If you inherit a slightly older, rundown light duty truck, you have to decide whether fixing up the vehicle makes sense. You have to determine if you have the skills and tools to do the job, you can find the necessary parts and the cost is worth it overall. You can make the job go smoothly if you approach the preplanning process the right way. Here is how you can decide whether or not it makes sense to add life to an old truck by shoring up its bones.

Determine Main Parts Status

The first step you have to make involves assessing the big financial picture. You need to understand the major renovations you may have to undertake that will cost the most. For example, the frame and its parts, such as the truck frame cross member, is the backbone; it needs to be rust free and in good repair both to support the body and all parts attached to the frame. Also, test the engine and transmission to gauge how many miles they have left before potentially breaking down.

Create a Blueprint

Once you have a handle on the truck’s integrity, sketch out how far you want to take your restoration. Perhaps you are interested in fixing the vehicle up merely so that it runs and passes inspection. On the other hand, you may want to restore the truck to its original condition, including incorporating original-style aftermarket parts. Maybe, you want to preserve the truck so that it sits somewhere in between: It looks good and runs well, but it is not necessarily replenished to showroom condition.

Cost It Out Beyond Expectations

Every good plan has to have contingency steps in place. That is, whether you are remodeling a room in your house or restoring a truck, you need to build flexibility into the process; you never know what problems will surface once you get underway. The biggest problem may be that you take a financial hit for which you are unprepared. Surprises do not have to be a concern; create a spreadsheet of all anticipated costs so that you are not spending blindly, but also enter a line item that includes funding for unanticipated expenses.

In the end, you really do not want to experience restorer’s remorse. You can avoid that emotion by taking your time to plan out the process. You should then feel a sense of accomplishment every time you plump yourself down behind the wheel of your newly-rennovated truck.