If I feel comfortable doing something by myself I will do it. If I don't feel comfortable I'll pay someone else to do it because I know it will be cheaper than me having to 'learn' from my mistakes.

 

exactly, nothin wrong at all with getting some help

 

i think a lot of us grew up around cars working on them and watching our dads work on them. i didnt. my dads never really had an interest in cars. it was my life for some time. i put every second i had into learning everything i could. i was a dodge/chrysler tech for 2 years and a jaguar tech for 3. i got out of the business because i hated the politics of the dealerships. i was very fortunate i had a career to fall back on with my dads marble and granite company. point is, it took me a lot of time to learn mechanics and computer systems of cars, and i grew up around stone so i was able to jump right in and make a good living, either way it took plenty of time to learn either one. a lot of the guys that have a passion for cars never had the time to learn programming or engine swaps or the basic procedures and precautions necessary like the stuff we do every day. so when they want to do something they feel intimidated and end up having somone else come over to do it or take it to a shop. doesnt necessarily mean they dont care enough or theyre not cool enough, they would rather pay a little extra to make sure its right. but i do completely agree with the doucebags that have the endless budget and go around bragging about how badass their ride is when they dont have a clue half the stuff thats in it. i do all my own work, except machining and body work. if i cant do it alone i have someone help. if i dont know how i ask to hang around and help. theres different circumstances that have to be understood, and to say is built or nothing may be a little unfair. if i had a bottomless wallet, i would just sit at home all day and build my truck, and then learn how to do the stuff i dont already know, but whos honestly got that time?

 

before my truck i had never turned a wrench on a motor. ive done almost everything myself or with the help of other members. the first go-round is a bitch but after that it becomes a cake walk. read alot and get in there. its the only way to learn. the things i do sub out are gear installs, tranny rebuilts, paint and body. i would love to learn paint and after hanging out for my gear install i would be semi comfortable trying to tackle one myself(after alot more reading). like mentioned above, when someone is doing it for you get in there and help as much as you can.

i enjoy wrenching on my truck, but if i didnt have the time i would pay to get a few things done.

 

I built mine simply because I couldnt afford to pay someone else to do build it for me. If you bought it the way it is cool just dont claim the work as your own. Its all a function of how much money/time you have to spend and the facilities available at your disposal. I tend to have a bit more respect for the guys that have done everything themselves because they had to spend the blood, sweat and tears building it and for those that have built their rides they know EXACTLY what Im talking about. For those that bought them I can only wish to one day have the money to buy a badass ride already prepped the way I want it but maybe if I had to do it all over again I would build it again but thats just me. Different strokes for different folks I dont see why it really matters as long as you arent afraid to mash the loud peddle

 

LOL, I assume he's "disappointed" at my comments.

There's nothing wrong, with paying someone to do something for you. I never said that. I'm one of the last people to talk about that. I don't know how to weld(yet) so my exhaust work was done by a shop. I don't know anything about tranny's so I had that built by a shop.

I have done(some things with the help of people) all my car audio, headers, cam swap, efans, lowering kits,lift kits, and the rest of the little things I have on my truck.

But there is a certain line to be drawn.....when you have a shop install some drop shackles, your air intake, when you have a shop install your headers or your car audio, then your truck should no longer be qualified as built yourself.

I think the easiest way to tell if a truck has been built or not is to look at the owners hands. Mine are still pretty clean, but in 3 years of owning my truck, I have 4 scars, 7 stitches, calouses(sp?), and a small area where my hand hair(what little I have) doesn't grow back due to burning myself with an angle grinder.

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with paying someone to do something for you, but I have 10x more respect for a guy with a clean truck he built himself as opposed to a clean truck a guy had built.

 

Wait until you start learning how to weld or welding period. You will find all new and exciting ways to injure yourself..... a Couple words of advice, don't weld in tennis shoes (cherries burn right threw), pants with holes in them (cherries are attacted to holes and its a straight shot to the inside of your boot), get a decent shield that covers your ears (You'll get a cherry inside your ear once before learning this lesson), oh and sun tan lotion if your sunburn easy (I get sunburned all the time from welding in sleeveless shirts), never wear pants that are frayed at the bottom (easy way to set your self a flame), always weld with a hood (You will probably try to weld without a hood once, and that will be the first and last time you make that mistake) the list can go on......

Sorry personal dumb experiences speaking.....

 

really though, if its a sweet ride - who gives ****? admire the ride!

 

I admire the those who have time, knowledge, and tools to build/install. I paid for my installs (except cai and catback). I am self employeed, my wife works weekends and one evening during the week, and I have a 3 yr old and a 7 month old I watch when she is at work. I have 4 evenings a week to care of other stuff. It some cases, it is less expensive for me to pay someone to do it than it is for me miss 8 hours or more of work. Does this make me less enthusiastic about my truck? Plus, if it was not for people paying for work being done, grass roots racing would not be anywhere near what it is or have the sponsors to the right. Be thankful you have the time, knowledge, and tools to do it yourself.

on a side note, i helped rebuilt my brother 351 cleveland in his Mach 1 some 25 years ago. I was a shipfitter/fabricator/welder for 8 years. So, my hands got dirty plenty of times.

 

I hear ya Tom...it's tough to juggle the family, the bills, and daily life and still find time to work on the truck...not to mention finding the dough My ride's quickly becoming a beater as I no longer have the time (or the cash) to play with it. But it gets me to and from work so I can put food on the table, which is what really counts. Now I spend more time working on other people's rides to make a little extra scratch.

As mentioned above, if someone gets all their work done for them and tries to pass it off like they did it, that's one thing, but there's nothing wrong with doing what you have to do to fit your passion and hobby into your daily life.

(off topic, but I haven't even been able to play my bass since Rosie's been sleeping through the night lol...)