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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: va
Posts: 553
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ways you have saved money on your build
what are some things you guys have done to save money? Have you done anything kind of silly to save a buck on repairing or building your truck? Something that you knew you shouldn't be doing but did it anyway..... Have you cut any corners or fabed something somewere that you really shouldn't have in order to save a few dollars?
Last edited by xshadow; 08-26-2007 at 03:09 AM. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 463
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
Autozone has a different, not as good promo now, but they had a thing going for quite some time that I used to my full advantage. The deal was something like every $25 you spend you get a punch on your card. Every 8 or 10 or something punches got you a free gift card, either 20 or 25 bucks. I'd go buy just enough every trip to get a punch. So I bought my WHOLE suspension - a piece at a time. One ball joint here, a set of poly trailing arm bushings there, etc. Maybe throw in a packet of anti sieze or a can of carb cleaner, to get up to $25 per visit. I also bought a lot of my Holley parts there, many of which were special order, but you can punch part numbers in on their site, get their item number and have the store order it so you don't pay shipping from the website. I got poly floats, rebuild kit, etc for the double pumper. Bought my brake cylinders, brake hardware kit, brake pads and drums, all that stuff. I made out like a bandit. Among other things, my rebuilt power steering box was almost free I had so many $25 gift cards
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: va
Posts: 553
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
I've taken used bent breaklines off of one truck and rebent and rerouted it on another....was the most work i've ever done in order not to spend the 5 bucks on a bend it yourself line.
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: northwestern wi
Posts: 2,111
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
don't tell nobody but i used some bondo
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common sense isn't so common anymore |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: N.W. Arkansas
Posts: 7
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
I don't know if you can tell in the picture or not but there are parts of my bed that I had to resand due to surface rust and I repainted it with dupont spray paint. Hey it works no more rust.
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1967 swb chevy 350/700r4 3.73 |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: here
Posts: 5,789
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
Do as much as you can your self & take your time, wait for good deals. I have gotten pretty good about waiting for the right deal to come along on certain things. Ive also learned if you cut corners, what you save now will just cost you the rest if not more later...
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#7 |
KEEP ON TRUCKIN'
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sterling, Va.
Posts: 5,731
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
Let my wife pay for some parts!
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JIM '97 GMC Sierra K1500 '95 Chevy Silverado C1500 '71 Cheyenne Z71 / LT1 & 4-Speed SWB K/10 ![]() http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l689JKXPnA http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php "LIVIN' FREE FOREVER" ![]() |
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#8 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
Do as much as you can yourself.Buy in lots and ask for package prices,new or used.Repair/not replace.Work with what you have or can get cheap.Buy a parts truck that has what you need.Let things little things wait that can easily be replaced later until it`s together.To name a few.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
skip real paint
used tires mount tires onto rims by hand syphon 15 gallons of gas out of cop car Ignore brake wear indicators, they still work...today I don't really recomend doing ALL of those... but I have done all 5 at one poiont or another. |
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#10 |
Ever heard of Beech Island??
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Clemson, SC
Posts: 327
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
fenders, hood, sway bars, power steering, bucket seats, and so many other odds and ends from junkyard. Just take time to check alot of vehicles, because some parts are less worn out.
spray paint and bondo, until I get everything else working great, then will do better body work and paint it my self |
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Alexandria, IN
Posts: 134
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
Saved money???
![]() Hum, maybe that's why my build is taking so long ![]()
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Cheers, Tony A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. 1970 Chevy CST10 (Green) 2005 Silverado Z71 2000 Pontiac Bonneville Last edited by indyracer; 08-26-2007 at 12:56 PM. |
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#12 |
Cultural Infidel
![]() Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 668
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
The door handles, grill, and tail light trim were pitted, so I sprayed them with epoxy and high build primer. Then I finished them with satin black. I also did the same to the rally wheels.
-Mark
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posted via La-Z-Boy -Mark 1972 C-10 Fleetside 350/TH350 PS PB A/C Cab Sadly....Sold ![]() 1968 Short Fleet 350/TH400 PS PB Delivered by Fine69 ![]() ![]() It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. A man is not complete until he is married -- then he is finished. |
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#13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: northwestern wi
Posts: 2,111
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
andy next time you siphone gas from a cop car grab me the lisence plates while your waiting for your can to fill
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common sense isn't so common anymore |
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#14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada
Posts: 3,180
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
IMO best way to save money on a build is to start with a good body and leave the rusty junk alone. Body shop costs can be insane. Of course I never seem to follow this philosophy, but it makes sense.
