I need some insiration...
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
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I need some insiration...
I've run out of steem on my 78 4x4, along with funds, but its my dream truck.
I keep feeling like I've gotten in over my head, I've actually be seriously trading it for a 73-79 2wd swb or older.. Should I keep pushing through and finish or should I get one that needs a lot less work (money) and just gradually build it instead of doing a frame off?
I'm 18 and I've had 3 trucks that I bought fixed up a little and traded up to something nicer each time, now I have my 2000 and it needs nothing.. Now I don't know what to do with my 78???
Please help
I keep feeling like I've gotten in over my head, I've actually be seriously trading it for a 73-79 2wd swb or older.. Should I keep pushing through and finish or should I get one that needs a lot less work (money) and just gradually build it instead of doing a frame off?
I'm 18 and I've had 3 trucks that I bought fixed up a little and traded up to something nicer each time, now I have my 2000 and it needs nothing.. Now I don't know what to do with my 78???
Please help
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 9
From: Acworth, GA
I've run out of steem on my 78 4x4, along with funds, but its my dream truck.
I keep feeling like I've gotten in over my head, I've actually be seriously trading it for a 73-79 2wd swb or older.. Should I keep pushing through and finish or should I get one that needs a lot less work (money) and just gradually build it instead of doing a frame off?
I'm 18 and I've had 3 trucks that I bought fixed up a little and traded up to something nicer each time, now I have my 2000 and it needs nothing.. Now I don't know what to do with my 78???
Please help
I keep feeling like I've gotten in over my head, I've actually be seriously trading it for a 73-79 2wd swb or older.. Should I keep pushing through and finish or should I get one that needs a lot less work (money) and just gradually build it instead of doing a frame off?
I'm 18 and I've had 3 trucks that I bought fixed up a little and traded up to something nicer each time, now I have my 2000 and it needs nothing.. Now I don't know what to do with my 78???
Please help
My vote is to keep it as a spare and fix it up as funds and time are available. I would probably keep it as near to operable as possible, just in case you need a ride. Do all the mods that you want and can afford to do in your own time. Then when once it's completed you can do what you want with your newer truck. Maybe even trade it in on a new, sporty, gas sipping car.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 16
From: Ideeho
If its your dream truck, hang in there. If you dont need it for a DD which it sound like you have another ride................youll get there. Restoring and modifying any old vehicle can be frustrating at times. I know...........Ive been building a '72 Chevelle for over 10 years now. It is my wifes dream car. It is a frame off, nuts and bolts resto. It seems anymore that when I have the $$$, I dont have the time and visa versa. It also doesnt help that in the middle of doing the Chevelle, I found my dream truck. My 78 F150 4x4 short bed. Now the Chevelle has been derailed by my truck and the Cummins swap I'm doing to it. Pissed the wife off, but hey..............give me time, I'll get em both done. If I live that long........LOL My point is..............If its what you want, keep pecking away at it and you'll eventually get it. Youre a hell of a lot younger than me so..............you should live long enough!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 17
From: San Carlos, CA
A challenge is what you have.
You're only 18 so set this 78 rebuild project as a goal for yourself. Set a schedule of things to do along with a realistic budget. Ask for help from friends or family. Don't flake out on yourself, if you have a day planned to (Say replace brake lines) then wake up at Dawn and get started. Pace yourself and if you get over your head ask for help. FTE is a good resource and remember this is your project truck, your dream truck. Make it come true.
If you hang on to your 78 and be consistent with the project work you will eventually complete it and once you have done that you will have meet a goal and accomplishment to be proud of for the rest of your life.
Hey 78 PEP, 72 Chevelle eh? Sounds nice. My wife and I have been dreaming about restoring a 72 Chevelle. Good luck with it!
You're only 18 so set this 78 rebuild project as a goal for yourself. Set a schedule of things to do along with a realistic budget. Ask for help from friends or family. Don't flake out on yourself, if you have a day planned to (Say replace brake lines) then wake up at Dawn and get started. Pace yourself and if you get over your head ask for help. FTE is a good resource and remember this is your project truck, your dream truck. Make it come true.
