73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: philo_beddoe on November 28, 2015, 06:59:11 pm
-
Please tell me there are others out there in the squarebody world that have dropped thousands on their truck other than the purchase price. I have recently posted what i have done to my truck, and other than the final body resto, i must have spent thousands so far. I am getting sick of spending money on parts. Anyone else feel overwhelmed like you'll never catch up, that every little thing you want or need to do is going to cost you more and more on the credit card? I know a NEW chevy is like 50k and thats $800 a month for like 5 or more years! Crazy...
-
Please tell me there are others out there in the squarebody world that have dropped thousands on their truck other than the purchase price.
You're not the only one. I've kept expandable file folders with most of the receipts for rebuild and maintenance on my '73 and '74 since I obtained both trucks in the late 1990's. Looking through nearly 20 years of receipts can be an eye opener. On the flip side, keeping receipts has come in handy for 'lifetime warranty' replacements.
I know a NEW chevy is like 50k and thats $800 a month for like 5 or more years!
Principle on a $48K vehicle is $800/month, plus the tax and 60 months of interest on top of that (another $7K or more)...
On the bright side, once you get the issues corrected, it is much better on the financial side of things. It becomes a matter of keeping up on maintenance.
-
2300 initial purchase price, 100 in paint(so far) about 100 for patch panels, 400 for SM465 and clutch stuff, 500 for the 6.5(if I can sell some of the parts from that truck it would be free) and 300 for a 6.2 complete with 6.2 short block
Oh and 50 for new injector lines, 50 for engine gaskets, and coming soon about 700 for a remanned injection pump.
I would say at my rate, this truck is cheaper- my reasoning this: one needs 2500 down on new truck(most of the time) and figured at least 650 a month, I have had truck 5 months and on average spent only about 500 a month, and I'll still own the truck in less then a year(if I keep going this slow)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
once you the truck in good shape they are reliable. everyone always says "dont get a old truck cause they will nickle and dime you to death" well this may be true but i would much rather spend 100/month on maintenance vs a 600-800 truck payment and still have to do 100 in maintenance. also if you want to customize something in our trucks more than likely that old part youre replacing needed replacing anyway so youre not throwing money at a new part that still has life. so if you lift a old truck and replace bushings and shocks they probably needed to be replaced anyway vs lifting a new truck you have to replace good parts
-
Well, i was hoping for this kind of feedback, i feel a little better. But i'm not nearly ready to add up my receipts yet. Yes, a 2016 4x4 chevy will cost you about $800/month for min of 5 yrs., thats scary! Cant believe the cost of a new truck. My 77 Bonanza was 4k new off the showroom floor!!
-
I bought my truck for 1,000 dollars about 5 1/2 - 6 years ago. In the past 2 - 2 1/2 years I have spent between 12 and 13 thousand dollars on it. I have a horrible horrible addiction to this truck and I honestly don't care. Haha, some say I could have had a great used or new truck for that kind of money. However, it would not be truck that has taught me soooo much and not just about turning wrenches, but life lessons.
It gives me the ability to build and create exactly the truck I want. Eventually I'll buy something else and do a full frame off resto and take my dear sweet time and do exactly all the stuff I want and pull out all the stops for it. Until then, I do what I think is fun and I enjoy experimenting with it and driving a great truck from back when vehicles actually had personality. They are starting to build cars with style again that are actually appealing and have personality, but back in the day, vehicles had soul.
My truck is just that, my truck.
-
Very wll stated. And yes, personality. I think todays cars all look the same-part minivan, part suv.
Big difference between a 69 chevelle, skylark, cutlass, superbee, mustang, cuda, roadrunner, GTO, firebird, nova, camaro, etc etc... And of course, all the trucks.
Todays cars will not exist in 30 years, they are cheap and disposable. The classic era for cars ended about the late 70's and for trucks, even into the mid 90's.
