Why do people call these trucks money pits/question about 4X4 conversion

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

I keep seeing people call these trucks money pits. Just wondering if things seem cheap to me due to my previous experience with vehicles or if there is something that I am missing.

I come from the land of 90's and newer vehicles/Cadillac where a single relay can be 400$, costed me 600$ to get a distributor for the north star V8!. I have yet to find a part for my 69 GMC(excluding whole engines /trannies/whole wiring harnesses) for over 200$.(my father just replaced the turbo on his 06 f250 for more then i paid for my truck!)

With that said,I might be missing something as far as budget is concerned(I am pretty new when it comes to this sort of stuff, so it is possible that I am completely over looking something!)

Since we are on the talk of $$! I am looking to convert my 69 over to 4X4 either via just getting the parts(difficult to implement, I know) or using a donor 4X4 frame and wonder what sort of part budget I am looking at for donor/parts.(I use my uncles hot rod shop so got a billion tools and I do not consider my time a cost as I absolutely love doing it)

(My body/running gear/frame is in decent shape,I do not intend on lifting or anything like that, I live very rurally and getting real tired getting stuck where even my cadi rolls right through!)

if I do use the donor method, can I use the frames from long suburban/blazer(I have a long box)? I was kind of thinking of picking up a 4X4 SUV, swapping it out and giving the newly 2WD blazer/burb to my mother who has no need for 4X4 And what years would be fairly "easy" to swap out for 69 GMC1500.

[freak]

They're money pits because you end up with more in them than you can sell them for. But oh well.

[Greg58]

Originally Posted by freak

They're money pits because you end up with more in them than you can sell them for. But oh well.

Almost all vehicles are money pits, new truck will be worth 1/2 of what you paid in 5 years.
Driving and maintaining old stuff is cool and fun, that's why we do it.

Greg

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

My truck came to me as a Frankenstein - no hope of restoration lol. I am happy with that, allows me freedom as I so not have to tear apart a "survivor" to get what I really want. intend to make it a really good daily driver (it is now, just very rough around the edges lol). My father does bodywork so we will be tackeling that, and eventually I will be painting it completely​ in the bed liner material to keep the rust off.

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

Not too concerned about selling it lol. Had this truck for almost a year now and am absolutely in love.

[dfwright]

Also bear in mind that your $400 part on that Cadillac was all it needed to be good to go. You end up needing 30 or 40 of those $200 parts to get one of these trucks back to good

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

Originally Posted by dfwright

Also bear in mind that your $400 part on that Cadillac was all it needed to be good to go. You end up needing 30 or 40 of those $200 parts to get one of these trucks back to good

You obviously did not own a 90's Cadi lol. These things are money open put mines

[jocko]

Inexpensive to maintain and drive, money pit to fully restore. So drive and enjoy. I have more fun with my far less than perfect trucks than I do with a total resto. But I like em all, like to restore to stock, just can't always afford it, so striking the right balance is the key. As for 4x4 conversion, recommend the donor frame but make sure your stated doesn't care about the frame VIN. If the rest of your VINs are good, usually not an issue at all.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by jocko

Inexpensive to maintain and drive, money pit to fully restore. So drive and enjoy. I have more fun with my far less than perfect trucks than I do with a total resto. But I like em all, like to restore to stock, just can't always afford it, so striking the right balance is the key. As for 4x4 conversion, recommend the donor frame but make sure your stated doesn't care about the frame VIN. If the rest of your VINs are good, usually not an issue at all.

This - maintenance and a little upkeep is plumb affordable - even if you have to dabble in the drive train. Restorations and modifications are where it gets spendy.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK

I do not consider my time a cost as I absolutely love doing it

My thoughts also. My old Chevys have always been a hobby to me. Love turning a wrench. With these old trucks, I will never be bored! As for a "money pit", just toss the receipts and you will never know.

[palallin]

All machines are money pits in one way or another. In fact, that's true of everything devised by Man.

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

Would pull out an old saying my father said all the time, not very appropriate though!

