Well said Comet! Maybe thats what I was trying to say

 

Obviously, to each his own... me, I've spent the last 2 years trying to undo all the half-azzed "custom" stuff someone had done and trying to get it back to OEM condition. Like I say, to each his own.


Ok, big group hug...

 

as far as what to do and what not to do.....
if you find a short wide crew cab you BETTER NOT HACK IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

as far as te rest.... I find so many long wide, not so many short narrow, even fewer long narrow, and a short wide is like a unichorn around here. I would hack up any of the long wides, or long narrow, but if I found any of the others, a resto would be in order, or possibly a resto mod retaining the original un molesterd frame and box.

recently I saw a guy using his 70 crew cab as a work truck. I can't blame him for it, as that is what trucks are made for, but it was a beautiful mostly original 4X4 short wide and it about made me cry to see it loaded down with garbage and a trailer filled with construction equipment.

 

What does long narrow, long wide, short narrow, and short wide mean?

 

I was worried - but it looks like I didn't offend anyone since mine isn't one of them rariefied ones. It's kind of funny because at the Supernats 2003 - out of dozens of 67-72, there were only 2 long beds, and so many Rangers & Custom Cabs you couldn't tell one from another.
I think the greater challenge - is creating what YOU want. Anyone with the ability to make payments can buy a new truck. It's probably harder to do a true 100% restoration than blending old with new- but it's the blending that's so much fun, and IMO makes the hobby so Kool. I'd be bored to death at a show of nothing but stock 67-72's.
Except for the 20's, EFI (which may come someday), door handles (which I should have shaved), and XM radio (hey it's got a CD and boom box bass, and I have enough payments for stuff), you pretty much described my truck (which I've owned since 1989, and drove as a stock truck for 12 years before re-doing). As to one piece windows - I also want them, and posted a thread a long time ago when I visited FTE more often (found another site just for us-and bought an old boat to work on-so less time for forums). One of the Truck mags did an article on putting them in a '66, it seems hardest part is getting rid of vent window supports and making weather seals, I talked to a shop that said it wouldn't be a big deal, but haven't done it yet, it's on list for my interior re-do (which has to wait while I build up my mad money fund-but I did get Tilt column and new steering wheel recently-oops another modern feature in an old truck!).
Later

 

Cacwby, Odie said it right, To each his own. The real challenge is when someone does all of that work themselves instead of taking it to shops and having it done.

I'm not totally against restomod trucks!!! Just certain things. I was on a rant that day.

 

Well said. It would be an incredible challenge to do everything yourself, especially if you didn't work in the industry.
You ever notice how many Magazine trucks & rods are owned by someone who just happens to own a body shop?
IMO A total frame off re-do would take most people at least 5-6 years, IF they had all the equipment and space and a willing lifestyle (no soccer games or honey do lists. A Question. If everyone does it themself - who is going to support the (shrinking) handful of shops that refuse to do Insurance Work? Maybe I'm a little thin skinned about this subject since I did choose to pay for a lot of the work (but it's my design and my ideas), since I didn't have the space and a lot of the expertise needed, and so it would be finished in a little over a year. It's a question many ask at shows (mostly they just want to know how much you spent, which translates as "How much Money do you make?". For the record - I work my @#$ off as salesman and I EARNED every one of the "way to many dollars" that went into my obsession. I don't drink, smoke or gamble and I take very good care of my family. And they enjoy my truck almost as much as I do, and I doubt they would have if it had been a project vehicle for 6 years of missed opportunities to be with them because I was in the shop working on that old truck. Thats my rant and I'm stickin' to it!

 

Cacwby, you sound like an exception to the stereotype. VERY good example: "For the record - I work my @#$ off as salesman and I EARNED every one of the 'way to many dollars' that went into my obsession. I don't drink, smoke or gamble and I take very good care of my family. And they enjoy my truck almost as much as I do, and I doubt they would have if it had been a project vehicle for 6 years of missed opportunities to be with them because I was in the shop working on that old truck."

I spent way to much time on my truck and had many fights with my girlfriend over it.... doing all that stuff myself, but I didn't have the money to have it all done by a shop. A lesson I learned torwards the end after so many fights, tears, bloodly fingers, and long nights.

 

I have many fond memories of helping my dad restore Model A's - it is a great way to grow up, and I learned what skill I have from him. I must admit that I have not done a frame-off restoration since then, but then I am still driving a 1972 F250 I bought new. I have fixed almost everything on it at one time or another, except the paint. Paint is still original.

The one thing I remember the most about my dad - we were under my mother's Buick, tracing a fluid leak. I questioned if it was wise to open up the trans as we knew nothing about it. His answer "It is just a machine!"

We, of course, screwed it up and it never shifted right afterwards - but I still remember his statement. I tell kids now, "If a man made it, I can repair it!"

I also have never owned a GM vehicle after that, and if someone brings one around I will not work on it - guy has to have some standards.

 

hey guys , the retrospect is cool and all but im still waitin to hear somebody say they did the one piece glass and how it was done.