Is it Worth the Effort

[rcazwillis]

I need honest opinions, not passionate ones about the vehicle. In 1985, my birthday gift was a green and white 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne Super, big block, leaf spring rear, tool box in bed on passenger side. Currently, the truck sits on the back of my parents business lot in disrepair. It has been there for about 20 years.

Current condition is what you would expect. Rust in the typical spots for the cab, right rear quarter panel has collision damage, engine and tranny are gone, etc. I do have a complete bed to replace the damaged bed parts, but this would remove the tool box, that never latched or worked properly.

As you can imagine, I have a soft spot for the vehicle. Had lots of fun through high school and college and years after. My current ride is a King Ranch F250, tuned etc, so I don't need another pickup. Ignoring emotion, is this something that I should save or sell? If I save it, restoration needs to be done, but the finances behind it probably don't make sense.

I have no pictures, yes I know that would help, but it is 350 miles away at the moment. Thoughts.

[67 cst swb]

If you have no "emotional motivation" to do anything with it, then selling it just may be saving it. But... If you have that soft spot for the truck and would hate to have it go to someone else that would just let it sit in their back yard for 5+ years, then you should keep it and do a slow rebuild... as you can afford and/or desire to work on it.
I have been working on my current project for over 10 years, but not ready to see it go down the road...
I would also personally sell it cheap to a board member before selling it on craigslist.

[yote1234]

my feelings are you did get it as a gift. so your into it for? nothing. it is a desirable optioned truck..and it doesn't eat. also you have high school memories with it! and, in the future you might want to restore it.
just my 2 cents!

[bigmac73]

if you have the time and extra money, to throw at it , i would say get it up and running for a weekend driver,
but also it is hard to say until we see some pics, 72 the last year of the all metal dash, then it was plastic everywhere after that, it is all about how you feel and if the old truck brings you joy,

I hear remarks about my old Chevy all the time mainly because i have not done any cosmetic work yet(body, interior) but I do have around 10K invested so everything out of sight is new, and when I hear those glass packs out the back window going down the road, it drowns out the comments ,

I drive it because I want to , not because I have to

[rcazwillis]

The emotions do get in the way. I have thought many times about dragging it home and doing the work. I have the skills to complete most of the work, but would be in a three car garage. Currently, racing Lemons is my expensive hobby. So a couple times a year I have the "race car" in the garage to prep it for a race. The truck would be in the way.

The last engine in it was a 300 hp 350. Duals out the back, glass packs with chrome tips sitting side by side in the middle. LOUD. I used rattle the underpasses leaving stop lights. See there is my problem, sentimental about the darn thing.

[LSUMurse]

I think you've really answered your own question. The tone in your post screams of not wanting to do it. Which, I can't blame you if this sort of thing isn't in your blood.

Restoring a vehicle is a long and hard job. It has to be a labor of love, otherwise you'd never do it. You've already said you wanted the love taken out of the equation. If that's the case, it makes no sense for you to do it. You will not get the amount of money you put into it back if you sell it. I'm not trying to be negative, just honest. It sounds like you have a very desirable truck that would be spectacular restored. It is a lot more work than you think, especially if you do it yourself.

Having said this, I implore you if you decide to sell, sell it to a board member if at all possible. Best case scenario, it's restored. Worst case, it's parted out on the parts forum and has helped others live on.

[RenoKeene]

You asked for an honest opinion so.....sounds like a rough empty shell so I would say its not worth it.

[leddzepp]

Sell it

[truckster]

Building one of these trucks for profit is a long and risky business. If you're not emotionally attached to it, sell it to someone who wants it.

[Nitis]

That's the tough part about our trucks lots of emotional ties. Recently I acquired my 72 but prior to that all ninjas besides my commuter was my 93 z71. Grandpa bought that 93 new I used it to take my drivers test and now 20 years later it's a little rough and need some love but still runs good.

I can't afford to redo one truck let alone both of my trucks. I want to keep the 93 for my son but he is 3 really I'm going to trip over this thing for 12 years? And it does it no good to sit. But what's it worth $2500 maybe so if I got that I can buy a new engine for the 72. But it's going to cost a lot more than $2500 to replace that 93 in 12 years and there won't be any lineage.

