Pity party - dang this 71 sucks up a lot of resources

[hillcountryflt]

Sad to say but in just 11 months or so, my 71 flareside is on the verge of beating me - and that is just in acquiring stuff to do what I want to do with it. I have squandered so dang much on parts that I ended up can't use. Or have screwed up stuff making me order more parts to maintain status quo.
And that's without even touching the body, per se.
That part will need new floor pans, cab corners, paint, etc. The list goes on. And that is the rub - "the list goes on." Heck, I have even given up putting the expenses down in my spreadsheet.
My wife keeps telling me - it's a project. Just be patient. Look at the big picture.
End of pity party.

[1972hiboy]

Body work is always going to be a big chunk of the pie chart if your not doing the body work yourself. the mechanincal however though can go through some cash but you will eventually win that battle. If your cab is really shot it may be worth it to just source a different cab? then you can bolt it back together.

[Kurt Combs]

Yep. Old vehicles are time and money pits, but more fun than a newish one.

[elgemcdlf]

Suck it up Buttercup. Welcome to the world of trying to build a nice old truck. We are cresting $15K and are still a ways away from bodywork.

Hopefully you haven't taken the truck all apart. The length of time it takes kills many projects. I am a firm believer that unless you are sitting on a mountain of money it is best to keep it driveable as much as possible.

[HIO Silver]

Hmmm.... more homework is in order if ya keep ending up with parts that are not needed.

I too have project spreadsheets... but they are created only after a thorough bumper-to-bumper inspection and development of a comprehensive build plan... The spreadsheet contains a detailed parts list in four sections... engine & cooling; suspension, brakes, steering; exterior; and interior. After are two columns - future cost and actual cost.

The sum of the future costs establishes the base build budget. Add another 15 percent for intangibles and extras.

I'm at $11,000 with my LBB with only new tires and seat upholstery to go (for this phase). Nice paint is over-rated so she's staying f'ugly for now and I'm okay with that.

[hillcountryflt]

Truck is driveable - but my daily driver is a 69 f100 - but runs horribly. My 69 is pretty much untouched, low miles and runs well. I have c4 tranny sitting in the bed and plan to buy a long block (or have mine rebuilt locally). I have a steering column and power steering gear sitting in my collection of things to install - but I see some challenges with the steering. My engine replacement will be another $2200 or $1600 to rebuild. The rear end has been rebuilt. The disc brake swap completed. I have a painted 68 grille sitting in storage awaiting install.
I have to pull front grille/radiator, one front fender and hood for my engine swap out because of work area space limitations.
My plan is to start that process after I have the seats in my 69 recovered.
I think I am about $8-10K into my credit and cash at this point on this truck.

[fordman]

Yes. A project not a daily driver. Its suppose to be for enjoyment or as a profit to resell.

Research before you buy is all important. Do not buy junk parts that dont last either. Engine and body will can be the most expensive.

[Mancar1]

I also am over $11,000. and still have a ways to go. Next up is changing the 4:10 rear to 3:54 (Dana).
If my wife were still alive I would be putting it into other things, but hey it is just me now. Kids are grown and have kids and grand kids of their own.
Can't take it with me and can't eat it. Might as well spend it.
Suck it up and keep on Trucking.......John
I say that in good humor

[sargentrs]

Shoot, y'all make me feel good! I got my truck in 2004 and drove it daily for 7 years. Starting in 2008, I began planning my project and researching what I was going to need. By the time I pulled in the garage and started disassembly (April 2011), I knew what I needed, where I was going to get it and a ROUGH idea of what I was going to pay for it. I have a spreadsheet of almost every part, it's part number and vendor and it's price at the time. Almost 4 years later, I'm pretty much on target, $$ wise, but time has gotten away from me due to some unforeseen financial set backs. I've gotten some incredible deals on parts by being patient and diligent in my searching and sourcing. So far, I've only got about $2500 in parts in her but countless hours. I'm at the point now where the next phases are going to be big bucks ($1000ish for each grouping expenditure) but the experience and joy I've had out of it for the past 4 years is priceless. How much more $$, how much more time ... who cares!

[HIO Silver]

The big-buck items on my '70 is the E-Street EFI and TKO 5-speed... about $6000 for the fun and games. It looks as if the new wheel and tire combo (including powdercoating) will total about $1200... almost twice what I paid for the truck.

I think most who don't get "it" would call us crazy for spending $10K on a $650 truck.

We're having fun though!!!

[Ranchero50]

Consolidate. You have too many toys and they will nickle and dime you to death. Trust me here.

