Which way to go with my 70 CST10 400 resto???

[7dguy]

Here are pic's...having trouble getting them uploaded thru attatchment mgr so forgive me for sending you via photobucket:

http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/w...uy/70cst10400/

1970 CST/10 400 115" wooden fleetside, tach, no ac: 84,900 actual, never rebuilt, original paint, drives fantastic (tight suspension, steering engine and tranny). Nevada truck with NO rust, never been repainted. I dislike the original color (dk gold) but am drawn to authenticity. I am considering the following:

A Basic re-paint, thorough cleanup of what I have without going crazy.

B Full frameoff in original color (which would be overkill but the truck sorta deserves it based on condition and scarcity). This would naturally involve repainting in and out.

C Re-paint exterior and interior in a color I like and sacrifice a bit of honesty, no frameoff.

D Frameoff in color I like, throwing caution to the wind and building what I want; original except for color.

Appears to be no reaswon to rebuild the powertrain (especally since i'm trying to stay honest). Sorta leaning toward option A just to keep it honest but it sure would look great in black with new wood in the ass end. Oh and my wife loves the truck and has approved the colors RED, BLACK or FACTORY (dk gold).

Opinions?

[71blksuper4x4]

The big question, are you going to own this over the course of years, or are you going to own it for awhile to sell eventually? If you are going to keep it, make it exactly how you want it and have no regrets. If you are going to sell it later on, keep it the original color. If you are stickler for originality as your description makes you sound, paint it back the original color with option a, that way most of everything is original. That's my opinion. Trevor

[DANTIP]

I like Option A.

The truck is obviously very rare and despite the color not being your favorite, it will look awesome with new paint/trim. Option A also enables you to drive it without serious concerns about small details that a fully-restored truck has.

Let us know your final decision. Good Luck!!

[Northern lights]

Absolutely Option "D". That truck would be drop dead georgeous in black. I would think that a frame off total restoration on a truck like that would be easier, and more fun, than doing a rust bucket. You'll enjoy the truck more in the colour of your choice (hell, do it in black and I'll buy it from you when you decide to sell) and, if you decide to sell down the road and the value is considerably less because it's not the original colour (which I doubt) you can always repaint it DK gold. A new dark gold paint job now will be an older repaint by the time you decide to sell. Paint it black now, and, should the resale value dictate, repaint dk gold to sell it and it sells with a NEW paint job.

BTW, why does it sport "400" badges but says 396 on the spid?. The original big block for a 1970 should be a 402 (a .030 over 396) but I don't recall whether they had 396 or 402 badges and, if I'm not mistaken, the small block 400 came out in '70.

[craig24671]

I would go with "A"

[turp mcspray]

If you are going to go through the time and money to do a frame off , do it the way you want. Come sell time you'll never recoup your investment anyway. No offense to anyone, but rare or not, it's still a truck, and not a camaro, chevelle, etc. Frame offs are expensive to do. You'll never get the truck finished and say "I wish I would have half-assed it" but you WILL get done and say "I wish I would have done this better, or painted that while I was doing it. Do what makes YOU happy and to hell with everyone else. One more thing...EVERYTHING looks better BLACK! LOL!!

[Northern lights]

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

EVERYTHING looks better BLACK! LOL!!

If it don't look good black, it just don't look good.

[jorgensensc]

Well, It depends.
-Are you going to keep it? If not, leave it alone and drive it the way it is. If you re-spray, even the same color, then people won't trust that it is as clean as it is when you go to resell it. Pictures or not, people don't trust a re-spray.
-If you are going to drive it, doing a frame off will be nice, but disappointing in the end. I did a Frame Off on the '56 Bel Air. And although I love the car and drive it all the time, I get a sick feeling every time I here a rock clink off the body.
-With that said, if you plan to keep it and if you plan on driving it, but just can't handle the color, I say take the time to completely change the color. I can't stand to see a Half A$$ paint job. You pop the hood and the underside doesn't match, or under the body, or between the bed and cab, etc, you get the idea.
-If you are going to keep it and you can handle the color, and you can get a really really good color match, then a re-spray may be just the ticket. Quick, easy, and you will get to drive it fast. Detail the engine and you are good to go!!

