First build: what lessons did you learn?

[In The Ten Ring]

My truck build (rebuild) is getting to the point I can be reasonably sure she'll run this summer. I have begun to reflect on mistakes I made.

1). Buy lots more paint of the same mix. I only bought enough so the painter couple spray what he was working on. I probably should have bought a lot more, so the next painter could spray the rest of the truck so she'd match.

2). Research better deals for replacement parts. I likely overpaid a few times.

3). Minor things: misplaced tools that had to be replaced, etc.

What did you guys learn for next time?

[SuperC10Tex]

Zip lock bags are your friends!!

[special-K]

I never had a first time. I started off driving nice ones I only did my personal changes to, then service/repairs. Little by little I did more and more with them as they got older, till one day I decided to tear one down all the way to restore. By then I was very familiar with the trucks and knew forethought was paramount, it's done when it's done, be thorough, follow the process, and don't cheap out on parts.

[flashed]

I learned that I dont want to do another frame off restoration .

[panhead59]

If you can afford it, farm out the dirty work. That means sand blast or other methods to start out. Body and frame. Well worth the $ and you get a better job. Many people, especially first timers, don't even get past this stage as it is very time consuming and not fun at all!!

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by flashed

I learned that I dont want to do another frame off restoration .

Exactly!

But if you insist on building,
1. But the nicest parts you can afford, and even then you'll be disappointed sometimes.
2. Label EVERYTHING and store the parts accordingly. I bought quite a few parts twice because I rat-holed things and forgot I had them.
3. Consider the cost of tools when taking on a project, this is a huge expense, buying some tools you'll never use again.

[TXBoudy]

Tools, tools, tools, OMG, tools. This week I'm troubled whether to bother my neighbor yet again to use his sand blasting cabinet or to buy my own. Last week it was, do I borrow my painter's welder again or buy one. It never ends, NEVER!

[leftybass209]

Have a clear cut vision of what you want the truck to look/feel like.

Don't purchase big piles of parts that you're not going to install for months so you can return them if they don't work/fit

Don't purchase parts that you'll likely change down the road, ie: buying a 650cfm carb, when you really want 2x4bbls which would operate better at 500 cfm.

Know where you can cut costs, and where you need to spend for quality. Buying a cheap taillight lens or trim gasket, isn't as potentially life threatening as purchasing a steering column for a little discount.

If it's going to be driven while it's restored, make sure you buy ALL the parts you need or anticipate having issues with when you take it off the road to minimize down-time, and try to plan repairs from the "inside out" so to speak so you don't continually remove parts you've already replaced.
ie: If you replace the speedometer, but need other gauges as well, wait a few weeks until you have the money for everything, so you're not pulling and replacing the gauge cluster 3 different times which increases the possibility of damaging something.

Ask for help!!!!!!! I'm a very stubborn DIY person. I like to be left alone to do things myself, but certain things (like removing the hood) would have been much easier if I had just asked for help.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by flashed

I learned that I dont want to do another frame off restoration .

I do, I do!

But here's what I'd do different:

1) More photos. Took 300, need 1000.
2) Some system to order bags of fasteners. I tagged them all but there was no real order so I looked through them a thousand times!
3) Don't rely on memory
4) Track ALL expenses - yes, spray paint counts towards your project even if you might use it on the BBQ later
5) Don't buy parts too far in advance. Summit is great but returning stuff 2 years later can be tough.

Stuff that is obvious now (how that bracket -must- go) will be a dusty memory in four years.

Now I'm looking at restoring a basket case that I didn't take apart - with no photos. Worst case of all, but I'm considering it...

[demian5]

1. Chase those threads
2. Just because you can't see it when its covered, doesn't mean you shouldn't address it.
3. Grounds are your friend.
4. Measure x3, cut x1

[cypressbog]

Sit down with your plan and estimate all your costs. Now double that!

[In The Ten Ring]

Oh yes, forgot about that one! I haven't kept good records.

1). I should have bought a yellow notebook (matching color to truck) and stapled every receipt, in chronological order.

2). Had a hardbound book for logging those same receipts, dates, etc.

3). Kept a daily journal on everything I did to the truck, every time I worked on it, names, address, my feelings on it.

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Oh yes, forgot about that one! I haven't kept good records.

1). I should have bought a yellow notebook (matching color to truck) and stapled every receipt, in chronological order.

2). Had a hardbound book for logging those same receipts, dates, etc.

3). Kept a daily journal on everything I did to the truck, every time I worked on it, names, address, my feelings on it.

Great idea! I wish i'd done that myself. I kept every receipt, and looking through them does spark some vivid memories I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. My wife had suggested I keep a journal of what i'd done, but I was working so inconsistent and jumping back and forth I thought it'd look ridiculous.

[jfnar]

Unless you just love body work, buy the best truck you can find to start with. Unless you over pay ridiculously you'll come out ahead in the long run. Turning a $2000 truck into a $6000 truck takes much more than $4000.

