How about the deals on fully completed cars that the owners are just sick and tired of looking at after all of the years of frustration. I just picked up a fully restored 82 Collector, that once completed....sat. It sat for 7 years after the restoration, too much time and money invested to risk driving it. He got tired of it, and frustrated as the surface rust started just sitting in the garage. I paid in the low teens, with complete documentation of the whole job. That's a bargain any way you look at it. The parts alone were three times the purchase price, not to mention the labor. Deals are out there!

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I have wondered this myself mainly when I go into the garage and look at the body on 1 side the frame on the otherside, with theparts on the rack in the middle.

It is very overwhelming, and in my case it is because I bounce at what to do next. When I focus and say, I am going to go to this point before moving to the next it is easier.

I am stubborn and wont let anything beat me. that said, I am very much enjoying the breakdown, the planning and now the beginning of what I concider the put back together (cleanignthe frame and PORing it).

I keep the goal in mind, and that is I have always wanted to do a car eventhough and I want to give something to the wife that she has always dreamed of. The smile that will come at the end will be worth it.

I bet 70% is pretty accurate, but that is broken down in my opinion for various reasons. I think the 70% is probably broken down like this
1-Cant afford it anymore 30%
2-over our heads and say heck w it 20%
3-life changes and just cant get back to it. 50%

 

Poor documentation is the fall of many projects.

 

Some projects are just really long term and take a lot of money. I have had my 71 apart since about 2006, it was flooded in 2005 when Katrina hit, and just move on it slowly as I have the money. My restoration due to the flooding has caused me to redo everything. I buy parts and tools (lost alot of mine) to do the work. I sand blast parts almost daily and paint stuff as the weather cooperates. I figured if I am lucky and money allows I could have the car back together in 5-10 years. Plus it took me a while to get my life re-situated and a place to work.

 

Not all cars need, or are even economically worthy of, a frame-off effort. Thankfully I listened to expert advice as soon as I got my car. I was told to enjoy driving it for a while first, to decide if I even liked the old vette hobby. Then I was told to correctly restore the car a section at a time, so that periods of driving could revive the new-found enthusiasm. Unfortunately the economy and loss of income has put everything on hold for some of us. Thankfully I haven't dropped $100k or more at a shop like the above-mentioned Nabors Bros to "professionally" frame-off restore the car. If I had to sell the car today to pay the bills, I would take a huge beating on what I have spent already...even having done most of the work myself. This hobby is expensive and makes absolutely no sense as a money-making investment...so you better be enjoying it, whether that be driving the car or working on it.

 

This forum has provided much in the way of letting a potentail first timer know what they are getting into. Prior to my body lift I spent atleast 20 hours just reading other posts and finding out everything that was involved. Thus far I'm 6 months into my frame off and I have spent about equal amount of time on the CF and in my garage.. and here is how she sits today...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-vacation.html

and I had to go about 3 months without touching it.... due to school and work..

The new challenge is to get it done before my first born gets here in December... otherwise... I could be a statistic... but I'm shooting for August! Honsestly 5 solid days of underbody and Engine bay work and I'm ready to drop back on the frame strip her down and send her off for body and paint! I really wanted to try and paint myself, but that is where the time crunch comes in... While its out for paint I'll tear apart the engine for the rebuild/build up

Good luck to all, and don't get discouraged.. just get done when you can

As for the money part... save save save.... then begin! Things go alot faster that way!

As far as someone spending $100k... seriously...... I planed a budget and have kept track of costs in a spreadsheet and when I'm said and done WITH the initial price of the car and all the new tools I will be at a total of $18,200... granted I could buy a fully restored 75 for less than that, but I also got a Welder, 33gal Air compressor w/ tools, Sandblaster, upgraded the suspension, steering, and Transmission (Keisler RS400 5 speed) and know that the work was done...and done right because my hands touched it all... so in that sense its a steal for a brand new hand built 1975 Chevrolet Corvette and a garage full of tools... and most importantly .... its FUN to work on ...

::Edit: The above cost does not include the cost of the required amount of Malt liquid wrench (Miller Lite) ::Edit::

 

I wonder just how many of these "failed" projects are primarily due to the difficulty and the cost of replacing parts that were missing or just too badly damaged to reuse. When I purchased this '71 is would still run...but everything was there and nothing was totally 'shot'. Relatively speaking, my task was a "piece of cake" compared to some of these deals.

A large percentage of these failures were probably "really great deals" for cars in pretty bad shape or disassembled. How could anyone know what is missing before you actually dug into it???

