ways you have saved money on your build

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by wibilly

andy next time you siphone gas from a cop car grab me the lisence plates while your waiting for your can to fill

10-4!
Don't hold your breath on that... I'm not as ballsey as I was when I was young and stupid.



Or is that younger and stupider?

[Walts_restoration]

Get a skinny girl, survive on ramon noodles and vegatables she grows in the garden, ride your daughers bicycile to work and convince your wife that she needs only ONE set of shoes.

[dave3156]

My sport mirror went limp (wouldn't stay up anymore) so I took a tube of clear silicone and covered the mirror ball with it until the mirror would stay put. I dealt with it for 3 weeks until I could find a used mirror instead of buying a new one. The "glued on" mirror was only good up to about 30 mph. After that it vibrated so bad you couldn't see out of it. Saved $15 though!

[xshadow]

Good luck convincing the wife she only needs one set of shoes....or even five

Originally Posted by Walts_restoration

Get a skinny girl, survive on ramon noodles and vegatables she grows in the garden, ride your daughers bicycile to work and convince your wife that she needs only ONE set of shoes.

[Walts_restoration]

Haha, yeah, luckly ive only had gf's so far and they dont have to pay or look at it every day...yet.

[sleepyboy]

How did save money? Just keep wishin for parts instead of buying them...I am hoping for the tooth fairy, easter bunny, or Santa to come thru...

[Walts_restoration]

Pull some Fast and the furious stuff, instead of 3 black hondas 3 black big block 67 swb stepside small back windows, heck yeah boi!! LOAD UP

[72armyswbtruck]

Buy a parts truck with most of the stuff you need for yours and buy another one to part out to pay for the new stuff that you want for your new truck. I have sold so many parts trying to buy new parts for my builds it isn't even funny, but hey it sure does help

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I replaced the cross pieces of the bed. Rather than paying the $40 or so per piece that the resto places wanted, I used some 2x3 (or something like that) rectangular tubing. It cost just a few dollars. I then cut the ends into the same shape as the stockers so they fit great.

Can we get more details in another thread.This sounds like FAQ material to me.

[krue]

I take anything that's FREE (you'd be amazed what's been given to me) and now I've gotta start selling parts to finance buying parts.

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

Let my wife pay for some parts!

I agree completely!

[bigblockorange]

Well I started out buying 5 parts trucks to build one. After I sold a few parts off I still have more money in the 5 than I could have bought a nice driver. I guess it's fun to have the guys from the board come over and poke fun at the MY rust! At the end of the day I still have 4 parts trucks worth about $1,000 at the scrap yard! If I could buy some magic dust to turn wasps and hornets into honey bees I'd be rich! Just be like everybody else buy jap metal and redo your truck every five years or so just for practice.

[oteixeira]

Just remember boys and girls NEVER skimp in two areas. Brakes and Steering. That is all, go about digging in the ground for parts, steeling gas from police, and buying more parts trucks for more money then you would ever make back in scrap looking for the tow hooks you will end up not selling just to say you have a set.


Orlando

[OLDIRON69]

Having a pro do something I "thought" I could do, oh and joining the best group of guys/gals here on the board with the good used parts deals.

[1LoC10]

pushed my truck into the corner of the garage... that saved a bundle

[AlienYouth]

heck yes i have, im 16 : )

i stripped and polished my white wagons and am starting a rustoleum paint job : )

[Billla]

I don't know that I've done anything "silly"

The biggest thing for me was accepting that this was going to be a "restifcation", not a restoration - and it was going to continue to be a work truck not a show truck. That's helped me spend money in the right places.

I'm lucky to have a sandblaster, so I've saved a lot of money on brackets, bolts, etc. by just blasting 'em and then black anodizing or painting them. I haven't turned up my nose at used parts that just needed some "TLC" before being ready to use.

[samwise68]

I'm gonna have to agree with Billa.

I bought my truck for 100 dollars, and it was in..well..rough shape.

But, I realized long ago that I don't have the skills, nor the financial funds to make a show piece. So, that helped a lot. Then, realizing that it's a truck. it's meant to work. to haul hay and wood and ass. So, for me, most of the battle was mental.

Then buying used parts, such as a set of rusty hub caps that are cleaning up nice. a set of headers off a truck Randy (teeitup) was parting. All for very little compared to what new or "excellent" condition would be.

I also am using tractor/implement paint and primer for the body, along with spraying it at home. whats the worse that could happen? it looks bad? it's still a truck, it's still totally functional, safe, dependable, good looking (in my opinion), and cost a fraction of what a new truck would cost.

"at least mines paid for".

-Sam.

[OLDIRON69]

Amen, paid for!

[boundstaffpress]

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.
I use bondo and fiberglass, just not more than 3/16 thick.
I plan to paint my work truck with a roller.
I will replace my rockers myself.
I borrow tools from my local high school.
I'm not proud of it, but I occasionally call napa for parts help, then buy at checker.

[Longhorn Man]

that sounds like something I'd say

[alschevy]

buy a parts truck or used parts and know some one who deals in what you
are doing

1967 chevy one ton wrecker truck

[70rs/ss]

I buy used stuff when my life or those in or around the trucks lives will not be in danger if the part fails. NEW brakes, suspension pieces, etc. Good used sheetmetal or new metal. I am not one of those OE is the only way. I hate body work, and new metal is straight, so bolt it on and paint, no fuss no muss!

[724x4a/cchevy]

The best way to save money on any automotive rebuild is to go to swap meets!! I think alot of us would be in the poor house if we had to pay retail cost of all the parts we got at swap meets. I guess ebay is a good alternative too.
Justin

[SactoJim]

I've done absolutely everthing on mine from the frame up except the building of the long block and I won't be able to stitch a new seat!

For every Xmas and bday, when someone asks (they don't any more) what I want, I just say a gift card from the local parts store!