Restoring old pickup advice

[Chad74]

Need some advice from you guys that have restored an older vehicle.
Let’s say the vehicle runs but not very well and everything else will need work.
What do you start with? Engine, body, interior, wiring?
What steps do you recommend?

[sideways]

Get it running good. That will keep you interested. Then you can move it around and it won’t kill the grass in one spot. Lol


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[doghouse]

Don't do it. Usually have lots more money in it that you can sale it for. If you enjoy the process, more power to you.

[ctom87]

In for answers. I always imagined it would be vitals (engine, transmission, etc.) followed by accessories (power windows, headlights, windshield replacement), then interior, then exterior.

[DedDuk]

Really depends on the level of restoration you are doing. A complete restore, the first thing is pull the engine, body, then do frame.

[Tom]

drivetrain, brakes & suspension are easy. Body work on an older car is the wild card. You may get her undressed and find out that the only good parts are the emblems. If you can't do body work it will get expensive. Crate engines etc are cheap. have fun and good luck with it!

[Chad74]

Don't do it. Usually have lots more money in it that you can sale it for. If you enjoy the process, more power to you.

Understand that completely. I took a half restored CJ5 and finished it out a few years ago and did sell it for about half of what I had in it. This one would be from start to finish. I think it’s the process that intrigues me plus it’s the same kind of truck my grandfather and I messed with 30 yrs ago. Plus not looking to restore and flip.

[Chad74]

drivetrain, brakes & suspension are easy. Body work on an older car is the wild card. You may get her undressed and find out that the only good parts are the emblems. If you can't do body work it will get expensive. Crate engines etc are cheap. have fun and good luck with it!

I don’t do bodywork. How much rust is to much rust and what do you look for?

[Huntindad]

take it to a body work guy to get an assessment. an individual, not necessarily a shop that is looking for busness.

[planomustang]

Understand that completely. I took a half restored CJ5 and finished it out a few years ago and did sell it for about half of what I had in it. This one would be from start to finish. I think it’s the process that intrigues me plus it’s the same kind of truck my grandfather and I messed with 30 yrs ago. Plus not looking to restore and flip.

You have been there, and done that. Don't do it again.

Instead, find a restored version of the truck you want, then buy that. It will save you tons of time and money.

[Shu]

The first step is to get it titled in your name.

[CabezaBlanca]

The last old pickup I restored cost me $54K! Don’t do it is my experience!

[spread5150]

Did everything on a old Toyota pickup. My frame is pretty good but if I could do it again I would have sent the frame to be sand plaster and cleaned up before I started everything else. Now that it runs good I don’t want to pull everything to get to the harder bits.

[thegrouse]

I am about 80% through one. First thing is get it running, but have a plan. I rebuilt my 2 barrel carb, just to add a 4 barrel once I got it moving. I had a radiator flushed and pressure tested just to recore a few months later when I realized I would be getting AC. I would do engine and brakes first. You will spend far more than the vehicle is worth.

[cva34]

Get it running good. That will keep you interested. Then you can move it around and it won’t kill the grass in one spot. Lol


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Thats really a good point....