I just want to do a basic build! Or, It will be a pretty basic build. Or, Nothing to crazy I promise!



These seem to be the most famous last words for anyone before starting a project.


I know my project has morphed into more of a full resto-mod than my original intentions ever envisioned. So come on FTE how many of us have started off with basic intentions and had our projects explode in scale with one idea after the other? Chime in with your experiences maybe we can all get a chuckle out of each others pain/insanity.

 

That's how mine was. Started out as just wanting something that would be a good off-roader that ran good and I was fine with being ugly. Shortly after, I started fixing more and more stuff, then it went into a resto. These projects always snowball.

 

X2. I've owned the Pumpkin for over 30 years. I wanted a "nice" weekend driver, that's all. 7 years and over $35K later I still can't drive it, not even close!
Hopefully the money hemorrhage is over....crap! still have paint and body work, oh well.
Oh, and I blame it all on FTE .

 

I had no intentions at all, basic or otherwise and I've spent more than I thought I would. I bought a Miller MIG welder ($1100 I think) to put in new floorpans and that is done now but I still have a new windshield to install and a windshield-washer reservoir & pump to install. A few other small things will do it.


Gotta love the disease


Dennis

 

When I hear of famous last words I think of ..."Oh yeah, watch this yall!"

LOL.

_________

Seriously, the way to avoid a project spiraling out of control (Mike!) is by having a clear vision of what the truck is going to be, a somewhat detailed build plan, a preliminary and realistic budget (with a 20 percent allowance), and identified milestones (and celebrations/rewards) in order to stay motivated.

No one wants a project to languish for years and years (Mike!)... I think it is emotionally draining and since it is not "done", will not have any sense of urgency to be done... ever.

And that's my nickel...

 

Sure honey, I'll have it done in 6 months and a couple thousand dollars tops

 

I did have all that...... then dad had to pop off and say some snide remark about his 2000 super duty doing everything better no matter what I do to my 74, and that's when my basic cummins swap and paint and body work turned into 6-700 hp worth of said cummins and a 6 speed and custom goose neck hitch set up and custom headlights.


I still have a plan but it's gone from basic to destroy the super duty lol

 

Was that couple thousand for the paint or for the engine goddies? lol

 

So you bowed to peer pressure... your dad's social control? That's indicative of a lack of independence.

I wouldda told dad to kiss my azz - respectfully... in fact I have told my dad on multiple occasions.. He touts his Tesla and I have no interst whatsoever in it...He has asked to drive my Ferrari 360 Spider. Hahaha.... NOT!

 

Not bowing to peer pressure at all, more along the lines of my family talks trash to each other constantly and I see this as an opportunity to quell the bashing of my 74 just because its "Old". As for him controlling me nope, he couldn't control me when I was 15 and he certainly doesn't control me at 23.


Also in reference to telling him to kiss my azz I did, and I have done so numerous times. He beats his chest about his 2000 Powerstroke and my changing my build plan is more on par with with a (somewhat) logical evolution of an idea than bowing to peer pressure. Beyond all that a basic Cummins swap into a dent side has been done over and over, and 700 hp sounds a damn sight better than 180-210 with a factory set up Cummins.



To me changing plans early on in my project is more reasonable than if I had come near to completion and then changed plans. This is more along the lines of taking the high road instead of the low than it is a change of direction as most of my plans are still valid: It's still going to be a Cummins, I still have wiring and body work to do, it's still going to be painted ruby red with a tinted clear coat, and I'm still going to enjoy the therapy of working on it. Really the biggest change is to my engine budget (that's the part of my project that is in danger of spiraling out of hand) instead of 4-5000 it's now 12-14000.
Edit: Also who here wouldn't love video of a dent whooping up on a Super Duky?


Rebuttal finished, now back to the fun!

 

X2 on that Mike.. over kill on most stuff mechanical and still have to do the same as you. lol

 

Actually, I did start with a detailed plan. It started back in the early 90's with me buying parts from Ford while they were still available.
Originally this was going to be a retirement project and I was going to take my time.
While I would like to be done with it and enjoying it, the fact that it's now two years past my original five year plan doesn't bother me. I'm still not retired and my work schedule is the main reason for the long delays in my project, I tend to be out of state for months at a time for work.
The cost overrun? Well, I figured while I was there, I might as well... .

 

I was just going to replace floor pans on my 76 Bronco one winter. As more and more panels were somewhat soft I went all out crazy and $12-15k worth of parts and 7 years of off and on working on it, I had a complete frame off restoration that will only see sunny days now.

 

It's never just one thing is it?

 

"Hm.... Well, so long as I have the ________ removed, might as well go ahead and inspect the __________ and replace the _____, it won't take any longer."