 

My car has been apart since '08, and I can identify with alot of what's been said. I look at it this way: I've wanted a vette since I got a ride in a '69 427/ 435 vert @ 16 yrs old. At 42, that's 26 years ago. Mine will probably take 10-15 yrs to finish with the pace I've been able to take. So, I'm willing to take the time to have a car that I know is what I've envisioned ever since that day I looked in the rear view at the huge smile on my face as we were laying rubber patches!

The key, I think, is to find the resources like this forum before you begin. Also, be honest with yourself as to your ablilities, and double the space, and triple the money you think your gonna have invested. Take your time, and try and find your parts at the best price. Alot of parts can be found though members of this forum and others.

The time spent with my kids helpinig, friends gained, and the satisfaction when my car is done will be priceless, and it is what keeps me smilling everytime I head out to the garage!

 

I started in 2002 - just working on Sat and Sundays.
I am sure I have 1500 to 2000 hours plus in body work
but this car has a long history to me and I am doing it to be judged
So it is a labor of love for me.
Now the body is painted, the body is back on the frame and the top is on.
Now comes the detail work.

Most failed complete body off's etc.... are either the person runs out of money / time or gets into over their head.
meaning the person doesnt know what to do in what order so they get overwhelmed
or they dont know how to do a portion of it - normally body work. (good body work)
Restoration is overly used term
To me means - nut and bolt resto - every peice - that is how I do them.

 

In a professional shop at $80 per hour, or more? Those hours rack up fast. NOS parts, all correct refinished fasteners, rebuilding the drive train, a $20k paint job, re-chroming, Al Knoch interior, new wiring, restoring gauges, etc. People on this forum talk about spending thousands of hours in their labor alone doing frame-offs.

Given the same condition to start with, it would cost just about as much to completely and correctly restore your '75 in a professional shop as it would to restore a '69 L88. Which car would be worth it financially? Believe me, people spend way more than that on high value cars. Terry M. at ProTeam bought the last Sting Ray as a barn find. It sold at auction for over $600k, after the Nabors Bros gave it their total massage. I'm sure the restoration cost was well into six figures, but apparently worth it as a financial investment.

 

Hello Everyone,

I can add a few comments to this thread. I started by redoing the interior on my Bright Yellow 76. I wanted to reduce cabin heat so I gutted everything inside. That took four days. Rebuilding it/getting parts/getting rid of rust took four months. I estimate my total time to do this was 200 hours. I started Dec. 28th 2010 and finished April 25th 2011. I would get up at 5am to work on it for two hours before coming in to work and work some saturdays, 6-8 hours.

I spent way too much but it was worth it. I put down Husmat and a thicker Chinese knockoff and reflextix. The cabin is much cooler. Plus, new carpet, floor mats, shift console, gage bezel, radio, parking brake console, storge compartment/boxes, dash pad. I mirror polished the stowage buttons. I also refurbished the gages with new blue paint/bulbs (see image below for paint PN). Now my gauges are super bright. I drew the line at new seats/door panels. I rebuilt the ac box with new seals/heater core. New PB handle, New shifter ball/t-pull. New single retractor seatbelts. I added the late 76 center dome light. New door sill plates, new interior screw kits. Rebuilt clock. The second hand sweeps....How Cool!

I cleaned the parts I did not replace. Lots of dust/sand/nicotine came off of those parts.

Based on the frame off pics I have seen, it might take me 6-9 months to do that work. That would put plenty of strain on the wallet/wife/kids. Just consider that. If I could dip the whole frame in Evaporust I would.

All that being said, I am glad I did it. I enjoy driving my Vette much more now. I have a long list of things to do but that will get shorter over time. I know I would not get my money back if I sold it tomorrow, but I will get my moneys worth if I drive it for 20 more years.

Now the pics:

Valspar paint (65201 from Lowes) I used on gages:




Console:


Roadkill/Hushmat:


Seat tracks after soaking in Evaporust:


New Dash Pad:


New Belts:


New speaker brackets:


Stowage compartment:


New Carpet/floormats (I have gotten lots of complements on the Stingray mats)

 

Well said. Unless you are a true dealer, dealing in only restored cars and not having to do anything to them except very minor stuff and detail it, there is no money to be made in these cars or almost any other.

I think the above 70% failure rate and breakdown has to be pretty close. A guy down the street from me has a '67 Mustang Fastback, looks as if it has been in his garage for years. You see cars under covers all the time that appear to be abandoned project or have been put on hold for a very long time. I think a lot of people have the money to finish a project, its the time that is so precious, and that has a value as well. Like Faster Rat's expert said, restore a section at a time. This allows you to maintain sight of the finish line and enjoy your car again in a shorter amount of time. Unless you have a rare or unique car that is worthy of restore then only you can decide if a frame off is in it's and your best interest. If not, just fix what it needs at the time, drive it, and enjoy it. However, as many of us have found out, the better route is to save your money, be patient, and buy someone else's loss.