-
I bought my truck for 1,000 dollars about 5 1/2 - 6 years ago. In the past 2 - 2 1/2 years I have spent between 12 and 13 thousand dollars on it. I have a horrible horrible addiction to this truck and I honestly don't care. Haha, some say I could have had a great used or new truck for that kind of money. However, it would not be truck that has taught me soooo much and not just about turning wrenches, but life lessons.
It gives me the ability to build and create exactly the truck I want. Eventually I'll buy something else and do a full frame off resto and take my dear sweet time and do exactly all the stuff I want and pull out all the stops for it. Until then, I do what I think is fun and I enjoy experimenting with it and driving a great truck from back when vehicles actually had personality. They are starting to build cars with style again that are actually appealing and have personality, but back in the day, vehicles had soul.
My truck is just that, my truck.
This is exactly how I feel. My dad bought my truck for $900 about 5 years ago.
It Sat until I was almost 17, we pulled the engine and many other parts from his own truck to start piecing it together, then I worked doing anything I could from fixing computers to construction to finish it, I have spent At least over 2k on it in the last 2 years. Which isn't a lot but for an 18 y/o it is.
My first trip to the parts store to buy parts I spent over $600. Including a radiator several engine related parts all new gauges and ect. I saved every dollar I could get for this truck. And I honestly paid for everything I needed (besides a few fasteners, some rattle can paint and other small things) out of my pocket.
I spent over an entire summer every single day working on it. It was almost a year when I found a transmission and bought it, a couple months later we drove it off of my road to a thanksgiving meal at my uncles. Then that April the night of my senior prom I drove it to a friends house to hang out, and that's the best feeling I've ever had, no whinshield wipers, no heat or anything but it didn't matter at all. I just stopped and whiped the dew and mist off of my winshield every couple miles.
It tought me many life lessons also, and showed me I didn't want to be a computer tech anymore I wanted to be a mechanic. and because of that I continue to fight what often feels like a losing battle because it's so much more than a truck to me.
-
Absolutely. Every paycheck I've got since I was 16 has had at least a few dollars spent on that truck even if it was just to buy an air freshener lol. I've had it since I was 16 and I hear ya on the price thing for an 18 yr old. Soon as tax return rolls around I plan to spend more on rebuilding the front suspension/steering and possibly a dakota digital system.
-
That's how I am, I plan to redo some of my suspension/brakes when I get my tax return, my truck was lowered horribly wrong, then I'll work on the rear end and engine, I have parts from 5 trucks ranging from 1973-1997 and a tranny and stall from an elderly man's vette that "shifted to hard" got it for $150 and the shift is just fine for me. Haha. I recently did balljoints, tie rods, and front brake hoses and that was easily $250 alone.
I spend at least $50 every time I walk in a parts store, and that's on a good day, yet they refuse to look at my application every time they're "hiring" Idk Maybe they think I don't have a clue because I'm young, but I have to teach several employees about what I'm working on to get the right parts every time, haha.
-
We have a whole separate thread just for discussing our experiences with parts store employees. As for my plans for the front suspension, I'm looking at a minimum of 800 for just parts. I'm getting all Delco replacement parts.
-
You can spend $500 on a 40 year old truck and drop 20k into it or you can buy a 50k truck and drop nothing into it.
You can have one or the other not both.
-
You can spend $500 on a 40 year old truck and drop 20k into it or you can buy a 50k truck and drop nothing into it.
You can have one or the other not both.
You can have both if your pockets are deep enough lol
-
Who's counting? I spent $1200 today alone. $500 last weekend, $500 the weekend before, Oh $100 bucks yesterday...If you enjoy it, spend your money on it.
Some guys spend all of their money sitting on a bar stool yelling at a TV. Some guys spend all of their money watching girls dance around a pole. Some guys give all of their money to their wife and watch her spend it all. It all comes down to what makes you feel good about how you spend. At the end of the day, we are only here for a short period of time. I forfeit extravagant vacations and brand new cars so I can support my habit/addiction and I love every minute of it.
