What comes first...body work or drivetrain?

[Blizz]

I know some people want to get their Blazers running at any cost even though their tubs could use some work...and some want the body squared away before the drivetrain is done. I personally want to get my floors, doors and fenders done before I start working on the engine. What say the good people of the board?

[raggedjim]

If you drive it a lot I'd say get it running good. But if you have time for it to sit (and sit, and sit...) do the body work first.

Tha ones I did the engine first always seemed to get sold before I ever got the body straight. The one's I started on the body first seem to take forever...

Rg

[AJs72K5]

If it's not running now, take your time and get the bodywork done. You'll end up having to pull some of the drivetrain out anyway. No sense in doing it twice.

[Big J]

If your going all out do any wrenching first. If you can build a tub dolley or have a extra rolling frame layin' around that'd work too. My thought is why risk damaging nice new paint when dropping a motor in or having to cut this or hammer on that. I have a extra rolling chassis, its working great to do the body work. Just my .02...

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by Big J

I have a extra rolling chassis, its working great to do the body work. Just my .02...

You need to preach this harder Brother and maybe my roller
will find a new home sometime this fall. (Go J!, Go J!, Go J!)

[69TowRig]

For me, all the "mechanicals" are easy to work on so I have been getting my truck to "driver" status up to this point. Now I am at the crossroads of serious bodywork or serious drivertrain work.

I am choosing to wait on the drivetrain (even though my 307 is over-tired) because I want the body to be worthy of a nice drivetrain. If I do the drivertrain work it will end up rotting out the body even more before I get to fixing it all.

[Critter]

Originally Posted by Big J

If your going all out do any wrenching first. If you can build a tub dolley or have a extra rolling frame layin' around that'd work too. My thought is why risk damaging nice new paint when dropping a motor in or having to cut this or hammer on that. I have a extra rolling chassis, its working great to do the body work. Just my .02...

Originally Posted by 69TowRig

For me, all the "mechanicals" are easy to work on so I have been getting my truck to "driver" status up to this point. Now I am at the crossroads of serious bodywork or serious drivertrain work.

My opinion falls somewhere inline with the two quotes above. In a perfect world I would do them simultaneously and assemble everything at once but that takes a lot of workspace and money all at once.

[MrBeast]

I always do drive train first. Expecially if I am modifying the heck out of something.

Also if the worst happens it is much easier to sell a ugly truck that runs good than a pretty truck that doesn't run.

[Blizz]

Originally Posted by Big J

If your going all out do any wrenching first. If you can build a tub dolley or have a extra rolling frame layin' around that'd work too. My thought is why risk damaging nice new paint when dropping a motor in or having to cut this or hammer on that. I have a extra rolling chassis, its working great to do the body work. Just my .02...

I'm not planning to go all the way with the body first. I'm talking about getting the floor sections replaced, the kick pans and rockers, then replacing both fenders and the doors and fixing any serious dents. I know it's never going to be a show truck so that's not what I'm after, I just want it looking good. Once I'm done with all of that, before paint, I'm gonna proceed with the drivetrain. The ultimate goal is to make it as reliable as possible. So I'm thinking I'll probably take this engine apart, so I know what I have, rebuild it and use it until I can get a 350 EFI vortec, like my Tahoe.

[FlatBrokeRacing]

Driveline, then brakes/rims&tires, Paint and body last

Make it safe to drive, then make it look good last.

[BLUE THUNDER]

Before you tear down the motor lets check the compression on the cylinders. If the are all the same, we'll look into the carb. I would'nt yank everything yet. Let's see what's what. As far as the bodywork, just do the floor and drive it for a while. Paint it in the spring. Get all the bugs out of it in the summer and fall. Later bro.

[haus]

Originally Posted by FlatBrokeRacing

Driveline, then brakes/rims&tires, Paint and body last

Make it safe to drive, then make it look good last.

i agree with flatbroke. i have no problem driving something that isn't pretty as it could be, but i couldn't stand looking at a beautiful truck that i can't drive - it would just eat at me. besides, by the time i had that much effort into the body, i'd be scared to drive it for fear of rocks or parking lots.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Blizz

I'm not planning to go all the way with the body first. I'm talking about getting the floor sections replaced, the kick pans and rockers, then replacing both fenders and the doors and fixing any serious dents.

Even what your talking about is a lot of work and many times the "might as well" disease kicks in and all the sudden it's three years since you've driven your favorite ride.

Since your asking for advise/opinion's, mine would be bite off only as much as your can handle, both monetarily and skill wise.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by Blizz

I'm not planning to go all the way with the body first. I'm talking about getting the floor sections replaced, the kick pans and rockers, then replacing both fenders and the doors and fixing any serious dents.

That was my plan, 3 years ago. But, in my defense, I have made some progress... 3 more years I should be done...

Rg

[Blizz]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Even what your talking about is a lot of work and many times the "might as well" disease kicks in and all the sudden it's three years since you've driven your favorite ride.

I haven't driven it up till now anyways so that's not gonna bother me all that much. I just wanna shore up the floors, doors and fenders and then get it running. I have all the parts I need for the most part and just need someone to do it and I have that lined up as well. At this point it's all about the $$.

[BLUE THUNDER]

Dude, if i had your truck i'd be driving it everyday. I'm close to getting mine on the road. Even as close as i am, it still kills me that i can't drive it yet. I say charge the battery, clean the plugs and tromp on it for a while. Get her on 1604 and open it up. Floor or no floor, you're on 6" of lift and 35's. The floor doesn't affect the "cool factor" anyways. JMO though. Later Bro.

[Critter]

Kinda hard to put "the pedal to the metal" without it, though!

[BLUE THUNDER]

That just means he took the governor off.