 

I stared in on my '81 in 2008 and it hasn't run since, but its inching closer. I have never lost interest, just time. I'll get there eventually, "cutting my losses" now could potentially be cheaper in the long run, but I've invested enough that it would kill me to do it, and I enjoy the process.

I'm kind of wondering what it will be like having an operable car and if I'll get bored with it at that point, but it will be a long time before I run out of things to do with it.

 

I drug mine home from someone who gave up on the restoration, It took me 5 years to restore / reassemble it.
If not for this forum It would still be a project.

The day I bought it home.




5 years later

 

Wow !
VERY nice job

 

Started my full rebuild last August. I hoped to have it completed in one year.
Ok, I've been optimistic on this one. However I'm aiming to turn a rust bucket to a sound and fair DD, no show car, it allows me to move faster and somewhat stay in my (tiny) budget.
So a 2 years restoration sound feasible for me.
A lot of the part I've put in it (replaced something like 70% of the original car) are coming from failed restoration, so I guess most of the restos are not failed for everyone.

 

I bought an 82 that was stalled out. It has been through 3 owners since the initial accident damage. All worked on some parts, and most of the new parts needed were purchased. I got it on the road, but still lack the bodywork and paint to be complete. The car wil lhave about $15K invested and is worth about $10K.

I then bought a 73 that was done poorly. It was a pieced together car painted resale red and sold on eBay for more than it was worth. I have repainted it and stripped out the interior for a freshen up. The interior is still apart, 1 year later. The frame has repairs that I don't like, so a new chassis is needed. The car will ahve about $25K invested and is worth about $15K.

I then bought a 72 big block that I have all but disassembled and reassembled. The interior is getting attention next, after I finish the 73. The car has about $35K invested and is worth about $25K.

Next I bought a 71 convertible that was restored, then sat outside for 10 years and rusted. Now it needs restoring again and it has 0 miles on the previous restoration. People do the strangest things. So far I have about $15K invested and it is actually worth about that much. But, I need to sink in another $20K to make it really nice.

Then I bought a 73 project that has been stalled out once the chassis and drivetrain was complete. I sold the motor and transmission (not original) and I am using the completed chassis for my other 73, and selling off the rest. he had purchased all new interior pieces and I am using them on my other 73. I have $6K invested in this one and have recouped $4K from the motor and transmission sale alone. The chassis is worth $5K and the interior parts are worth $2K easy.

Recently, I bought another 73 project that the PO ran out of money. He has finished the chassis and drivetrain with a stroker motor and 4-speed. This one was bought purely to part out and make money. I needed a couple of his parts, but for the most part, it will be sold in pieces. I have the motor sold and the body/frame sold. Now I have 3 crates of parts to go through and put on ebay. This one, I have $4K invested, and have sold off the engine and body for $5K already. I hope to get another $2K for the transmisison, rear end and interior pieces.

WOW, I could have had a ZR-1! But instead, I have a 71 convertible, a 72 big block, a 73 coupe, and a couple parts cars. If yo uask me, I like what I have better.

I think most project will be completed, but 10 years and 3 different owners is not a bad estimate for the completion.

 

I think you've got it right, do just enough at a time so that the car doesn't sit too long. If you get to drive it often enough, the passion re-ignites.

I bought my car Aug 2010 and have yet to drive it a 1/4 mile, not even a test drive before I bought it as brakes didn't work. I started digging into my semi-rebuild and at times felt a bit overwhelmed as this is my first vette and first project car. I was worried there for a while that I may never make it back to drivability. However, I was dedicated to not being one of the many that once taken apart never make it back. So that and finally driving it are my two motivating factors.

I'm hoping to start the engine this weekend for the first time since late September 2010. Now that's a Fathers Day gift!

 

I am not even sure if I will ever finish mine, but its drivable and I have tried to keep it that way. As parts go bad I replace them, as I run into replacement parts for the interior that I can afford, I buy them. One day I might start on the body and paint. I have had it for 7 years and replaced pretty much all of the mechanical parts except the rear. I am now working on the interior. I do daily drive it though and that is what I am happy about. A corvette looks great even when It needs a paint job

 

That will be a real treat! Make sure you burn some rubber this summer before tearing into it again over that long Minnesota winter. BTW, I grew up in Bloomington and worked in Savage in the mid '70s.