At one time around 1996 I had my first white '68 Fairlane 500 coupe, my yellow 34k mile '68 Fairlane 500 fastback, my black / green / yellow '68 Ranchero 50/T5 swap, a '69 Torino GT 351/4sp vert, a '69 Torino GT fastback parts car, a '69 Torino 4 dr parts car and a '69 Ranchero parts car. I thought I was going to fix them all up and even find a wagon for the wife to run. What was I thinking...

I'm currently down to my fastback and ranchero. It about broke my heart to see the coupe sitting on the scrap pile. I traded the vert body (it was nasty flexible), still have the 4 speed. Parts of the 390 GT fastback are still being tripped over. The ranch has been off the road since I got the F350 on the road and the fastback hasn't been legally on the road this century.

If it ain't needed, park it or part it. Sounds like you need drive trains.

On my truck it gestated from a 2wd F250 to a 2wd 350 just from finding parts. I have parts from at least seven trucks in mine. You can't save them all but you can make a nice one from several of them.

[hillcountryflt]

Two f100s is probably at least one too many for me, but the 69 doesn't suck up much time and it provides me a pretty reliable parts hauler and work truck for those days I can't ride the Harley (it is not a source of much attention either - I leave it pretty much alone).
The wife is excited about the prospects of what the 71 SB Flareside could be (thank you Overhaulin'). It's just been the last couple of weeks when I have thought, really thought, should I continue down this road or bail out before I fly over the cliff.
I won't say the 69 is free of attention - I have had the gas tank purged and treated, I replaced the carb, I had the clutch redone, I replaced the headliner and armrests and floor mats/carpet, I replaced the windshield washer, and emergency brake. Of course new tires and I repainted the old wheels corinthian white. But for the most part I am not too upside down on it.
The 71 - jeez - I don't know. Maybe I should just pull the 240 engine (something I have never done) and have it rebuilt locally and stick it back in. However, the clutch is going bad and I do have that C4 sitting in the bed ready to go.
As you can tell, I am just all over the place on the old flareside.
Shoot, sargent, I wish I had your control and planning and patience. My wife says this truck should teach me patience, something she knows I have little of.

[Dave Severson]

Patience is probably the key word here, I've seen a lot of nice projects abandoned and a lot of people get frustrated and quit because of the lack of it! I've had my Bump for 20 years, not saying I've worked on it constantly since then at all, but I do have a ton of hours in it already and probably another 100 or so until it's done! Right now it's "next" on the list (more projects then garage space) and I'm slowly accumulating the rest of the parts I'll need....That is unless I decide to replace the 351W and C6 for a 5.4L and 5 speed, working a trade deal there with a buddy who works at a salvage yard who really wants the Windsor engine.... Oh well, anyway I work on this truck for fun when I want to and if I want to. I've also got a commitment with a guy who has 2 daughters that drag race so that always eats up a lot of the summer, plus my own drag car that even made it to the track twice last year!!!

I guess my only point is slow down and enjoy it! The search for parts and all the trading and swapping that goes in with it is all part of the fun. Do it for fun and it remains fun or just bite the bullet and stand back and throw money at it! I'm retired now, spent many years with my own shop fabricating drag cars, dirt burners, and an occasional Hot Rod and now I just work on my own stuff and for a very few select friends. All the years playing with these toys has taught me there are two hard and fast rules when it comes to project cars and trucks;

1. It's going to take longer then you thought.
2. It's going to cost more then you thought.

My only advice would be to remember these two rules, make your bump projects fun and not work, and learn patience while doing it!!!!

[elgemcdlf]

...
1. It's going to take longer then you thought.
2. It's going to cost more then you thought...

Ain't that the truth! When you start getting depressed about the money just go shopping for a new truck. The price of a new one compared to what you have in a real head turner will make that project much more attractive.

[elgemcdlf]

Shoot, y'all make me feel good! I got my truck in 2004 and drove it daily for 7 years. Starting in 2008, I began planning my project and researching what I was going to need. By the time I pulled in the garage and started disassembly (April 2011), I knew what I needed, where I was going to get it and a ROUGH idea of what I was going to pay for it. I have a spreadsheet of almost every part, it's part number and vendor and it's price at the time. Almost 4 years later, I'm pretty much on target, $$ wise, but time has gotten away from me due to some unforeseen financial set backs. I've gotten some incredible deals on parts by being patient and diligent in my searching and sourcing. So far, I've only got about $2500 in parts in her but countless hours. I'm at the point now where the next phases are going to be big bucks ($1000ish for each grouping expenditure) but the experience and joy I've had out of it for the past 4 years is priceless. How much more $$, how much more time ... who cares!

Randy you are just a show off! How is your truck coming along? Hey on a side note I now reside in Ringgold, GA