Car restoration remains popular and parts have never been more accessible. Among the most popular vehicles to restore, vintage pickup trucks have a charm that's hard to find with modern vehicles. In fact, vintage trucks in good condition can be worth more than six figures.
While classic trucks are great vehicles, restoring them is easier said than done. Fortunately, JEGS has all of the classic parts you need to restore vintage trucks.
What to Know Before You Start
Diving into a classic truck restoration project blind is definitely not advised. Instead, it's important to have a plan moving forward. Your plan must include the type of truck you're restoring, your budget, and the overall goal of the project. For people restoring a classic truck at home, it's necessary to consider the tools you'll need and how long it'll be in the garage.
When restoring an old truck it's also good to know the history of the vehicle. Do some research on previous owners to determine if the vehicle has damage you're unaware of. Depending on the classic truck, what you need to know varies.
Choosing A Classic Truck to Restore
One of the hardest parts of the restoration can be choosing which classic truck you want to restore. Or maybe you have a model in mind that’s been on your radar for a long time. Unfortunately, you can't always restore the truck you want due to availability – it's not like they're making brand-new classic trucks. So, you'll have to settle on the trucks you come across in the wild (barn finds) or at auction.
It's also hard to know which truck is worth restoring. To help you narrow down your options you can find the best vintage trucks to restore below:
- Chevy/GM C10 (1960s and 1970s)
- Jeep Wranglers (1986-1990)
- Ford F-Series trucks (1950s-1990s)
- Chevrolet Task Force (1950s)
- Ford Ranchero (1960s)
- Dodge D-Series (1978-1979)
- Dodge Power Wagons (1946-1968)
- Chevrolet 3100 (1950s)
These are only some of the best options to restore.
Overall, the best trucks to restore will have minimal rust on the body and a functional or salvageable eight-cylinder engine.
Planning Your Restoration
Old truck restoration requires careful planning or the project will fail. You have to be patient, knowledgeable, and ready to ask for help when necessary. Fortunately, coming up with a game plan is simple.
First, start with the budget and availability. Look online for classic trucks in your area and determine the truck that fits your budget. It's also possible to visit autobody shops, gas stations, and scrap yards to find vintage trucks. As a rule of thumb, expect to pay between $20,000 and $40,000 to restore a truck at home and between $40,000 to $80,000 to have a restoration shop do the job. Clearly, these are rough numbers – it can be more or less.
Next, focus on the direction of the project. Are you building a rat rod or restoring the truck to its original state? A rat rod is a truck that intentionally looks rusted and mismatched, so you have more freedom with the design. An example of a truck that's great for rat rod restoration is the Chevrolet 3100.
On the other hand, restoring a classic truck to its original state is more expensive. You'll need high-quality parts and exceptional bodywork. The good news is that JEGS can help with exterior restoration at every level. Old Ford F-Series trucks from the 1950s are a great example for restoration.
Additional Tips
Classic truck restoration comes with many challenges and the process won't always go according to plan. To increase the chances of your project going smoothly, follow these tips below:
- Read the owner's manual of the truck you're restoring
- Only purchase the tools you need for the job
- Outsource work you can't do (welding and painting as examples) to avoid costly mistakes
- Look for trucks with working engines
- When outsourcing to shops, check the price of different shops before making a decision
- Come up with a proper plan and schedule
- Read online forums dedicated to your truck
- Repair broken parts if possible
The biggest tip to keep in mind is patience. When things go wrong don't give up. Give yourself some time to think and overcome the problem. More often than not, you'll have a better time coming up with solutions when you're calm.
