Costs and Expenses

[Theoriginalsilverado]

Hi Guys. I'm looking to restore my Chevy 1975 C20. Of course, the cost is a big concern.

I've estimated that starting from where I am- a truck that runs good but can use some work, and getting to a restored good looking and great running truck with some suspension upgrades, engine upgrades, paint job, etc. will cost $10,000.

I'm not sure if this is accurate or even makes sense. I was just wondering if you guys could post how much you spent on your projects, and include where your truck was before you started, and where it is today. What you spent the money on, and some before and after pictures would be appreciated!
Thanks again guys, your responses are really valued by me and I'm sure the rest of the forum.

[79Betty]

Bought for 1300. A year n a half later i have 10,000 invested. I did 2 cab swaps, bought a newer bed, doors dog houses a c30 parts truck, 2 motors 2 transmissions a set of axles. Honestly it all mostly went to parts right now in how she sits... About 5k in it. Other half is parts. Sucks but i love it... I have a... "Never good enough" disease... Like i can buy better fenders better intake ya know? My body was SHOT so bad my inner fenders to my be bed out going down the road lol have fun. I still have to do axles more lift build my other motor new tires (2500 right there) and paint this that... I have learned so much though i wouldn't change a thing!

[jitteryguy]

with a decent truck and $10,000 I could build a sweet daily driver. the thing is how much work can you do yourself and how much will be farm'd out. how far do you want to go, on one of my truck's I paid $1500 for the truck and $4500 for the tire's and wheel's.
it will come down your end desire, ability to stay on budget and do'n as much work your self as possible .

[old Rusty C10]

all in mine I cost me about 17000 paying for body work and pain t.. I have a complete new running gear etc

[tinydb84]

I am not counting the money I put into my projects or I would have given up already.

Looking back now I would have just saved for two more years and bought someone's almost finished project.

[Zane M]

I estimate it would take about 15K to get my current truck where I want it(me doing all the mechanical/interior, farming out the body).
I'll probably just keep it in top mechanical condition and keep driving it. I'll continue to save and buy someone's finished/almost finished project and probably come out ahead $$ wise. I would lose out on the satisfaction of doing it myself, but I am realistic about the time I have to dedicate to the project. I don't want something that is non-op for 2, 5, 7, 10+ years.

[meter swinger]

I bought my 88 ccdrw for 3600. Three years ago with 32k on the o.d. i put tires on it off CL for 400.00. I try not to put much money in squares because they can be had for cheap around here. The 50's rigs i have are a different story.lol. It has taken me a long time to figure this out, but its not only faster, its also usually cheaper to spend everything my pocket on the best rig i can get.

[KQQL IT]

25k maybe 2 engines 2/3 th400's and a built 9" rear. Still lack interior.
Don't keep track. Its better for your sanity

[Ski-me]

We had a $10k budget for the $3500 truck. Well, that's now gone plus more....and I still have rust and unpainted truck. Rust is a big factor. If it's in relatively good shape, you might be OK but painting from a shop gets expensive quickly. I don't have welding skills or I would be taking the rust on now. However, after having it for about 2 years, I have seen the rust grow. A little surprising actually.

With my money:
New, OEM dash
New, ACC carpet
New, 35" BFG tires
New Springs
New Bilstein shocks
New AC Delco Air Conditioning
Rebuilt 14SF axle with e locker
Handfuls of OEM parts from junkyard
New Brakes,Calipers, Etc
New Driveshaft

I'd be closer to $15k....but it depends on the truck.

[Rich84]

I refuse to add it all up...My wife might see it.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Plus all the little things add up too, we bought my truck for $1,300 and last time I checked we have about $1-3k already invested and that's just for getting sand paper, primer, paint rattle can job temporary, 2 gauge bezels, engine stuff(headers, intake, carb, valve covers, new air cleaner, new rims, tires, studs on the rear, new balancer, new timing gear set. But an overall cost having to buy tools and stuff we have a total including the truck around $6k invested but I would trade it for anything. The knowledge you learn when working on your truck and from here makes the money really not an issue but I agree with everyone else don't really look at the price you've invested.

[gchemist]

I've spent close to $10k. No where near finished!! It all depends on where you start and how you finish. I expect another $5k-$10k to finish my truck to my taste. I drive it like I stole it every day and not sweat on breaking parts. The problem is keeping fuel in two 16 tanks!!

