I know, not what you were expecting. I built this truck for my son when he was 3 but now as he is getting older we talk about building a "real" truck together. I have some mechanical knowledge and do most of my own vehicle maintenance but to restore a vehicle is going to be a big challenge. Currently we are rebuilding an 85 Honda CT70 together and we are having a lot of fun playing around with this. I really enjoy following some of the projects here and have learned a lot as well.
Hoping to some day purchase a good project truck and when I do I'm sure I will be asking a lot of questions.

 

Very nice job! I'll bet he's driven a hundred thousand miles on his knees.

 

Very nice truck!!
I'm glad you and your boy are having fun tinkering with stuff. An old Ford truck would be good next step.

Bobby

 

That's really the most important thing. If you don't know much about restoring old trucks get one and you'll learn. Best way to learn is "Hands on".

 

Go for it. When I started I didn't know much about anything. I'm still clueless on many things, but these trucks are pretty straightforward and the guys here have an amazing wealth of knowledge.

You need a shop manual, parts catalog, the courage to just dig in and go for it, and the humility to ask questions before you cost yourself a bunch of money unnecessarily. You also get more help if you post pictures.

Sweet truck! Looks like it was built Ford Tough.

Oh yeah....a plan is pretty important...well a truck to start with too. Go shopping.

 

My suggestion is to take the "jump"

I doesn´t matter if things goes wrong ones an a while, its´the way there that´s the fun part, learning and eventually realise, WOW I did actually do that, and you will be your sons greatest hero.

That´s a nice piece of truck.

I would really like to see you and your son build something similar (real deal)

GO FOR IT

 

Thanks guys for your words of encouragement, much appreciated. Back in 1983 my Dad bought a 1977 Datsun for me that was pretty much rusted out but over the winter we both worked on it. By spring it was ready for the road and I was never more excited. I'm sure looking back he was pretty happy and proud too! These memories of us working together are something I cherish and hope to have with my son too.

 

The best most valuable piece of advice I can give you is to buy the VERY BEST truck you can afford, concentrating on the body work, or actually the lack of body work. You are somewhat at a disadvantage because of your location, there isn't very much solid metal there.
Here's the bottom line: The total cost of a drivable DIY family project quality truck is going to cost at a minimum between12 and 18K, a stock restoration at the lower end a hot rodded one at the upper end, plus the premium costs of building in Canada. No matter the cost of the starting point :. A low priced rust bucket starter, is going to cost more in rebuilding parts and materials or a nearly completed project someone got tired of is going to cost more at the beginning, but less to finish. The difference is in the length of time from start to finish, the dedication, labor, and skill required. The basket case will typically take 5-10 years, the better one 6 months to 3 years to personalize and complete. The former will require a great deal of long term commitment, dedicated work space, sometimes frustrating issues, and likely re-dos as time changes needs and goals. You'll really need to like building more than driving. This is not going to be a one winter project, is your son going to stay interested as his life changes, or are you going to end up having to finish it yourself, or sell it incomplete at a loss (See finding a starter above). This is a much bigger project than rebuilding a motorcycle.
I would strongly recommend shopping for a starter in the SW US where the vehicles saw very little humidity and no salt. The average cost to ship a vehicle cross country is 1 - 1.5K a cost that will be instantly be repaid in unneeded rust repair, and working with solid metal is much more pleasant and allows you to concentrate your efforts into more straight forward mechanical work. Other members have shown ads for good solid complete starters from that area for 3 - 8K depending on if they are running or not. Just be sure whatever you buy includes a transferable title that matches the serial # stamped into the frame, and have it transfered to you before you invest any money or time into your project.

 

Could try looking in Western Canada for a project also, they don't use all the salt out there.

 

And no border hassles.