SEMA wrapped up in Las Vegas on November 6. If you were there, your phone is full of photos and your head is full of ideas. If you followed along from the garage, same deal. Now comes the part that actually matters: turning all that fire into a truck that starts, stops, and rolls out of your driveway.
Here is the thing to remember. SEMA is a trade show built for the aftermarket, and trucks are a big reason it exists. SEMA's own market data puts pickups at the largest vehicle segment in the aftermarket, at roughly $15 billion and 30% of all specialty-equipment spending. Plenty of people are building trucks. The ones who finish are the ones who plan.
Pick Your Lane
You saw everything from clean drivers to full-blown show builds. Before you spend a dollar, decide which one you are really building.
- Driver: Looks right, runs right, gets driven every weekend. Reliable power, solid brakes, a ride that does not rattle your fillings loose.
- Restomod: Classic body, modern guts. LS power, upgraded suspension and steering, a cab you actually enjoy sitting in.
- Show or pro-touring: Every panel, every bolt, every wire. Great, but it eats time and money, so go in with eyes open.
A truck like the 1973 C10 "Chasing Gold," unveiled at SEMA with extensive custom fabrication and an LS-based powertrain, shows where the top of the scale sits. Most of us are building a version of that at a fraction of the scale, and that is a good thing. Borrow the ideas that fit your lane and leave the rest on the show floor.
Set the Number First
Write down what you can spend and what you can spend per month. Then pad it by about a fifth, because a classic truck always has one more surprise under the paint. A budget you set before you buy parts keeps you from half-finishing five things.
Build in Phases
The fastest way to stall a build is to tear into everything at once. Break it up so the truck keeps moving forward, and you can drive it between phases.
- Phase 1, Stop, steer, and ride: Start with brakes and suspension and steering. Power means nothing if the truck cannot stop or track straight.
- Phase 2, Power and support systems: Engine and drivetrain, fuel and cooling, and electrical and wiring all get planned together so nothing fights anything else.
- Phase 3, Body, interior, and finish: Body parts, trim, seats, paint. This is the fun part, and it looks better on a truck that already drives right.
Your First 30 Days
- Pick your lane and write it at the top of a page.
- Set the budget and the monthly spend.
- Photograph and inspect the frame, steering, and brakes, and list what is worn out.
- Order Phase 1 parts and book any outside work you need, like machine or paint shops.
- Clear the garage and set up a place to keep parts organized.
Verify fitment for your year and generation before you order. If you are not sure, ask us.
Got a question about where to start? Call 805-272-6924 or email contact@dondottasolutions.com. The crew builds these trucks too, and we are happy to talk shop.
