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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Mechanicville NY (upstate)
Posts: 191
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How long did it take you to build yours?
Hi All you vintage Chevy truck guys...
I have been grinding and welding and cutting and chopping on my 1952/53 "low buck" farm truck since October 2014. So going on almost 10 months...still no end in sight...(so many loose ends it seems)... There is a fellow on one of the vintage AD style facebook sites called Purple Monkey Kustoms....he can turn one of these trucks around in like a month... Just wondering how long you guys took to do your rebuilds??? I am hoping to have mine (at least) yard driving before cold weather sets in....as long as the money tree doesn't dry up first.... MikeC |
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#2 |
One foot in front of the other
![]() Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Parrottsville, TN
Posts: 5,440
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Wait a minute- you mean they get finished at some point?
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apple Valley, MN
Posts: 109
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
6 years to go from this
to this Home built in my garage (and still not done) |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,503
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
We haven't found out where PMK keeps the Barrels of Red Bull but I'd have to think that he has a few members in his crew that never get mentioned.
I have what is probably the longest time unfinished truck of the bunch but after years of constantly making changes but never getting it finished I got burned out and took a few years off. For most of us a number of things factor in that contribute to either the expedient pace of the build or to the snail pace of the build where not a lot gets accomplished or seems to. 1. Available cash to spend on the project, we all have different levels of what cash we can spend on the project rig and so be it. 2. Available time to work on it. Family comes first just as it does with the cash and you might only get to see your ten year old hit a home run once in his ball career or watch your daughter score the winning soccer goal for her age group team. That is more important than taking those precious hours to work on the truck while the kids are on the field. 3. personal skill level, we all have different skill levels even those of us who spent years in the automotive business. 4. the pace at which we work and how productive we are when we work on the project. Mark me down as not productive.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 917
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Fifty two, that is a sweet ride! For me, 17+ years on and off, and it's on the lift for the last 3 months as we speak.... but the "run to the pines" is coming, so I'll get in gear.
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#6 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: West Side of the valley, CA
Posts: 878
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
I'm pushing 3+ years and I just put the IFS in and i'm happy!
![]() I wouldn't compare your timeline against a shop as they can increase labor to meet a deadline whereas unless you're going to clone yourself you probably don't have that luxury. I'm actually looking forward to the cold months to get some more work done. Keep at it! |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Golden Valley,MN
Posts: 639
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
My build from a "field find" to legally drive able, painted, but not finished, was 26 months.
2 years later and the exterior is complete, but the interior still needs a few things.
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My build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=495795 |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Faribault, MN
Posts: 385
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
My brother picked it up 24 years ago. It's been 6 years that I've had it. Road legal last month.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414646 |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 441
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
I got my 59 at 17, got it on the road mostly stock when I was 26. Im 35 now and almost 2 years into a rebuild. I hope to get it back on the road in another year or so.
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My Build Thread: 59 Apache - Lifelong obsession http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=622133"]59 Apache - Lifelong obsession |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Middleton, Idaho
Posts: 352
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
3 years in my spare time.
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"Built- not bought" 1958 GMC 150 4x4 in progress 1980 K20- Restored 1985 K3500 Flatbed 58 GMC 4x4 build thread: http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=557675 |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lakes Region NH
Posts: 3,184
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Dyno, I love that truck.
It took me roughly three years to go from from driving survivor to restored. Mine started as a clutch replacement. You've seen mr48chev's signature line? "While I'm in there I might as well..." Well that thinking got me too. And even though I haven't done anything major to the truck since '98 I'm not done. I have an unfinished NVG4500 conversion that I want to get back to, a factory power brake unit to install, a new computer to tune for the efi, and I think I'm talking myself into power steering. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Posts: 454
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
you have to factor in 'what you consider rebuilt'. Some guys love the patina and that shaves a lot of bodywork / paint out of the timeline. Some guys keep it stock and just go over the safety stuff like brakes and fuel lines and call it done.... others think it needs a frame off restoration to be 'rebuilt'. Low buck automatically means it will take longer.
I worked on my for 10 hours EVERY WEEK for a year and a half to get it to a state that I consider done. (750 hours) That is a lot of time, but I have more time than money. Now I have put over 15,000 miles on it and I want to put A/C in it because they are never really done. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
5 years and still trying to get it right.
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Warrenton VA
Posts: 1,050
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Had mine in front of the house since 01 when my grandparents could no longer drive it. Did some tinkering, HEI conversion, headers, and intake while in high school, that was 10 years ago. Last month my brother and I starter actually tearing into it to get it blown all the way apart and get all the rust taken care of.