I have been through a lot of trucks in my day I have bought 3 brand new over the years. They all hit a soft spot. I still don't know what in going to do.

[73737373]

I'd get rid of it, especially if the big block (and probably all the brackets) are long since gone. There are plenty of them out there equipped w/what yours came with that you can buy for much less than you'll have time/moneywise in "restoring" this one. Am acknowledging the variations and nuances associated w/the definition of "restore"...we don't need to open up that can of worms here.

[BLT gmc]

Honest opinion, you need to sell it to save it. You have listed off some of the desirable options. Emotionally, we have all sold stuff we wish we could have back. If we are honset with ourselves we can come uip with this list. I have been trying to sell fewer things like this, but I also have been taking on fewer projects because I wants to see the ones I have started finished. You can make the right decision, Bruce

[powell72]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Sell it

I agree, it sounds like you're just not that interested. A resto of that size may just end up becoming a chore for you if you're not totally into it. Sounds like you would have already sold it by now if it wasn't your high school ride.

[70's luvr]

You cared enough to come on here and ask the question. Seems you have your answer.

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

Speaking from a "hoarder" mentality I would say that if this truck was at all important to you, you would have never allowed it to fall into 20 years of rot and decay and be neglected and stripped. In other words...you apparently do not need it. I say...sell it...from a practical standpoint.

[67ChevyRedneck]

20 years? Sell it. I would never let something I was passionate about sit that long. The longest I ever let my truck "sit" was 2 years over the past 18 I've owned it.

Also, being that it's a long bed (tool box door) and the motor/trans is gone with rust and body damage... it ain't worth much.

[Grumpy old man]

Sell it , you have no interest and comparing a classic Chevy to a ford king ranch plastitruck which losses value daily and will never be a collectible truck ,shows your disinterest in investing thousands of dollars to no appreciable end , Give it to some young deserving kid who could never afford one unless it was a rebuildable free truck to him !I've given away a few i could have sold just to keep 1 more young guy interested ! What do you want for it ? my son is just North of you in Denton ? You asked for "honest" opinions there it is !

[Matt Cramer]

Originally Posted by rcazwillis

As you can imagine, I have a soft spot for the vehicle. Had lots of fun through high school and college and years after... Ignoring emotion, is this something that I should save or sell?

Emotion is the only legitimate reason to fix it up here; you don't need it as a cheap parts hauler, and you won't make money fixing it up and selling it. Either the emotional soft spot for this truck makes it worth more than mere economics, or if it doesn't, you might as well sell it.

[rcazwillis]

I did ask for honest and I appreciate it. I have two boys, 15 and 11. The older has no interest. The younger loves old cars and would have interest. As far as doing the work, I would enjoy it. Every vehicle I have owned got modified and changed. Even the current plastic piece is tuned and deleted.

[rcazwillis]

I have decided to sell the truck as is, where is. I will start with this group to see if anyone wants it. Pictures will come soon.

Next question is "What is it worth?" Tough question without pictures. Those are coming...

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by rcazwillis

I have decided to sell the truck as is, where is. I will start with this group to see if anyone wants it. Pictures will come soon.

Next question is "What is it worth?" Tough question without pictures. Those are coming...

You wont be able to list it unless you are a subscribing member.

[ho70]

YOU DRIVE a FORD????????? LOL

emotions aside..... if you don't want to restore it as it is too costly and time consuming to do then save it by selling it. You can buy a driver cheap enough to replace those old memories. I sold my first vehicle (68 gmc) and just replaced it (20 years later) with a 72 c10 and have no 'I miss the GMC' feelings at all-just have a blast driving the 72

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

You wont be able to list it unless you are a subscribing member.

Or ask what it's worth. You have to subscribe to do that as well.

[rcazwillis]

So I asked for lots of pictures showing all corners, inside, engine bay etc. I have attached what I received. Oh well. My intent was to sell it as is where is. However, I am wondering if it would be smarter to pull it out, clean it up, and make is show better. Thoughts?
pictures loaded sideways, crap.

[Hutch]

I was able to help with the pics