For some who have been following my posts for a while, you know I'm rebuilding my truck. Over the last few years I've repainted it. New bed liner. New rear bumper. New tires. All a piece at a time as I could afford it. Now I'd like to start working on the engine and interior.
Just bought a red oil filler cap and red radiator cap for it. Looking at a red and black air intake next. Then after that, possibly have a mechanic put on some red valve covers. Red spark plug wires. You get the pattern. Add some black braided wire loom to top it off. Make it look good when you pop the hood.
All this takes dollars though. And that's something in shorter supply these days with increased costs. However, I've found some decent prices online and hope they hold for when we do have the extra cash. Which frankly may not be for a while. For now, I may be able to get the air intake in the next month or two. But just depends.
I also still need to look at the interior. The driver side of the seat toward the door needs repaired. It's ripped where you kind of slide in and out. Not sure if it can be sewn or if it will need a whole new seat cover. If it needs a new seat cover, may just have all the seats done. Front and rear. They're kind of ugly anyway. More money!
Got a dash cover for it already. Steering wheel cover. My radio dials are worn and have a speaker on the passenger side door that's shot. Hate to replace the radio just for some worn stickers on dials. Hopefully I can get new knobs through the dealer or find something online. Same with the speaker. Stock is fine.
Either way, it's a work in progress. Kind of like me. A piece at a time. Making small adjustments. Sometimes larger ones. But mostly small incremental ones that eventually add up. You don't really see the progress until you step back and look from a distance. Compare it to what it used to be. That's how rebuilding works. Whether it's a truck or a person.
You can't do it all at once. You don't have the money. You don't have the energy. You don't have the time. So you do what you can, when you can, with what you have. And one day you look back and realize how far you've come.
You rebuilding anything right now?
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using Linux photo editor and drawing and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.
Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy truck improvements and that is the same thing!
I am busy rebuilding my debt as I clear it off for smoother sailing so not much going into improving my stuff at the moment. Love seeing people who are enjoying a little disposable income and celebrating the new or improved toys.
Seems we settle into the marathon strategy of the race we used to run as a sprint when we were younger. Those incremental improvements are the game winners when pursued consistently! Looks awesome man.
Money sure can't buy happiness. But wish I had a little more too.
As far as disposable income, we have a little but not much. Especially lately with some medicall bills coming in for the wife. Maybe a little more after we get those paid off. Most of the heavy lifting on the truck was done before retiring and had more income.
Yep, now it is a marathon. Everything in long stretches.
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I love trucks. One of my fondest memories from my youth is riding on the back of my uncle's flatbed. It was just a short ride to the farm, but boy was that fun.
Yours looks great, worthy of the attention. When my daughter had to buy a new vehicle she opted for a sturdy pickup. Tickles me to see her riding around in that. There aren't many women who choose to ride around the suburbs, where I live, in a pickup. My daughter is one cool lady.
Have fun rebuilding. It's not just the finish, but the journey. :)
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Thank you very much, @kpoulout and @topcomment 🌺
🥰
Used to ride in the back of pickups all the time when I was a kid. So much fun.
That is so cool about your daughter. Trucks are so useful to have.
🌺😇
We are renovating the house we live in. We have to live and we have to do everything. Sometimes I don't have time, sometimes I don't have the strength, sometimes I don't have money. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake by starting this business. But when I remember and see pictures of how it looked and how it looks now. One big job is behind us. My uncle helped me with the roof and a few other relatives, but I mostly do the smaller jobs myself.
So I learned a few trades to glue tiles, plaster, install carpentry, paint, do plumbing ...
I like your truck, maybe not the color but that doesn't matter. But since gasoline is expensive in our country, I always have that thought or myth that American vehicles use a lot of fuel
A house is a nice project to have. But they can turn into never ending ones as well. Understand completely about the money shortage. Ever since retiring we have to stretch dollars.
That color red is one of my favorites. Compared to most small size asian and european vehicles, they do use a lot of fuel. Especially if you drive them stupidly. I don;t though. My truck is a cruising truck now.
Everyone likes a color that suits them.
Considering that I drive a car with 998cc, it consumes like a lighter. For city driving, it's ok, small, can park anywhere, it consumes like a lighter. But for a longer trip, I would rather take another one
This one is not bad.
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Base Extended Cab Pickup 4-Door
4.3L 262Cu. In. V6
He is good.
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That's the thing about older things, isn't it?
You get into the period I consider "the maintenance years," after which follows the decision of whether you want to just gradually rebuild, or start from new. I've always believed in keeping old mechanical things until they literally can't be repaired anymore. Staunch supporter of the "right to repair movement" in pretty much all aspects.
Good on you for choosing the rebuilding route. And yes, it costs money. Constantly. Every step of the way.
While I haven't kept exact tabs I'm pretty sure we've rounded the $5,000 mark on things that have been replaced and upgraded on our 2003 Silverado. Radiator, fuel pump, transmission, chasing some electrical ghosts, more... Although not strictly part of rebuilding, the latest outlay was $1,100 for a new set of tires.
But frankly, I'd rather pour money into repairing an older vehicle than dealing with one of these new all-plastic rigs out there.
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That is the same year and model as my truck! LOL
I hear you about the newer vehicles. I can;t stand all the electronics on them.
What a wonderful post! I start by reading about the rebuilding of your truck and end up reflecting on personal "reconstruction." I like that final reflection, about rebuilding oneself little by little, in one's own time, with whatever tools are available. Sometimes it's easier to see how creative we are when rebuilding a piece, a house, a dress, a plate, and we don't realize how many times we've had to rebuild ourselves. Sometimes we fail in that reconstruction, sometimes pieces are left out, sometimes they have to be replaced, but we keep going, trying to "be better" than the previous version. It was a pleasure to read you. Best regards.
thank you. I do a lot of reflective thinking like that these days.
I like the way you are taking it one step at a time. Big projects can feel difficult, but small progress really adds up. I think that is true not only for rebuilding a truck, but also for improving ourselves. Wishing you all the best with the next upgrade
One step at a time is the best way I have found lately. Especially with bigger projects. Thank you.
You're welcome 😊👍
Definitely doing this too. I am rebuilding a life, brick by brick. Some days aren't easy but when I stop and look back, I did pretty amazing job. Good luck rebuilding the truck, that'll be one of a kind when you finish!
Congrats on rebuilding your life. No doubt it was not easy. You did do an amazing job.
As far as the truck, It will be a while. But like you state, brick by brick.
Does my house count. Solar and now some ducted air conditioning, though working on your car sounds like more fun.
For sure it counts. You have been whooping the DIY on. Once I get my HAM shack up and running, may look into some solar power as an alternative source for it. The truck is fun. Eventually the plan is to show it at car and truck shows.
Looking good! It's always nice to have something to keep you busy!
Thanks. The truck doesn't keep me that busy. Like I said, it takes cash to make the upgrades. Being retired, that is not as abundant as it used to be. Especially now with wife;s medical bills coming in from her hospital stay.
I'm sorry to hear that! I hope it all goes well for her. I hear you on needing money to do stuff though.
She's all okay for the most part now. This was from back in February. Still getting bills and fighting with insurance.
Oh, okay, I gotcha.
Working hard to keep things intact so I don't have to rebuild. Maintenance is quite similar. You won't be able catch it all right on time, but it's still easier than rebuilding.
Thanks