New guy here...with a Stock restore....maybe next year???

[ljcasey1]

I got this about 10 years ago, and only put about 5000 miles since then. I think it has only gone over once. 95% stock, and even have the stock hubcaps, but like the American Racing Ansen Mags on it....my one guilty pleasure.... This is factory paint and interior....needs work, with rusty cab corners and rocker panels, but a truck this stock HAS to be restored as such, right? I have limited funds and tools and motivation, but hopefully you all might inspire me to get this back to the pics from 71 when they used this as the show truck in the ads....

[ljcasey1]

am I too new to post pics??? If so, the first two pics are in the welcome area....

[ljcasey1]

did this work???

[ljcasey1]

ahh....my bad
left/right...eh?

[ljcasey1]

interior shot

[jocko]

RESTORE! Welcome to the forum, nice truck!

[72 tigger]

Welcome- good looking truck

[Willys_MB]

My opinion is you should do it, but you said something that worries me. You have limited motivation. These types of projects can drag on and if you are unmotivated then you may never complete it or it will take years. It takes a lot of time, not to mention tools, to restore a vehicle. It’s pretty common to see these trucks for sale halfway through a restoration because the owner lost interest. You sound pretty excited about the truck and I’d hate for that to happen to you.

This forum has tons of valuable information and lots of very helpful people, but you have to realize it may be years before it’s back on the road. If you can’t handle that, just keep driving it and enjoying it until you can pay someone else to do the work.

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by Willys_MB

My opinion is you should do it, but you said something that worries me. You have limited motivation. These types of projects can drag on and if you are unmotivated then you may never complete it or it will take years. It takes a lot of time, not to mention tools, to restore a vehicle. It’s pretty common to see these trucks for sale halfway through a restoration because the owner lost interest. You sound pretty excited about the truck and I’d hate for that to happen to you.

This forum has tons of valuable information and lots of very helpful people, but you have to realize it may be years before it’s back on the road. If you can’t handle that, just keep driving it and enjoying it until you can pay someone else to do the work.

Great advise!

[davepl]

Don't start something you won't finish... start with smaller projects, weekend stuff with a beginning and an end and see how THAT goes before taking the whole thing apart!

[LuckyScott]

Welcome. My advise would be to just drive it and fix what needs fixing as it comes up. Don't worry about the end result, but instead focus on enjoying the truck.
Its the journey, not the end result that matters.
I have three trucks, a 72 suburban, an 72 Blazer, and a 70 pickup.
I have had the 72 suburban for over 25 years. It had 80 thousand original miles on it when I got it and it now has 233,000. I drive it all the time and over the years it got nicer and nicer. I finally stepped up and had a shop do the interior and its a really nice truck. But its the memories of the trips and adventures and people I met along the way that is the most important.
You have a nice truck there. Just drive it and enjoy it.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by LuckyScott

Welcome. My advise would be to just drive it and fix what needs fixing as it comes up. Don't worry about the end result, but instead focus on enjoying the truck.
Its the journey, not the end result that matters.
I have three trucks, a 72 suburban, an 72 Blazer, and a 70 pickup.
I have had the 72 suburban for over 25 years. It had 80 thousand original miles on it when I got it and it now has 233,000. I drive it all the time and over the years it got nicer and nicer. I finally stepped up and had a shop do the interior and its a really nice truck. But its the memories of the trips and adventures and people I met along the way that is the most important.
You have a nice truck there. Just drive it and enjoy it.

This ^^^

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by davepl

Don't start something you won't finish... start with smaller projects, weekend stuff with a beginning and an end and see how THAT goes before taking the whole thing apart!

Exactly. My friend has a nice 70 SWB. Or at least it used to be nice. It's been blown apart in his garage for at least 25 years with no end in sight.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Nice truck. If you haven't already, you may find the build sheet underneath or behind the seat. It's very fragile, so be careful.

You don't have to build it stock, but sounds like you want to and I'm a believer. I've never built a custom truck, but factory has to be easier.

Only you can decide on a full restoration. It's a tremendous commitment, can take many years and requires lots of time and $. I'll be in mine approaching 50K, though I'm probably over the top. That's without the engine.

[ljcasey1]

Thanks for the replies. Believe me, I know the pitfalls in front of me, and that you have to have a PLAN to have any chance of following through.

That said, I've owned this truck for 10 years, and another 10 to rebuild it doesn't scare me. It would just be a major help to have someone nearby to be a sounding board/mentor. I have one person of that ilk, but he lives better part of 50 miles away.

I plan to do things in stages. The first thing is to finish the freaking yard project where I'm hauling dirt, and to relieve Ms Cheyenne of any further crap projects.... Then, start with the sheet metal in the cab corners, rocker panels/cab supports, and the battery support.

I did a partial rebuild on the Rochester with a new brass float courtesy of my brother(unfortunately he lives 1000 miles away) last year. She runs well, but I need to adjust the mixture and idle.

Just received some parts/tools from Brothers and USA1 for the front windshield weatherstripping and an options guide for 71 is on the way.

I don't believe I am capable/can afford a 100% factory showroom stock truck, but would like to get fairly close. My Retentive side wants to do a frame off, but like you all say....that is something to avoid too early in the process. Doing stuff incrementally at first is the smart way to get acquainted to the ways of restoration. However, those pics from the 71 brochure of THIS truck(not the actual one, but identical in every respect) make one appreciate what I have. Wish me luck.

LJC
Maryville,IL

[ljcasey1]

Here are the two pics from the brochure for 71....pretty sweet in my opinion...but gonna keep the mags for now. I do have the stock hubcaps in the garage....

[ljcasey1]

Oh, and I learned the valuable lesson of biting off more than I can chew with an earlier project that fell by the wayside...sold off to my brother in Florida, and was stolen from his Father-in-law's business in Tampa some 15+ years ago.