Might be switching vehicles, Need some advice and Opinions please.(long)

[jorgensensc]

Heres the deal:
I currently have a '72 chevy short stepside (in the avatar). My wife and I are thinking about having another child (it will be our second) Right now the truck works great when we go somewhere in it (bench seat), but we think we will need more room.
Here's where y'all come in. She has pretty much told me that if we are going to get a gas hog, then it should be a cool classic vehicle. She has said she likes the 67-72 suburbans, and agreed that we think it would be a good idea to get one. However here's where it gets tricky. I want a burb that has a good body (no rust),and good susension. I want to do the engine and tranny myself. The interior I will probably do myself too, and I will rewire the whole truck, so basically I want a shell. Seems simple right? Well we live in a subdivision where you can't have nonrunning vehicles in your driveway (they consider it an eyesore), and the 1966 MG Midget project is taking up the garage. We also don't have the cash flow to start another project without selling my truck first, and we all know that could take a litle while. I'm thinking of asking for around 12,000 for it. If I sell the truck I won't have anything to haul parts around, or take my little girl to daycare in when the wifes out of town (frequent). so I'm not sure on that course of action yat.
The other questions are:
What should I look for when searching for a burb? Where are the trouble spots? I REALLY wish our burbs came in 4 doors, but since they don't, how much of a pain is it to get to the other side of the back (2nd row) seat drivers side. we will be putting 2 car seats in, so it kind of cramps things up a bit. Any suggestions/advice/ and comments are more than welcome.
Thanks for posting !
Shawn

[67chevemall]

Just buy a cap and a sliding rear window, and put the kids in their seats in the bed!
Bolt the seats down of course!
$0.02

[hambone1958]

Sell the MG keep the truck buy the burb. Just my $.02

[jorgensensc]

Unfortunately the Mg wouldn't cover the cost of the burb. we also can't affors to keep the truck and a burb, let alone have the space for all of them. Besides, the MG is the wifes project car. She gives me less of a hard time when I buy something if she buys something for her car too.
Shawn

[Grim Reaper]

Store the MG in the Burb.

Honestly...rent a storage place an move one or the other into storage while you get the drivtrain built then put the MG is storage while you get the drive train installed and the truck tagged and road worthy so it will meet HOA stuff. Then move the MG back into the garage.

My budy was restoring a MG and was in a simular situation with the HOA. The MG was narrow enough to fit through the french doors of his unfinished basement back door.

[hambone1958]

Yeah I guess i'm lucky project jumpin jimmy is my wifes truck. 12k for your truck sounds good you should be able to sell it pretty quick. Good luck on the burb project.

[silvertonguedevil]

Originally Posted by jorgensensc

Unfortunately the Mg wouldn't cover the cost of the burb. we also can't affors to keep the truck and a burb, let alone have the space for all of them. Besides, the MG is the wifes project car. She gives me less of a hard time when I buy something if she buys something for her car too.
Shawn

Isn't the MG a 2-seater? Have the wife sell her project!

[jorgensensc]

Yes the MG is a 2 seater, it is only meant for little trips to work or a weekend cruiser. The MG cannot and will not be sold. It will bring no real money to the problem and it is just that, a project, more invested than selling it would bring.
I like the idea of a storage unit for the burb unil I get the drivetrain ready, then switching vehicles out. The real problem is what to do about the in-between of selling my truck and buildingthe burb. maybe I should finish the MG, then use it while I build the burb. It won't make a good parts hauler though. Please understand, the wife isn't forcing me to sell my truck. She has always been in support of me fixing it up also. She is actually in support of me getting another 67-72 burb, but we can't afford to build a burb the way I want it and own my truck too. The MG has pretty much all of the expensive stuff bougt, all I have to really do is find time to fabricate and put things together. It wouldn't be fair for me to sell her project, especially since she spent her own bonus money buying it.
Thanks for the input so far.
Shawn

[silvertonguedevil]

ok, how about this...you mentioned that you need a pickup to haul parts around in...why not buy a running (not pretty) pickup for around $500-$1000 and use that while building the burb. You could sell the pickup that you have in the meantime. And when the burb is done, sell the beater pickup for what you have in it. I see running pickups on here all of the time in that price range. If it did break, you would know how to fix it. I paid $1200 for mine and have not had a single problem with it. Just a thought.

