Prices

[pflaming]

Did a preliminary price list on items I see coming down the tube. These do NOT include brakes and full 12 volt wiring kit. Primarily items pertaining to the engine. The 'must' list is right at $1,000. Does not include new manifolds at $375.00. All prices were from Vintage Power Wagons.com. Are they competitive or higher because they focus on the 'power' wagon? They want $165.00 for their single barrell "Carter" carb. Is that carb price for real and $350 for a new manifold!!! I got a little 'sticker shock' on those two.

[Don Coatney]

For most tune up parts, water and fuel pumps, gasket kits, etc. try NAPA or any other good auto parts store. What size piston rings do you need? What size bearings?

[grey beard]

Not every rebuild will require every part in the catalog. I rebuild my own motor in the frame for less than $700 bucks - new pistons, rings, rods and mains, reground all valves, knurled the guides - replaced one guide only that was too worn to knurl - and have a very fine end product of which I am quite proud. Carburetors are rebuildable for a cost of about forty bucks for a kit. I would never spend the money you quote for a new manifold before I exhaust (no pun intended) every avenue to find a used one via this forum. Sold a fine used manifold to a member here for $50 last summer. They're out there if you look. Why, I think entire engine assemblies with the manifold still atrtached can be had for a lot less than you were quoted for a new manifold.

Check out the "for sale" parts section under trucks on this forum.

My truck is finished, all but interior trim, and I have less than $7K invested, including the grand I paid for it initially. Read over previous archives of this forum and learn the many ways whereby members have learned to save money on parts workarounds and clever, innovative ideas.

Happy Hunting

[pflaming]

Started 'hunting' after I made the list. I have several friends who are mechanics with most all the tools. Will be visiting them tomorrow with homemade brownies!!! Mechanics I know like to eat!

I do not need all the parts on the list but wanted to have an idea of what things cost before I start to pay out anything. Paid $250 for the truck and have $300 in the engine with the rusty piston so only have $550 invested so far. Learned that when you buy a vehical without an engine, one didn't buy much. Will go slow now, may make a list of what I NEED and post it!

Do want to give it to my daughter in Indianapolis so maybe ought to look for a slant 6 or _________. Just a thought.

Foggy out tonight, zero visability, 35 degrees and 100 % humidity, COLD even though not 35 below. Our cold is 'food freezer' cold, cuts right through. Enoh, back to sleep and thankyou for the responses.

[brian hood]

Just my 2 cents but check the link below. The wire harness is very easy to make. If you ar going to keep it stock, then this diagram is the way to go.

Brian

http://www.dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/wiring_harness/wiring.htm

[Norm's Coupe]

Gray Beard is right about finding used items much cheaper, like the manifolds. I sold a complete (ran fine when pulled) 230 truck engine, with the clutch and bell housing included a few years ago for 100 dollars. Only thing missing was the carb, which went to another forum member in Canada. The engine was even clean and painted (red). The guy who bought it did live within about 150 miles though and did pick it up his self.

So.........as mentioned, look around a little before popping that much for just the manifolds.

[pflaming]

Brian, going to look into this. Thank you.

[Dennis_MN]

Just a small story to make your day.

My first restoraton was a 1931 Ford Model A coupe that I bought as a basket case for $150. My wife hollered out the window, your PAID $150 for What!

I spent every spare dime I had on that project over the next 7 years. Then I got a hankering for a T-Bird but by by the late 1980's they were priced out of my market so I went after a convertible and got a 1970 Challanger. I had to sell the Model A for $2800 to get a small pile of cash to work with. Then after 7 years I got the hankering for a Pickup to build so I sold the Challanger for $2800 and started looking for a pickup. I was looking for a 1954-56 F100 but I made one fatal flaw, I sat down and added up all that it woulld cost to build it and I think I stopped counting at $15,000. I decided that it would be cheaper to go out a buy a new pickup so I bought a new 1987 Ranger. I still had an itch for a pickup that didn't go away. In 2005 I set out to find a Pilothouse from my child hood memories and I found several, all projects. But one day a repainted "survivor" showed up in Hemmings and it was just 30 miles up the road from where I live so I went up and bought it. $8500 for something all done for a change and it only had 47,000 miles on it. Now I just feed $1000 a year for improvements like radial tires, disk brakes, radios.

In other words, you can eat a motorcycle if the bites are small enough, so the moral of the story is, spend what you can out of your "allowance" and do what you can yourself, just remember that its a hobby and an education, its not your transportation. Look at the wonderful projects by Dave Erb, Merle Coggins and Dan Olson all over time and with a budget.

Dennis

[pflaming]

Dennis, just what I am doing. Not spending much money, just a little spare time and having fun in the process.

[MBF]

Personally I think one of the most fun of this hobby is the "hunt" for parts and comparing innovative outside the box ideas. This is a great forum for ideas and stories of experience. A few years ago no one wanted this MoPar stuff-now when you go to a show there are rows of them! Guess I was ahead of my time when I bought my first Dodge almost 30 yrs ago-still have it and a couple others that I've accumulated. My 52 1 ton isn't a show piece, but its a good solid reliable driver that I did myself. I get a lot of compliments at any event I've been do. Dare to be different-nothing like sweat equity for a sense of satisfaction. Mike