To all the builders out there I ask you...

[Mr.Hyde]

Hey guys lately I've been workin on the 68 and I see all your builds go so smooth and seamless.. Mine how ever has been tripping an stumbling the whole way. My question to you is do you have any horror stories like doin a panel and having to fit it 3 or 4 time like I did?
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[Tinkermc]

no one gets everything rite the first time.

[jdm0068]

I did the front end swap on my 68 and front end went in perfect, problem is I switched to the later style engine mounts at the same time. Engine was 2.5 inches too far back. 4 in and outs later some drilling, some cutting, a little bending and a lot cursing the engine is in about the right place.

[truckdude239]

Read my build thread I've had a lot of issusez a lot of times it seems smooth but its not you Dont see the hard parts in a thread online
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[67ctener]

I think most of us only post the good things. My build has been a struggle at times, mainly a financial struggle but gotta keep plugging away
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[mmiddle]

Oh ya. Remember, you are only seeing the glamor shots. not the knuckle busting, tool throwing, cursing that goes on in all our shops

[davischevy]

You got a panel to fit in only three or four try's?

[Mr.Hyde]

Haha I'm talking Ive cut the side o my cab apart lots and I was just curious if anyone as has had this much of a fight with their projects. And out of curiosity how long did it take you guy start to finish?
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[Mister-B]

I did an entire rear brake job due to a leaking cylinder, only to find my lines were cemented on and needed to be replaced. Got that done, and went to bleed. Nothing. Bled practically more brake fluid than the shelves of Autozone contain lol, and still couldn't get peddle pressure no matter what I did. Discovered that my master cylinder had gone bad. Replaced it, and finally got pressure. Then, when I went to bleed the front lines after a new MC, I discovered the damn front bleeders are practically welded on. So, I'll need to just do a complete front brake job now, so I can get all the air out. Lucky it can be driven, but I can tell a front brake job will make a big difference. This brake job is the gift that keeps on giving
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[ItsRandy]

Originally Posted by Mr.Hyde

Haha I'm talking Ive cut the side o my cab apart lots and I was just curious if anyone as has had this much of a fight with their projects. And out of curiosity how long did it take you guy start to finish?
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Are they ever truly "finished"? I have had my truck 30 years. I have 17 months in mine to get it to where it is now (I drive it every weekend at least) and it isn't quite "finished".

[BruthaMan]

Heh, no way it went smooth on my '78 build.

Even last weekend, I mentioned to my wife that it was amazing that six small screws and three hood hinge screws, could take upwards of four hours of my time. That was to replace the blower motor fan. It came out a LOT easier than it wanted to go back in.

Another example: Vent window seals. I prepared myself with the horror stories I've read here. For me, replacing the vent window seals was really a breeze. It did take some time, but I was surprised at how smooth it went. I spent more time trying to get the vent window back in (at least on the passenger side) than it took to replace the actual seals.

I like to think I'm like Bob Villa, but my wife (and reality for that matter) often reminds me that I'm more like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor.

[50bomb]

Nothing ever goes right the first time for me. So your not the only one my friend. Also sometimes it takes a few times till its right. Just gotta keep goin at it and dont be afraid. Take chances and keep wrenching till its right. If it was easy building these beauties then everyone would be doing it. We gotta keep encouraging each other.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by 50bomb

Nothing ever goes right the first time for me. So your not the only one my friend. Also sometimes it takes a few times till its right. Just gotta keep goin at it and dont be afraid. Take chances and keep wrenching till its right. If it was easy building these beauties then everyone would be doing it. We gotta keep encouraging each other.

That's a great attitude. I finally bought a nice DeWalt impact wrench/sockets, and I don't know how I got along without it. Being able to break rusted bolts loose and drop a steering column in less than a minute is a game changer

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[65 Fleetside]

Oh man, I wish I had pictures of all the issues with this truck's build over the years. Rust to name one! The doors were completely rusted out and everybody knows how these older Chevy trucks were notorious for water sitting in the door panels and elsewhere.

[78bronzechariot]

My day job is at a speed and resto shop. Some reproduction panels just don't fit. You have to keep in mind that 60s manufacturing technology is not comparable to today. Even if the new part was exactly to original specificatins, it may fit your truck and not the next guys. Then you throw in the fact that many repro parts are made overseas with little quality control, then shipped half way around the world stacked up and handled carelessly most of the way. For instance, We have a 65 impala in the shop now that just got half quarters put on it. The stampings for the body lines were much more crisp on one than the other, not to mention the fact that one side basically fell out of the box and onto the car while the other side was a day of finessing before it got welded on. I agree with previous posters that most only post the good things and measurable progress.

[78bronzechariot]

Oops double post Posted via Mobile Device

[67ctener]

I've bought from cpp, that's always a struggle
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[J-Rod67]

I've also had many struggles with my build. Still having them as a matter of fact. It gets frustrating at times.

[Lattimer]

I generally only post the finished version of the task in my build thread. I've had to re-work and re-do so much that I just sort of accept that I'll be doing everything at least twice.

Couple weeks ago I spent about 30 hours over 3 weeks getting a broken tap out of an engine block.

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by davischevy

You got a panel to fit in only three or four try's?

That's exactly what I thought when I read that!!!

[Mr.Hyde]

Haha good to know I am not the only one who is frustrated sometimes. But for some reason I find it weird my frustration motivates me. Maybe I'm too stubborn to let a truck beat me. And I just tossed a number out there. I've spent 4 plus hours taking off my fender and door and putting them back on just trying to figure out how to approach something to get my rocker panel and floor straight. It would be nice if one side was perfect or atleast not rusted to hell but it feels like I'm taking a shot in the dark sometimes.
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[davischevy]

Main thing is, if you get mad at it, walk away till tomorrow, cause your getting ready to cost yourself money if you keep at.

[PanelDeland]

Mine's been a complete breeze.Everything fit's right and lines up perfect every time and the rust just fell off when I bought the truck.Every time I need a part,the money just magically appears in my wallet or bank account and the vendors seem to want to give me stuff.Some days I wonder if it's really a hbby when all goes so well.

If you believe any of the above,I've got some winning lotto tickets for sale cheap.

Actualy just last week I did new door hinges on the drivers side.I took the old ones off and installed the new,just barely snug enough to keep the door from slipping.I closed it and saw how it fit,then made an adjustment.I'm surprised how well the gaps came out on that one adjustment,now if I didn't need to replace the door.........

[slow-1]

I have been trying to get a radiator for my truck for a month.

You would thing that would be simple, but I have held in my hands at least 8 different ones that were not it.

When I go to work on ANYTHING, my wife asks me what attempt it is. If I say its the first try she says "Only 3 more trys and your done".

[65 Fleetside]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Main thing is, if you get mad at it, walk away till tomorrow, cause your getting ready to cost yourself money if you keep at.

Yep!