Do you finish your projects ?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Do you finish your projects ?
Are you one of those guys that always has tons of ambition to tear every bolt out of the car leaving just a shell and just dreams about what you are going to do with the car for the next ten years only to end up selling it because you are overwhelmed or are you one of those guys that tears the car completely apart for a body off restoration and is driving it completely done in six months to a year. I bought my 68 Conv. six months ago, did a body off and it is three quarters done and will be completed by early spring. What is your record time for completely restoring your car ? I need to add that doing it in under a year is a killer.
Last edited by bj1k; Oct 13, 2007 at 03:50 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
They do em in 7 days on TV. 
Me, I have a two year plan and am a month into year two. This summer seems a feasible completion target.
I wonder if the fuel gauge works when their done in magic TV land?
Me, I have a two year plan and am a month into year two. This summer seems a feasible completion target.
I wonder if the fuel gauge works when their done in magic TV land?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
I think I'm going on 9 years and just now have the frame about done. However, I have a tendency to always jump into new projects for a while and then come back to the old ones; then repeat. The good is that I always have something interesting going on, the bad is that some projects end up taking forever. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
I did a 73 coupe in 80 days ten hours a day. No paint job and the frame was not taken off the body. It had good paint and a no rust frame. Every part was off the frame and reastored. Frame was done on a lift cleaned and painted. Engine removed and detailed along with the firewall and inter fenders. Complete interior,carpet and door panels.
800 hours nights and week ends would take a long time and a paint job adds lots of time.
800 hours nights and week ends would take a long time and a paint job adds lots of time.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
The important thing is that you do finish what you start eventually. I understand that with some people it is a matter of funds but what I hate to see is the cars that are tied up to satisfy someones dreams and will never get done when someone with more ambition could be enjoying the car.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
I have had my 71 for about a year and a half and did 85% of a frame off in 6 months and got really burnt out. now I work on it in spells, I may go months without working on it. my new goal is to have it ready for cruising the coast next October in MS. I work better with a deadline 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I used to be tear it down and build it up. Spent 10 years on the 'Vette and removed every nut, bolt, and screw. Then I bought a '66 Mustang, put floors in it, 5.0 EFI engine and am a few hours from hearing it run. Changed jobs and moved 2 years ago and have barely touched it. I miss my shop (25 x 50) that I had. Now I am in a 2-car garage.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Were talking a full body off restoration here, not just a freshening up with the body on. It takes a professional more than 7 days working a steady 8 hours a day to pull the body and do the suspension work, let alone do the rest of the chassis work and all of the work that goes into the rest of the restoration. There was just recently a thread on here trying to describe what is involved in a full restoration . It involves a lot more than some people realize.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 402
Likes: 4
From: Nassau
Ive been on go slow mode on mine. Its taken a hell of alot longer to get to where Im at today than I ever imagined when I started pulling **** apart. Everything I order has a 60% duty on it and they include the price of shipping when they add on duty tax. So the cost of parts alone is killing me. I have to do everything my self since there is no machine shops here and just to get an extra tool I need is a 400% markup on US retail prices. Ill finish up my rolling chassis this winter then try to scrap up some $$$ to get my 5 speed tranny and get the parts to finish up my 496. Then Ill start on the body. I only have 1 bad body mount and need to replace the floor pans so that shouldnt take too long..I hope
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 1
From: west babylon new york
projects
i bought my 61 as someone elses project it was completely disassembled he took of the nose the rear quarters he even took the interior body supports apart then let it sit for 15 or 20 years it took me 3 years of working on it every day to get it back toghether again somewhere in the area of about 3000hrs proberly more but it was worth it ,i got a few jobs out of it a few people saw it done then wanted me to do the same to projects they took apart, i am now finishing up my 2nd body off resto for money
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Ive been on go slow mode on mine. Its taken a hell of alot longer to get to where Im at today than I ever imagined when I started pulling **** apart. Everything I order has a 60% duty on it and they include the price of shipping when they add on duty tax. So the cost of parts alone is killing me. I have to do everything my self since there is no machine shops here and just to get an extra tool I need is a 400% markup on US retail prices. Ill finish up my rolling chassis this winter then try to scrap up some $$$ to get my 5 speed tranny and get the parts to finish up my 496. Then Ill start on the body. I only have 1 bad body mount and need to replace the floor pans so that shouldnt take too long..I hope
