Talk me out of giving up.

[72Levi]

Get a picture of one similar to yours FINISHED, frame it and put it on your nightstand. I also checked out your build... you are so close and VERY NICE color. Stay focused in the back of your mind and put a cover on it. Come back to it in a couple of months, STAY AT IT!

[CUSHE63]

Don't give up now. If the truck doesn't turn you on, just finish it and then sell it and let someone else enjoy all your hard work. I will try to talk you out of giving up..... Take a look at this project thread of mine. You don't have to read the whole thing, but look through the thread and see what I started with... then fast forward to the end and see where I'm at now. If you want, then go back and read everything. Remember, these things take time. If you think about everything all at once you will get depressed. Just think of it as one step at a time. Finish each mini project and move on to the next... I'm going to check your build out now... A little background on me: I am an autobody/frame repair technician, I love to do restoration work also. I get to do my hobby for a living.. Life is good.. I also do pretty all the work myself, I had someone install the headliner. And my sons helped with the sandblasting of the little parts too.


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/vie...er=asc&start=0

Here is a link to some pics of my bug also:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...202/?start=all



Enjoy, Steve

[CUSHE63]

My son Jon and I are currently re-doing a 72 Cheyenne fleetside LB 350/350 4BBL. Lots of rust repair. We are only doing a partial resto so he can drive it daily. However, I've been known to go overboard !!

Steve

[Byronic]

Just a suggestion. Step away and go play with your family. Holiday seasons are winding up and it will give you a breath of fresh air. Spend some quality time on other things and time will let you figure out what you want. You really don't want a stranger to answer your own question, do you? If you step back and re-focus, it will still be there. If you sell it, it won't be there and you will have "if only I would have finished" thoughts from here on out. I can't apologize for my opinion because you asked.
P.S. FINISH THAT ROCKING COOL RIDE

[dan42]

Hang in there, dude - right now I have three and none of them are near where they should be. My favorite is my '67 but they all need attention and it's frustrating to see how much needs to be done and how much you can actually do between life and work and the family... just as long as you can sneak some in once in a while, and consider each thing you do as one step closer to where you want to be, the motivation will come back.

[69GMCor70Chevy]

Looking at your build thread it would be a dam shame for some one to inherit the truck in this stage. You have already done so much work. What ever you do I hope your are 100% sure about it.

[rauto13]

Stay with it, if you need to, walk away and let it sit for a while. I had a 70 RS Camaro that was 95% done, I accidently wrinkled a fender and I got so pissed, I stored it for 6 monthes and then sold it to the first person that asked about it. I had been working on that car for about ten years and sold it because of anger. I would look at that car when I was upset or frustrated and add up all the money I had spent and think I could have bought....

Now, eleven years later, I still reget that stupid remark about selling it. I found another 70 RS and I am just starting on the resto. I miss driving that Camaro all the time. It is worth it to stick it out

I have also spent 7 years fixing up my 72 Cheyenne only to have someone else run a stop sign and total it out. I am also just getting started on a 69 build.

I got so frustrated over losing the 70 Camaro and 72 Cheyenne that I thought I would never touch another old car/truck again. I did realize that I do enjoy working on these old classics and the attention and knowing that I built it myself.

Hang in there.

You have a badass truck almost done and it is worth it!!!

[oldblue1968chevy]

keep at it, i bought my truck pretty much how it sits..painted a lil added a few things..but im learing...id love to pull the body outa the frame and build a motor...but keep it up!

[PMS]

I went through the same thing on my 69 camaro about 24 years ago. I almost cried when the car drove off. I had the car all through high school. I found the car about 2 years after I sold it and bought it back. It has been in pieces for about 20 years now. I know I will eventually get to re-build it but I will not let it go again. I have two frame off's going right now. I gave my son my 72 GMC 1/2 ton for his 16th birthday. He wanted it painted a different color so we took it to the frame and started over again. That was 2 years ago. It is painted, now we just have to re-assemble. I have been re-building a 73 TA for 9 years also. Do not look at all the things that need to be done at once, just set small goals. It is too easy to be overwhelmed and feel like you'll never get done. Also keep them covered so you don't see them all the time.

