ways you have saved money on your build

[samwise68]

"I think it was longhornman that said, "If you gonna half-ass it, there is a right and a wrong way to go about it." I've cut cost corners several time, but I always try to half-ass it the right way."

Amen my half-assed brotha!

[special-K]

Buy a restored truck the way you like them.

[slowtruck]

I was given a used dirt track fuel Cell and put a used fuel sending unit in it, then put the thing under the bed. Found out it was way to low to the ground and orderd a blazer fuel tank to put in it's place.

[mtndewmaniac66]

Silly? Saved Money? I guess you can say that. I was always on the lookout for a 67-72 chevy/gmc truck, then finally after eight years, I found my '68 chevy C10 for $500.00. It was in a very acceptable body shape, and running. Now that four years had gone by, I had since rebuilt the engine, (spared no expense there) had a set of Mags given to me, I only had to clean them up, but I did this with Eagle one wheel cleaner and a soft bristled rush.....in my bath tub. I also skimped on cost on the exhaust, purchased a twenty foot stick of 2-1/2" exhaust pipe, cut, bent, and formed a X-over, welded collectors to it, welded turbo mufflers to it, and then installed the whole assembly in. The exhaust is still in operation.

My biggest savings? Doing almost all the work om it myself, with the exception of the engine machine work.

Oh, BTW, When I replace the fluids I try to recycle the coolant from my better vehicles and use it in the old beat up Jeep.

[Ricks1971]

Shopped at the pick and pull aftermidnite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dingfodgy]

Craigslist! I scope out the parts listings for all the cities between Eugene and Seattle- everyday. Looking for guys parting out their trucks or looking to trade or whatever. I have made some tremendous scores this way, but you have to be patient and ready to jump as soon as something comes up. You also have to be wary of the dreamers who think their rotted out '68 SWB thats be sittin' behind grandads garden shed since '84 is destined for the Prime-Time slot at Barrett-Jackson...ya'll know who I'm talking about. Also, my Pop's was a body and paint guy for many years- and he taught me the craft as well as "donated" alot of the tools I need. Being able to do my own body work will save me scads of cash. Now if I can just get Chip Foose to donate some "Nitrous' " to my "charity"!
Bottom line do anything and everything you can. If you don't know how- pick up a book or ask on this board- chances are somebody has done, is doing, or knows somebody that has done just about everything a person could do to one of our trucks.

Lastly- forget schedules, deadlines, and measurable results. Restifying / Restoring a classic truck should be fun and creative- not arduous and stressful....unless your trying to make a living at roddin' out old chevy trucks!

[hotroddinrebel]

My truck was my daily driver in high school and since I was(and still am) getting 10-12 mpg...money wasn't plentiful. I had a bent drum backer plate that needed replacing because it ate shoes every 5000 miles. but why replace? I worked at AutoZone at the time and lifetime shoes were 19 bucks. Exhaust work is expensive so a universal glasspack kit is on there..cheap enough that I got it for christmas(around 120 bucks I think). Fuel line of the carb is a combo of cheap brake lines and rubber hose. The carb installation was me and my ex-gf's dad putting it on at 12am on a school/work night so that it would be ready for power tour 2006(Ready is a relative term)

The other key is to work at Napa...employees get good prices