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"You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man" |
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#15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ontario, Kali
Posts: 2,427
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
I wait for free deals on the parts board! Got a 67-68 hood, a door handle, hood hinge, 307 v-8, th-350 tranny, 2 67-68 grilles (needed body work, but they were free.), glove box door, brake pedal assembly, clutch rod hole cover, side window glass, mirrors, ......., only problem is at this rate my truck won't be finished for another 35 years.
Dano
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![]() ![]() It ain't yours, if you didn't build it! Last edited by Dano69c10; 08-26-2007 at 06:07 PM. |
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#16 |
SLOW BUT SURE,BUT CLOSER
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: eleanor wv usa
Posts: 3,093
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
Swap meet shoppin' and takin' anything free that I could use.
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69 C-10, OWNED 35YRS... 350 over 30, 350 Turbo, 3:73 Posi P/S, P/B Black with red and black int. ''LOVE THESE OLD ''TRUCKS....... ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#17 |
upgrading to an older model
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sacramento, KY
Posts: 346
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
dang Dano...I thought I did good getting a 307 for $20...Free is at least 20 times better. Probably the stupidest thing (so far) is being too cheap to buy rockers and using a whole can of Bondo to "fill them up". On the bright side, I now have SOLID rocker panels and they are guarenteed not to rust...they might break in half but they won't rust.
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68 stepside, short-box, multi-colored (for now) ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#18 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
remember, a part that is cheap/free, but one you don't need, is still worth your time.
tradeing material. Anything you take off your truck that is still serviceable... say a pitted door handle, can be used on someone's beater/work truck. Sure, you won't get more than 5 bucks for it, but that's still $5. |
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#19 |
Always Fixing Things
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Roseville, CA
Posts: 390
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
My truck still has the Sanyo radio that my high school buddy gave me 25 years ago. I sounds like crap, and I rarely turn it on, but I haven't parted ways with the $200 for it's replacement. Do with(out) whenever you can.
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Just an Average Joe ![]() ‘68 GMC 307 3spd – My dad's original truck 310,000 miles |
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#20 |
Next project: 1970 K10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fort Collins, Colo 80524
Posts: 6,685
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
Saved money on my build?????
![]() Well, OK, I guess I have in a way. Other than the body work, I have done everything to my truck by myself. When it comes to paint time, I will paint the inside of the cab and doors, and the inside of the fenders, grill, and bottom of the hood. Other than that, the guy that did the body work will spray the exterior. I have done some mods that would have cost a lot to buy through a catalog, or even more to have some hand-fab for me. I have done all the metal fab work myself. So basically, other than body work and exterior paint, I have done all the work myself. I'm sure there is some savings there -vs- having some one else do a lot of it.
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Bob 1970 Chevy K10 LWB "Goldie" 350/TH350 next project!! 1981 Chevy C10 LWB 355/TH350 - My son's truck LS SWAP FORUM! Tons of LS swap info here! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE GREATEST BOARD ON THE NET! CLICK HERE FOR THE FAQ INDEX by KRUE Last edited by glock35ipsc; 08-27-2007 at 05:15 PM. |
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#21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Valley Center KS
Posts: 3,525
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
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.
I also had 4 u-bolts made for $20 rather than paying $20 per u-bolt through the resto places. Then do most everything else myself. The only things I didn't do myself on the 72 gmc is paint/bodywork, exhaust, and tranny rebuild. On the 68 that I'm now working on I'll probably do everything except the tranny. |
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#22 |
The LuvShack Garage
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side)
Posts: 30,477
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
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Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T |
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#23 |
Official Site Guitar Shredder
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 3,955
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
the cheapeast thing i have done to save money...........clean my frame on my 72 .by hand .wire wheels ,laquer thinner and zip biscuits....instead of having it blasted...the really bad thing is me neighbor owns, ABRASHIEVE MEDIA .LOL . and he could have done it in less than 45 mins..oh and his shop .... well i could kick a kick ball from my back yard to his shop door.........doh.........i think im gonna let him do the cab, although i did get my frame clean and looking like new.....it wasnt worth the headache of the 60.00 bucks he would have charge me.....but once i got in it i couldnt let him know it was kicking my a$$ ..i told him ,ahhh its not that bad..... wont be doing it by hand on any other projects.....
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#24 |
Between Trucks...
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Posts: 3,830
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
I just bolted some glasspacks to my headers instead of putting a real exhaust system in. My neighbors must hate me, it's so FFFFFFFing loud. I'm probaly gonna have to bite the bullet and replace them anyway...
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Beat it to fit, Paint it to match... ![]() |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: here
Posts: 5,789
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Re: ways you have saved money on your build
If I dont do it the cheapest way I can, I cant do it at all...
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