very nice work man. At 16, i went crazy with the cars i got to drive too, and although i hated not having a car, i can see now why my parents didnt just hand one over to me right when i got my license. I didnt get my first car (a 5.0 mustang) til i was 18 and a half, which was during my senior year of high school. My friends always gave me crap that i didnt drive like a bat out of hell with my bigass V8, but i didnt care. I took my 20-22 mpg i got driving conservatively because i had to pay for my gas. I just recently bought my 1983 F250 with my own money, and i pay for just about everything. I bought the truck, i pay the gas, the insurance, the maintenance. My parents will occassionally "help" with some of the bills but i know it was my choice to go for 2 cars and not theirs. Its an entirely different feeling, driving someone elses car versus driving your own. Revs stay down, tires stay intact, clutches dont burn, and youll stop for gas less frequently. Driving someone elses car? HEY MAN REV THAT THING UP. SHOW OFF. YAAA. Trust me, most 16 year olds will lie about what theyve done. I commend you on a job well done and i in no way meant offense to your parenting skills. My advice, as a 20 year old college student working hard to get what he wants on his own steam to just try and instill a bit of ownership in your son. Im pretty sure that after maybe, what, a couple of months driving? The novelty of it hasnt worn off yet. He's still out there bombin around town havin a great time, which is what its all about, nothing wrong there. I just dont wanna see all your hard work, blood, sweat, and tears making a great truck and a great father-son project go to waste because of some immature mistake. Im pretty sure thats how everyone else feels too.

good work and good luck!

 

I appreciate all of the feedback. I don't mind if he does a little wheeling in it, that's kind of why we built it. He loves to go fishing with his buddies, and I'm confident that this vehicle will get him to most of his "Honey Holes", and back home safely. What I do expect, is that he clean it afterwards. Usually he parks it full of mud, and only washes it when I scream at him a couple of days later. He does pays for his own insurance and gas, I just figured if someone had given me a truck of this caliber when I was 17, I would like to think that I would cherish it. I try to lead by example, I have a 74 F250 (see my Gallery) that I restored/modified myself. I do all my own work, from building the motors, to paint and body work. I cherish that 74 more than my 2003 Super Duty. I took it from a piece of junk to what it is today, so his lack of respect for vehilcles was not learned at home.

 

It was probably learned from his friends. Amongst my friends who drive, the great majority don't know the slightest bit about their cars nor do they take care of them.

Examples: '99 F-150 V6...run out of oil. '01 Lightning, wrecked doing 120 on the highway. Countless early 90s Hondas and Toyotas driven to hell.

ONE of my friends has blown the engines in two Honda Civics and one Chrysler Sebring, in all three he never ONCE checked or changed the oil. He's on an accord now...it's smoking badly, maybe a month left in it.

 

yep. modern day americans are a bunch of retards. They dont want to deal with one simple thing. Automatic trannies because we want to learn how to operate a clutch. Fuel injection because we dont want to step on the gas to start. bla bla bla

i hate my generation.

 

thats one awesome looking truck. im almost 17 and ive never had a truck that nice, and well im actually glad for that. i have a lead foot and tend to do alot of stupid things and i would hate to tear up something that nice.
ya'll did an awesome job on the truck tho. i really like it.

 

I hate the part of my generation who is too damn lazy to get off their collective rear and do anything productive. Those who enjoy doing things themselves I respect.

That is why my favorite vehicle will always be a truck with a carbed big block with a stick shift.

 

right on man. I hear ya. Im actually a little scared by them. Seems that everyone is willing to trade in their freedom of choice for convenience. I fear that one day cars wont even come with pedals or a steering wheel. I fear that one day someone will come knocking on my door telling me my truck or my car is unfit for the road. I fear that one day someone will come knocking on my door telling me im unfit for driving at all.

But maybe im just paranoid.

 

.....................

 

if your son would like something to beat around in i"ll trade my 86 for that one .....no kidding ,he wouldn't even have to twist my arm ..i promise .....BTW sweet ride

 

I have to be honest, the amount of people that have responded with how much they demolished vehicles show a clear lack of respect for other peoples possessions and their own... Sorry, you can yell at me but it's there in black and white for all to see.

I suppose I'm different from the rest but I never treated ANY vehicles like that, even rentals. It's called respect and common decency.

In my first truck I may have revved the engine once or twice and I remember spinning the tires on purpose only one time after replacing the 300 with a 351. I take pride in my vehicles as an extension of myself.

If you have concerns about how he treats the vehicle then why on earth would you have given it to him?

If he can't take care of it correctly, which is how you make it sound, then take it away.

Wow, I sound like my dad... but I guess he's the one who taught me the right way.

 

And yes, that truck is BEAUTIFUL! I would have been proud to help build it and I would have cleaned it every single day, dirty or not.

I certainly would have used it to the extent of it's obviously planned potential, but I wouldn't do stupid stuff because, well, it's just stupid.

Sheesh, I still sound like my dad.

 

At 16? Yes you would, yes we all would Anybody that was ever 16 would do the same. Pretty heady stuff having a ride like that. I've had my 86 150 4x4 in places that I won't admit to anybody - and I was in my 40's at the time.

I'd guess he's just a normal young man and most of his blood is not rushing to his brain most of the time. However, if you need an object lesson for him, go to my gallery and have him check out my 86. From the sounds of it his will look similar soon enough............

My 22 yr old son is rebuilding it now as a work truck and it gets black epoxy primer for paint soon. It's easier to touch up that way.

 

stupid stuff come from your buddys sitting next to ya .you know he man thats cool try it alil faster next time,then a lil faster more throtle hay dude mabe the mud will fly higher next time.that kind of crap comin from a kid thats never had such a truck and cant stand the fact that you do is what makes dents,broken parts trust me i know when i was 16 i had a 79 with the lifts and 42"swampers i payed big bucks for it and after a while i just kicked everyone out and just road around with my girl.whats realy nice about havein a lifted truck?ya help the chics up in it.dang i miss it

 

Man that is one sharp truck!I hope your son comes to his senses.