I guess the best thing to do is start with a complete unmolested truck with no rust. Since that is the truck I bought with no major body repairs or motor/tranny rebuilds I will have gotten my truck fully done at just about $6250. If you can paint then buying high end paint, like PPG, is easy to deal with. If I didn't paint it, which wasn't bad except wrong color, I would be closer to $5250.

 

Not counting the original cost of the truck, I am $4k poorer. The above expenditure has purely been spent on making it driveable.

I simply do not have access to the required funds to make it what I would like... and so it became project: 'make f100 run' instead of 'make f100 shine'. I do, however, enjoy the end results of those who have the time and money!

As ND mentioned, I was one of those who underestimated the cost and rather than make the project spasmodic as the funds trickled in, I decided to lower my ambitions altogether. I would rather use it now in half-decent shape than wait several years to do everything I originally wanted.

There might be a front end of a bus out there with my name on it, right?

 

I know all about building a truck with no money. That is why it took 15 plus years to finish my 52 F-1. I did everything myself.....I even built my own wheels!
But it STILL cost a bunch of money. This is an expensive hobby (sickness)........

 

Ok, built your own wheels, this has to be worth listening to. Pleasel tell..

 

Ok, you need two wheels for front, and two wheels for back? The front is done, me thinks.

 

those must be the ones that go on the left side of a 16 wheeler.

 

I have no idea what Ive put in mine, Id rather not know.

I dont think discussing how much cash we've had to put in to our hobby is worth anyone getting bent out of shape for, that would be the best way for anyone with any intelligence doing research to look at what any individual person has put in to their truck and get an idea of what one can and cant afford to do at any given time.
I can simply look at an estimate from one person, look at the pics of the type of work they are doing and read their thread, then say to myself; "self, I cant afford to do all that, now I know about what that cost and Ill just work on this for now" or maybe realize that ill have to learn to do the labor myself if it costs this much to pay someone to do that.

Anyway, back on subject. I took my truck to a guy (whom appeared to know what he was doing and certainly had the equipment to do it) to get a rough estimate on a resto mod that my wife and kid could just jump in it and go. He basically told me that it would cost me the same as buying a new truck. Hence why my truck is sitting in my garage and Ive been doing bits at a time learning as I go myself.

 

I personally have a lot of time and money in my truck. I've been working on it for nine years. It has always been a driver. The first year I owned it I used it to re-do my house. From hauling lumber, block, sand anything and everything including the kitchen sink.
I was finally done with my projects and started driving my truck to work. One day when coming home one of my front breaks locked up. (I had drums all the way around.) this sent me spinning, coming to a stop facing on-coming traffic. At that point the build started.
Now having an old truck means putting work into it, making it safe is a priority. I also had a plan on how I wanted it to look when done. This being my second truck build, I knew what I was getting into.
As for not having a monthly car/truck payment, my monthly payment comes out to $240.00 That's doing a break down on overall cost so far. (You do the math)
It's my truck and I don't have plans on parting with it. I didn't build it to be stock, I did it for me. I could care less which way the window cranks were facing when it rolled off the line. (True question asked here on FTE, I about died when I read that.)
Hopefully I will complete my truck next year, but if not, I'll keep hustling until I have the funds to do so.
If your going to build a truck and have the funds to have it done, great. If you don't have the funds then keep it a driver and do what you can, when you can.
Do not get discouraged when you have to keep doing things to insure safe drivability.
"Safety first."

 

First make it work; then make it look good. Doesn't matter whether you are cashing in a coin jar from time to time or unrolling a bank roll the sequence is the same. I do my work on a gravel driveway and do it slowly as the change jar fills. I leave the rust holes until I know it is safe. Rattle cans and a messy flux core welder lay the foundation for a distant but inevitable conclusion. One truck is 1/2 done and the other is 2/3 done so all and all we have over one truck.

 

The first most asked question in response to "What should I do to my truck?" is "What are you using the truck for?". Robert is the perfect example of how lives and plans change with respect to your truck. There are 5 slicks within 2 square miles of my house, so at least in my neighborhood they are not rare. Most of us enthusiasts seem to get involved with these trucks, because we think they are cool. Personally, my truck will never be a showpiece. It is a reflection of myself: somewhat messy, smells funky and gets the job done. The best part is that we all have our own interpretation.

Kurt

 

Hmmmm, maybe I should have said I modified my wheels?
The fronts are the stock wheels, I just removed the centers and "reversed" them. This changes the offset giving them a deeper dish. Old hot rodders trick.
The rears use the stock centers and 8" wide hoops from some old mags so I can run wider tires on stock appearing wheels. Piece of cake.

 

6A-1130-A .. "Innie" Hubcap ~ Reproduced

Original applications: Late 1947 & 1948 Ford Passenger Cars / 1948/52 F1.

 

Tinman..... Interesting, nice job on the wheels, greal looking paint or powder coat.

 

Well, I read this post, from top to bottom and own a 62 F100 Stepside. I bought the truck when I was 56 years of age, a year ago. Will it ever be in showroom condition, NO! But I get a lot of compliments on it and am living my dream of owning a nice old truck that I drive to cruise ins. I do all the work myself. Yes, I have even rebuilt the engine, myself. I love this site, and Numbers Dummy and Bill, make this site a big help in making my dream come true. They have helped me with part numbers and locating parts. Once I went to Carpenters, and they told me they didn't have the part. I told them about Numbers Dummy and this site and sure enough, they were able to find the part nobody else seem to have. It helps living close to a place that sells restorations parts. Once again, thanks to Numbers Dummy and Bill, a restorer's best friends.

 

Im still plugging away on mine, and have a plan. But even I thought, bah a couple of years, and Ill be done. Wife and kids have a way of changing that, heh. I was about right on the money part though. Ill be around 15K and mine started as a "rolling pile of misery"