[Rokcrln]

I say stick with it, you are so close and it is one bad @$$ looking truck. I have built a lot of vehicles and they is always a burn out phase for me as well. My ex-wife told me years ago that I was the kind of person who needed more than one project at the same time. This way when I get burned out on one I can work on the other and back and forth. Right now I am burned out on my 72 4-door tahoe so it is sitting while I work on a few customer builds and my sons 1/2 scale then I will get back to it in awhile. Just don't give up, the grass always looks greener on the other side but it's still the same grass. Keep what you have it will be well worth it.

I was trying to sell my Low Buck truck so I could buy tools that I needed but ended up earning the money for what I needed and payed cash. The reason I bring this up is because I had talked my self into selling a truck I said I would never sell so I could get something I wanted faster. I am so glad it never sold because now when I have a rough day or just want to blow off some steam I pull Low Buck out and go for a cruise and it all goes away that fast! I have several other vehicles I can drive but I did not build them and they are just cars. Only the one I built from the ground up works for me, I don't know why but it does.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Fitz]

Don't know if it helps or not but you are already on the way to having one really cool truck! I've never had a trans am but I'm on my second shortbed stepside. What's really cool about these trucks is the kick in the ass they give you when some guy in his tuner import with the coffee can muffler pulls up beside your old stock lookin truck and you just wax his ass from a standing start clear into the next week. With some careful setup the suspension in the 67 & 68 trucks can really plant the rear and go! These trucks won't take much out of your wallet if you can do your own paint prep work until you start working on whats up in the go fast compartment (right behind the front bumper). Put the right stuff up there and you can really have some fun cause no body expects these trucks to RUN! Don't miss that. Finish your truck. Then ask that tuner guy next to you :

[mclairmo]

I get burned out, too. I'll get sick of my 67 Camaro and then get really excited about my truck again and work on just the truck for several months and back and forth. When I got my Honda Pilot, I started adding stuff to that, nerf bars, roof rack, painted the grill silver, nick nacks, etc. It's hard to keep up the same intensity with one project all the time. You have to allow yourself to do other things, too, and not feel guilty or feel like you are neglecting the truck. It's ok to take your time and to spend time on other things, too, like family, friends and other hobbies. Just because the truck sits for months at a time with no progress does not mean you're doing something wrong. We all let our projects sit sometimes.

[BB70c10]

You cant give up now.Seeing what you've done,and how far along you are is what inspires people like me.I can only dream of the day my truck is as far along and as nice as your's.I have'nt been able to work on my truck for about a year and a half now due to time and money issues.Like you,I have other places my time and money have to go to.But in the meantime,I come on here and watch builds like your's to learn,and to help me remember that one day,no matter how long it takes,that i WILL be driving my truck down the road.It wont be the nicest truck on this site by far,but i can say i built it with my own two hands,and there's not many people that can say that(It just so happens that most of them that can,are on here).And if it were'nt for people like you that build bada$$ trucks,and post the progress,then inexperienced idiots like me would'nt have a chance in hell.

And not to mention i saw you had over 6000 views on you're build.There's going to be alot of pissed off people if they dont get to see you're truck finished.I vote for you to finish you're truck,not sell it,so that down the road you're not at the top of that list.Just kiddin,by way,about people being pissed.When it comes down to it,it's you're time and money invested.Just hate to see what you have in it now pretty much given away.

[daveo68]

My truck sit 3 years because my friend who was doing the body work and paint,was in a serious car accident. After he healed up his job picked up and he never got time to finish it. I would have him tell me what I needed to do on it, and when I got time, I would work on it. I'll tell you this I would never be a body and paint man. Some people don't realize how much is involved in this line of work. Finally got my brother to finish it for me. Don't give up, and step back once in awhile so you don't get burnt out. It will be worth it in the end.

