Can I really do this? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rob68c10 · 03-19-2011, 07:24 PM

I got my 68 for a dollar. I thought it was a screamin deal, until I looked it over. It is going to need metal replaced on every body part except the grill and cowl panel. Both front fenders have rust, the bed floor has rust, one bedside needs replaced, the other has rust in the rocker....the cab is trash ( I have another). So basically when I get done with this truck the only original parts will be the grill and frame.

But here is the tricky part. I have very little suspension experience and I want to lower my truck. I have no experience welding and well lets face it we know how much rust loves these trucks. I took a class in high school on rebuilding engines but that was a while ago. I wanna put a six speed in which means converting the truck to a manual, and trans crossmember work.

So can I really do this and make it not look like a hack job?

crazy longhorn · 03-19-2011, 07:56 PM

Free99 is one hell of a deal! On your ?.....how stubborn are you?

crazyL

**truckster** · 03-19-2011, 08:28 PM

I think it's really a question of how much patience you have, how hard you want to work on it, and how willing to learn you are. And if it's as rusted as you describe, you might find you end up spending more money on it than you would have buying a truck in better shape.

BlackTopMotors · 03-19-2011, 08:53 PM

Sounds like one to learn on...let's see some picks.

1969K10 · 03-19-2011, 09:09 PM

I'm a firm believer, that life is a balance of time vs/ money. you can save a lot of money if you have time to invest. or you can save time, and drop a lot of money into. the balance in somewhere in the middle. but you'll have to decide where you and this project fall.

Longhorn Man · 03-19-2011, 09:12 PM

before you spend another dollar on it (yes, pun intended) you need to decide...
is this a truck, or a parts truck?
Either way, you are ahead of the game right now.

Hubscrub · 03-19-2011, 10:02 PM

just build a mean motor for it and go blow some doors with a rusty ol truck

can't beat the price

R.L. · 03-19-2011, 10:29 PM

I think you might have a great parts truck.

05crewcab · 03-19-2011, 10:46 PM

Pictures would help us determine if it is saveable, but it sounds like you are already about $500 ahead on the project...that can buy a few parts or some labor on the stuff you can't accomplish on your own.

How did you get it for buck?? where the heck am I when these deals are to be had??

VA72C10 · 03-19-2011, 10:48 PM

If you are going to have to pay for the patch work you'll be money ahead buying nice parts....look for another cheap truck that has maybe a good front clip or a good cab, get that and sell the extra parts (if you have the room)

Rob68c10 · 03-20-2011, 11:56 AM

The thing is I see this truck as an opportunity to learn how to do pretty much everything a person would have to when fixing up an old vehicle. And for scoring it for a dollar where I would normally have to pay at least 750 bucks for something of the same quality around here I think I am ahead. This truck is not a good parts truck, as there are really not any good parts to get rid of.

I just want some confidence that I can learn to weld, and wire this truck, and build a motor, and work on the suspension, and fit body panels etc..

Beat68CST · 03-20-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob68c10

The thing is I see this truck as an opportunity to learn how to do pretty much everything a person would have to when fixing up an old vehicle. And for scoring it for a dollar where I would normally have to pay at least 750 bucks for something of the same quality around here I think I am ahead. This truck is not a good parts truck, as there are really not any good parts to get rid of.

I just want some confidence that I can learn to weld, and wire this truck, and build a motor, and work on the suspension, and fit body panels etc..

Well, if an 18 yr old kid can do, no reason you can't!

Patience and willing to learn are the biggest things.

68lwb292 · 03-20-2011, 12:11 PM

sounds like a better truck then mine lol

treveiger · 03-20-2011, 12:52 PM

You dont have to make it a show truck, you dont have to tear it all apart at once either. The motor and trans are the easy parts, the body work is whats going to make you pull your hair out. I never knew how to build a motor until a mechanic friend of mine told me to get this book/movie on how to rebuild motors and after doing research and learning from online vidoes, book/movie my friend recomended, and info from other motor head friends of mine i have no fear of it anymore and am going to take my motor apart an check everything this summer. Best way to learn body work is talk to the people on here and do a lot of research then try it for yourself. Hey just think of it like this, whats the worse that can happen, its only metal

. Just get the cab in good shape then put it on and get the front end done so you can drive it and then do the bed last, and just work on it as you go.

