What was your toughest decision for your build?

[CG]

When we build our trucks there is a lot of mulling over ... Should I do this, or should I do that?

My Burb is in getting body and paint done right now. No problem deciding on color, I wanted it the stock color. The one thing I wasn't sure on was the top, white or body color? I decided body color because it would be easy to change the top to white. Easy decision. Engine? I'm good with the stock 350/350. I don't feel the need for and upgraded except maybe one of the FI systems down the road. Air con? Came with front and rear air. Interior? Pretty much stock look upholstery wise. Add a folding rear seat upholstered in a stock pattern like front bench.

So far all pretty easy peasy ... And then, tires, wheels, and stance. Ugh that's my big hold up. The only thing I'm positive about is that it will have 15 inch wheels. Glad I have some time to figure that one out (hopefully lol).

What was your biggest hold-up decision with your build?

[Beach-Burban]

Great question CG! There's a lot to think about (especially with Burbs) and I agonize over every decision...or maybe analyze sounds better! For me, the decision whether or not to paint has been the hardest. I think about how nice it would be...but then I think about how long I would not be able to drive it (I don't have any other "fun" vehicles to fill the void). I am now content with taking on "short term" processes that only shuts down usage for a week or two at the most. Right now, I'm doing prep work to install the Edelbrock Pro Flo 4 EFI system that was back-ordered for 8 months!!! At least I'm moving again!

Woody

[MySons68C20]

In this order...color, wheel choice, rear end ratio.

[special-K]

I don't have problems with decisions on direction to go on truck builds. The only thing that holds me up is money.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Usually biggest hang up for me is stance and drivetrain. I couldnt make up my mind on my 68 if I wanted to stay with a manual trans or go to an automatic.

[KQQL IT]

To not take it apart.
And not cut it down.
Concentrate on the drive train and comfort stuff.

[jumpsoffrock]

How thorough I wanted to get with previous paint removal and dent fixing.
I think some people forget how common scratches, chips and dents are in the real world(if you're gonna daily drive the vehicle) and I am still mulling over just how far I need to sand and what imperfections I can paint over and forget about.

My last "driveway paintjob" was my first, and admittedly it turned out worse than I thought it would.


But...with respect to my last paintjob........do you wanna know how much it concerns me on a daily basis? Do you wanna know how many times it stops me from enjoying that vehicle? Do you wanna know how many times I decide not to drive it because of it's paintjob?

Nothin. Nada. Zilch. Never. Ever.

Love driving it and I love not caring that it got another scratch or chip.
I think the majority of people on this forum don't relate to me--seems most people like their trucks shiny and well kept--nothin wrong with that. But my (last, and next) truck is a work truck, I don't need it to shine or hold it's value or whatever.




One thing I did know for sure about my current build is that it was gonna be more air tight and have lots of cab insulation, I want this thing to be a nice ride for my lady.

[Lee H]

For me it was wether or not to paint the roof white. Glad I did.

[davischevy]

When I bought it, I was going to put used trim back on it, paint the white back on it and drive it. The ochre on it was not ochre. I couldn't get it to look right, so here we are.

Then and now.

[chewychevy67]

Originally Posted by Lee H

For me it was wether or not to paint the roof white. Glad I did.

Mine is this as well but mie is a 67 so it's also whether to paint it the way 67 did factory or 68 up were done with he pillars. Loose lots of sleep over this one decision

[Already Gone]

Over the years I didn't have much problem deciding what I wanted to do to my truck. Whether or not to lower my truck has been the biggest struggle for many many years. Finally decided, seeing this will in all probability be my last truck, to do it and its being done over the Winter months. Not a real low or slammed look fan so just doing a 2 1/2 drop spindle with 4 inch rear spring. Hoping for nice stance with the 17's and TT 2's.

[allchevy58]

My hardest choice was painting it back to original. Didn't know if I would like the dark blue roof, but I wanted it just as the SPID read. Turned out I love it. Before and after.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by allchevy58

My hardest choice was painting it back to original. Didn't know if I would like the dark blue roof, but I wanted it just as the SPID read. Turned out I love it. Before and after.

Looks better with the dark blue wheels and trim rings!

I think I'll look into painting my wheels orange.

[allchevy58]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Looks better with the dark blue wheels and trim rings!

I think I'll look into painting my wheels orange.

Thank You. That was my painters idea, so I bought another set of wheels so he could paint them. My old wheels were powder coated and if I didn't like the blue I could put the white ones back on.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by allchevy58

Thank You. That was my painters idea, so I bought another set of wheels so he could paint them. My old wheels were powder coated and if I didn't like the blue I could put the white ones back on.

In the era of our trucks, cars with poverty caps had the wheels painted body color, and full wheel covers always had black painted wheels. I think that I'll buy some orange water-based acrylic paint and shoot the wheels on one side. If I (or the wife) don't like it, I can just scrub that paint off. As far as the wife liking orange wheels goes, she learned to drive in this truck, but seemed surprised that it had AC when I was talking about fixing it a few years ago. It's been in her family since '73. She may not even notice if the wheels change color.