[67ChevyRedneck]

What I see...

Looking at your build thread, you have a frickin gorgeous truck! It looks SOOOO close to being drivable. My suggestion would be to keep plugging away. It may not "look pretty" but I'd find a decent bed for it and put it on the truck, who cares what it looks like, just put it on and DRIVE it. That way, you can enjoy it while the "good" bed is getting built. You can then resell the "crap bed" for what you paid for it. I would also suggest a homemade flatbed as a temporary fix, but that cab is so nice, I dread the thought of rocks getting shot at it from the tires.

I'll also be honest, and say that when I saw the title, I was going to suggest just getting rid of it, because in all honesty, a lot of posts I see with this kind of title, the owner really should just give up. This is NOT the case.

Have you done research on the WS6 TA's? They're not the most reliable cars. The opti-spark is an expensive design F-up, the power windows suck, and they have a few other issues. I agree though, absolutely georgous cars. My roommate in college had a black 2000 WS6 six speed. I used the think they were all six speeds until I personally saw 2 that were automatics. It's possible the owners slapped the hood and emblems on... but I honestly don't know...

A little reading on the optispark:

http://www.delteq.com/opti_design.htm

[rustsev]

I was thinking the same as a few others here, which was to not beat yourself up and just get rid of it. sometimes the memory of a great project is just as good as owning it and you can always pride yourself that you were the one that brought it back from the sure destruction of the junkyard.

then I went through your build, the truck is gorgeous, and has that indescribable "technician built" feel. (I'm a euro tech myself, I see it every once and a while, just cant pin it down. I think a lot of us just think alike)

so, my opinion on the matter is that you need to DRIVE IT. throw some interior in (not the final stuff, just enough to make it workable), throw a junk bed on (as someone else suggested, I also really like the flatbed idea). or no bed, who cares? you can still drive it. its a work in progress. the way you do the work might change a little, but thats alright.

you'll see it out on the road, and fall in love with it all over again.

of course, this is all coming from the guy with a giant pile of rust in the shape of a 1971 GMC, so it's easy for me to envy your project.

[crey]

Originally Posted by BP68

Hey, all. Been on and off the site for a while now. Lots of great people and info here.

If you check out the link to my build thread below, you will see my 68 C10 project.

I need some motivation, because I am loosing it fast. I can't do paint and body work and that is my biggest hang up. This all started back in march 2002. Now over 7 years later, I have made much progress, but still don't know if the end is in site.

I stayed pretty fired up about the truck for the first 5 years, but now I am just tired of seeing it sit in my garage and thinking about spending more money on it.

One of my other dream vehicles is a 2002 WS6 Trans Am, and right about now I could prob buy one for what I have spent on the 68. And as the case usually goes, I'd be lucky to get half what I have in the truck as it sits.

So the question is, will it be worth it for me in the end? Do I spend even more, or just cut my losses?

The fun/anticipation factor is gone. At this point I am not sure the finished product will live up to the hype I had planned for it.

I plan to Never do this again. I either buy something finished/very close to finished/or newer model (like the TA)

I dreamed of a impressive home built show type truck that I could still drive. Now I kinda wish I had slapped it together, thrown some decent paint on it and rode.

Very frustrating combined with some other stuff at this stage in my life.

later all

Consider yourself lucky you have a shop to work in.
I would think having a shop full of tools would be motivation enough to complete any project.
I don't have it so lucky. I have all of the desire and drive to get my project going, just don't have any where to do it.

Having what you have, I probably could have completed 4 projects by now.

[KrazyKevin]

I agree with most. Finish it!!!! Or it least make it driveable. I think everyone goes through this a little. I think one of my first posts on here was how to go about my first resto job. Everyone told me, "do a little at a time so you don't get overwhelmed." Well I did that at first. THen I got to the point where I had to take it apart to fix the rust. Bed, fenders, and doors came off. Well, after a few hard months of work, 8 months later, I'm now hard at it again.