[Gotenntitans]

Started fixing up my dad's 87 GMC for my son in August. New 350, flowmaster exhausts w/ chrome tips, wheels & tires, door panels, window channels, windshield, bumper, repainted inner doors & door jams, repainted grill & headlight bezels, replaced taillight & signal lenses, and put on a new battery and I'm in over $3500. Truck looks pretty good, though. Not by any means a show truck, but looks really good to a 14 year old kid who really wants to drive Papaw's truck. Looks good to me too. GTT

[king-918]

20 in the hole with parts, labor, and mistakes; still not together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_mY...e_gdata_player

[crashz]

The 87 dump I bought for $1800. With frontend parts, frame repair and such I have about another $2000 into a truck that ran and I had registered when I bought it. It's hauled exactly 2 loads since I bought it nearly 5 years ago.

This winter, it looks like I'll be putting an injection pump in it, removing the body, stripping the frame and the rear suspension, putting new springs and hangers on it and re-assmbling with a new sub-frame and lift cylinder. So lets just say another $5000.

I have about $10K in the 83 to date (bought it from my Dad when I was 15) and at this point, the cab is garbage and it has no engine. I do have the Cummins for it now, but its still 2-3 years before I can focus on it. I'm estimating I'll have $35K into that truck since everything I did to it when I was a kid was a mistake.

[king-918]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

25k maybe 2 engines 2/3 th400's and a built 9" rear. Still lack interior.
Don't keep track. Its better for your sanity

Funny because I only planed spending about 2500but soon figured that it gotten way out of hand

[nekkidhillbilly]

12-14 is what im figured on a cclb with a dmax swap. doing everything myself thats the key.

[mexlokote]

not the best one on here but for total of $1,800 investment including the truck,
also engine and transmission swap, and brand new carburator, fuel tank, fuel sending unit, fuel lines, filters,gaskets,motor mounts, door poppers, new windshield,new tires,new brakes, new rotors,new paint,and other smalls i cant think about, it looks good

[tinydb84]

^^^Can I drop off my truck and 2k??

[mexlokote]

lol

[Sodell]

I got lucky and found a guy last spring that wanted my cheap AR more than his truck project. So I got the truck for a whopping 1K. I took a chance because everybody was going AR crazy then. If you can do the work yourself you could easily get a nice driver done for $10. It takes a lot of work usually to save on parts when you rehab ect. I did everything on my suspension for a little more than $1000, replacing all components with new but the rear springs. But then the $60 alignment turns into $110 because of the drop ect.....I pay for things as I go so it take me time, but I drive once or twice a week. If you figure out what you want to do after you buy one, you can start collecting things from craigslist and scrap yards.
If you cant paint you are looking at about $5K. I have a longtime friend who has a shop and paints part time. I am doing the body work myself, but I work on his projects for free in his shop several times a month..so if you count time as money???

Little things will get you. For example a decent engine rebuild on the cheap would be around $1200 plus, but the reality is you will spend more for paint, brackets, and what ever else you want to fix up while you have it out.

Any way, just my two cents from an old man... it will always take twice as long and cost twice as much...

[bojak]

10'k for presentable daily driver. 15-20k for the one you dream about owning. I'm at 6k for what would be a decent daily driver crew cab.

[bojak]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

12-14 is what im figured on a cclb with a dmax swap. doing everything myself thats the key.

No BS, this is the key. It is the difference between 10k and 20k. That being said don't be afraid to jump in and give it a shot. Use every resource available to you. I'm at 6k but that could if been 5 k with some more knowledge/ ability and could have easily been easily been 10 k if i didn't trade out with my buddy who is a bad a$$ mechanic. He needs drywall and paint and I need king pins replaced. You get my drift. Blogging and makers mark are an awesome combination.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by bojak

10'k for presentable daily driver. 15-20k for the one you dream about owning. I'm at 6k for what would be a decent daily driver crew cab.

honestly i can find 2wd crew cab duallys for around 3500 in decent shape

[tucsonjwt]

I just sold my old tailgate to a young fella who showed up with a mid 80s 3 +3 in great shape he said he just bought for $1000 - rust free. So, I always say if you start with a rust free truck you will save a lot of money over patching up a rust bucket.

My truck was $2500 11 years ago (83 C20) and I put about $10K into it - all mechanical/electrical and including about $2K for the dump conversion. I expect to pay about another $1K for a driver quality paint job. Then I hope to be done with it.

Realistically, all of that dough would have been better spent on a new (or at least newer) truck. But, one thing leads to another. I expected to keep this truck for about 2 years and junk it, but it needed a lot of repairs to make it reliable.

Considering that new trucks get 18/25 mpg, it makes more sense to me to put $10K in a $25K truck and have no worries for many years. I only have an old truck because I did not want to trash a new truck.