If you hang on to your 78 and be consistent with the project work you will eventually complete it and once you have done that you will have meet a goal and accomplishment to be proud of for the rest of your life.
Ive been building a '72 Chevelle for over 10 years now. It is my wifes dream car.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,158
Likes: 5,786
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
The Ford gods hate a quitter! Henry never quit!
Not my first line of thinking!
Pick a easy/affordable task that you can do, if its mechanically to much, get some FTE help. You have signed up for your regional/state chapter haven't you?
I had sort of the same issue, with some FTE/state help I accomplished the task, meet some real nice folks and now have some good friends to work on trucks with or get a hand when needed.
If you sell is you will be sorry, especially if you trade if for a CAR jeesh.....reliable is the best first step, it has to start, idle, stop and steer.
Pick and easy task to do that will keep you focused. Also look at some pics of finished rigs to keep you going!
Pick a easy/affordable task that you can do, if its mechanically to much, get some FTE help. You have signed up for your regional/state chapter haven't you?
I had sort of the same issue, with some FTE/state help I accomplished the task, meet some real nice folks and now have some good friends to work on trucks with or get a hand when needed.
If you sell is you will be sorry, especially if you trade if for a CAR jeesh.....reliable is the best first step, it has to start, idle, stop and steer.
Pick and easy task to do that will keep you focused. Also look at some pics of finished rigs to keep you going!
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Posting Guru
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My vote is to keep it as a spare and fix it up as funds and time are available. I would probably keep it as near to operable as possible, just in case you need a ride. Do all the mods that you want and can afford to do in your own time. Then when once it's completed you can do what you want with your newer truck. Maybe even trade it in on a new, sporty, gas sipping car.
If its your dream truck, hang in there. If you dont need it for a DD which it sound like you have another ride................youll get there. Restoring and modifying any old vehicle can be frustrating at times. I know...........Ive been building a '72 Chevelle for over 10 years now. It is my wifes dream car. It is a frame off, nuts and bolts resto. It seems anymore that when I have the $$$, I dont have the time and visa versa. It also doesnt help that in the middle of doing the Chevelle, I found my dream truck. My 78 F150 4x4 short bed. Now the Chevelle has been derailed by my truck and the Cummins swap I'm doing to it. Pissed the wife off, but hey..............give me time, I'll get em both done. If I live that long........LOL My point is..............If its what you want, keep pecking away at it and you'll eventually get it. Youre a hell of a lot younger than me so..............you should live long enough!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not my first line of thinking!
Pick a easy/affordable task that you can do, if its mechanically to much, get some FTE help. You have signed up for your regional/state chapter haven't you?
I had sort of the same issue, with some FTE/state help I accomplished the task, meet some real nice folks and now have some good friends to work on trucks with or get a hand when needed.
If you sell is you will be sorry, especially if you trade if for a CAR jeesh.....reliable is the best first step, it has to start, idle, stop and steer.
Pick and easy task to do that will keep you focused. Also look at some pics of finished rigs to keep you going!
Pick a easy/affordable task that you can do, if its mechanically to much, get some FTE help. You have signed up for your regional/state chapter haven't you?
I had sort of the same issue, with some FTE/state help I accomplished the task, meet some real nice folks and now have some good friends to work on trucks with or get a hand when needed.
If you sell is you will be sorry, especially if you trade if for a CAR jeesh.....reliable is the best first step, it has to start, idle, stop and steer.
Pick and easy task to do that will keep you focused. Also look at some pics of finished rigs to keep you going!
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 9
From: Acworth, GA
Not my first line of thinking!
Pick a easy/affordable task that you can do, if its mechanically to much, get some FTE help. You have signed up for your regional/state chapter haven't you?
I had sort of the same issue, with some FTE/state help I accomplished the task, meet some real nice folks and now have some good friends to work on trucks with or get a hand when needed.
If you sell is you will be sorry, especially if you trade if for a CAR jeesh.....reliable is the best first step, it has to start, idle, stop and steer.
Pick and easy task to do that will keep you focused. Also look at some pics of finished rigs to keep you going!
Pick a easy/affordable task that you can do, if its mechanically to much, get some FTE help. You have signed up for your regional/state chapter haven't you?
