Today I mailed nearly $1,500.00 in parts to three different companies to make my truck beautiful. OHMYGAAAAAAAAWD!!!!!!!!!! What have I done?!? What was I thinking?!? Please help me someone!!! Somebody please tell me it's ok, please, please, please!!!

 

Daddy,
When you get to working on these old trucks and realy fixing up on them, 1500 is a drop in the bucket. My truck was originally a 240 with a 3 speed and no options.
It now has a complete new front end, 460, c6, a/c, cruise control, tilt steering, locking rear axle, plus much much more....so you can just imagine what I have spent. As for me...I try not to even think of what I've spent.
Doc

 

I've got to agree with docholiday72tx, I'm in the process of a complete makeover for my 63 unibody. When I'm done, body-wise, it will appear stock, except for the shaved bed rail holes and the welded up seams. Otherwise, it's a 521" with a C6, detroit locker, fatman front sub, 67 Mustang tilt steering column, behind the axle gas tank, etc...Who knows where it will end.

 

I've had my 62 so long it's gone from farm truck with a 223, to a cross country RV hauler with a 390 chasing contract work, to grocerry getter. Thought I would put it on a Crown Vic chassis, but along the way, I had picked up a 64, that has been out in the pasture for ten years waiting on me to do something. Since the 62 has been a fine ol truck, the 64 is getting the Crown Vic mod.

 

Yeah, I maxed out two credit cards (and a lot more) making a '54 bowtie hot rod a few years back, and even lost sleep on that until I started to drive and have have fun with it. Just didn't have mortgage payments, and all the other homeowner bills in those days . I just figured I'd better get a fire under my butt before I forget how to put the dissembled truck back together. 'Course it still has a ways to go before that, but this is motivating me more, especially when all those boxes start rolling in! Helps also that most of my house projects are nearly finished.

 

Daddywags & Mike,

I have had my same 66 since 73. I don't keep track of cash or time I put in it. Way I see it, the "mistake" is the "keepin' track" part & not so much what actually gets put in there as an investment of my time and cash.

I have friends & acquaintances that spend the same kinds of outlay hunting, fishing, and doing other activities like boating, flying, riding around in Motor Homes & so forth. I also know of people gambling, drinking, Carousing around and wasting more time & money, on what I feel is bad things, than we spend.

At least we've got something to show for what we spent. We can continue to enjoy & occupy ourselves at home with our investment. I'm not so concerned about what I invest in it, as long as I improve it thru my investments. I've friends who like to "sport boat". Now that seems like a big black hole for money to me. Plus they're never home weekends, holidays or days off. Who needs that all the time?

Having said that, every few years I get a new appraisal from a licensed and certified Automotive Appraiser just in case something happens where I must prove the worth of my " '66 Slickthing" to an insurance company, court, or lawyer ya know? . . .

My insurance carrier likes that too. They insure whatever I'm willing to pay for along with a document of stated worth plus 2 photos [3/4 front & 3/4 opposite side rear].
So unlike many other expensive pastimes, I [or my survivors] can recover some, most, or all of my outlay should something go terribly wrong. Nobody can recover what they spend on Golf, Hunting & fishing trips, travelling or. . . well you get the idea, I'm sure.

So I am going to say; "No Absolutely NOT. You are not doing the wrong thing unlless in the end you waste or throw away your investment."

AHhhh if I didn't think & say all this stuff above, I'd probably be feeling like you did when you asked your question,. . .
doncha see?

FBp

 

I have had my '66 since '81. I kept track until I was building the 428 about 10 years ago. At that point my wife while I was complaining about all the money said "Stop worrying about it, you will always have this truck!!!" So I don't keep track of the $$$, just hang on to receipts for warranty purposes.

FBp-I never received any e-mails from you?

 

My wife is pretty understanding about my "truck thing". Occasionally, she says we got a bill that needs paid before I can get something else for my truck, but usually she's happy that I'm out back working on them, rather than off somewhere doing who know's what.

I don't have a clue as to how much I've spent on trucks, but I do know I dropped over $10,000 in a beer joint in less than a year. That's when it occured to me that I needed a different hobby!

 

Mike....I'm in the exact same boat as you....only I wasn't satisified with dropping 10000
in a bar....nope.....I had to spend about 6000 more on a DWI. My wife is much happier with the truck habit than the drinking thing. I also end up in the same boat as far as some times having to wait on a part if a bill comes up....but I always get the parts I want eventualy.
On a side note, The first couple of months or so I quit drinking, I put my "drinking" money in a band aid can. I looked around and had a big chunk of change in a short time....I took my band aid can to sears and ended up bringing home a tool box as tall as I am..5'11", one of their 346 piece sets, then several smaller sets of things like the brake set and stuff like that. Are old trucks a waste???? Maybe so...but consider other alternatives.
Doc

 

Didn't think to put the money back like that, but it's been a bunch of years, so guess it's too late.

Just went out to the pasture to check, got 4 flats! Guess my day is gonna be full, got to take the wheels from the 62 to drag the 64 to the house..lol.

 

Hey Pete....Just sitting here thinking about the different hobbies a guy could partake in, I'm thinking old trucks are probably some of the most productive, and I realy don't believe they are any more expensive.
If you take a fellow that has a hobby of simply watching TV....I've seen some guys go out and spend 3000+ on a TV, then another 1000+ on stuff like VCR's and DVD players, and surround sound and all that....Then they have either a monthly cable or direct tv bill. You'd be amazed at how far that kind of money will go on an old truck or car if you shop carefully. I don't even want to start on how much I've seen guys spending on hunting, fishing, and sports.
Doc

 

I don't consider my 66 a mistake, nor do I consider it an investment of any kind. I just consider it fun for the sake of fun. Based on my criteria, you made a good choice of how to spend your money. Thanks, Lyman.

 

I figure I could spend $5-600 a month in new truck payments, or drop $2-300 a month into something I enjoy doing.

I'm not going to complain about what I'm dumping in this old truck.

 

I've been driving my 63 Unibody every day for 26 years. Paid $50 for it in `79.
I figure I owe it.

 

I just built a pole barn worth around 30,000 (when complete) just to store my old truck and of course to work on her (sure beats working outside). One can never spend too much on these old trucks, you can make a ton of money , but you can't take it with you when your gone. I just wish my wife would get out and work so I can have more money to spend on my trucks.