Trust me, I've got a '68 torn down for paint right now. It was running and driving, relatively rust free, but was ugly. Now I just want to get it back together. My OCD took over and I couldn't stand to do a Half Baked job, so I tore it all apart. Now I don't have time to finish it, the '72 suburban needs the interior done, and the house addition is taking financial priority. I've got the '56 Bel Air in storage, so I don't get to drive that very often because it is a pain to get out.
I'm up to my eyes in projects, with no hope of finishing in the near future. It is a very despairing feeling!
Shawn

[jorgensensc]

Oh, and by the way, can you get me in the interior code and possibly a picture of the seatbelts? Are they gold? I need to figure out a seatbelt color situation. It would be really helpful!
Shawn

[jorgensensc]

Never mind, looks like the belts are black. Darn!
Shawn

[70cst]

I like Option A also...since you are still not fully decided long term to what you want in the end. I agree that our trucks are not a camaro or chevelle...but a factory loaded 67-72 Chevy/GMC truck is more valuable than a base four door camaro or chevelle.
I am almost done with a frame off and the changes I did to my truck can be easlly undone. (ie: 5 lug disc., lowered 2"/4", etc). I am also keeping it the factory colors (Dark Olive/Light Olive). Instead of buying a new Chevy truck I have put my $$$ into my 1970CST.
As others have said...it's your truck...do what pleases you. Good Luck!!
By the way...I like the looks of our trucks regarless of the colors or mods. Well at least 99% of our trucks.

[Muleman100]

If you are going to use as a daily driver I would think option "A" is the way to go. All projects seem to cost a lot more than originally budgeted for. Good luck on whatever you do.

[Northern lights]

Originally Posted by 70cst

but a factory loaded 67-72 Chevy/GMC truck is more valuable than a base four door camaro or chevelle.

Actually, a 4 door camaro would be ULTRA RARE.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Northern lights

Actually, a 4 door camaro would be ULTRA RARE.

Very good point!! I just put that in there to see if you all was reading closely or not!! Come to think about it...a factory 4 dr Camaro would be "untra rare" and be worth more than our trucks.

[7dguy]

Originally Posted by Northern lights

Absolutely Option "D". That truck would be drop dead georgeous in black. I would think that a frame off total restoration on a truck like that would be easier, and more fun, than doing a rust bucket. You'll enjoy the truck more in the colour of your choice (hell, do it in black and I'll buy it from you when you decide to sell) and, if you decide to sell down the road and the value is considerably less because it's not the original colour (which I doubt) you can always repaint it DK gold. A new dark gold paint job now will be an older repaint by the time you decide to sell. Paint it black now, and, should the resale value dictate, repaint dk gold to sell it and it sells with a NEW paint job.

BTW, why does it sport "400" badges but says 396 on the spid?. The original big block for a 1970 should be a 402 (a .030 over 396) but I don't recall whether they had 396 or 402 badges and, if I'm not mistaken, the small block 400 came out in '70.

Funny enough...it is a 402BB. Spid says 396, Emblems 400, Actually a 402. Even funnier is it only pushes 310hp. But still the most power under the hood that year in chevy light truck from what I gather.

[7dguy]

Hey if you wanna get rid of you front 6 bolts let me know. I'm going back to 6 in the front (mine now has 6 on rear and 5 in front).

[leddzepp]

Option "C" or "D". If you ever decide to sell it, black trucks bring the bucks...plus they look great while driving!

[7dguy]

Originally Posted by jorgensensc

Oh, and by the way, can you get me in the interior code and possibly a picture of the seatbelts? Are they gold? I need to figure out a seatbelt color situation. It would be really helpful!
Shawn

Seatbelts are black but have faded to almost blue....too ugly to bother sending pics of....sorry.

[mclairmo]

Depends on what your ultimate goal is. I would likely go with option A if it were me.

[7dguy]

Originally Posted by mclairmo

Depends on what your ultimate goal is. I would likely go with option A if it were me.

Goal is to keep forever...I sorta get the point that once sprayed it is never completely trustworthy to anyone. Still somewhat on the fence but same color, very nicely brought back to original without a frameoff might be my direction. BUT THEN I know myself well enough to know I'll most likely want the interior painted too and then I may as well go with a new color entirely. And since i'm pulling fenders and restoring the box I'm WELL on my way to a frameoff. So as one thing leads to another, in reality I will most likely end up deciding whether I'm going frameoff original or not.

[Otsa580]

Option C

Option C

Option C

[Kayotic]

I would go Option A

Get her as clean as posible, then you drive around thinking about what you want to do for the life of the truck.

The end result might suprise you, a clean truck that shows it has received TLC always looks good no matter what (factory) color.

That said, I have to believe a tear down and rebuild should be reasonably easy with your truck in that condition.

[Northern lights]

Before making any compromizes on what YOU realy want for the sake of what the next potential owner may think, consider this, my grandfather bought a brand new olds in 1955 and, first day, put new plastic seat covers on it. My grandmother was always annoyed at this and would say "Why should I have to sit on plastic just so the next owner can have new seats?".

[Joesjunk]

I would polish that original paint up and drive it. Even if its getting thin, Its only original once!!

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

I would polish that original paint up and drive it. Even if its getting thin, Its only original once!!

+1