-
Well said Vile. I agree with everything you said. IMHO as long as I have something to show for what I spend or it makes me happy then I am OK with it. Now having said that, I bought my truck used in 1984. I loved the color and wanted it really bad so I bought it. I kept every receipt for it in a manila envelope. I drove it every day before I parked it in 1992. I just got it started again in the summer of 2014.
It is now in the garage being completely redone. I am keeping the new receipts in another manila envelope too. The point is that I have over $26000 tied up in it the first time. I didn't care as I had a lot of fun in it. I don't care how much it costs this time because this truck is my baby. I have been with her for over 30 years which is longer than I have had my wife. F The cost! I will get through it no matter how many years it takes to bring it back out on the street.
-
When it's your hobby or just personal it's well worth it. No different than any other hobby that costs money for enjoyment.
I work(play) on my 74k5 when I feel like it or just drive it when I feel like it unless I have a project I'm doing to it.
I'm at the point of where it's my choice after 25 years I've been thru just about every thing and have minimal issues just normal stuff.
You don't expect to get your money back out of it.
If it's your driver and you have to work on and dump cash into it to get to work that adds stress and takes the fun out of it. But of course every situation is different.
My driver is a 97 ranger that I put 85 miles a day on and when it becomes unreliable to get to work I'll move on to something else.
-
Well, i just sent Chris $175 10 min. ago for a new rear chrome bumper.
...and so it continues.
-
Some guys spend all of their money sitting on a bar stool yelling at a TV. Some guys spend all of their money watching girls dance around a pole. Some guys give all of their money to their wife and watch her spend it all. It all comes down to what makes you feel good about how you spend. At the end of the day, we are only here for a short period of time. I forfeit extravagant vacations and brand new cars so I can support my habit/addiction and I love every minute of it.
like vile says we all have an addition, every human has one. its what keeps us going rather its a illegal drug or legal we all have something that gets our blood going. some of us pick trucks
-
A 2016 loaded 4x4, 4 door, diesel, 8 ft bed would be a nice safe and secure vehicle, very comfy and warm, tight with a killer sound system. No more rusty bolts or bloody knuckles. But $900/mo for 5 years! Not a chance! When your driving a classic,,you know your driving it. Anything else is just transportation.
-
and how many more "classics" do you see around? them new trucks everyone has them and then you have the kids who depends on daddy to make a payment and mod it for them. truth is even with out old trucks adults love them cause its when they grew up on so even if you just pass them they will stop and look. and kids just think theyre cool
-
And nearly every time i go into town to get gas or whatever, everyone stares at my classic. A lot of old timers love talking to me about it. Lot of good conversations.
-
i passed this one couple a couple days ago. they must of loved my truck so bad, the woman gave me a peace sign and was waiving so happily then the driver as i passed him waved. it feels good to bring a smile on peoples faces, then some even get really happy when i tell them whats under the hood and my mpgs.
-
I have had this truck for over 5 years. I have all the receipts but I would hate to add them up. I am sure I could have bought a much newer used truck for what I have put into this one. Even if I had that chance I would not trade the experiences with this truck. Working on it with my son made a lot of memories. I have learned to do things, like tuning a carburetor with a vacuum gauge that I would have never thought I could do. For me, it is not about transportation (though I do drive it) as much as it is having something that I have put so much of myself into.
-
I can usually find some pretty good deals at local swap meets save a few bucks I got a whole late 80's doghouse for 75 bucks clean too
-
I was thinking of getting a new truck when i retire, but for less than 1/10 of the cost i can do a full body restoration. And not have to drive in the salty winter.
-
I useually spend what I have extra, if that doesn't finish it, then I wait.
Credit cards are against my religion!
-
I agree, paying off asap! Then thats it, shutting it down.
-
The other thing to consider is if you finance a vehicle, you have to have full coverage insurance for the whole time it's financed. This adds even more to the expense of buying a new car.
-
Haha. This thread makes me laugh.
I'm kinda like Vile. My '77 monster build is my hobby. Maybe some day I'll get back to my N scale model railroads.
