they all have the means ,, and do restore their trucks,(maybe not walley... LOL
) , if you dont recognise there first names,, oh well,, not everyone spend ALL there time on the web sites,, posting photos of their restorations, and or posting useless info or remarks,(this is at no means guided toward you personally), most collectors(alot of GP jeep and tank guys) dont care to share their photos,, etc with the WHOLE world.
I like to post pics of my finds,, because there are usually UN-USUAL! FINDS,, the k51's, k44, the k43, or vc's vf's,, and ofter a fun story, or better yet a GREAT recovery! ( powerwagon forum- ie "free wc51, see pics) that looks FUN!!!
ALSO, because there is NOT alot of info out there of my odd finds,, so those who have one,, see my posts,, and PM, or email me, i have to get ahold of the another guy with the K-51 still. he wanted pics, i havent found mine yet.
I dont post to gloat.. i dont list my trucks to swing the biggest shaft...
I could care less..... really ,, i dont care.....
ok,, last names,,shaver, mullins, bizel, walley from wisconsin(some W last name) baales, mc neal, HUFFMAN, nelson, clint from florida, captain crank from MN, jenson, and many many more all have shops,, fitzpatrick...paul from tm paints!! the list goes on and on..McMIllian......the colorado gang, logan, etc, the NM guys,, dan, and danP. jr,!!(tank guys) ha ha which I thought for years were the same guy,, posting,, etc LOL till i met one of them at evansville.
i'm still in the collecting phase, and yes, 95-98% all go indoors
,, the first part of restoration, is preservation.. i have several parts trucks, not on my list,, i think i have about 5-6 open cab parts wc half tons,, or half wrecks!!
I f i can drag them out of the fence row, get them home(often 1000+miles) get there
data(serial numbers, buck tag, door pillar# and anything useful to them and for the HOBBY.. i do,, then i clean them out, buckets of sand, moss, poop, rats nest...aahhh,,, the SMELL OF AN OLD FIND!!!
, try to get them to run,, and put them away...FOR NOW!!! I've done a better job then the guy before me!!! CORRECT?? i have about 22-25 more i have to get.. then i'm done, collecting.....
and really who cares, , what i have??? seems like you do??? really?? who cares if i have a warehouse full of unrestored WWII trucks.... its still a better investment then MONEY IN OUR BANKING INSTITUTES..
I'm 36 and semi (well fully) retired. and have 40 more good years of restoration in me,(60-70 trucks, remenber, i have all the equipment, sand blasters, paint booths, lifts.. and TIME!!!), i just bought out my buddys, complete paint /auto shop, with lifts, paint booth(14x26)etc.. and getting them set up, i may build a new shop, 120x80(as he also has an un erected steel shop sitting in the field, all new) no gloating,, but just explaining,, i can do about 2 trucks a year,, maybe 3.. I also do the hotrods shops sand blasting. this is an important part, and often expensive part,, which stops MOST restorers, dead in ther track, So i invested in MY hobbie,, and bought the compressor trailer(john deere diseal motor), and hopper,,,, and boy does it make it easy!!!
in the mean time i have my m20 resotration:
http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab23 ... STORATION/
It is on hold hold as i wait for parts from europe,, i have to up load more new pics,,
and
MY LIST OF VEHICLES IS NOT TO IMPRESS,, but to allow other (mostly new comers see what i have, and to PM, for info,, which i have about 4-5 per day... like ,, where to look for data plates, serial numbers,, what year is my truck,, where can i get parts, what paint should i use..
i think you've quized me on this before?????
it feels like i'm re writing this....
once again,,, collecting: to acquire all one item, for me DODGES, ARMOR
the wc58 on here that florance has:: was mine,
my m20 is almost done,, sold most of all my restored stuff,sold all my JEEPS(7 of them) people wanted to bad, and were willing to pay for them,
they were not for sale,, we ll the wc58 was,, i had to buy another halftrack..OD fever..
i rather have a garage full of survivors, vettes, jeeps, dodges, cckws,, then a garage full of FRESH restorations... i do have a few n96 shaker cars..
who says were are trying to impress,, i just know alot of good people in the hobby.... that i think are darn close to being the best at what they do,, or have done, or are so educated(tom, gpw guru) .
Restoring trucks, is the easy part... knowing every detail, dates of a production change, like a wc54 rear filler was change to the wide mouth.... when... etc
Tom wolbolt,, i m pretty sure has never restored a scout car,, yet,, he could most likely tell me more about my two,, then i know of,, like date, which lot they were made in.
i call him when i find jeeps,, and just by the serial number, he can tell me: date, month and year, production plant,, etc,,
Joe demarco,, is another,, astonishing man,, i 'll send him any question on any armor,, and he'll know the answer,, Its a learning experience,, everyday i learn something new.... i think everyone does....that's what makes it a : HOBBY
i am by no means a expert,, never claimed to be,, but i can have at least a knowledgable conversation, about,, many of these great WWII TRUCKS!!!
ALL my stuff, is pretty much, rust free,, I'd rather have a RUST FREE NON RUNNER, then A RUSTY RUNNER!!!!.. from a restoration stand point,, a better starting point- rustwise,, is where i judge. you cant make cavier out out a hotdog...... motors are easy to replace.. rust to MOST RESTORERS< KILLS THE project,, or enthusaism for their projects... and then often i hear takes 3-5 years to complete....or gets sold off, with a huge loss...
So ranger,, how many restored 100 point trucks do you have?? not that i care??? i really dont care... just curious... post some pics...still have the M6 bomb cart..?. jc