I am starting to think I bit off more than I can chew

[gysgtc]

I am starting to think I bit off more than I can chew. My whole life I always wanted to do a build. I was in the Marines for 22 years and never was in one spot long enough to take on doing a restoration. So two years ago I thought if I am ever going to do it there is no time like now. I bought the 67 c10 and have finished all of the frame and suspension. The engine is rebuilt and ready to go in. I bought aftermarket fenders and inner fenders. Now I have been trying to fit every thing on the frame before I start body work on the cab and doors to make sure every thing will line up before paint. Now I see why body shops get so much an hour. I can't get any thing to line up. I guess I should have just bought a truck that was already finished. For the money I already spent I could have probably bought a nice truck. Had to vent before I ended up burning the garage down!!!!

[HeavyD]

I understand fully your frustration. It is always cheaper to buy one finished or close to it, as old vehicles are ALWAYS a $$ soak, but for some of us like myself the thought of seeing something go from junk to beautiful is just so tempting.

Maybe there is a board member nearby that could lend some assistance in getting the offending pieces to conform properly??

[oldno7]

First of THANK YOU for your service I always wanted to join the service but never could due to leg problems. sometimes it is frustrating doing your own build there is great satisfaction when finished though. Remember biulds are fun. Maybe you should take a week or two off from it and start with new motivation. There is no doubt here you will prevail!

[biggestjohn]

The one real nice thing about building it yourself is that you KNOW how good the quality of your work is. If you buy somebody else's truck, there is always the worry about how good their work is. You also get the pride of knowing that you did it yourself!!! I could never take pride in, or show a vehicle that I paid someone else to do.

Of coarse, if something goes wrong down the road, well your also the blame.

Get over these obstacles Marine!!

[50bomb]

Anyone can buy a already done truck and for some that is the best choice. For people like me who got that sickness to want to save a parts truck like my 1967 chevy longbed c10 know in the end we did it and nobody else! Sure i bought my gm 77 sbc 350/th350 rebuilt. but i dropped it in, I am finishing the parts needed to finish it. I am doing all the suspension,brakes,electric harness kit,drivshaft,etc with some help from dad and grandpa. BUt that is the whole fun of it! KNowing we did it and saved a parts truck. Forget parting it out to "SAVE" 10 more. I want this old beater to have that AMerican dream once again. hahaa I like my speech. PAt on my back. GOOD DAY

[Lee H]

It will be worth it when your done. Your at the hard part now. Step away and take a break. If you can't find a board member with some experience maybe find a body man to moonlight for a weekend and get it knocked out.

[PanelDeland]

I'm gonna take a different tack on this.I appreciate your service to our country,more than you can imgine.I also thank you for the sacrifices that required.
Now let me get this straight,You did 22 years in the marines and you're gonna let a little bodywork whip you?
Tell us the areas you're having problems with and we will be more than happy to help walk you thru.I'm just guessing but I have seen lots of folks have a problem with the 67-68 front end alignment.They buy the body mount kit and it misaligns everywhere from the cab forward.The 67-68 radiator core supports are different from 69-72 and will cause everything to be off.If this sound like your problem post pics of what you have and someone will help you thru it.If i's nt let us know where you're having problems,I guarantee soeone here has dealt with it before.

[gysgtc]

Thanks for the support everyone. I am going to step back for a couple of days and start over. I needed to vent and I know people on here would give me some motivation. THANK YOU

[CG]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

...Now let me get this straight,You did 22 years in the marines and you're gonna let a little bodywork whip you?...

LOL, I was thinking the same thing. Stick with it, there is tons of help and motivation around here =)

[Redline novdog]

I too Thank You for your service for all of us.I will say don't get discouraged step back and research your issues and post 'em up.In my eyes you have the sweetest lookin' bowtie ever made.Make it yours!

[68GMCCustom]

Another that will open with "thank you for your service...and for our freedoms"!

Good idea to take a break. Keep in mind tho...those body guys aren't any smarter then you....they've just done it before and know all the tricks. Try keeping everything loose so you can move it around if needed. measure and remeasure the cab location....it needs to be square. I know....I think mines off a hair!

[OldCreek]

“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Think of it as the journey and not the destination. I love being able to work on cars. I wasn't born with the information...Learn by doing. I don't feel so helpless as some...

[Achevytruck]

When you are done with the truck you will have one sweet looking truck and i know when some are working on a vehicle they some other things to trade or get rid of to put some green in there jean pocket

[PAWS 72]

Thanks for your service.

[nds1968]

Hang in there Lining up panels is not easy even for body shops.

I took my original bed apart; had it media blasted, then I painted it. When I put it back together it was not easy. The same original parts gave me trouble. I had to pry, pull, use a rubber mallet and line up bars too fight the panels back together.

I dread putting the front end back together and I think I am going to leave my doors on the cab. The gaps are so tight I don't think I'll ever get them like they where. Nate

[lowrollin70gmc]

Semper Fi brother,

A tip on throwing the front clip back on is to hang the core support with the bolts loose, then toss on a fender at a time using one of the top bolts that go in the cowl and one to the radiator support to get it hanging. Then repeat on the other side and start fiddling with it as necessary. Sometimes you need to elongate a hole to get everything to line up.

When it frustrates the crap out of you, just do something else for the rest of the day and get back on it later.

And when it's really frustrating, at least it isn't a safety brief! (I'm sure at 22 yrs, you were on the giving side of those).

Kill!

[72lb4x4]

Ever heard of a compound word? Everything, not every thing?

You went to school; they taught you. Why reinvent the English language?

[Liz]

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

Ever heard of a compound word? Everything, not every thing?

You went to school; they taught you. Why reinvent the English language?

why be a grammar nazzi? wth.. Trolling is against the site rules..


Yep, I used bad grammar to tell you that.


OP. Thanks for all you do and have done. Don't let stress and bs get you down. Walk away, come back and it will be fun again.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

Ever heard of a compound word? Everything, not every thing?

You went to school; they taught you. Why reinvent the English language?

Bye Bye. I searched your posts based on this one and it earned you 999 month infraction!

[oldschool18]

Josh all I could think of after reading that and looking at your avatar was "RUN AWAY RUN AWAY"

[gysgtc]

Thanks Josh.