[mike16]

Buy overhual service and parts books

grease and oil up everything BEFORE you wash it. otherwise water will get into every nook and cranny, and then when you grease it all up you essentially seal water into the nooks and cranny's with a fresh serving of grease. your truck continues to rust out while you thing its all greased up. I live in Az where trucks are not supposed to rust. made that mistake. ruined everything. pressure washed it and then seal the water in with fresh grease and in 6 months everything mechanical will be rusted up or rusted out. Grease and oil it up first then pressure wash it. let it dry for several days. then grease and oil it up again, and every 6 months.

you may pressure wash it several times before you begin to disassmeeble it. same rules apply

also get a gallon of WD 40 and a bug sprayer. every 6 months go out and spray all the fasteners and hardware, do that every 6 months too for a few years. and when your ready to begin disassembly, it will be clean and most of the hardware will come off with out a fuss. do the underside.

if you can help it, dont disassembe everything all at once. a weekend of enthusiasm like that and two years later its still in parts and overwelming, many stalled projects are sold off at this stage.

good digital cameras are cheap, so take lots of picture, it cost you nothing. and dont take just 400, like said above...take thousand or more. lots more. and save those pictures to at least two locations. like the hard drive in your computer but also to a separate external hard drive. and when you are done with the truck, dont dispose of the pictures. I still refer to pictures of truck bits 7 years after I finished the truck

get a three ring binder and start collecting documentation on your truck, reciepts, articles, adds and brochures, collect every thing that represents your truck. that increases resale value.

wooden bed? no matter what its condition, paint on a coat of linseed oil every six months. 1 quart does an entire bed. 8 bucks every 6 months

You never know when you might have to sell it so always maintain its visual appeal. keep air in the tires( tubes are good here, I have a truck with three tires that have not needed air in like 17 years) and wash and wax everything. armourall everthing else. make the neighbors happy.

every time you go to motor vehicle, re affirm your ownership of the truck, maybe get a duplicate title. funny things can happen to documents that represent ownership, and not all of it is honest mistakes. Just sayin cause it happens alot. once is too often but it happens alot

never throw anything away. even when your done, trade it or give it away but dont throw it away

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by BossHogg69

Exactly!

But if you insist on building,
1. But the nicest parts you can afford, and even then you'll be disappointed sometimes.
2. Label EVERYTHING and store the parts accordingly. I bought quite a few parts twice because I rat-hooked things and forgot I had them.
3. Consider the cost of tools when taking on a project, this is a huge expense, buying some tools you'll never use again.

Yes yes & yes. I track everything. Someone mentioned zip locks, I use cigarette packs, and have hundreds of them. It's very organized. Everything is marked, once at a glace, the other exactly what's what & whether or not they need to be finished. I store those in file boxes, those for parts that require a finish & those not.

Tools, absolutely. Paint supplies, hoist, etc...I'll be into tools approaching 2K I'll bet. Heck, just the carts I've built must be approaching $300.

Every time I pull a part I clean, label, and a TON of notes. Honestly, I'm writing a manual. It's a real *&(*%, not fun at all, but I'm committed, so it will get done. I list everything that needs to be purchased. Just labeling parts is a challenge for me. Everything has a proper label, and if you're green like myself, that takes time to determine. Though I have notes for everything, down to say 6-7 aspects to a single screw (yikes), at some point I'll collect everything that needs to be finished (plated or coated), and add them to a parts list. I don't take any joy spending 10-15 minutes prepping a single piece of hardware. It's all VERY time consuming, but they sure look nice.

As quality of parts go, again, very time consuming. You have to know the part and number to chase NOS. If I were to rebuild another truck, I likely won't chase all or mostly original parts again.

[rmr_69c10]

If you're someone like me that will make heavy use of a smart phone and the cloud, use these items to your advantage. I have my build notes, to do lists, to buy lists, scanned receipts, pictures, etc. synced so I can view/edit them on my PC, tablet, or phone. It's especially helpful when shopping for parts in person, or if I see something at a car show I like I can take photos & make notes about it to review later.

[DeadheadNM]

You can't take too many photos, bag and label the small stuff, reuse and replate the OEM nuts bolts screws where possible, and having a survivor truck as a reference can be a huge help.

Keep that disorganized factory assembly manual in the bathroom for reading material and flag all the important and relevant pages

[weim55]

Lived and learned the hard way.....

Always, always purchase the nicest original truck you can find to start with. A truck that is ORIGINAL, a truck that hasn't been CRASHED, a truck that isn't missing PARTS, a truck that hasn't been run into the GROUND, a truck with minimal RUST.... etc...... . It will be double the price (or more) of the rougher fixer upper. If you can't afford it save your $$ until you can. Almost all of the reusable original parts are going to be much higher quality than any of the repop stuff currently on the market. Nothing like OE GM. You'll be so much happier with the finished quality as well. Again, don't be fooled by the cheap buy in truck. The labor time and parts costs will quickly pass the price of the better more expensive truck every time.

