Total $$ invested in restoration

[tinman_local2]

This may be a bit personal, but I'm curious as to how much money it takes to do a decent restoration. Not museum quality, just something to be proud of. I have a '69 K20 I'll be starting work on soon. It's an original Missouri truck, so it's full of rust! Just wondering how deep it'll get into my pocket. Please post your total investment along with an "after" photo. Thanks.

[HO455]

That's a tough one as we all have different skill sets and ideas of "Good enough". In addition most of us don't keep track of the nickel and dime things that always add up to hundreds if not thousands in a restoration. I'm at least six grand into my Burban doing most of the work myself and nothing done on the drive train. Check my Working Man's Burban thread for more information on what I've done.
This link has a good formula for estimating the costs involved.

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/atta...2&d=1463943853

[too much stuff]

If you have the money, it will be cheaper to buy one done already. Especially if you are starting with a rusty truck...

[Canuckvetter]

Not 100% if it applies to these trucks. I did a nice restoration on a 71 chevelle convertible. Did a little work myself but subbed out most. My budget was $25,000. After 3 year resto I added up the bills. $55,000.
Like Too Much Stuff said cheaper to buy one restored. I paid for the pleasure, experience and friendships I made. Still believe I got good value.

[B. W.]

Doing a complete frame off resto on a base model truck with a complete rebuild of the drivetrain, with you doing all of the work (no labor costs) $20 -25 is a good ball park. The higher the options, the higher the cost (bucket seats, A/C, tow hooks, instrument panel, etc) If your truck is very rusty it may save money to use two or three trucks to build one! And, as already stated, it's cheaper to buy one than build one. With that said, I'm building one because I want it my way & enjoy doing it. I keep an Excel spreadsheet to track all costs, part #s, vendors & country of origin.

[tinman_local2]

Originally Posted by B. W.

Doing a complete frame off resto on a base model truck with a complete rebuild of the drivetrain, with you doing all of the work (no labor costs) $20 -25 is a good ball park. The higher the options, the higher the cost (bucket seats, A/C, tow hooks, instrument panel, etc) If your truck is very rusty it may save money to use two or three trucks to build one! And, as already stated, it's cheaper to buy one than build one. With that said, I'm building one because I want it my way & enjoy doing it. I keep an Excel spreadsheet to track all costs, part #s, vendors & country of origin.

Good information. I'm sure it will end up costing more than I want, but it'll be worth it in the end. Hope to do most all work myself including the paint and body work.

[tinman_local2]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

If you have the money, it will be cheaper to buy one done already. Especially if you are starting with a rusty truck...

The fun is doing the work myself. I've had this truck since I was 18, I'm 44 now. It's always been a "someday" project.

[James the III]

I like to stay married, so.. no comment..

[HO455]

Originally Posted by James the III

I like to stay married, so.. no comment..

Anything you post may or may not be held against you later.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by James the III

I like to stay married, so.. no comment..

I hear that. One time I left a receipt out for a couple grand worth of parts I bought.... she gets mean when I "forget" to tell her when I spend money like that! Wouldn't trade her for anything in the world tho.

[rob32472]

As some have said it cheaper to buy one "already done" that being said the only way to truly know what you got is to do it yourself! 20-25k for a regular restoration, 35-40k for a good customized truck. This would be you doing a majority of the work with exception of interior and paint

[James the III]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

I hear that. One time I left a receipt out for a couple grand worth of parts I bought.... she gets mean when I "forget" to tell her when I spend money like that! Wouldn't trade her for anything in the world tho.

Oh,, I don't hide it..
My last project vehicle.. all the receipts came in with parts.. and was in an unlocked file cabinet..
But , THAT SAID.
When I was adding up all the receipts to get a "feel" for what to insure it..
The whole "cost" was what threw her a curve ball..
It wasn't the 500.oo here the 100.oo there.. it was the 24k parts total..

This time when I started with parts showing up she asked what I thought the truck total would come to.. and I guessed stage 1 about 10k and then stage 2 another 10k.. and she was that's allot of money.. And I said I agree..
and I took here out to lunch. on way home we stopped at a new car/truck dealer and we walked over to a new truck and I said .. what is cheaper..
The look of the sticker shock was priceless..
When the vehicle she drives needed tires, to prove a point I let her take it in and write the check, she almost passed out when she had to cough up a check for 1200 for tires.. As she doesn't have a clue on cost of things like this..
So, she said I just don't wanna know.. still don't hide it.. and I only get stuff when there is extra funds.. but she just doesn't want to know..
Once she knew the other project vehicle was 24k in parts ,and then my labor, she wouldn't drive it..
It's just less stress this way.. If she ever ask I'll hand her the folder full of invoices.. but I doubt she'll ask.. Took a few years but she is getting a handle on the fact that anything automotive is not cheap. be it a collector/fun car/truck or the daily driver..
The dealership walk through. and it costing 30k+ for a truck that be worth crap not long after and spending say 10-15k and if you sell it getting most of it back.. she got..
Bad part is now she wants a 60's rustang

[72 tigger]

Originally Posted by James the III

I like to stay married, so.. no comment..

