Hi guys (and gals), Long time lurker but first time poster. I have found myself in an odd situation and would like some advice: I have talked myself into circles on this. I have a 71 International truck that I have just gotten up and going since Spring. About 2 weeks ago I was hit in the truck and will receive a sizeable check (appx 1/2 the value of the truck). The truck does have an aging motor and some minor rust issues. It also has no ps, pb or ac. I have a 2 year old son that I would like to be able to cruse around with but sitting in the front seat is a concern. So the options are as follows: A. Fix truck and improve it with insurance money. B. Sell truck and roll money into 4 door family friendly project ( I have my eye on one with ps, pb and ac but its in 10000 pieces. but it will be nice when done. C. Sell truck and finish 1956 Bel Air that is sitting in my garage unfinished but runs (barely) it has a backseat and this was my dads car so its a "never gonna sell" car.
I say exercise option c. I think your old man would be happy if you finished it and drove the wheels off the thing. Just sayin.
I am BIG on driving cars. My dad had 5-6 cars and basically none were drivable his whole life. I would like to take a different approach so I guess I have my answer.
Let's see the '56 Chevy you already own. Sounds like you could liquidate the truck and get the garage art going instead of two projects. No, I don't listen to my own advice... Looking at your trees, are you in the south?
‘A’ is a non-starter. Can you get the Bel Air running and reliable over the winter? You mentioned PS, PB & A/C. If you (or another driver) need them, will it take too long to add any that the Bel Air doesn’t have? The answers will tell you whether ’C’ is an option. If ’C’ isn’t an option, then you obviously are left with ‘B’, but a car in 10,000 pieces is likely to still be in hundreds of pieces a year from now. If you go with ‘B’, you want a complete runner you can improve over the winter. Your survey mentions an SUV. No. Maybe we could give a p*** to a three-door Suburban, but a wagon would be much cooler.
35 years ago I hauled kids around on the front seat of a pickup and never gave it a second thought, but if that makes you uncomfortable, and you have a 2 year old, plan A is pretty much out the window. Buying a car that is a pile of parts that "has everything you need" usually means its still needing a bunch of parts, and that ***embly process that you didn't take apart is a really tough entry point. Putting together a pile of parts you took apart is tough, but its a cake walk to putting something together you didn't take apart. That takes that option nearly out of the picture, unless you have done this before and fully understand what is involved. We need more info on the 56 Chevy, but its already present, and paid for. It already being a long term family project, adds to the desire to get after it, depending on exactly how much has to be done with it. Of the options presented, the 56 sounds like it may be the one I would go for.
I am far from an expert on tri 5 Chevy’s, but over the last 20 years I’ve spent more time in and under my buddy’s 56 Nomad than I have in the 25 years on my 55 bird. Everything you can imagine for those is available. And cheap, compared to my Ford prices. “runs but barely”? What’s that mean? If it’s anywhere near drivable, it’s going to be on the road much quicker than any other project. Very family friendly. Even if it’s not drivable all the parts are out there. His 56 is practically a show car now, but didn’t have to be. Treadle vac replaced with bolt on power brakes. 350/330 hp crate motor, 700R4, front disc, completely rewired, all new front suspension (including the control arm bushings). All bolt on with common hand tools. The only welding was the transmission crossmember, but it would have been easier to weld instead of bolt the new motor mounts. It’s a great driving car, stops good in traffic (which the drums did just fine also). Go for it.
The truck is cool but understand why it's not a great youngster hauler. Do you need a truck enough to have one in the fleet? A thousand piece puzzle is not a choice, unless you have the time, space and money to re***emble it. If you had that, you could do both the truck and the 56. Don't kid yourself, soft parts, hardware and fluids are going to swallow a bunch of time and money. Dad's car is the given. Get it running, driving and reliable. When your son gets bigger, he can help with maintenance, upgrades and looks.
Answer seems obvious to me. Finish the 56 and make it a great family cruiser. I have so many good memories hauling my 4 kids around the country in my 56 Ford. Depending on what it looks like, I wouldn’t spend much time or money making it nice. Nice cars and kids cause more stress than needed. It is amazing I even like cars after feeling like my dad’s cars were more important than I was. I like decent looking drivers that aren’t that nice now. Much more fun with a family when life happens.
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