I Knew Better - The Budget is Blown

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Quick backdrop: I built a '72 back in '03 that was lucky enough to get some ink in March of '04 Classic Trucks. Sort of an expanded "Reader's Ride" two- pager.

But it was a garage-built home project that went fairly slowly and then finished up with $5,000 worth of paint.

Point is, I should know better than to set my sights high without serious resources to back up the deal.

About three months ago I bought a project truck from a friend that *had* been running. The cab was rusty and he had a non-op'd '68 truck with a pretty good cab. He had gone through the suspension and front brakes. Every nut, bushing and bolt had been replaced, 4/6 w drop spindles and trailing arms, shock relocating kit, shocks. The whole ECE nine yards.

His wife asked him if he was ever going to finish it. He said "no".

I got all the parts, along with a complete '71 front clip that was assembled. The 350 is reported to "...move the truck down the road pretty quickly". No smoke. He said the 350 trans leaked like a popped balloon.

So, I sold my Jeep, paid some bills, and gave Mike $2,500 and a $500 canoe and a nice Apple 13" laptop. I got a '68 cab, a frame rolling on 15" rallys, a trans, the messy 350 motor with an Edlebrock performer, the complete, but dinged up '71 front clip (bad inner fenders), a serpentine system that was mocked up, a nice aluminum radiator...And an almost complete Vortec motor...Well, it has no crank, pistons or rods.

Hell, I knew enough not to try to do the motor with a pauper's budget. I retired a couple of years ago...I'm okay, but not rich. I just figured I'd put the parts together and have a driver.

WRONG.....I'm now over $10,000 into it after sealing up the motor and adding some bling, buying brake stuff to hang on the firewall, buying a new seat, another radiator that's plumbed for the 350 trans, sealing up the 350 trans, buying a ton of rattle cans, POR15, brake and carb cleaner, a spray gun, Preval sprayers, paint for the interior, windshield and rear windows, $350 for body work on the doors...And on.

Anyway, the complete point is now I've decided to junk the idea that this will be magazine bait. It will be a driver for now. Best I can do without getting $30,000 in the truck.

But, I plan on changing my attitude. Slower and more fun.

[LockDoc]

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Yep, it's real easy to get carried away with the small stuff. I'm into the driver quality projects myself so I'm not afraid to drive them.

LockDoc

[ChevLoRay]

Do you mean we're supposed to play with trucks AND have a budget? That just ain't right.....no sir. I had a budget at one time, but I blew through it a couple of times. That said, my old adage was to come to some sort of mental agreement about how much it was going to cost to "do" your ride, then multiply by four. Based on that idea, I'm about half-way into my "budget" but out of funds until I sell some of my "stuff".

Such is life. Retirement is tiring.....and high maintenance, too!

[superchevy]

$10,000 ? You're just gettin' started, lol!
Looking good!

[rsavage]

Well, your truck looks really real good based on your work to date. It is amazing how fast money can be poured into these trucks. Keep plugging on it and enjoy it once you have it drivable.

[treveiger]

I know what you mean. You "think" itll be 10000 and then you look through those magazines for parts then see several things you want and then add it to the list. Ive been trying to find ways to cheapen up my budget . I need to get rid of those magazines but i have no cable and keep seing things i want .

[1970 CST STEP]

you always think you can do it on a budget, but the better it looks the more you will spend!!

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Yup! You gotta pay to play, huh?