I have NOTHING on credit for my build. I pay as I go. That is one reason the thing is taking so long. I owe nobody nothing. As far as totaling it all up....... Forget it. 4 brand new 66x43-25 Goodyear Super Terra Grip tires are $12,000.00. And that is why I found 4 slightly used ones, but they still weren't free.
Forget about what it costs, that will take the fun out of it, and who wants that to happen.
OP- you are a man of faith. Enjoy God's gifts and roll on.
-
Amen engineer! It is Godly to be a good steward of your finances. Never owe the man, stay off the grid! 2016 is my pay-off year! "Thats it, were goin awwwwffff the grid!!!"
-
Amen engineer! It is Godly to be a good steward of your finances. Never owe the man, stay off the grid! 2016 is my pay-off year! "Thats it, were goin awwwwffff the grid!!!"
I believe Philobeddoe just made a reference to little Ceasars pizza.
-
You are correct LTZ.
-
You are correct LTZ.
Lol
-
No doubt, I would love to own a new 4x4 Crew Cab Duramax, but they are in the $60K+ neighborhood. I enjoy working on cars most of the time, but I will admit that sometimes it is a pain in the neck and can be very frustrating! There isn't much that I take to a shop, so maintenance on my vehicles just comes down to parts. Sure my trucks don't ride as nice as a new truck and sure I could put money into them to make them ride much better, but that investment and time just isn't in the cards right now. I put a lot of miles on my Crew Cab Elk hunting this fall and had a blast!!! I get 11 mpg out of it and I try not to drive it too much, but I probably put about 12,000 miles on it a year. A diesel truck is going to average about 20-21 mpg.
This is how I look at it:
All of my vehicles are owned out-right! A new $60K+ Duramax with 2.5% Interest and 60 months financing will be a $1,065/month payment! The cost of the loan will be about $3,900. I will get better fuel mileage with the diesel and new truck, but diesel is about 30 cents more per gallon around here and while right now it is pretty cheap, winter will drive the diesel prices up in the USA because it competes as a heating oil. Diesel prices have also be historically pretty volitile. I will also probably drive more per year with a new fancy truck. Lets say 15,000 miles/year with regular unleaded at $3/gallon and diesel at $3.30. Lets be realistic in that fuel prices are going to go back up and it isn't going to be like when we were younger. That for me translates into about $150-$175/month fuel savings. Lets also assume that my new fancy truck isn't going to have any problems for a while and I will perform the routine maintenance like I already do...
I will commit to 5 years of an additional payment of $1,065/month. I will blow $3,900 in interest and I will save say $175/month in fuel cost. Yes, I should not have any repairs, but I have invested less than $10,000 in my '91 and that includes fuel for the last 5 years that I have owned it! It will take 23 months to payback that Interest in fuel savings and if I wanted to I could put $60K into my square-body crew cab, support the aftermarket industry and have a killer truck like Eric Miller's http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=25678.0 (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=25678.0)
These trucks turn heads and lots of people appreciate seeing them! I know I am complimented on my truck all of the time and people say, "you just don't see these crew cabs anymore!"
-
I had a f-350 powerstroke. 97. I kind of miss it, clean and rust free like all my trucks (one of the benefits of ocd). But, too technical to work on. With the 77 c-10, no problem. Just need a garage now.
Anyway- the spending has pretty much come to a screeching halt for a while. Gonna relax this winter, change the oil and thats it. I'll tinker around with it come next spring. I've been going at it since last march. Just gotta keep the stupid salt off her.
-
I finally found the thread where i wanted to post this, although i put it in another thread also.
This just aint right. And its listed as USED!!!!
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/05/6e91564991715c7f8e2309a7b3fc2c7d.jpg)
-
I think I'm around 14k into mine so far. Still need paint and some interior bits. If I'm under 20k after all said and done I'll be happy. You wouldn't be able to buy a truck like mine for that cash!
-
Its been two weeks, havnt spent a penny on it.
No, wait...i just got some oil and a filter. Dang!!! Nice try...