Rust.

Rust is evil. Do not buy a rusty truck. OK, '67-'72 with NO rust is not a common buy but they DO exist. And they are findable if you are patient. If rust is present, inspect and assess and carefully before purchase. Rockers and cab corners? OK. Rockers, cab corners, floors, cab supports, floors, cowl sections, hinge pockets, fender sections, inner fenders, core support, etc. etc. etc.... don't do it. A rust free truck will come apart easily without constantly breaking out a torch and you actually get to reuse 98% of the bolts, braces etc., a very nice plus. Be willing to travel or ship big miles for the right minimal rust truck. That money is so well spent.

Keep the truck a driver as long as possible before you dive in. Enjoy it and get a feel for it while you make your plans. When you do dive in keep the truck moving under it's own power as long as possible. There's PLENTY to do while the truck is still a running skeleton. Storing a totally blown apart truck or pushing a non runner is a *****. Plan and execute as little down (non running time) as possible.

Steve weim55 Colorado

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

A few mistakes I made.

Removed the bed, and the first thing I did is to start stripping the frame HA! Part no real plan, part didn't know what I was doing. Other than pulling some wire & a few this and that's, can't think of a reason to work around the frame until after the body is removed.

I was too NOS happy. Here I was looking for NOS hood hinges (bought one) when the existing are totally legit. I'm sending them out for restoration. Same applies to the NOS brake booster I got, when I can send out the original for rebuild. Both need to be painted anyway, so why bother with NOS? I bought an NOS A/C dryer. How cool is that? only it doesn't work with R134a. Purchased deluxe marker lenses. How pretty, only not factory on the Custom Deluxe, so not using them. Bought NOS push nuts for the temp. control. Neat, you can buy 50 for 1/4 the cost and make them work.



Don't throw anything away. I have a cart full of useless parts less references to correct replacements.

Completely agree with Weim, and the same was suggested to me...... there's no reason to put the engine to sleep until you have to - LOTS to do beforehand. That and the rust bit. Very lucky my first project is rust free. I may have given up by now ff it weren't.

[Coley]

Great thread and some interesting responses....here is mine:

I am in full agreement with Weim's take on purchasing the nicest original example you can find and this also dovetails with Special K's comments by starting off with finding and driving a nice one to begin with.
As mentioned you are 'out of pocket' more money on purchase day....but you are way ahead of the game 3,6,9 months down the road....and you are actually on the road enjoying your truck.
There are limitations to this of course....so set a realistic purchase budget that takes into account what you would have been putting into body work, or parts purchasing and hunting time.
In my opinion there are a lot of great 'starter/driver' trucks out there for under $10k that aren't rusted or abused beyond retrieval and by the same token....most trucks under $5000 are probably a 'pass' for me as a choice because....you get what you pay for.

Personally I am always looking at the originality of the truck and the ownership quality behind it.....in conjunction with something with minimal rust. After that, it gets easier.
That said, I seriously recommend spending a few months or a year just simply driving your purchase to understand what you want to end up with. Maybe you suddenly love it stock....maybe handling becomes paramount or you want to use it to camp/pull a boat with. Put some miles on your truck....maybe you don't like it all and want a new truck?...maybe you don't want to touch it....its fine just the way it is.....sometimes "if it ain't broke, dont' fix it' works....lol

Also, it seems a lot of guys have pointed out the incredible, irreplaceable importance of documenting your truck and your parts....which 50% of guys seems to often overlook.
I would also recommend that if you can take section by section videos of what you are starting with before you start spinning a wrench. The video can quickly pick up a lot of minor details that sometimes are missed in pictures.

The challenge for guys (....and we are famous for this) is to enthusiastically race in and dismantle the thing within a week.....which some guys have done and is certainly possible. This gives the impression that you are 1/2 done....while in fact you might be 10% done if you are lucky on both a time and money level.

Also, if you are married or have a spouse or partner....make sure they are in on it both time and effort wise...and importantly, cost wise. You don't want to be fighting that tide or things won't go well.

Remember Craigslist is full or 'project vehicles' that have been dismantled and essentially died on the vine by someone who didn't have a plan, or money or space or tools or a spouse who was 'on board'..... so get a plan together before you enter the stadium.....and then enjoy the ride!

All good
Coley

[67ChevyRedneck]

...to save thousands of dollars and years of work and just buy a "done" truck that I like

[truckster]

Buy the best truck you can afford to start with.

Be realistic about your end goal.

Be realistic about your budget - both time and money.

Ambition can be very dangerous.

[mattfranklin]

If you listen to your friend who says something like, "... anytime you have something apart you should clean and paint it ...", you will take 10x longer to finish.

It definitely looks good, but it takes a lot longer.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by mattfranklin

If you listen to your friend who says something like, "... anytime you have something apart you should clean and paint it ...", you will take 10x longer to finish.

What if "my friend" happens to be the voices inside my head...?

I call them my "might as well" projects