[71threequarterton]

Originally Posted by Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK

Would pull out an old saying my father said all the time, not very appropriate though!

"If it's got t%ts or wheels on it, it'll cost you money"

That the one you were thinking of???

[Jarvis-69 GMC 1500CK]

Yup lol

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Still not cheap. My project will be close to 40K counting tools I didn't have, and that's me doing most of the work less body/paint, and without a rebuilt motor and trans. Started off with the idea I'd spend 18K......Yeah right, one thing leads to another and next thing you know short cuts or second rate are no longer options.

Then there's my other truck, which I had leaned to parting out. I spent 3K for it, and next thing I knew it grew on me, so I blew another 3K on it for a solid driver......

That said, your point is dead-on. Two recent examples:

NOS tail lenses: I scored some NOS marked 71 for $35. Very rare, NOS are generally marked 67....... OK, that was a steal. But the going rate is somewhere around $150 for a great pair in boxes.....I broke a tail lens on my 2005 Tundra around the same time............$150 will get you one, if you're lucky.

Hub caps: I bought a SWEET set of NOS rally caps for $140....Around the same time it came to my attention the caps on my 2005 Tundra were broken and junk to begin with. OEM replacements run about $70-80 each, assuming you're ignorant enough to buy another OEM set.

[jjzepplin]

I'd rather work on my truck than work for a living.
My ex is a money pit!

[special-K]

Any vehicle is a money pit and these trucks are by far less of a money pit than most anything else out there. I'm surprised anyone can see it any other way. These trucks will take a lickin' and keep on tickin' better than a Bic pen.

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by special-K

Any vehicle is a money pit and these trucks are by far less of a money pit than most anything else out there. I'm surprised anyone can see it any other way. This trucks will take a lickin' and keep on tickin' better than a Bic pen.

Well put. All things mechanical and simple. Easy to troubleshoot, easy to fix and it don't break the bank.

[kingNothing]

I look at the truck as a investment. Maybe not the best, but I love 67-72 c10s. You can get a group of folks together, with new cars and trucks.You then have a parking lot. Do the same with vintage, and yes its a car show.

[Orange67]

Look up the term "hobby". If you're in it for money, well that says it all, and you wouldn't be asking. No matter what, you'll never get out of it what you put in.

[FleetsidePaul]

I don't think it has anything to do with these trucks in particular. They are usually a pretty sound investment. That being said, you can get in way over your head with any vehicle.
Buy a boat, or a BMW and you'll find out really fast. (Ask me how I know) A money pit can be anything that you have to keep throwing money at with little or no return. My friend used to call her swimming pool a money pit. And yes, the ex wife is the biggest money pit by far.

[In The Ten Ring]

My truck is certainly a "money pit." I haven't kept a good record of everything I have bought for it, I should have kept a log and a diary for my thoughts each time I worked on it.

It is though, very close to reassembly, hopefully I can get the front end back on, fix the stuck parking brakes, and do all the other little things and get it running soon.

Mine is a means to an end: in order to renovate the garage the truck has to be mobile.

[special-K]

A savings account at the bank is a money pit. How much interest does money earn while the bank uses it to make mega bucks? Less than the rate of inflation. I see most selling these trucks expecting to get what they have in back out. Some get it. That has never been the expectation from owning old vehicles. If you don't enjoy the process you need to find something else to do. I don't get paid to fish. Don't always catch a fish. But I like to fish.

[flashed]

To me these trucks are a labor of love ,not really worried about what I spend as long as its a fun process .I love these old trucks and keep buying more and looking for others . I know where far too many are hiding and try to rescue all I can. My wife always told me I cant rescue them all but I still try. She would be happy to know Im back at it .

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by flashed

To me these trucks are a labor of love ,not really worried about what I spend as long as its a fun process .I love these old trucks and keep buying more and looking for others . I know where far too many are hiding and try to rescue all I can. My wife always told me I cant rescue them all but I still try. She would be happy to know Im back at it .

Glad to see that you are back at it, a few months ago you had given up, your wife would definitely be happy that you are back in the game....good for you