I am having a problem deciding whether or not to fix up my 72 elky. It has a lot of rust all over and getting more everyday. My main concern is that I wont be able to get the amount of work I need done any time soon on my income. I live in an area where I am not allowed to work on cars in the parking lot. So any work would either have to go to a shop or I could rent a work bay by the day at the local auto craft shop. either way its not very easy or cost effective. Like I said there is a lot of rust in my opinion and today I noticed this crack in the frame where somebody before me tried to weld the mount for the lower A arm. So anyway let me know about your opinions and what you think I should do. Thanks in advance for your opinions.
http://www.ctwtrucks.com/gallery/elky1972/81474.jpg http://www.ctwtrucks.com/gallery/elky1972/81473.jpg

Sean

Sean
Is there somewhere to store the car till your finances allow you to do your intened work.You could always move to a place that has a garage!
The frame doesn't look that bad,you can have that fixed,Or replace the frame.
Steve

I guess I could store it for a while but it wouldnt be garaged anywhere. when I was going over it I found that every piece of sheetmetal would need to be replaced or patched. So do you all think its worth storing or should I sell it to somebody that might be able to do something with it now. I've got no emotional ties to it and its not an SS car or anything.Thanks

Sean

Sounds like you're already discouraged, which tells me, once you get some money together, you'll likely put the money into it...then decide it's more than you care to deal with, then end up selling it in the end anyway. You wouldn't be the first 'cuz I've done it myself, and I wasn't the last. If I'm wrong, cool, go for it. But frankly that "emotional tie" is often the only thing that keeps you moving forward (it's the sort of motivation that keeps us from killing our teenage kids sometimes too). So if you're not "into it" you might save yourself some money and aggravation and pass it on to someone else who, in his heart, sees the EC as it will be and looks past all that rust.

My last 2 cents on this...the '72 EC that I thought needed too much work, that I was never going to get to, haunted me. I'm know selling it was the right thing for me at the time, but after over a decade of missing it, I felt compelled to find another to replace it. That's how I ended up with my '69. There's generally another car out there that YOU may see "as it will be". Your call.

SKIP

OK everybody, dont get me wrong, I love the looks and style of the 68-72 elkys and i would love to have the money and resources to do a complete restification on this non-SS elky.
Skip, thanks for the honest opinion. your right, i am discouraged already about the amount of work that needs to be done. I got this car free from my father-in-law and the only real thing Ive done to it is put a GMPP 350 in, and rebuilt the TH400 so I could drive it.

Sean

Oh I understand. I never got the impression you didn't "like" the truck, it's instead a question of "is this the one to put money and effort into?". Since your Father-In-Law gave it to you, you might want to consider the relationship dynamics that might be involved in getting rid of it.Since you have only the cost of an engine and a trans rebuild into it, money may not be an issue.

If you CAN drive it, why not do that for a while? Maybe you'll get a better feel for the needs of the truck. Maybe you WILL get a little attached to it and decide it's worth the money and effort. I bet "Dad" and your wife would like that. Again...your call.

SKIP ;)