Ground up Resto

[klwebb]

Where would you start when doing a ground up resto? I thought about getting my truck running and driveable and slowly getting new parts etc but now I'm looking into thr possibility of just restarting. What're good starting points and is it a good idea to do this? I just want a cool old truck to drive around right now, but also want a nice one....

[kx57]

Step 1: Decide if you have the necessary skills and expertise to undertake ALL the project steps. If you do write up a plan with all your steps and how long you think they are going to take.

Step 2: Inspect the truck completely. Figure out every little thing you can that will need replaced/repaired etc. Without hurting your resale value (as much as is feasible) by stripping it right down in case you decide to abandon ship and sell.

Step 3: Do a compression test and see where your motor stands.

Step 4: Do a budget:

-Figure out how much you need and where the money is coming from.

-Figure out how much TIME you need to do the project..and if you have it available

-Decide which items you can't do or don't want to do..and get quotes on them from local shops.

Step 5: Take all of the above into account and decide if it's the right time to undertake your project.

-If you have time but no money...ripping the truck apart is free

-If you have time and little money....maybe you run the truck as is and fix stuff as you go

-If you have time and some money...pick your big ticket items that are critical to being on the road and get those going...save all the little details for the end in case money gets tight (eg fancy rims)

-If you have lots of time and lots of money...dive in head first. Don't be afraid to hire a pro to help out with the hard stuff.

-If you have no time and lots of money: pay someone to restore the truck as you see fit.

-If you have no time and no money...don't do it! (wait for a better time!)

Step 6: Doing the actual project:

If you decide you are ready to actually take it all on...I usually start by stripping everything completely down. Decide if you're blasting and get the frame blasted and painted.

I like to have something rolling that I can put things on...it's a lot easier to move

Running your lines with your frame nice and clean is pretty sweet...as long as you know what goes where...

Personally I'd start poking around the cab and figure out what sheet metal I need to fix/replace.

I would decide what you're doing for your drivetrain and at least get all your brackets, mounts, etc figured out. It's also pretty nice to have the whole drivetrain on there before the front clip and cab are in your way.

Really depends what you have for parts/money too....if you're waiting for an engine rebuild why not plug away on the cab for example?

Mocking things up is never a bad idea...just a time consuming sometimes...

Sorry this got long winded.

Houses get built from the foundation up....I like to do trucks the same way.

[Coley]

Be careful....many (most?) full tear down restoration projects never get completed....just posted for sale as is.
KX57 brings up some very good points and methodology.....but....most guys (girls?...not so sure) unfortunately don't or won't do this approach.
Most guys walk out to their truck with tools and just start removing stuff....this might be different for you.
You can have these trucks completely apart in probably less than a week.
That creates excitement...however the road back..is years long and 5 figures worth of cash.
Give it some serious, major thought and if you are married (or engaged or?) make sure you have a complete discussion with your spouse.
Remember...the for sale ads are full of unfinished projects for some good reasons and you don't want to be one of those guys (or girls) and statistics.
All Good
Coley

[drfloyd]

All good points. I'm about to start my project. Waiting on my No Limit Wide Ride IFS and 4 link to come in. My frame is on the lift and I have everything to box the frame in standing by. I have my LS and 4L60. My cab needs almost no body work. I'm in search of a really good bed now. I set aside $20K to go from where I am now to the end but I'm almost certain I will have to supplement that before it's said and done. The best point that KS57 made is to make sure the wife or SO(if you have either or both) is onboard. That will put the skids on a project faster than you can say Uh Oh. It's sorta like when I got my pilot's license, always have the money you need to do things like that or you will never finish. If you have the funds, the rest can be worked out. One advantage that I have is that I have the skills, shop and tooling to do anything I need. For me, time is the issue.

[bs46488]

I think another factor I would add to the mix is if you have enough space to do the project.

I was amazed at how much space is needed when taking the truck apart. Working on cleaning up new pieces, storing purchased parts, etc.

I have most of my truck blown apart and stripped for paint, so everything needs to be out of the weather and I have pieces everywhere.

[drfloyd]

+1. My 30x50 needs to be doubled.

[davepl]

I just finished one this month, literally. Started in 4/12 on this board, you can see my build thread here ( http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=507395&page=1 ).

So it's doable. I have no special skills, just reasonable mechanics skills. But as the custom guys are fond of saying "Anyone can take apart a truck, clean it, and put it back together again". Just don't fall for believing it's that simple!

Like the universe, Space and Time are important. You need space - I was lucky to have a large shop so I could dedicate two and at rare times 3 stalls to it. A farm building would be better, but a single car garage would be tough (it's been done, but find someone who did it first).

Time is important. Do you already have a habit of following through and finishing complex multi-year projects? Or do you get bored? Because when you're done the "fun" part and you've got a garage full of dirty parts with a dirty frame and things are looking down, will you still go out there EVERY day for an hour or two? You'll have to force yourself, you will NOT always have the same passion you have for it this minute. And you will definitely need to be out there EVERY day.