I think I just was wanting everything fixed NOW so I could get it back together. It just wasn't gonna happen. I then got scared I couldn't fix some of the stuff that needed to be done. THen as progress slowed I lost interest.

Now I have a fresh look at it. I'm cleaning up the frame while the bed is off. A few more items needs to be replaced for rust and I can then put the pieces back on to make it look like a truck again. It doesn't have to be show quality RIGHT NOW!! I've definately learned to have patience.

Looking at your thread, YOU CAN"T QUITE!!!! You can't. Step away for a lil bit, but plz come back. We got to see finished photos!!!!!!! Your truck is gonna be badd a$$!

[jd4300fel]

it's taken me seven years to get mine to the point i can start the engine. i have the doors t o paint and the painting is done. I was burnt out huge. i never drove the truck except when i pushed it in the driveway. what is keeping you from doing some of the body work yourself? acheap wire feed welder and some panel tools and you can do the body work and let someone else paint it.

[Neal Molder]

That it is one great truck! I have started my 68 long bed truck project last year. My reasons for starting my project are exactly what you described. I however wrestled a long time with being crazy or stupid enough to start a project like this. Everybody knows you'd be better off financially to just buy what you want. I mean you can go the barret jackson auction and buy a kick ass restoration truck that would be way less than what it takes to build one. But guys like us are a little different than most. We need the satisfaction that only comes from something that you built yourself. Anybody can buy a restored veihcle and drive it into the ground. I think you have to view it as a hobby. allbeit an expensive one, a hobby nonetheless. I also think your depressed and when people are depressed they do some crazy things. At this stage of you restoration you would have to be completely nuts on giving up now. My advice to you would be to put your "hobby" on hold, spend some time with your family, go out to some car shows and talk to some guys that are as crazy as you are. Take some time to just enjoy life! Don't take your hobby so seriously. I think the motivation you require will come with time and will come quicker to you by going and hanging out with crazy truck resto guys like the ones on this site.

[OldSkool71]

Originally Posted by BADPURPLE70CHEVY

Man don't stop i just checked your build thread.............

I kinda know what you mean even though I have never started a full on project...I had visions of such but just knew it was too much for me to take on..and I didn't think I would find what I was really looking for completed...but I did and I couldn't be happier...now it looks like you are pretty close on your project and it would be a shame to let it go now unless you really had to...if that is not the case I would step back from it for now regroup and attack it when you have the things in place that you need to finish it...I know you will be very pleased once your in the drivers seat...good luck and keep us posted.

[tim21391]

mines going to be completed in a little over a year. so if a 18 year old can do it i know u can do it... dont give up.. i got burnt out so much i just let it sit for a week or two then came back to it and had a clean slate to work it..

[72BlckButy]

Don't give up, and hang in there. Put it in the shop, step away from it for a little while, and when you come back to it you will be ready to get it done and drive it.

If you decide to sell it, make sure it sticks with the family (the board).

But you're not going to sell it, so don't worry about it...

[seafoam68]

I agree with Neal. I have been restoring my 68 for 20 years, off and on. It has been in the family since '73, so it has special value, but I know when I'm done, it's mine and I did it all by myself. I am also no body man, but I have tried my hand at it and through trial and error, am going to do all my own body work. When I'm done, I know it will not be a show truck and there will be flaws, but I will have the satisfaction of knowing I did it. Please don't give up-keep on truckin' !

[KrazyKevin]

You wouldn't believe how good I feel this week after leaving the truck for 8 months. Yeah, 8 months is a little to long but man I have such a better attitude towards the truck. As people know, trying to fit repopped panels can drive you nuts! It did me for sure. So much that I got discouraged just lookin at it. But now, I"m fired up and ready to go.