What would the price range of a total frame off job cost, if all the pieces to the puzzle were there??

I am talking about a complete frame off to NCRS specs?? I am in the northeast, so something local would be easier to arrange. However, if it meant traveling to get top quality and the right price, that is what I will do.

I have a chance to grab 2 different cars, one is a C-3/LT-1 and the other is a C-2 (1962 base engine). I am considering both and would like to know what kind of $$$ we are talking to get them in showroom condition.

Also, which car would fetch more cash down the road in your opinion?? I know you never get back what you put in it...but, it would be easier to convince the wife if it were fiscally responsible!!!

 

If everything is there, nothing to buy, all parts in fair shape, and just restore to new and doing it all yourself and you have all the tools, I would fair to guess in the neighborhood of $2-3k if that.

Paying someone to do it for you...probably around $20-40k or more I would guess, per car if your talking two.

I'm doing frame off now, and thats my stab at numbers.

 

2-3k NCRS? I don't think so. My dad has had single orders from doctor rebuild for over 1k he didn't do a frame off yet. He only uses NOS parts

 

He said if all the pieces of the puzzle were there, meaning just a straight clean up of all parts/paint/rebuild and back together, doing all work by himself, it would not cost that much.

 

I would say closer to 40K maybe more. all cars are different. a local resto shop charges $50.00 per hour. and if you have done a frame off before you can understand the time it takes. attention to detail is very time consuming. and those excating details are what it will take for NCRS. I have 25k in my 71 frame off and that is just parts no labor and it is not NCRS corect. and it still needs paint

 

If its NON NCRS $1k at the most, do all the work your self with help from friends= cool ride.
NCRS way to much, it all depends on what you want from your car All vettes are cool

 

Including the price of my car ($8K) I am well over $20K and doing everything myself. Mine isn't NCRS, rather it's a "restomod". I have a long way to go yet and lots of $$$. I'll bet I have over $13K in my chassis including the engine rebuild (original 350/350) and a new trans (Keisler). I rebuilt everthing including all suspension, fuel/brake lines, etc... myself and have ~20 months into the job so far.

 

Ok, I had a frame off done on my 68...in the North East.......Have a budget in mind, in other words, set a dollar figure on the job.........then double it! Also, sign up for marital counselling!

 

Have the car to enjoy. If thats too easy..

Having every single part, just a dissasembly repaint and done?

Impossible.

The bolts will break, things will be wrong that you "discover", and who knows what elso...

There will/should be new weatherstrip about 1000.00 per car. Paint materials for the exterior is 1500-2500. Hours are unreal...

Rechroming (all 2000.00), new gaskets (200), hoses (100), harnesses???(up to 1000), engine rebuild (1000 for a cheapie reassemble), transmission overhaul( 600). New wheel bearings and races (800). All new front and rear suspension bushings and rubber parts (500). All new body seals, carpet should be replaced, as its always dirty, or if its perfect, cleaned. Odd cans of paint, sealers, WD-40 ect...

Now remember the prices for the suspension stuff, ball joints and the like are for the cheapie new rebuild stuff, well it works fine, but its cheap. You know 259 for the kit ect... Want NCRS? Then find original tie rods with the thin shafts and get bushings to fit as well as original ball joints and correct rivets, correct alternator, starter, with shielding and clips...The vacuum override on an early 68? Look out. Just 10 or 20 perfect NCRS missing detail parts should be a $3000.00 part of the budget. Missing a few more brackets? Add another grand. Don't attempt to buy the stuff at ZIP either. In many cases its wrong in some detail of minute. Interior, talk to Al Knock, get the picture? Now for the LT-1 the carb and alternator and starter are not there? 1500.00!

As far as I know, a great C-3 will run you almost $5000.00 if the paint is good, if thats going to be redone look out! What about a carb rebuild, for your exact carb? The kit will be 70 bucks. Well as you start to look at all the stuff, outsourcing some things, trailing arms, transmission, rear end ect...makes more sense than doing it yourself. The time that it takes to accuratly learn to overhaul the C-3 rear end or the M21 transmission is better spent elsewhere, and factually, a whole lot better for everyone. They demand some precision that most folks don't have. The worst is to find a good frame on or off restored car, talk to the seller and find out that regardless of how nice it looks, the trans, rear end and trailing arm bearings and races are still 40 years old!!! Thanks for nothing! ("It was fine so we just put it back in...") So generally, a car that has not seen at least some certain parts off to a pro is simply not done...yet.

