What did you do, that you maybe should not have.

[larley]

Started taking the truck apart, stopped and cut back on my plans. I realized like some have said here that it is more fun to work on it and still drive it. So my question is, looking back what did you do that maybe you should not have done. Or did you do to much and regret it. Just trying to find my way thru with out to much pain.

[Roostboy102]

I started my project as "drive it along the way" and now realize it would've been much easier just tearing it apart and making everything right right away! I bought the truck inspected and driving but everything I touch I have replaced and in the end there won't be much untouched. If you plan on it being "perfect" one day then start at the bottom and go all the way. If you can stand imperfection or just want a driver then do the "drive it along the way"

Of course IMHO

[JointTech]

my biggest mistake is thinking I could get rid of all the rust. ITS EVERYWHERE. im not talking rot, i dont have much. but theres suface rust on everything.

Also thinking Ill paint every nut and bolt. Really annoying wanting to put something together only to have to stop and wait a day while the paint on one bolt drys. And then you get hasty and use an unpainted one and it grinds at you for days until you pull it back out and paint it.

I sometimes think Im never going to get this thing put back together but I just keep slowly slogging away and throwing money at it built not bought is still expensive. Im getting there though.


im sort of regretting taking apart the steering column. scary stuff.



or that could just be me.

[BossHogg69]

Not having a solid plan of exactly what I wanted to end up with got me. I started out more on the 'budget' side of things, then after I realized how many awesome, high end parts where available I just went wild. I could've saved a bunch of money by not buying different (read - more expensive) parts after I had already purchased something that would work. Changing my mind after I already had something painted or powdercoated is another thing I have been notorious about. Just set a solid plan and try your best to stick with it. If I ever do another build, I will go about it very differently.

[Hubscrub]

Most will say i'm crazy, but my 71 was a long bed inline 6 with 3 on the tree. now it's a swb 350/700r4 runs and drives but not finished, and i wish every day i would have left it stock i didn't even renew the tags on it last year just sitting in the garage been looking at other trucks.

[Coley]

"What did you do, that you maybe should not have"
Great question
I have to say....never to have questioned myself in terms of going for a homebuilt 'frame-off' restoration vs. a nice original, factory built daily driver (6 mths a year at least).
Never underestimate an original truck and the benefits it will bring, relative to......wait for it.....your real life.
Just my two cents.
Coley

[hamjet]

back in 1980-81 I had a 1969 CST blazer, black bucket seats, console, pretty neat truck. a few years later instead of cutting out very rusty rear wheel wells and tail gate, I cut the whole rear off just behind the doors and built a wood back with rear window and made a flat bed for it. I wasn't in to the value of these trucks, (no internet) and my life was on a different path that I had no interest of them other than transportation...I'd give my eye teeth for that truck now....

[jdw]

I got mine cheap.

[Shyguy]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

Most will say i'm crazy, but my 71 was a long bed inline 6 with 3 on the tree. now it's a swb 350/700r4 runs and drives but not finished, and i wish every day i would have left it stock i didn't even renew the tags on it last year just sitting in the garage been looking at other trucks.

My story is similar. I bought a '67 lwb stepper with a 6 cylinder and SM-420. Instead of rebuilding it and making it something I could use we turned it into a swb stepper with a 454. It sets in the garage most of the time because it is just too nice for a daily driver.

[chopnchaneled]

Bought a aftermarket hood instead of waiting till i found an original one.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Pulled a great running 250 straight six for a 350/700R. Should have left it alone and added a 5 speed.

[Tork?]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Pulled a great running 250 straight six for a 350/700R. Should have left it alone and added a 5 speed.

Yes! I love my little 250 and 3ott but sometimes wish for a little more drivability (in Chicago). 5 sp may be in my future

[67ChevyRedneck]

I did my swap in 2002. Back then there was very little information on how EASY it was to swap a stock 3spd for an S10 or Camaro V6 5 speed behind an I-6, but tons of info on a 350/700R swap. I miss my truck being a manual.

[mechanic350]

I decided to go all out on a new brake system without doing a little bit more research and now she still sits on jack stands 3 months later because I can't get the parking brake to fully engage. She also isn't running now because I didn't put her top dead center before swapping out my intake manifold and carb for new ones. And having just broken my hand doesn't help much either. I know I can get her back to being road worthy but after this I'll be waiting till I can start a full on frame off build to do it right.

[larley]

I am definitely gaining some insight. Pretty sure I will drive it while I work on it, keep it mostly original. The 6 cylinder and 3 speed will stay. Getting rid of the rust my major concern. Thanks for the responses.

[alsriv2]

Sold my '67 small window, 3/4 ton, 327 th400, longbed, GMC to pay for a move cross country from AZ to MD.
Should never have left AZ....

[leftybass209]

Any time I purchase something before I'm ready to install it. Then I wind up wanting to change the style or it doesn't fit right and I can't return it.

[GuyO]

Every time I do something, I second guess my decision. But then if the truck wasn't original to begin with, I haven't lost anything really. That said, if it ain't broke don't fix it. The temptation is to take it all apart and "make it better"! But I find I break as much stuff as I improve, so it has been hard for me to just "leave it alone".

[tsetsaf]

Biggest mistake I made was buying a bulk of parts in advance. Ended up giving up almost $3k in parts because the stupid 1 year warranty had expired. In combination with this I learned that for repo parts price and quality go hand in hand.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Everything. Almost.

Then, I learned by taking it apart (again) and fixing it.
Whatever "it" happened to be that day.

Biggest mistake, I guess, was not selling my house to "up" the budget.

[bigguy69]

built a motor that is not very street friendly. may sell go with a more stockish motor

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

Any time I purchase something before I'm ready to install it. Then I wind up wanting to change the style or it doesn't fit right and I can't return it.

This one gets me every time!! I have a pile of new stuff that I 'thought' I wanted, only to find something 'better' that I couldn't live without.

[Matt Cramer]

My biggest mistake was figuring, "Oh, it's just going to be a beater truck used to run a few errands - I'll be able to leave it stock." Then... well, it does need 3 point seat belts. And then when I found out the block was cracked, I decided I might as well put an LS motor in it...

[Fitz]

I bought this truck. I bought it because I thought it would be fun and, besides, the PO had it mostly sorted out.

Turns out that the PO hacked it to pieces. Dash wiring was twisted together, no tape on the joints so it caught fire. Old Power steering pump froze up, disc brakes on the front weren't installed properly and glazed and warped the discs, rad had "stop leak" poured in by the gallon and plugged most of the passages and the AC lines were run through holes in the firewall that he punched in with a cold chisel. To make a long story shorter, three years and a bushel basket of $20.00 bills and I now have a pretty nice truck. Here's before and after.

[LowLifeS10]

When we purchased this ´72 that we'd planned to do some minor stuff on and then sell it. over a year later its still in our possession cause we noticed it was just fixed with tons of filler. ugh, regret the purchase every time I look at it.