What to do with $500?

[85_SWB]

I got $500 for graduation and i want to spend it on my truck.
What do you guys think?

Wheels would be 15x8 and 15x10 Cragar S/S
The body work would include New bed(or patch panels), new rockers, cab corners, and maybe a pass. side fender.

[RUST]

Latter on down the road you may choose a different motor. Trust me rust is the main destroyer of these trucks. Fix body first, so latter you will have something to put the supercharged, fuel injected, crate 572 in!!!

[69BBsuburban]

Nice wheels always make a truck look better, regardless of bodywork......
Patch panels are cheap......you could do those as $$$ and time allowed......

[knightlife]

body first bro..sers, that is the life or death of the truck...I was a retard and spent my tax money on rims, when I have a crap ton of body work I need to remedy.

[Blackstone]

Start collecting body parts. Engines and wheels are easily replaced and even more easy to come by. Since I wouldn't want to have to paint my truck more than once, I'd opt to have as much new steel as possible when paint time comes.

[bigblock73]

If you are going to have the bodywork done by a pro, you'll need more than $500 and I say go with the wheels then. If you can do it yourself, then my vote is bodywork.

[87 STEPPER]

You could fill your tank with fuel now

[85_SWB]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

If you are going to have the bodywork done by a pro, you'll need more than $500 and I say go with the wheels then. If you can do it yourself, then my vote is bodywork.

I said SAVE for body work
I know it will be well over that for body work. I will probably be running primer for a while.

[bmartin9122]

Originally Posted by 85_SWB

I said SAVE for body work
I know it will be well over that for body work. I will probably be running primer for a while.

I heard what you said - some people don't read. No one in their right mind thinks you can get professional bodywork and paint for $500.

I paid $1200 for minimal bodywork and a basic clearcoat paint job.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

i vote save up for body work before it gets any worse

[bigblock73]

Guys, I missed the word "save" in the poll...hell, I didn't even vote. Excuse the hell out of me.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by bmartin9122

No one in their right mind thinks you can get professional bodywork and paint for $500.

I don't recall the mention of "paint" anywhere, not in my post or the original. Some people don't read...or they jump to conclusions.

I am well aware of what bodywork cost...as I am paying for it as we speak. If one does their own patching and welding...it can be done for $500, depending on the extent of it and how anal they want to be with their project.

[killthewabbit]

Alternatively, you could paint your truck and have $450 left over.

I swear, this wasn't a troll.

[bmartin9122]

Originally Posted by killthewabbit

Alternatively, you could paint your truck and have $450 left over.

I swear, this wasn't a troll.

Very interesting article/experiment.

[knightlife]

I will opt in to be the first to do that on our year model pickup all July 15th she gonna get some paint! that'll give me time to shave the doors and finish the minor body work I have left to do (fender and rocker panels)

[Rc 415]

Originally Posted by knightlife

I will opt in to be the first to do that on our year model pickup all July 15th she gonna get some paint! that'll give me time to shave the doors and finish the minor body work I have left to do (fender and rocker panels)

hah you wont be the first! but i gotta tell you its very time consuming, having to do 6+ coats.

[Slonaker]

Do you have any debt? Do you plan to go to college? If so, the money is already spent...

If not, fix whatever is broken on your truck. There's always something on an old pickup. Fix the A/C. Fix the exhaust leaks. Rebuild the carb. Rebuild the frontend.

That isn't much money. Spend it on something that will keep that truck on the road longer. Spend it fixing something that will leave you stranded on the side of the road one day when you have $5 to last you the rest of the month.

(This message brought to you by the poor owner of an old truck with stock wheels and faded paint. )

Slonaker

[69BBsuburban]

This cost me $800....body work, paint and materials........basecoat, clearcoat with a little pearl......FWIW

[85_SWB]

Heres some pic of what would have to be done.
What do you guys think it will end up running me.
I have a gallon of red single stage paint that a buddy gave me but i dont know if its any good.

Dmg from fender bender


Hole in front pass. side fender


Pass. Side cab corner


The rest of the box is solid. Body work has been done by previous owner once and the underside was undercoated. There is other minor surface rust on the driver front fender but it is not rotted.


Pass. side rear fender


Pass. side rear fender


Driver side cab corner


Driver side rear fender


Driver side rear fender

[Jim85IROC]

save for body work. Doing engine mods to a 305 is a collossal waste of money, and frankly, I think cragar SS wheels are trailer-trash ugly, but even if you mentioned a wheel that I happen to like, I think it's a waste of money to put nice wheels on a truck that's in such dire need of body work. Your truck needs a LOT of sheet metal, so spend your $500 on as much goodmark sheet metal as you can afford, and as you save more money, buy more panels until you have everything you need.

[69BBsuburban]

I'd find a parts truck, and just start cutting out parts of it to repair yours.....that's what I did on the blue one above. (Mine wasn't as bad though)
I cut sections out of an old bed to patch other parts of the truck......just cut from an area that has the same curvature as the area being repaired.......

A little hammer and dollie work will fix that first pic........

[KMK454]

Originally Posted by 85_SWB

I got $500 for graduation and i want to spend it on my truck.
What do you guys think?

Roth IRA.

[DROPPED15]

I Would Find A Truck And Use Yours For Parts!!!!!!!!

[85_SWB]

Originally Posted by DROPPED15

I Would Find A Truck And Use Yours For Parts!!!!!!!!

haha...... not a chance
where can i get gm replacement panels

[Blackstone]

Originally Posted by 85_SWB

haha...... not a chance
where can i get gm replacement panels

There's a guy on eBay selling eight NOS, left-hand bedsides cheap... although they lack a fuel door. Great buy if you plan to add a Blazer fuel tank later.



Thanks a lot, Killthewabbit.... for getting me hooked on $50 paint job discussion. Now I'm scrambling for projects on which to test the technique. So far, i've got a 1994 Geo Prizm and a 1990 Craftsman lawn tractor scheduled for roller paint jobs.