If you do it you're trading a truck for several years of work. Many if not most are NEVER FINISHED. They quietly get parted out as cabs and frames and projects that are "Just a little too much for me", that sort of thing. But if you stick it out, look at the end of my build thread.

It doesn't need to cost fifty or a hundred thousand, it's not a Hemi car going to Pebble Beach, but it will still be expensive. Easily twice what you estimate. So be ready for that. Mine was and I thought I knew every expense I'd be facing. Tis to laugh!

It's one of the more rewarding things I've ever done, but I didn't do it to be finished, I did it to do it. If that makes sense, you'll know what I mean.

[kx57]

Originally Posted by bs46488

I think another factor I would add to the mix is if you have enough space to do the project.

I was amazed at how much space is needed when taking the truck apart. Working on cleaning up new pieces, storing purchased parts, etc.

I have most of my truck blown apart and stripped for paint, so everything needs to be out of the weather and I have pieces everywhere.

Agreed!

I neglected that entirely in my post above.

I would suggest getting some durable rubbermaid style bins and buy lots of ziploc bags. I like to take all the hardware and drop it in a ziplock bag and label it as I take things apart.

If you don't have enough space in a garage one of those temporary outdoor shelters or an ISO "sea can" can work well. Dead snowmobile trailers also work really well (basically a big box on wheels)

[swamp rat]

What Coley said!

Most of us can handle the mechanical stuff, doing body work is a different story.

My best advice it to spend time (a lot of time!) reading many the build threads on this forum, see how other people are doing their builds, also how people approach the rust repairs needed, its easy to get over whelmed and when that happens the project ends up sitting.

If you never welded sheet metal your in for a rude awakening, its a leaned skill to avoid warpage and shrinkage, it can be discouraging to find this out the hard way.

Bag and tag everything!, take pictures of every little detail of how the truck is put together because after 3-10 years ya tend to forget how everything fits together.

[Grumpy old man]

Post a picture of what your starting with to restore , lots of guys/ girls go out and find the best deal they can ( lowest price) only to later realize later on the rust bucket they bought will soon become a money pit and they quickly lose interest when all the hidden corrosion becomes apparent . Usually right after they invested tons of $ on shiny parts ! The days of $1,000.00 paint jobs are gone and many find out their plans for a weekend cruiser on a ibudget will never happen . You can buy a nice truck already cleaned up for way less cash than any total restoration and be driving years ahead without the headaches and heartbreak of trying to restore a 50 year old truck . All the comments above are true , most of the members can attest to the serious amount of time /money/dry space it takes to bring one back and be happy with a quality finished truck .

[palallin]

Buy the manuals: Service, Overhaul, Electrical, Assembly. You should have them anyway, but they simply can't be beat for a restoration guide. While it is true--as pointed out in another thread--they won't help you with servicing specific modifications, they will at least help you understand what the original components did. If you are doing a true restoration, that consideration won't be a problem.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Coley

Be careful....many (most?) full tear down restoration projects never get completed....just posted for sale as is.
KX57 brings up some very good points and methodology.....but....most guys (girls?...not so sure) unfortunately don't or won't do this approach.
Most guys walk out to their truck with tools and just start removing stuff....this might be different for you.
You can have these trucks completely apart in probably less than a week.
That creates excitement...however the road back..is years long and 5 figures worth of cash.
Give it some serious, major thought and if you are married (or engaged or?) make sure you have a complete discussion with your spouse.
Remember...the for sale ads are full of unfinished projects for some good reasons and you don't want to be one of those guys (or girls) and statistics.
All Good
Coley

Very good advice

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by kx57

Agreed!

I neglected that entirely in my post above.

I would suggest getting some durable rubbermaid style bins and buy lots of ziploc bags. I like to take all the hardware and drop it in a ziplock bag and label it as I take things apart.

If you don't have enough space in a garage one of those temporary outdoor shelters or an ISO "sea can" can work well. Dead snowmobile trailers also work really well (basically a big box on wheels)

Better listen to this guy!

My situation is a little different......I have to get my truck running so I can fix up my garage! My truck has been sitting in there since 2005.....I have to get it going so I can renovate the garage.

Now, space is very important though. My garage is a very dangerous place due to the piles of boxed up (and carefully labeled) truck parts, hood, replacement body panels, etc. Two fenders are still at the seller's house.....I don't have room for those! *I've already paid the guy 90 percent of what I owe him too. (Super cool guy to store those for me).*

My grill is in my house living room! Several parts are at my parents' place and I do all my derusting there. Since I don't have room for a sandblaster, I do this funky electrolysis thing that takes a whole day and has to be completed with chemical soak.

You also realize I'm single.....not many women would put up with truck grills in the living room.

So absolutely make sure you have tons of room.....you will need it. *Take tons of pics too, label all of those, label the parts....I am hardcore about that.*

[butler57]

This is amazing advice. Anyone who has ever even thought about a resto should read this thread.

[mtairymd]

This is an interesting thread with a lot of good advice. Thanks everyone.

[88Stanger]

i am towards the end of the build of my ground up. Just as others said, get a game plan and budget. it is amazing the things that come up. by the way, i have 24X36 shop, not easy but managing messes and very good bag and tagging helped