Real car guy advice needed !
 

In a delimma folks ! I have the chance to buy a clean 86 monte ss for 7k . It's on my top 10 list and I'd love to turn it into a fuel economy road trip car . Here's the problem , my 68 gto is still torn apart and behind schedule , I have no place to keep the ss ( would have to get a storage place) , and I have a 69 c10 that I picked up to sell but never got off my can to do so . either way the c10 goes, but what would you guys do ? Pick up the ss and sit on it or save that $$ and what ever I get from the c10 and through it at the gto ? I keep telling myself it would be nice just to have something I enjoy driving while the gto is being restored .

No more new toys until you clean up your garage. The C10 is your proof. That 7K could get your GTO back on schedule. If you have something to cruise in, guess what your going to do instead of working on your car.

Word.

One at a time, don't get distracted. Other rides will still be around when the GTO is done.

Get to work, pilgrim. :p

In my experience the more toys you have the less you resources you have to finish any of them. Less money and less time.

Where does the 68 fall on the list?

I had a Monte SS too for a couple years. Mine had T-tops and was a rattle trap. I still was a cool looking car and I like the tight steering and suspension.

Just my .02 but everything said so far is right on the money. I totally get where you are coming from, it sucks having a car torn apart and nothing to cruise in. But if you by another car, as was previously said, you will be out in it and not working on the GTO.

Also, if you're like most of us, you will start wanting to upgrade and restore things on the Monte SS, which takes even more from the GTO project.

Counterpoint, it really depends on what kind of timeframe you have for the GTO. If it is a long-term project that isn't going to be done anytime soon, than maybe buying a cruiser isn't a bad idea. Ultimately, only you know what is best for you.

-Dave

Being in your boots or worse................Isay this is the best way to go!!

^ ditto

X5or6. You have too much on your plate already. Time to get busy and strip down your operation to high grade ore only. Finish the truck, sell it, finish the GTO, and THEN think about getting the SS. The more 'projects' the less success. Every time.

Hard to focus on 2 projects.Get the GTO done.

x2 focus

The problem with cruisers is they turn into projects too and take time and money. Even if they are in good condition they still need gas, oil changes and insurance. The three factors I look at when I buy cars is time, money and space. If I have all three then I buy the car. If I don't meet all three I walk away.

Great advice, thanks for the responses. I usually go with my gut and I just couldn't find it on this one ! I'm gonna get off my tail and put the c10 on Craigslist for some extra coin towards the goat. Any body need a clean c 10 in the cincinnati / northern ky are !?

Sounds like you're burnt out on the projects... Unload the projects... Buy a car that you can drive and enjoy....

Well, this is an option but the OP should be forewarned that disassembled projects are worth pennies on the dollar. What you have into it means absolutely nothing. There are plenty of disassembled projects in the For Sale section and nothing is moving. They are all overpriced, but dreams die hard.

might be able to hook you up with some inexpensive storage in NKY area, if you choose to go that way.

Can you store the SS under a portable garage? :)

Follow your heart. Pontiac Crest or bowtie

Forget that gutless Chevy and buy a real car like an 86-87 Buick Turbo T or Grand National.

The gto was my dads so I'll see it through to the end even if I have to pay a shop to get it and finish it . The drivetrain is done , I'm tryin to reassemble the frame now. I lost $$ and time on the c10 , it's cool just not really into trucks. I Thought I would enjoy cruising it more. Was curious how many projects other guys had.

I couldn't agree more. I had a 47 Chevy truck project that I was well into when I picked up another ride to drive while I was working on the truck. Unfortunately, the new ride became my project and the truck sat. After 3 years of zero progress on the truck, I ended up selling it off as parts. I've experienced it and seen it happen to others.

I'd say pass on the SS, sell the C10 and get after the GTO.

If you want it, get it! Life is too short for "I wish I had" moments.

If you want a driver car to tool around in and NOT jump into another project, go for it. Personally I'm done with long term projects, all of the cars I get from here on out either have to be driving shape or extremely close to it. Sure, money from buying that car could go to the GTO, but it could easily NOT go towards the GTO as well. Get rid of the C10 at a minimum and if the Monte is still available and you want it, go for it.

I don't personally see another driver car keeping you from getting the GTO done. Another project in a million pieces, sure. You can be a responsible car owner and not end up tearing apart a runner\driver Monte Carlo SS to modify it and if for some reason you get bored with it in 6-18 months, you'll likely be able to sell it and get your money back anyways as people go gaga for Chevies.

ben, i agree with ya, and im going about doing the same thing--next summer im going to divest in some cars and parts that are just parts cars and or projects that have sat way too long, and i know ill never get to them. and any more cars i buy will be very clean and all ill need to do is wash and enjoy them. fixing basket cases and rust buckets are done for me. if you have the storage space and the money, i say buy what you want, but IMO make sure its a sweet clean original car in excellent shape, because the $ difference between a fixer upper and a nice one isnt that much.

If I told you you would be depressed.

Maintaining driver cars and upgrading them to better condition is work enough! I still have two (maybe three) full blown restorations I have to get through in the next 10 years and I'm not sure I'll make it! ;)

One at a time......
The LeMans has gone to a better home and next Sunday the Ford is going to auction. I will be back to the car I've had for the last 18 years.

Stick with the GTO. I had a 78 landcruiser that I was going to restore, sold it and put the money into my GTO and I'm still not finished. Believe me it will cost you a lot more than you think. But it will be well worth it. ;)

I have a few cars....they are all pretty nice drivers....but they all need something....in the end...they are all projects... I learned years ago...don't take apart a perfectly good running car...

What needs to be done to the C-10???

I'm with everyone else. I can't get things done in the order I want any more. i have a difficult time getting the time and money things available at the same time. My T/A still runs and drives, nothing spectacular in either sense, but it will get done!!!
I have a 67 C-10 that I have a engine and trans for, it needs many other things, but it's first on the list. Then I have a 68 C-10 golden aniv. special.....396, TH400, PS, PB, A/C, it's not in good shape everyone says I should scrap it...no way

Point being, if for some miraculous reason I get all these 3 done, then, and ONLY then would I even let myself think about something else!!!

A good friend of mine, has been blessed w/ a great job, and income to go with it (self employed). He's much smarter than I am in the "project" car situation. He svaes up his $$$ and buys them completely finished. You can't usually get all your $$$ out of them..he's got some cool toys...

Stick with the GTO... The Monte Carlo could end up biting you in the azz. Then what happens to the GTO?

I'm with the guys recommending passing. I had several temptations during my 8.5 year "restification" on my '66 GTO. The only one I truly regret passing on was a 90% completed '64 2+2 resto for $4200. It was a factory 4 spd, 389 car with (IIRC) a 3:5 rear, which was somewhat rare in the big cars (it had a 455 with a complete '66 tripower on it when I was considering it). It was all painted, new interior, new everything underneath and just needed the front clip installed to be driveable.

In the end, it would've been $4200 I wouldn't put into the GTO, and I had already been at it for a few years already, so I passed.

I still think passing on it was a mistake, as I've always loved the 2+2s, especially the '64, as they had very clean lines. Oh well.

I feel your pain, My lemans is a clean driver but needs to be stripped and painted. I just enjoy driving it to much, I would have to lay it up for a while to get it done. Everyone asks me when Im painting it. I can drive it anywhere, supermarkets,home depot kids games... dont have to worry about door dings!

If I had another cool driver, I would do the lemans, just DO NOT DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME! Then none get done. A $7000.00 Monte ss should be mint. That is top dollar for them.

X2 on the idea of a $7000.00 Monte, darn thing should be like new!!!