you do have it all it can still be a low buck build. I'm still in high school and my auto tech teacher found a set of snapon clutch head screw drivers. He gave them to me because I was the only one who knew what it was. You run into stuff like that all the time so even with all the tools you may not have invested more than $200 in a compressor. That's another thing to think about. My dad works on semi trucks. His work threw away a compressor because it broke a tooth on a fly wheel. He just pulled it out of the dumpster an brought it home to fix. It's a matter of how you aquire everything you have. You find generous people and things like that and you never know what you might get and how cheap you may get it.
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