MUDKICKR
Full Access Member
You mentioned paint the chassis, but are you also planning on painting the body as well? The reason that I ask is that a top notch paint job on a CC LB truck can easily cost in the neighborhood of $10,000 plus (especially if you are changing colors). This is if the tuck is in pretty good shape to begin with. A good "driver" level paint job will easily cost between $3K to $5K. This is something that has to be factored in because it will cost at least as much and the mechanical restoration if not more (lots more time and material cost involved).
As someone who does paint and body work on the side and does restorations from time to time, I think you may be on the right track with looking at an "already done" truck. An even better option would be to find someone who has done the type of restoration to their truck that you are wanting to do and buy it for pennies on the dollar. You will NEVER get your money back on a project like this if you decide down the road that you would rather have something else. Don't get me wrong, when it comes to restoring your truck I say GO FOR IT! With that said, it would not be the best financial decision (but vehicles seldom are). Just something to think about...
wow, just wow on that price. ive done a few paint jobs in my time and i wish i could have got that much out of them. few months back i needed my race bike painted and really didnt have a place to do it, and it seemed everyone wanted to charge me a grand to paint it. a grand to paint brand new body work for a 2009 Yamaha R6. i ended up finding a place to paint it and the total cost for me was less then 1 days work, and 132 bucks for materials. i would have paid 500 to 600 bucks for someone to do it but not a grand.
on a side note, tell us your total plan to build and if it sounds good i will do it for 25 grand.