[jorgensensc]

That is also a good idea. I would have to control myself though. I find it hard to leave things well enough alone if they aren't the way I envision them. Luckily I haven't had to do anything to my truck in awhile, besides standard maintenance. I did recently install A.C. though.

[smitty62]

Move to a less snobbish neighborhood??

[jorgensensc]

smitty62,
HA HA! I am working on that, unfortunately the less snobbish neighborhoods aren't as well kept as this one. I really can't complain, because I understand the HOA and their perspective. There is no telling what the neighborhood would look like without them.
Shawn

[silvertonguedevil]

Here's one now.....
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=112936

[03glide]

Originally Posted by smitty62

Move to a less snobbish neighborhood??

I'll second that! My privacy fence hides all my projects. My wife is the only person complaining. I recently went throught he same problem. My 3rd child is due in November. If the wife is home we drive the Tahoe; but when she is at work I didn't have transportation for 3 kids. I sold my truck project and bought a 72 Blazer. While I agree it is nice to start a project from the beginning and build it exactly how you want, I am looking forward to having a driver while I restore it. Maybe you could sell your truck and buy a Burb in driving condition. Possibly a shell with a good drivetrain. If you get good money from your truck you shouldn't have a problem finding something you like. Work on one area at a time never taking too far apart to have it driving on Monday. If you had to have a particular engine/tranny combo just build it in you garage and swap it in a weekend after complete.
Brian

[jorgensensc]

Good advice too 03glide.

[jorgensensc]

BTW o3 glide, does your blazer give ou enough room for the kids? How much of a pain is it to get them in the back carseats? Or are they too old for carseats now?
Shawn

[ratrod67]

Have you thought about a newer model burb? I have an 88 GMC I'll sell ya for 2000

[jorgensensc]

ratrod67,
Thanks for the offer, but the wife and I decided if we are going to get another gas hog it should be a classic. It's the only way to keep me happy.
Shawn

[ratrod67]

No problem. I just know if my truck was that nice I'd kick myself for a long time if I sold it. I'd just get a cheap, reliable beater and keep the truck.

[smitty62]

OK, you didn't care for my first suggestion. Here's my final offering....
(1) And don't throw things!!! :p Buy a rice burner pickup..don't look for a good body, just good running gear to haul parts, etc. ( you won't be tempted to put any money in this!)
(2) Sell your pickup (D##N shame!)
(3) Find a solid Burb and restore same.
(4)Sell the R/B pickup for what you gave for it.

OR...................Have you considered getting a puppy instead and leaving it at home?

[03glide]

Originally Posted by jorgensensc

BTW o3 glide, does your blazer give ou enough room for the kids? How much of a pain is it to get them in the back carseats? Or are they too old for carseats now?
Shawn

I pick it up on Sunday. I have 2 girls(7&9) so they don't need carseats. My 3rd, a boy thank God, is due in November. Not much feedback to give you yet.
Brian

[jorgensensc]

Originally Posted by smitty62

OK, you didn't care for my first suggestion. Here's my final offering....
(1) And don't throw things!!! :p Buy a rice burner pickup..don't look for a good body, just good running gear to haul parts, etc. ( you won't be tempted to put any money in this!)
(2) Sell your pickup (D##N shame!)
(3) Find a solid Burb and restore same.
(4)Sell the R/B pickup for what you gave for it.

OR...................Have you considered getting a puppy instead and leaving it at home?

Very good idea about the rice burner, cause your right, I wouldn't want to put any money in it.
As for the dog, I've been trying that apraoch, but it ain't flyin'...ROFLMAO
03glide,
Thanks for the feedback. Let me know how it works out.
Shawn

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I have a blazer and they are kind of a pain in the a$$ when you need to strap kid's in the back.. My son is 4 and can now do it himself but before it required shimming in there and getting the belt's together...

[jorgensensc]

Thanks for the feedbackfrenchblue72. Do you think it would be any different in a burb with the third door?