The anxiety is killing me

[69rangerf100]

lately i have been having some really bad anxiety about not driving my bump. its been 3 years since i have driven my truck. since i started the frame up restoration all i can think about is getting to drive it for the first time when i have it all done. just curious out of the members that have done a frame up how long did it take you to do it?

[fordman]

i hadn't drove a bump since 2000. and after i rebuilt my 4wd last year i barley got to drive it. only four or five times. so far. i feel so bad about not being able to do something with it. since then i know how you are feeling. i didn't even do a frame off either. i just swapped one rusty cab for another on and installed the engine and half way through the front clip on it. i was going to drive it on the farm this weekend but with a dead battery and two flat tires i wasn't going anyplace. i do plan on next weekend on driving only if through the pond a couple of times. it may not sound like fun but at least i will get to drive it a little more. basically so i can charge the battery back up. but for my 68 that has been sitting since 2000. i have been slowly buying parts and pieces for it and my 67 over the years as both trucks slowly rust away. i have no place to take them apart at. and i if do take them apart i would never get them back together unless i had the parts right in front of me.

[hazelnut]

Dependes on how much you stay working on it, ive been working on my highboy for 3 years off and on and could have it on the road in about a month if started working on it again. Restored a 68 mustang for my dad and with two other people off and on it took a full year of working on it everyday except sundays. I got to start my bump the other day and it got my blood pumping wanted to go for a drive, but then i seen the gas can with the fuel line in it and no seat in the cab so i had to walk around the truck listining to it run knowing i cant drive it yet. maybe by friday i can drive it around in the field. the anxiety will got me rolling i hope.

[Aventinus]

Mine has been sitting in my garage for about 7 months or so. At first I was planning on doing a frame off, then I decided that doing so would make me drive it less, and use it less. I came to the conclusion that the truck was built as a workhorse and, while I wasn't going to use it as such, that a frame off didn't seem to fit (just from my perspective of course, to each his own). I've settled for just making everything nice and slowly removing all the mickey mouse crap that's been done to it over the years, a trail of good ideas done badly from previous owners, and in some cases terrible ideas done badly.

When I'm older, I'll probably do a frame off then.

[R.Smith]

Patience. It took me 2 years to restore the 35 and most of that was spent hunting down parts and remaking the wood frame for the cab sheet metal. I look back at the pics I took during the rebuild and it dawns on me how much I actually did and I think to myself "I can't believe I stuck with it". But I did.

Getting the frame, running gear and drive train done was a big help. psycologically. It wasn't just a pile of junk after that. Then the cowling and grill. I could see it taking shape and that gave me the motivation to keep at it. Fenders, then headlights....every piece brings it closer and the excitement level really rachets up.

The key is to organize the process and then focus on steps, not the whole job, otherwise you'll get overwhelmed. When you can't afford to do something big, work on the small stuff. Headlight buckets, the heater, knobs ect. Next thing you know it'll be done.

[fireguywtc]

I bought a highboy.

[guerra]

If i didnt have the "67 to drive while i worked on the "69 the anxiety would be killing me too. i buy parts for the "69 when i can afford to. I sometimes think i just need to sell the "67 to finish the "69. thats what i really need to do. i am also out of room at my house. keep in mind that i just want my truck to run its not ever going to be a show truck.

[stephen44]

I think I have you kinda beat ...so far the frame up resto has been going on for 1 year . I have never driven any bump - not even this one - it was a non-runner when i got it. Did not run - no brakes - no steering. The suspense is killing me

we need people to post more videos of "driving their bump" please

- Stephen -

[69rangerf100]

yeah i would say you do on never having the pleasure driving a Bump. i learned to drive in my truck and me and my dad took alot of camping trips with scouts in it.

[BobbyFord]

The anxeity was killing me so bad that after I broke in my cam in my 460, I drove it around the block a few times with no hood, grille, right fender, bed, tail lights or license plates

[R.Smith]

I drove the chevy up and down the street when it was just a drive train, frame and wheels using a milk bottle gas tank and a seat made from 2 x8s! I did it several times until one day I turned around and a cop was right behind me. luckily he lived right up the road and gave me the "law finger" pointed at my driveway instead of a ticket. I was so psyched about driving it I forgot that he came down the road between 4:30 and 5 every day....exactly when I decided to take it for a spin.