Don't try to rebuild the entire truck mentally. Make a sequential project plan: I. a. front suspension, front disc brakes, c) rear axle, d) brake lines, e) fuel tank and fuel line,

II. Engine:

III. Tryanny

IV. Body: you make your own list. Think about only one 'system' at a time.

Good luck.

Its like a rally in Tennis, you keep smacking it back as hard as you can to the other side......but whooa, here it comes again. Keep your eyes sharp and your mind ready, you never know, it may only take a simple lob to finish the game!

48D

Hey Mike;

Don't sweat it......it is a pretty logical progression. Do what you know needs doing while the body is off. It ain't a race. Take your time....do it right....you will be happier with it when it is done and you know it is safe and sound.

Jeff

Thanks guys. I guess it's a lot like life. Long term plans need to be visions, not the details you want them to be. Working hard toward that vision puts you in a position to react to any opportunities that arise.

It's certainly not a Gas Monkey Garage build. Two weeks. LOL.

I read the guys comments to your blog so far and have to say that I would have replied with those exact thoughts myself.

I can well relate to your situation as I have my 53 truck frame off for sandblasting at present, but find that I continually receive different stories from the Sandblaster as to why the job has not been completed yet. I consider myself somewhat smarter and wiser now having completed my previous truck restoration a few years back.

I completed the restoration of my 52 truck a few years back by undertaking one small job at a time. The whole train of thought during that build was to 'do it once and do it right'. Things must have worked out well on that truck as I only occasionally take it to truck shows and there are some 20 trophies sitting on the desk beside me at present. The 52 truck was never intended to be a show truck, but I found that it was quite a nice truck in the end as I did in fact take my time (6 years in total) and did it right - unfortunately there were many lengthy delays during that time (including the same Sandblaster 18 months and the Panelbeater 12 months). Time and money are valuable commodities.

The best advice that I can offer you Mike is to make the most of your present time by considering and arranging your next small step, and make the most of the time with your dear old Dad for those may well be the best times of your life.

it's a love/hate thing for me as well.  I spent SO much energy on FEF and it was such a LARGE part of my life for a while it caused me lots of stress.  It helped me to make a punchlist of what to do and in what order and just go down the line.  Of course now, I'm "done" and I spent a year "off" (as others can attest, one is never "done" with an old vehicle), and am now starting the daunting TODD project. 

None of this should be "work", it's for fun and relaxation, to me that was and remains the key....don't stress, just enjoy!