71 Vert what to do??
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,641
Likes: 1,827
From: Huntsville AL
Here's my .02;
Your not going to do a frame off restoration so quit thinking in those terms. Forget about swapping out the Auto for a 4-Speed for now and address others issues.
1) You need to be thinking MACO paint job (mow and a blow) unless you are perpaired to drop $15K plus on paint.
2) Detail your engine compartment and get it back to looking orginal or something close to it. Lose the headers, they are for drag strips.
3) Refresh your interior looks like you just need carpet, seat covers and some paint.
4) Unless there is something wrong with the suspendsion don't mess with it.
You can do all the above for about $5K if you do most of the work yourself.
Your not going to do a frame off restoration so quit thinking in those terms. Forget about swapping out the Auto for a 4-Speed for now and address others issues.
1) You need to be thinking MACO paint job (mow and a blow) unless you are perpaired to drop $15K plus on paint.
2) Detail your engine compartment and get it back to looking orginal or something close to it. Lose the headers, they are for drag strips.
3) Refresh your interior looks like you just need carpet, seat covers and some paint.
4) Unless there is something wrong with the suspendsion don't mess with it.
You can do all the above for about $5K if you do most of the work yourself.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Bah, it's a base model car, will never be worth huge bucks, and will require a bunch of work. At least build it so it's the car you want at the end (red and manual if that's your preference)! The only way (for me) to justify the time and money it will take to make that car the nice car that you want it to be is if it's also going to be a car that you really want. Otherwise, if you can't bare to do that, then just flip it and buy something that is what you really want.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 106
From: Beamsville Ontario
Here's my .02;
Your not going to do a frame off restoration so quit thinking in those terms. Forget about swapping out the Auto for a 4-Speed for now and address others issues.
1) You need to be thinking MACO paint job (mow and a blow) unless you are perpaired to drop $15K plus on paint.
2) Detail your engine compartment and get it back to looking orginal or something close to it. Lose the headers, they are for drag strips.
3) Refresh your interior looks like you just need carpet, seat covers and some paint.
4) Unless there is something wrong with the suspendsion don't mess with it.
You can do all the above for about $5K if you do most of the work yourself.
Your not going to do a frame off restoration so quit thinking in those terms. Forget about swapping out the Auto for a 4-Speed for now and address others issues.
1) You need to be thinking MACO paint job (mow and a blow) unless you are perpaired to drop $15K plus on paint.
2) Detail your engine compartment and get it back to looking orginal or something close to it. Lose the headers, they are for drag strips.
3) Refresh your interior looks like you just need carpet, seat covers and some paint.
4) Unless there is something wrong with the suspendsion don't mess with it.
You can do all the above for about $5K if you do most of the work yourself.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 106
From: Beamsville Ontario
Bah, it's a base model car, will never be worth huge bucks, and will require a bunch of work. At least build it so it's the car you want at the end (red and manual if that's your preference)! The only way (for me) to justify the time and money it will take to make that car the nice car that you want it to be is if it's also going to be a car that you really want. Otherwise, if you can't bare to do that, then just flip it and buy something that is what you really want.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 257
Likes: 36
I rebuilt mine the way I wanted it. Finished about a year ago and still enjoying the resto mod. What killed the budget was paint...as others have mentioned its even expensive if you do most of the prep work.
Take lots of pictures and keep us up to date on your progress.
Good luck!
Take lots of pictures and keep us up to date on your progress.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 106
From: Beamsville Ontario
So after a considerable amount of discussion (with myself) and considering everyone's comments here I have decided to go ahead with a frame on refresh/restoration/rebuild.
I had a good look at the underside while it was on the hoist and other than plenty of "Bubba fixes" everything is pretty well free of rust. I will rebuild both the front and rear suspension, pull the motor and trans, replace the gaskets (motor runs strong no smoke etc..) in the motor and trans. The paint strips easily with a razor blade. Looks like it was stripped to bare fiber glass after coats #1 Ontario Orange (original) and #2 yellow. Right now when the red comes off is black (undercoating possibly) I don't see any red oxide primer. I intend to do everything myself....yes we will see.
Thanks again for everyone's input.
I had a good look at the underside while it was on the hoist and other than plenty of "Bubba fixes" everything is pretty well free of rust. I will rebuild both the front and rear suspension, pull the motor and trans, replace the gaskets (motor runs strong no smoke etc..) in the motor and trans. The paint strips easily with a razor blade. Looks like it was stripped to bare fiber glass after coats #1 Ontario Orange (original) and #2 yellow. Right now when the red comes off is black (undercoating possibly) I don't see any red oxide primer. I intend to do everything myself....yes we will see.
Thanks again for everyone's input.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,641
Likes: 1,827
From: Huntsville AL
So after a considerable amount of discussion (with myself) and considering everyone's comments here I have decided to go ahead with a frame on refresh/restoration/rebuild.
I had a good look at the underside while it was on the hoist and other than plenty of "Bubba fixes" everything is pretty well free of rust. I will rebuild both the front and rear suspension, pull the motor and trans, replace the gaskets (motor runs strong no smoke etc..) in the motor and trans. The paint strips easily with a razor blade. Looks like it was stripped to bare fiber glass after coats #1 Ontario Orange (original) and #2 yellow. Right now when the red comes off is black (undercoating possibly) I don't see any red oxide primer. I intend to do everything myself....yes we will see.
Thanks again for everyone's input.
I had a good look at the underside while it was on the hoist and other than plenty of "Bubba fixes" everything is pretty well free of rust. I will rebuild both the front and rear suspension, pull the motor and trans, replace the gaskets (motor runs strong no smoke etc..) in the motor and trans. The paint strips easily with a razor blade. Looks like it was stripped to bare fiber glass after coats #1 Ontario Orange (original) and #2 yellow. Right now when the red comes off is black (undercoating possibly) I don't see any red oxide primer. I intend to do everything myself....yes we will see.
Thanks again for everyone's input.
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 586
Likes: 10
From: Alexandria VA
That frame off or not to frame off question I struggled with myself. My frame, for 40+ years old, was is in solid shape. As I have progressed through my project and things come together I find myself wondering if I made the right choice. Obviously money is a big issue, which is why I left the body on but, I know there is rust in those rails...and that bugs me sometimes.
I personally find the bumper cars far more fun to work with than the 03 C5 I owned previously. Good luck with your project whatever direction you decide to take, it will be fun either way.
Paul
I personally find the bumper cars far more fun to work with than the 03 C5 I owned previously. Good luck with your project whatever direction you decide to take, it will be fun either way.
Paul
Last edited by Ranger24; Jul 4, 2017 at 09:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 106
From: Beamsville Ontario
That frame off or not to frame off question I struggled with myself. My frame, for 40+ years old, was is in solid shape. As I have progressed through my project and things come together I find myself wondering if I made the right choice. Obviously money is a big issue, which is why I left the body on but, I know there is rust in those rails...and that bugs me sometimes.
I personally find the bumper cars far more fun to work with than the 03 C5 I owned previously. Good luck with your project whatever direction you decide to take, it will be fun either way.
Paul
I personally find the bumper cars far more fun to work with than the 03 C5 I owned previously. Good luck with your project whatever direction you decide to take, it will be fun either way.
Paul