some advice please

[Chris Bassil]

Hello i have an 84 c10 305. I had the engine rebuilt, ball joints changed and carb rebuilt. The truck has plenty of rust problems (some through and through and some surface). After having the engine rebuilt the engine runs good but i still notice some black smoke when idling not when giving it gas. The eqhaust has a strong smell something i find peculiar. It also takes about ten seconds to start after sitting for more than two days. I figure it is loosing fuel pressure and has to build it up before it will start again. The truck needs an alignment and i am sure when i drop it off to do that they are going to tell me other things need to be changed. The guy i had do all the work so far seems to be a bit of a dim wit so i think i am going to find a new mechanic. I would like to start doing more of the work on my own but i live in an apartment complex and do not want the truck sitting for a long time while i figure out how to put it back together. I am not all that worried about the mechanical problems although i would like to figure out the smoke thing. My real worry is the rust thing. I do not want to end up doing all this and get it to a body shop and have them tell me i would be better off scrapping the truck due to the decaying body. I orginally bought the truck thinking i was going to do all the work myself but due to the above reasoning i have been unable to do this. It is getting quite costly and i am not sure how much i want to put into it just to have a truck i can drive and not have to worry about it braking down on me. With intial cost and repairs i have spent about 2000 so far and i know i will not get that if i sold it so i guess what i am asking is should i continue or cut my losses.