Would have flown out to look at the car with my own eyes prior to buying.
Needed more work than was let on. Oh well you live and learn.

 

 

They always do.

 

I would not try to extract every ounce for performance out of the car, instead make it a nice spirited driver (which I am doing).

 

Should've taken the body off right from the get go instead of doing the front end and rear end and then saying this body has to come off to do all of this right. Would never buy a car already done and think it is cheaper You all most always have to redo things as they are Bubba or just not the way I want them! Yea I know there are good cars out there, but you really never know how good or bad they are until you have them a while.

 

Bought this about 2, 2 1/2 months ago. Doing a frame off. Numbers macthing 327/350HP. Most all little parts are there. This is a great hobby.


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I will never build another car under a portable carport in my back yard. Garage/playhouse is next on the list (unless someone offers a derelict midyear for free or near free in the meantime!)

 

 

Before I tackle my next one (hopefully a solid axle), I will enlarge/renovate/upgrade my garage. And add a lift.

But I said that too before I found a 65 project that I just started on, and I'm still in the same garage

 

Next time I'll be able to make a MUCH better estimate about how long it can/will take.
Regards,
Alan

 

What would I do different?

1. I did many parts twice - blasted then painted - blasted then powder coated - ON ALL 3!!!!!
2. Built the bigger garage when I had the opportunity (and the wife's seal of approval).
3. I never would have taken 2 cars apart at the same time.
4. Been more decisive on what I wanted out of this hobby. NCRS, Just Pretty, Just a driver. Spent too much money on items that ended up not being the right direction for me.

 

Any regrets? What would you have done different, offered less? The reason I ask is that I did fly out and look, knowing full well the price was not negotiable. It was exactly what I wanted and I had been looking for a long time. Hey, they all need more work than is let on. Your car is gorgeous so just give it some love.

 

And love it's going to get!

 

I would have started with a convertible.

 

Made friends with Donald Trump (to offset the extremely high cost of a 69 frame off)

 

As the expression goes "hind sight is always 20/20". If only....I should have....could have....maybe....and the list goes on and on. Are we having fun yet? Live and learn. There are no "do overs" so we make the best of what we have but never stop dreaming. That's some of what keeps us going and maybe....just maybe keeps us sane.

 

I seem to have struck several nerves here!

Common themes that we all share;
Start with the right car,
Double your expected budget (triple?),
Have an adaquate place to work,
Don't cut corners trying to save money because your going to do it over the right way eventually.

What a kick. This forum is part of the hobby experience.

Blain

 

Gee - where do I start.....

Well - after mine was sitting for years, I decided to fire it up (that worked good), then replace the radio and one small tear in the passenger seat. Well that did not go well.....

The whole interior ended up coming out so I could use Cool Car Ceramic. Then while I was at it, I took all the chrome off for painting.

I also noticed my alternator wiring was nasty - so I pullled the alternator and set it on the fender to tinker away....... hmmmm... I figured that was not a good idea.... so [[picture this]] with alternator in both hands at my waist looking around the garage for a place to set it while I worked on it. I set the alternator down and began rebuilding my garage. That was an extra 14 months or so.

Then the engine bay looked bad, so I pulled the motor to clean up the engine bay. Well, since the motor was out and I had to run airplane fuel to deter detonation, I had the motor rebuilt (read: don't rebuild a 427/435 - get a crate motor). Then the body came off and I felt it necessary to take every thing off the frame to rattle can - which turned into being powder coated.... so then I bought new trailing arms, suspensions (as I surely did not want to re-do this again). Then I upgraded to Electric Fans, Alum Radiator, Vintage Air, newer alternator, etc, etc, etc...

Oghh - somewhere in there 3-4 years was paying body shops to do nothing. Including putting 1/4" - 1/2" bondo ALL over my car. So it was then (while pulling the 2x4 splinters from my backside) that I decided to get back into the body business (for my car) and remove all that bondo - which I did. After 3 re-sprays - it is painted.

Did I note that I pi$$ed my neighbors off with my temporary plastic wrapped paint boothe, my sanding in the driveway.

Did I mention I bought all new wiring harnesses too, new tires, sandblasted my wheels, rebuilt all gauges, new weatherstripping, new carpet, convert to power brakes, Dynamat, side exhausts and covers, offset T-arms, new bumpers, bought new tools, body hoist on ceiling, spent wayyy too much money, time, heartache.......

My 2 cents would be to....
Invest in many ziplock poly bags, a good electronic camera and a magic marker. Clearly catalog and be decriptive about where the dang parts /bolts go back on the car. Realize a good body shop is hard to find. Realize that the body off committment comes first - not midway in the project.

All said, I do have a list of things I did right - can we start a list?

Used Corvette Forum for assistance (met some really good people)
Did a 69 Chrome bumper car
DeWitts Radiator, Spal Fans
Motor went to over 500hp and runs on pump gas
A/C that works
Lectric Limited Harnesses
Not giving my poopy attitude neighbors a ride in my car
Laying down 2 blacker than black rubber marks in front of my poopy neighbors house at 3:00am

 

Not a thing...do your homework, then excute! Muddy