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Mechanicville NY (upstate)
Posts: 191
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Quote:
You sound like me....I try to do 2 hours everyday on mine...its the only way I can keep the ball rolling along...never thought it was gonna take this long but when I rebuilt a 1947 Willys Jeeps that was 18 months start to finish..Yeah I dont do paint either...if I have to patch it I cover it with some rattlecan...other than that it is an old truck and it should (IMHO) look like an old truck... I am only doing upgrades for safety and drive ability....keeping as much vintage stock as I can.. Cant wait to get it running on it's own...I hope it is gonna fun to drive... Thanks for all the insight guys... MikeC |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Posts: 454
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
wow, we are alike...... I am in the middle of restoring a 1957 willys CJ5
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Hawkinsville,Ga.
Posts: 65
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Still collecting parts such as c4 front and rear,soda blaster for cleaning aluminum parts, welder from northern tool, millermatic plasma cutter off CL,flatout eng. cross member and rear brackets,new poly bushings installed. Still gotta get all new ujoints and disc brakes turned. Hold ups golf, cutting grass, refurbishing finish mowers, fixing tractors, golf, selling tractors, fixing tractors I've sold, golf, looking after garden, oh yeah golf.
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How to tell when your getting old--- Aunt B starts looking good! |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lowell, Michigan
Posts: 159
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
6 years...still has a couple of minor stuff to be finished.
__________________
The Stable: 1952 GMC 1/2 ton, 5-window...Owned since age 16...that was awhile ago! Torn apart and waiting for my boys to get old enough to help me. 1990 Chevy K5, 5.3L, 4L60E, slowly going back together as my dune truck. 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton, 3-window...building to sell. Daily Drivers: 1998 3/4 ton Burb with a 6.5 Turbo Diesel and 1994 1/2 ton Silverado. I grew up in Flint, Michigan so I can't help but to bleed Chevy! |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 8,800
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
On year 15. But there have been unproductive gaps. First summer (2000) I took it apart and started stripping paint for what was going to be a quick rust replacement project. Then the "as long as I am doing this" kicked in. So a new plan was formed for a frame off effort. Then my business got really busy and grew, 12 hour days were common and any spare time were dedicated to house related projects.
Fast forward to 2006. Inspired by guys here and a promise from my wife that there would be no more major home or yard projects in the way I pulled the cab and stripped the frame down. I started the build thread and made good progress getting the frame and big parts of the body work (rust replacement) done over two years. Then the reality of the economy hit, people stopped projects owing me a lot of money, projects were canceled and I laid off my staff and became a one person office again. For a couple of years I worked on tasks that used materials I had on hand. In 2012 business improved. I placed a couple of large orders to get everything I need to complete the truck, except paint supplies. With that infusion of parts I started working in earnest in 2013 and have made steady progress even with winter weather related delays. Last year I got it wired and running, this year have focused on the AC and finishing the interior. All along I have been doing the hammer and dolly, priming and blocking work on the body. With the economy taking off I got back to long work days with just half of the time on weekends available for the truck. Goal at this point is to get some paint, paint the jambs and window frames so I can get the glass in and start driving it this summer while I finish the final blocking and sanding. I have not kept track of hours, but if you take out the down time there have been about 4 years worth of steady evening and weekend work for 8 months of the year.
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1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project |
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#20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lakes Region NH
Posts: 3,184
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Quote:
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#21 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Truck in my icon took me about 2 years of focused effort during week ends and vacations. And I had some part time help. That was after I spent a couple years gathering all the parts.
How does Purple Monkey Kustoms go so fast? |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lakes Region NH
Posts: 3,184
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
The whole story around this is a bit longer but I spent weekends, nights, all free time on my truck for the last year or so of the restoration. I would arrive at home a two a.m. so tired that I couldn't stay awake for anything. My wife took that personally and accused me of having a girlfriend! It took a long time to dig myself out of that one. She still calls the truck my other g/f.
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fox, AR
Posts: 394
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Not sure. Maybe he has 5 acre of these old trucks out behind his shop. I've been doing this on old cars for a long time, surely corners are cut somewhere, or he has a crew of elves who work at night for next to no money.
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Old Crow '54 Chevy Panel, '00 Bounder 36S, '95 Jeep YJ |
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New Bloomfield pa.
Posts: 644
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
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#25 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: How long did it take you to build yours?
Quote:
Mikec4193, hang in there, maybe take a short break. I can spend all day doing a project or some kind of fabrication, show it to someone and they ask why that is all I got done. They don't understand what it takes. Good thing about the folks on here, they do "get it" and are really supportive. Another example, i spent about a year and a half on the 48 Burb to strip it, replaces the floors, mount it on a new chassis and install the engine and transmission. We used week ends and vacations hitting it hard and with some part time help. I am slower than most guys here I think. While I enjoy the build, the older I get the more I think the next "project" will be done when I get it. Judt drive, maintain and enjoy. |
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