dudes!! look what i found. i thought id share it

[tucsonjwt]

An engine and drive train that has not been used regularly likely will need work. I would rather spend that kind of money toward a new (or newer) truck.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

An engine and drive train that has not been used regularly likely will need work. I would rather spend that kind of money toward a new (or newer) truck.

Depends...I've got 3 older muscle cars here, all of which have been sitting in the garage since the mid 80's. None have even been started since then, just covered and stored. I've recently gotten them all road worth again.

I've had to do simple things like water pumps and fuel pumps (mainly for piece of mind as they weren't leaking) 2 of them needed master cylinders but the rest of the brakes have been fine after a fluid flush. Rebuild carbs, fresh gas, and they fire to life and purrr. Not that big of a deal, and really not much cash outlay either. They all have been running flawlessly for the last couple of years.

Honestly there is nothing like driving an unrestored vehicle that hasn't been screwed around with. They drive different, tight and rattle free. Just a completely different experience that is very hard to duplicate when you restore one now. Which is the reason why survivor cars have really taken off in the last few years of the collector car market. People are starting to realize that. I'll take an unrestored survivor any day over a restored vehicle hands down. After too many concour restored cars I've really changed my taste over the years for a little bit of original patina so you can actually enjoy the cars.

[Keith Seymore]

I did mine for about $4500, including paint:



Mechanicals were fine, just a cosmetic restoration -

K

[riz]

Exactly ! Could you imagine if you could put another $8500 into it?

RIZ

[Firebirdjones]

Like I mentioned, it depends on what you start with. Kieth didn't mention his purchase price. That's part of the figure too.
Gotta find a good one to keep restoration costs down, problem is, that better example costs more initially than that rough one down the street

It's almost damned if you do, damned if you don't.

A simple cosmetic refurbish is rather cheap if the rest of the truck is good enough.

A complete restoration on a well used example, modified or not, will cost much more than the asking price of the truck in question here. But I think that comes down to personal taste and what is "good enough" for any certain individual. There aren't that many "good ones" out there anymore.

Being involved in restorations, I'm still of the mindset that, you just simply can't beat and unrestored, original paint, unmollested vehicle. I'd pay more for a survivor than I would a completely restored car. Once you start messing with them they are never the same.