Saw a quote on here once- "my greatest fear when I die is that my wife will sell my truck for what I told her I had in it". I agree that you could probably buy a nice K20 for around 20K but, probably can't rebuild yours for that amount

[Lanman1972]

I have 14,500 total in mine. Did all the work including paint. All new bed and wood floor. Paid 5K , 1972 highlander, 402, PS, PB, A/C, 77K miles. Needed the usual cab corners, inner and outer rockers and floor sections. 1st pic when I drove it home. Already had the 20's and wheels. Don't have a good pic available of the bed, but it is beautiful.

[tinman_local2]

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

I have 14,500 total in mine. Did all the work including paint. All new bed and wood floor. Paid 5K , 1972 highlander, 402, PS, PB, A/C, 77K miles. Needed the usual cab corners, inner and outer rockers and floor sections. 1st pic when I drove it home. Already had the 20's and wheels. Don't have a good pic available of the bed, but it is beautiful.

That's a good looking truck. Love the color. You did a real nice job and kept a low budget.

[Myoldtruck]

Its a black hole for money. So buy the very best truck up front, even if its a few thousand dollars above your budget. I just bought mine a year ago for 4200.00, inspected and somewhat drivable. I have another 3000.00 into it, so its a reliable every day driver. This is my regular car I drive. I still have a long list of things to do to it. Really I should of waited and just bought a 15k truck, but im a car person.

Also depending on your age and home life, do you have 10-15 extra hours a week to work on a project, besides all your other time commitments to everyone else. Its so much easier to buy a completed truck and make payments on it.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

I have 14,500 total in mine. Did all the work including paint. All new bed and wood floor. Paid 5K , 1972 highlander, 402, PS, PB, A/C, 77K miles. Needed the usual cab corners, inner and outer rockers and floor sections. 1st pic when I drove it home. Already had the 20's and wheels. Don't have a good pic available of the bed, but it is beautiful.

Nice truck. Have you posted your truck in this thread?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...20#post7826220

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

I have 14,500 total in mine. Did all the work including paint. All new bed and wood floor. Paid 5K , 1972 highlander, 402, PS, PB, A/C, 77K miles. Needed the usual cab corners, inner and outer rockers and floor sections. 1st pic when I drove it home. Already had the 20's and wheels. Don't have a good pic available of the bed, but it is beautiful.

Nice truck. Have you posted your truck in this thread?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...20#post7826220

[dfwright]

Even if you do the work yourself, if you don't have all the tools, big compressors, paint guns, etc, these add up very quick as well as the parts and supplies for the restore.

[James the III]

Originally Posted by dfwright

Even if you do the work yourself, if you don't have all the tools, big compressors, paint guns, etc, these add up very quick as well as the parts and supplies for the restore.

Part of the fun of owning an old vehicle is fixing/working on it..
and the tools cost is an investment, and only hurts the first time..
the 2nd vehicle.. and the daily drivers that you can now work on your self makes it all worth it.
The build is half the fun.. And sure it be awesome to just buy one done, but the chance of finding one the way you want it.. is not always an opinion..
unless you buy it and then have a shop build it. and that gets mighty pricey .

[jocko]

I don't keep track because I don't want to know. And I haven't even started the restoration yet.

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by jocko

I don't keep track because I don't want to know. And I haven't even started the restoration yet.

This^^^^^

[CUSTOM/10]

I don't know exactly but I have approximately $25K into mine and it's not quit done yet. I farmed out the Paint & Body work, motor & trany, and seat upholstery, but did everything else myself. I have most of what I need to finish it other than exhaust, that will also get farmed out !

Gary

[Already Gone]

This is just my opinion. If you can fund it this is the way to buy a truck. Its all there with everything done and the only thing I'd do to it is turn the raised white letter tires to blackwalls, but thats a personal thing. Write the check and start enjoying.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/292001361114...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[shp4man]

Over and above the purchase price, I've got $2500 in my 65 so far. This is with a relatively decent drivetrain and no cosmetics at all. And free labor. It is however a drivable, usable vehicle and everything now works.