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.