I was starting to think I was doing something wrong every month my classic truck mag comes and I see these awesome trucks and read how it only took them two years to build. I rescued my 54 from my grandfather in-laws barn ywo years ago only to move to my back yard and the only thing that has been accomplished is complete disassembly. It is very good to see since I found you guys and gals that I am much closer to reality than I thought. The info I have picked up in the last few days is great stuff and I have only gone though the first few pages of threads here and with the fe crew. Nice nowing I am not alone!!!!!

 

David

Welcome to the forum. I know what you mean. You will usually see some credits along with most of those perfect custom magazine trucks that are built that fast. Paint and body by this or that shop. Suspension by No Limit , yada.yada. I don't have the time and funding resources to put one together that fast. The chase is the fun part for me anyway. Farming out much of the project is out of the question even if I could afford it.

Where I failed was not having a clear plan. If you do your homework you won't chase your tail as much as I did. Waste a month repairing doors, then buying better doors and repairing them too. Over and over I did things like that. Chasing a perfect truck.

Assess your goal, skills, time and money resources honestly and you'll be less likely to get discouraged. Have you read John Niolon's "Lessons of a first time builder" article? I know I faced many of the same errors and incorrect decisions John did.

The most important lesson I have learned is to share my next planned modification with this forum. Often times the guys can warn you of some perils that await you. If five people tell you not to do something. Then re-evaluate the plan. Very little bad advice is dispensed here without being promptly corrected.

Share "The Plan" with us when you're ready.

 

The article you speak of is how I found this site. Iam a heavy equip.mechanic by trade so nothing in the welding/fabricating dept. is out of the question. I have to list all of you as helpers when my truck makes classic trucks about feb. of 2010!!!!!!!!

 

David,
The first thing I would determine is the status of the body work needed on your truck. I read the books etc. on how to do body work but it didn't work for me. Let's face it, for most of us I would guess that some training and experience is needed if you don't want that truck to look like crap. If you determine that you want the body to look better than what your capable of make sure you get a couple estimates on the body work if at all possible. It may be difficult to find a couple body shops that want to do something other than insurance work but it will be worth the effort. It also may be difficult to find a body shop that will give an estimate instead of just telling you their hourly rate but with some checking around it should be possible. I got an estimate from one place and an hourly rate from another and for some reason I went with the hourly rate guy and ended up paying over twice as much. If all of this is beyond your reach financially I think I would either take some tech school night classes or find a capable and patient buddy to show me the ropes. If you decide to have someone else do the body work, that is a good time to work on the engine, transmission and any other mechanicals you've taken off of the truck. I think you'll find that if you attack your project as hard as possible on evenings and weekends you'll be amazed how quickly you can get it done. When you go at it hard your not spending half of your time sorting out where you left off and how things go back together. I got a lot of information from the bonusbuilt.com website for my 1950 F-1. This internet thing is invaluable. Good luck

 

Welcome Dave. I just got my 53 out of the Paint shop the 8th. My build took just short of 4 years. Made a ton of first timer mistakes. Had a great time and am now rewarded ever time I step out in the garage and see the truck. I did it all myself (except paint and upholstry)with a little help from a couple of neighbors. I only want to add to what Fenders said take pictures of EVERYTHING. You'll be glad you did. I didn,t and sure wish I had.

What do you do when you're done?
Don

 

Welcome to FTE David. Ditto all the above. I too am a new member who is building a truck. Mine is a test project using this FTE forum as a general guildline for advice and ideas on each aspect. I have no $ budget , but believe I can do in 3 years working alone. You can follow along in my gallery as I add to it. Good luck to you and have loads of fun.

 

El Cabron, Great job with any luck at all I will be in the same ballpark by next spring

 

Hey,
Welcome, I'm kinda new around here also, I have been involved in building alot of projects over the years and a piece of advice to a first time builder, actually 2 pieces 1- If your married, don't use the grocery money women seem to take a strong dislike to your project after that. 2- Patience and careful thought, I'm going on 11 years and hope to have mine on the road early next year. The folks around here give good advice and wish I had found this site years ago would have probibly done a few things differentlyEnjoy the truck and the experience.

 

Dave,

I agree wholeheartedly with 'fenders about the chase being the fun part. Also, the fun of putting together the truck myself with as few aftermarket parts as possible is also my goal. I bought my 48 F-3 in August of 2002 and all I've done so far is install the Volare suspension, steering column, brake and gas pedals, master cylinder, and about half the wiring. It takes time. I try to make it a point to do something, regardless of how minor, on the truck every day. It eventually adds up. I enjoy the building aspect of the truck so much that I may never finish it!

 

and Fenders said.....The most important lesson I have learned is to share my next planned modification with this forum..guys can warn you of some perils that await you


fenders, fenders, fenders.....

have I taught you nothing...??? has my effort been for naught ???
I thought there might be hope for you, grasshopper, but no... I was wrong I am soooo disappointed

now pay attention.... (you too David)

Never... Never ask what to do before you try something... these guys will only confuse you with accurate data and facts... they will only cloud your impecable judgement... forge ahead with your plan ( bullheaded as you can be)... be stalwart in your conviction... don't be swayed by experience and knowledge. THEN... ( and only then).. when you've completed your task and realize it will never work ...will probably kill yourself and/or one or more of your loved ones and you were a danged fool for attempting it.. you are astonished (yes, as I was) that you have even more time to spend on your truck !!! with inadequate planning this project can last for years !!! trust me on this... I KNOW !!

yes fun times...using torches, plasma cutters, hammers and crowbars and making lots of smoke and noise... gives your wife more reasons to shake her head from side to side, keeps the neighbors in awe of your alchemic powers and keeps the AirGas people in business, not to mention a salvage yard guy or two on the payroll..

really... it's for the greater good


David... don't listen to them... run far and fast and repeat all the dumb mistakes... er learning experiences.. that I have... these guys will just lead you down the short road to success... when you can meander around lost in 'truck building nirvana" with me and ole Vern...

later

john (too cool to finish)

 

John,

Hmmm, "truck building nirvana"...I like the sound of that! I knew I was somewhere I like...just couldn't put my finger on it! Thanks for clearing that up...

Ole Vern

 

Amen I say, AMEN!

PS Welcome to Nirvana David

GW

 

thank you once again to all for the input. But I think Fenders has it right it's better to ask advise since the chances of any of us actually using it are slim and none. And we all know where slim went!!!! Besides if I took advise I would have bought a truck that was complete and just changed a few things to make it my own. I'm sure you have all heard that one atleast a couple of times...

 

Hey David, that was my plan. Buy it all done and just drive it. Ha Ha, the wife nixed that idea by not liking anything less than $25K!! And John N, if we now have an ole Vern, does that mean we have a young Vern to watch out for too?? John

 

that OLE Vern is strictly in the terms like Ole King Cole.... being more of a attitudinal adjective ( jolly, happy and loved by all) than a description of age "old". besides you're only as old (or ole) as you feel....

besides if I bad mouth Vern he might come down and kick the stuffing out of me..

j (too cool to have his stuffin' rearranged)