I had sort of the same issue, with some FTE/state help I accomplished the task, meet some real nice folks and now have some good friends to work on trucks with or get a hand when needed.
If you sell is you will be sorry, especially if you trade if for a CAR jeesh.....reliable is the best first step, it has to start, idle, stop and steer.
Pick and easy task to do that will keep you focused. Also look at some pics of finished rigs to keep you going!
What I meant was that once he had his older truck all fixed up the way he wants it, then he could sell his newer one for something that gets good gas mileage to be his DD or transportation to work and back. That way he could keep the mileage down on his "Baby". I have a '95 Saturn SL that I use to drive back and forth to work, my mileage is between 28 - 38 mpg with the Saturn. My truck mpg is 14 - 19, which I only drive when I need to or want to. I also own an '05 Mazda 6, which my wife drives. All of my vehicles were purchased new and are paid off, and well maintained. I tend to keep my vehicles till they are wrecked beyond repair, or just aren't worth repairing anymore. So I get more than my money's worth out of all my vehicles. I meant nothing bad by what I said.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,501
Likes: 4
From: Lynchburg, VA
The biggest problem Ive had with projects is working hard for 2 weeks straight and then when I take a few days off, I have trouble getting myself started again. I recently finished restoring a 1962 Plymouth. Its 200 miles away so the time I could work on it was limited. A weekend here, a weekend there and its finished in 6 months. Pacing yourself seems to be the best way to keep the steam going and can help the funds last a little longer. In the end, you will actually finish sooner.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
If it truely is your "dream truck", you shouldn't need to be inspired to continue. Sure, it gets frustrating when time and/or funds don't allow you get much done.
Just go at it with "Eating an Elephant" approach. 1 bite at a time, and eventually, you'll get to the last bite.
Just go at it with "Eating an Elephant" approach. 1 bite at a time, and eventually, you'll get to the last bite.
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Posting Guru
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I've made the decision to keep it.
Now on to some stepping back and thinking before I bite any more off.
1- with floors, cab corners, and drip rails almost completely gone, is it worth it to swap cabs? I'm an amateur at sheet metal work and body work. Plus this was an A/C truck, but I don't plan on putting A/C back in it.
2- it had a 400M in it, I like the sound of a 460 swap or a 351W? Suggestions?
Thanks guys ya'll have been a lot of help so far, I was prepared to pull the plug on it and get the 74 SWB I looked at a million times.
Now on to some stepping back and thinking before I bite any more off.
1- with floors, cab corners, and drip rails almost completely gone, is it worth it to swap cabs? I'm an amateur at sheet metal work and body work. Plus this was an A/C truck, but I don't plan on putting A/C back in it.
2- it had a 400M in it, I like the sound of a 460 swap or a 351W? Suggestions?
Thanks guys ya'll have been a lot of help so far, I was prepared to pull the plug on it and get the 74 SWB I looked at a million times.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
If you can locate a solid cab, swapping might be the best way to go.
The 400 (no "M") was a bit of a dog in factory trim (thank you, EPA) but can be built to make good power and torque with a few simple steps. Swapping to a 460 would require extra effort to deal with the motor mount towers and engine accesory brackets. A 351W will also require this, along with a different transmission.
The 400 (no "M") was a bit of a dog in factory trim (thank you, EPA) but can be built to make good power and torque with a few simple steps. Swapping to a 460 would require extra effort to deal with the motor mount towers and engine accesory brackets. A 351W will also require this, along with a different transmission.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
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If you can locate a solid cab, swapping might be the best way to go.
The 400 (no "M") was a bit of a dog in factory trim (thank you, EPA) but can be built to make good power and torque with a few simple steps. Swapping to a 460 would require extra effort to deal with the motor mount towers and engine accesory brackets. A 351W will also require this, along with a different transmission.
The 400 (no "M") was a bit of a dog in factory trim (thank you, EPA) but can be built to make good power and torque with a few simple steps. Swapping to a 460 would require extra effort to deal with the motor mount towers and engine accesory brackets. A 351W will also require this, along with a different transmission.
I also have a NP435 trans along with the 400 bell housing and a small block housing
