cost of restoration

[NYC-10]

It adds up fast!

[LockDoc]

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It really depends on what kind of truck you are building & how much of the work you can do yourself. If you build show trucks and can't do much of the work yourself, yes it adds up fast. If you build nice drivers and can do most of the work yourself you can build them pretty cheap. The more old pieces you can clean up/paint and use instead of buying new, the better off you are....

Just My 2¢ worth.

LockDoc

[OARNGESI]

Yeah either show or daily driver it really adds up quick

[big_al_71]

We did all the work on my truck except for the paint and body work and I am in it for almost 20k, still not done there are a few things I want to upgrade like wheels and brakes which by what I want it would be another 5k and that is me doing all the labor. Sometimes it makes me wonder if I should had bought one already built. So hell yeah it adds up really quick and I did not use not one used part.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Alot

[72BlckButy]

If you're into saving money, or getting your money out of your investment..... rebuilding cars/trucks is not the hobby for you!

[OARNGESI]

The best way to save a little money is to make sure you know exactly how you want things instead of buying stuff twice like buying painted headers when you really want chrome or buying 17s whem you want 20s

[NYC-10]

I think right now my truck is a better investment than some stocks I have.

[dhaymaker]

I bought my first car when I was 12, been buying and selling cars, trucks, and other miscellaneous off and on ever since. I've cycled through Chevelles (can't hardly afford them now), Novas (ditto), 67 - 72 trucks, older trucks, Blazers, Suburbans, and back around, again. I've made a lot of money doing work myself and turning them. But every time I get into one where I have a lot of the work done (I hate bodywork, I'm not big on car interior work, but I try to do the work myself) I end up investing too much to "make" any money. I LOVE THE 67 -72 TRUCKS THE BEST! This is one I sold to a friend, just before I completed it. He's been finishing it up, very nice driver!

[leddzepp]

I love daily drivers...that is why my 72 is one. What is the point of having a sweet ride, if you ain't ridin' in it?

[1970SWB]

You guys don't realize how "lucky" you are, '67-'72 Chevy truck are CHEAP to restore/build! I have been doing restoration work and drag racing Buick Gran Sports for quite awhile now, I'm loving doing my '70SWB!
Here are some examples:
Chevy truck tailights--less then $20.00 a pair
Buick Gran Sport taillights-------$249.00 pair
Truck dash cluster bezal --$40.00
Buick dash bezal--no aftermarket available, $300.00 to rechrome
Truck headers--$119.00pr.
Buick $400.00+ pr.
Truck grille--$400-450 inner & outer
Buick $1000.00

I could go on and on, while true, a restoration isn't cheap, if you can do most/some of the work yourself, these trucks are actually very resonable to restore.

[special-K]

Alot depends on the truck you start with.The rest is how you finish it.Other than custom work,the biggest variable in cost is extent of body work involved.

[Rokcrln]

Yes it is not cheap but nether is a new truck or car. On LowBuck I spent about 17K in parts and another 25K in Labor (using my curent shop rate) and did 99% of everything my self. But in the end my truck has everything a new truck has except PW. Were talking EFI, AOD, CC, AC, Tilt, Disk, Posi, Heated leather seats, CD and about 350hp @ 20 MPG.

But at the same time I am trying to sell it for 21k and having a hard time so it is hard to do a full build and make money unless you are doing by the hour for a customer. Sure their are short cuts that you can do but who here wants to pull that move.

Right now I am starting to collect parts for my 70 2wd blazer build and I am figuring 20-30K in parts alone before any labor figures but it is a passion for me on my own vehicles so I try not to figure in my time or it would get very depressing real quick.

With that being said would I want a new truck for 35K or build an old ojne for 40K? Old one everytime ahnds down. My wife and mother in-law took LowBuck last weekend shopping and said they got thumbs up and waves non stop all day long! You can't put a price on that.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[special-K]

Great Eastern Roadsalt is the "ONLY" reason I`ve owned anything newer than the`70s.It`s definately not about the money.That said,my new truck is a`92 I bought new.It`s almost as old as my`72 was when I bought the new truck.

[Big J]

Show or Go..... They are all priceless.

[ChevLoRay]

Basic rule of thumb on how much it will cost is to take your best guess, multiply by four, and......you'll be closer.

[cparman]

I promised my wife I would not get carried away. Bought this car for $2000. Sold it for 45,000 frame off zz502,700r4,a/c,p/s,pw, pdb

[PHAT TONY]

Bodywork is definetly expensive(I do it),but, it's the first thing you see and it's by far the most labour intensive unless the project has massive custom fab work. I think it's worth the money/effort to give that first visual impression.

[caminokid]

I have been making a list using Brothers, Classic truck parts and The Truck Shop catalogs. Just for what I need for one truck...interior and body....this doesnt include labor...paint...body work...and so on. This also doesnt include rebuilding the motor, trans. suspension and rear end.

The price so far is at $4,796.41 and that not including shipping and handling.

I am still figuring it will take $12,000.00 to $15,000.00 to do this right. I am also doing every inch of this by myself.

[Mondo]

You know how to make a small fortune restoring cars/trucks?









Start with a large fortune