[MiniD]

For me, the tough part was trying to figure out how to get from where I was to where I wanted to be. The more planning I did, the more I realized how difficult it was to do in small stages. You need to think through as much as possible. An LS is not just replacing the engine. It goes from your radiator all the way to the fuel tanks... hitting everything in between.

In the end, I got my truck to a nice stable drivable condition and sold it. I then bought one were someone did most of the things I was planning and did it the way I would have if I had the means. I do believe it to be the cheapest way to get the truck you want (for most people). You just have to have the money up front and have some faith in the seller.

Now I have a rust free good paint LS powered cruiser that I love.

[michael bustamante]

the decision to drop said amount of money on a part and risk hearing it from the better half. lol

[Thealien]

Paint, I am still struggling with interior choices a close second and not finalized yet.

[CG]

Its funny I'm usually really conflicted like I mentioned in my opening, but when it came to my panel I knew exactly (everything) that I wanted from the get go. Other issues came up that had nothing to do with my decisions. One thing was I bought a Caddy 500 off of the board, but because the project languished for a million (well close to) years I didn't learn until recently it wasn't actually a 500 but a 425 .. Kinda late to get that rectified haha!

[SCOTI]

Toughest decisions would be:

* Where to splurge finances on items.

* Where to pinch pennies on items.

* Where to draw the line in the sand as far as how detailed things need to be.

*.What to do in-house vs. outsourcing professional help.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Toughest decisions would be:

* Where to splurge finances on items.

* Where to pinch pennies on items.

* Where to draw the line in the sand as far as how detailed things need to be.

*.What to do in-house vs. outsourcing professional help.

Anytime I have taken the less expensive way ( lets call it what it is and that's the Cheap Way ) when prety much doing anythig it usualy comes back to haunt you.

[HO455]

While I spent a fair amount of time looking at paint samples I believe the tougher decision was what engine to put in the Burban when the 305 that it came with spun a main bearing.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Thealien

Paint, I am still struggling with interior choices a close second and not finalized yet.

I never tell people what colors my project will be. I'll say I'll decide when it's time to buy the paint.

[mr48chev]

I'm still in a bit of a quandary on this one. I have always wanted a 67/72 Short fleetside and have actually owned three of them that someone ended up wanting more than I did at the time. One didn't even make it home being sold off my buddy's trailer at a gas station. The guy just flat offered too much money.

That takes me to my 71 GMC that my aunt gave me after my uncle passed away, it was his truck since it was about two years old and I had worked on it off and on for years when he had it. I had even hauled firewood in it for my aunt when they owned it. It's a 3/4 ton long bed that is far more practical for me but I have been tempted to convert it to a 1/2 ton shortbed and lower it to what I have always wanted.

[FirstOwner69]

Decision 1:
Do I want to restore or just refresh this truck that I bought new?
It's a 1969 CST/20 that had 118,713 miles on the clock and most options available in 1969 (buckets, A/C etc.) but no gauges. Over the years I'd had the rockers replaced twice and the cab corners replaced once due to rust. Otherwise, the truck was totally rust free. In 1972, an idiot backed out of his driveway at about 20 MPH and wiped out the bumper, left fender and hood. Later in the 70s, I'd had the box repainted because the paint started flaking off leaving shiny metal with no rust present. The original paint held up great, but the repainted areas had started to fade.

I'd previously restored a '58 Corvette to NCRS quality with a score of 98.9. It received the Duntov Award (their highest award). The car also received the Bloomington Gold award. Didn't want to risk damage to that car, and I rarely drive it.

Decision made, I wanted a "new" 1969 truck with some period correct add-ons and would do a frame off resto.

Decision 2:
Do I want to rebuild the original 350 engine or buy a crate engine and keep the original in storage.?

The engine had accounted for most of the service receipts I had on file and had used a quart of oil every 700 miles. GM claimed that was considered normal.

Decision made, I can store the original engine and replace it with a GM crate 350 HO Deluxe with Vortec heads and store the original.


Decision 3:
Do I want to add some other options available on these trucks through 1972?

Yes, but what? How about a tilt wheel, gauges with a tach, an AM/FM radio, and shoulder belts?

Decision made.

Decision 3:

And, what about the wood bed?

I don't plan to use the truck as a truck, and I really like those fancy oak beds? A future owner can easily paint it.

Decision made.

Decision 4:

What about wheels? I have never liked how the white steel wheels contrast with the maroon paint. Hmm, someone is selling a set of like new chrome Hummer H2 wheels on Craigslist for $100. I think I can find a place to store the freshly painted steel wheels.

Decision made.


Decision 5:

I missed having a clock, and there's an extra hole in the instrument cluster. Hmm, I've seen a square body clock mounted there.

Decision made