Best of luck. A C-1 is a whole nuther ball of wax and I guess they are probably a lot cheaper.

And remember a $100,000.00 C-3 is probably just the owner trying to get out with what he put in....

 

A picture speaks a thousand words.
If you show us what your looking at, and an idea of what needs rebuilt would give us a better idea.
You are not saying how bad of shape different aspects of the vette is, what exactly is worn out and needs rebuilt? How is motor/trans/diff/bushings/bearings/suspension (front/rear), exterior/interior, radiator, hoses, brakes/calipers, chrome, tires/rims, etc?

 

I AGREE
if you are going to restore the car all running gear, engine, trans, rear end, suspension, brakes, bearings all need to be replaced, along with many other items, it will not be a clean and reasemble process only. they are 40 years old. you will have more money invested than the car is worth if you pay someone to restore it. if that is ok with you this is fine enjoy the car. if not try to find one restored already, it may be cheaper.

 

The cost to do a complete frame off to NCRS specs would be impossible to predict. Most shops bill $60-70 dollars per hour and up.....add in parts/paint etc and your talking big $$$. One of the finest shops and one I can recommend from personal experience is Kevin Mackay's Corvette Repair in Valley Stream NY. http://www.corvetterepair.com/index.htm

As far a value in the short term the 62 would get my vote. In the long term the LT1 just might match or exceed the 62 in return on the dollar

 

Way low for an NCRS quality restoration. You could spend $3K for a set of correctly dated tires.

More.

 

I have done a few frame offs with everything and paint restored showroom new on sharks. Doing the work myself I kept the hours on the last 73 vert. took 1200 hours. Very few shops work for less than $40. so the labor is high. This was no internal engine,trans,or diff. work. Add the costs of the vert $15,000 and all the parts should let you know the vette will not be worth what you pay in labor. I think all the labor will be your loss. The vette will be worth the original price plus the parts. JMHO

 

lets see 1200 x $50.00 per hour = 60K just in labor without touching the drivetrain

 

thats not the way I read it...I read he wants to take it somewhere and get it done...the correct answer (in my opinion) is to buy a car already done..saving not only time and money but headaches along the way.
...redvetracr


"I am in the northeast, so something local would be easier to arrange. However, if it meant traveling to get top quality and the right price, that is what I will do."

 

Big bux ... top quality is Rowley Corvette (Rowley, MA)
Other local shops will be cheaper ... get what you pay for.
If in MA, try The Stingray Shop in Marblehead.
Also, Corvettes and Classics in Taunton.

Good luck ...

 

Without a doubt, whatever you plan on for a budget for a body-off will end up about double by the end.

Interesting question re: the NOM C2 vs the LT-1... I would guess the LT-1 is trending upward. The question is whether NOMs become more acceptable to more people as time goes on.

 

I am doing a complete frame off resto on a 1971 Big Block 4 Speed matching numbers car right now and I am into this car for about 20 g's right now. but that was with a powder coated frame and mostly new parts to make this car showroom condtion. I have a car restoration shop in Upstate New York. http://www.ramblinman.org/Cars-Home.htm
Here is the site you can see some of the cars I have done, recently finishing a 57 Vette and 55 Ford Pick up. You are probably talking 30g's per car if not more

 

You hit it on the head. I was looking for a professional frame off job. I was actually looking for someone who has used different shops so I could get a feel for who was out there, and what they spent.

I'm not really sure I want to tackle the financial burden of doing a project like this, because I am already driving a resto-mod '71 B/B and LOVING every minute of it.

I just thought it would be to have a "proper" Corvette for the future. I'm sure labor rates aren't going down any time soon, nor are the price of these "classic" 'Vetts.

Thanks for all your input, the links you have provided will be researched. If I end up with either of these cars, you will all be the "FIRST" to know!!!