I would like some opinions on restoring my 1965 or doing a restore-mod.

 

What do you want to own?? Build to suit your own purpose and desire...no one else’s.

 

I agree, you need to build what you want, not what other people want. I did a CV conversion on mine as it what's I wanted. I like and appreciate a restore truck but that was not for me on this one.

The plus with our trucks is there is a lot of after market products available to go in any direction you want.

Good luck, Pat

 

Yeah not really sure what the OP wants us to say. Build the truck you want. Restored trucks are awesome. Restomods are awesome. Unrestored beaters are awesome. Just drive it.

 

What are the details of your '65? Long bed? Short bed? 352 series engine? Custom Cab? 4wd?

 

My opinion is restore it. These are not built anymore and never will be. There are less restored original vehicles out there what with the amount of old vehicles being cut up so someone can have a vehicle that functions like what you can buy off a dealers lot today. This is just my opinion but I can tell you for me I take fast looks at cars that are modified and spend time looking at originals or close to original cars at shows.

 

I'll add to this that you can spend as much as you want no matter what you do.

 

Since you asked for opinions, I would say restore it.

 

Restore it! Or if you want to mod it, drop a 7.3 in that bad boy!

 

Resto mod as its cheaper.

 

Restore the body, mod the heck out of the drivetrain.

 

The only one that knows what to do is you and don't let anyone tell you how to build it.
IT IS YOURS BUILD IT YOUR WAY!
I would think building back to factory stock would be a little more money than the restomod but then it depends on how crazy the mod is.

Also who will be doing most of the work you or a shop?
What are you starting with also will point you in the direction you may want to go.
How far do you want to take this project?
Cab off frame or just a little body work and paint?

I like to see what others are doing and why I am here.
My project is an 81 F100 flare side I am doing a cab off frame rebuild.
Note I said rebuild and not restore, It will look factory stock right down to the 2 tone factory colors but I have added some custom touches.
I had a 81 long bed style side parts truck and used the best parts from either and if the part was bad it got replaced.
Brake system is all new, still need to replace the master & booster, new clutch assy., all new suspension bushings & kingpins to list some things.

I replaced the floors, rockers, cab corners, rear part of the door post, and the inner & outer left door.
Swap firewalls so I could have factory AC in the truck.
I used the style side bed floor to replace the wood bed floor my truck did not have, it looks factory stock.
I added duel tanks not offered but again looks factory stock right down to the dash switch.
The last is I added fog / driving lights IN the front bumper to look factory stock.

BTW I am doing all the work myself from welding the patch panels, bed, front & rear bumper mods. All body work and painting is by me.
There is no way I could pay someone to do this work on an $800 truck I bought to do weekly trash runs.

So you can see you can get crazy even on a rebuild but I am building it MY WAY!
Good luck on your project and keep us posted what you do.
Dave ----