03-19-2011, 07:24 PM	#1
Rob68c10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Eastern Shore, Maryland Posts: 159	Can I really do this? I got my 68 for a dollar. I thought it was a screamin deal, until I looked it over. It is going to need metal replaced on every body part except the grill and cowl panel. Both front fenders have rust, the bed floor has rust, one bedside needs replaced, the other has rust in the rocker....the cab is trash ( I have another). So basically when I get done with this truck the only original parts will be the grill and frame. But here is the tricky part. I have very little suspension experience and I want to lower my truck. I have no experience welding and well lets face it we know how much rust loves these trucks. I took a class in high school on rebuilding engines but that was a while ago. I wanna put a six speed in which means converting the truck to a manual, and trans crossmember work. So can I really do this and make it not look like a hack job?

03-19-2011, 07:56 PM	#2
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	Re: Can I really do this? Free99 is one hell of a deal! On your ?.....how stubborn are you? crazyL __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

03-19-2011, 08:28 PM	#3
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,939	Re: Can I really do this? I think it's really a question of how much patience you have, how hard you want to work on it, and how willing to learn you are. And if it's as rusted as you describe, you might find you end up spending more money on it than you would have buying a truck in better shape.

03-19-2011, 08:53 PM	#4
BlackTopMotors Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 364	Re: Can I really do this? Sounds like one to learn on...let's see some picks.

03-19-2011, 09:09 PM	#5
1969K10 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clarks Hill, Indiana Posts: 733	Re: Can I really do this? I'm a firm believer, that life is a balance of time vs/ money. you can save a lot of money if you have time to invest. or you can save time, and drop a lot of money into. the balance in somewhere in the middle. but you'll have to decide where you and this project fall. __________________ 1969 K10 - V8, 465, 205, 12 bolt, D44 2002-current 1969 K20 - V8, 465, 221, Eaton, D44 2012-current Nothin' but drums on all 4 corners! past horses in the stable 72 C10-short step (97-02), 68 C10-long fleet (06-12)

03-19-2011, 09:12 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Can I really do this? before you spend another dollar on it (yes, pun intended) you need to decide... is this a truck, or a parts truck? Either way, you are ahead of the game right now.

03-19-2011, 10:02 PM	#7
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: Can I really do this? just build a mean motor for it and go blow some doors with a rusty ol truck can't beat the price __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14

03-19-2011, 10:29 PM	#8
R.L. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 687	Re: Can I really do this? I think you might have a great parts truck.

03-19-2011, 10:46 PM	#9
05crewcab Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 409	Re: Can I really do this? Pictures would help us determine if it is saveable, but it sounds like you are already about $500 ahead on the project...that can buy a few parts or some labor on the stuff you can't accomplish on your own. How did you get it for buck?? where the heck am I when these deals are to be had?? __________________ 1971 C-20 350/350

03-19-2011, 10:48 PM	#10
VA72C10 VA72C10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 25,269	Re: Can I really do this? If you are going to have to pay for the patch work you'll be money ahead buying nice parts....look for another cheap truck that has maybe a good front clip or a good cab, get that and sell the extra parts (if you have the room) __________________ Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA.

03-20-2011, 11:56 AM	#11
Rob68c10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Eastern Shore, Maryland Posts: 159	Re: Can I really do this? The thing is I see this truck as an opportunity to learn how to do pretty much everything a person would have to when fixing up an old vehicle. And for scoring it for a dollar where I would normally have to pay at least 750 bucks for something of the same quality around here I think I am ahead. This truck is not a good parts truck, as there are really not any good parts to get rid of. I just want some confidence that I can learn to weld, and wire this truck, and build a motor, and work on the suspension, and fit body panels etc..

03-20-2011, 12:11 PM	#13
68lwb292 Ex-Minitrucker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bushnell, FL Posts: 301	Re: Can I really do this? sounds like a better truck then mine lol __________________ 68 C10 LWB 292 4spd 68 C10 LWB 250 3spd

03-20-2011, 12:52 PM	#14
treveiger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Dakota Posts: 4,093	Re: Can I really do this? You dont have to make it a show truck, you dont have to tear it all apart at once either. The motor and trans are the easy parts, the body work is whats going to make you pull your hair out. I never knew how to build a motor until a mechanic friend of mine told me to get this book/movie on how to rebuild motors and after doing research and learning from online vidoes, book/movie my friend recomended, and info from other motor head friends of mine i have no fear of it anymore and am going to take my motor apart an check everything this summer. Best way to learn body work is talk to the people on here and do a lot of research then try it for yourself. Hey just think of it like this, whats the worse that can happen, its only metal. Just get the cab in good shape then put it on and get the front end done so you can drive it and then do the bed last, and just work on it as you go. __________________ 1969 Chevy c20(Miss Hackjob) Last edited by treveiger; 03-20-2011 at 12:53 PM.



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