Hello everyone, My girlfriend inherited a 1968 convertible (W/Hardtop) that we want to get restored. I would like to hear of places you all would recommend. I live in Lakeland, Florida so any where in central Florida would work or ever out of the area if they are great. I am getting ready to install a new Edelbrock intake manifold (polished), Edelbrock endurashine valve covers, Holley Electric Choke 600 cfm Carburetor (Zinc finish). We want a professional to do the major things. We would like to get the body taken off and get a sweet deep metallic paint job. Frame cleaned up as well.....Would also like the engine pulled, cleaned and painted. Im not sure if most shops do just a few things or if they normally do certain things when restoring a car. Someone told us that the painter needs to know what he is doing with the fiberglass and to try to find someone that is an expert with fiberglass painting.... does that make a big difference? We do not know much about a restoration process but we want it to be done right So any place that you would recommend would be great!

P.S- How much would something like this normally cost?

Thank you so much for your help!

Adam & Andera

 

That is quite a bit of work to farm out and not likely something the average guy here would do.

If you are committed to this kind of restoration, You may wish to contact "Roadracevette" here on the forum.

His company specializes in total restorations so I won't throw any figures out that may skew your discussions.

I'm sure Stan would be happy to discuss the restoration plans and pricing with you in private.

 

Thank you... Im sure it will not be cheap but there are certain things we can't do until we get another home with a big garage Do you know where Stan is located? Thank you

 

I think everything pretty much depends on the current condition of the car. A frame off restoration can quickly run into the $20k-$30k range.

Are you sure the body needs to come off? You will get better responses if you provide some picture - the more the better (create a free photobucket account, upload pictures to it, and include the img links in your post).

If the car is in decent shape - ie. frame, birdcage, and suspension in pretty good condition, it might make sense to pull the engine and trans, then freshen up the frame, and paint the body with the body on.

 

Have a look through his site below.

http://www.2ndgenrestorations.com/

 

WoW... They do some nice work! There up in Massachusetts THO Kinda far for me... I live in Florida Thank you for the information

 

The good news is your girlfriend is getting the car at a very good price...free! The bad news is you don't know how much things are going to cost. Don't feel bad...most of us didn't either when we got started with our first vette.

You say that you want to restore the car, yet you are already talking about modifying it...engine and paint. If it is original paint and has the original drivetrain, including documentation, then you should really consider correctly restoring it rather than modifying it...original cars are usually worth more upon resale than modified cars. If it has already been modified, then modify to your heart's content. Just know what you are getting into before you get started.

P.S- I have spent $26K on my car after purchasing it ...and it has never seen the inside of a shop. I probably have that much more to spend finishing it...including paint, chrome and interior. If I had put it in a shop...I would end up spending $100K on restoration. It takes hundreds, if not thousands of hours to restore a car. My local vette shop here in Miami charges anywhere from $30 to $55 per hour and that is cheap! Some car dealerships charge $95 per hour or more. I know rich people buy high value cars and put them in shops for restoration...you and your girlfriend's car don't seem to fit into that category. Let us know more about it and post lots of pictures!

 

Yeah.. its not the original engine or paint... the original paint was white with bright blue interior. Her fathers friend said the engine was replaced but I still want to check the numbers to see if they match. Where are they located on the engine? The carb is shot and it takes a few mins just to get started... that is what started us buying updated stuff. I we want the engine to be updated and the rest of the car looking classic. I will work on what I can do myself but somethings I need a professional to take care of... I don't have to space to take the body off and clean the frame up or I would do it I don't see how to upload photos... I see the link to post some.

 

Depending on the level of restoration you want...driver, NCRS etc can have a huge effect on the cost. Alot depends on what condition you are starting with.
it can be a 2-4 year project and at $75. per hr it can add up pretty fast!
Ensure the quality of the car is worth working with such as frame, birdcage, windshield frame etc, check options http://www.idavette.net/facts/68.htm
Enjoy!!, its an addiction!

 

The engine stamp pad is a part of the block that protrudes in front of the passenger side cylinder head. There should be two sets of numbers, one of which is a portion or derivative of the VIN...located on the driver side windshield post.

I don't have the space to lift the body either, so I am doing the best job I can laying flat on my back. Not much fun, but it can be done.

To post pictures, you can create albums under your user profile and add pictures to them. Pictures can then be individually selected, copied and then pasted into a post that you have started. Read the FAQs for specific instructions. Quite easy once you figure it out.

 

I understand your enthusiasm for the car but throwing that kind of money at a car that has virtually no collectability would be a financial disaster. Even if you could do the work yourself it would be very expensive and when you think it's done it's only the beginning.

Use the money to buy a nice C6 and keep the '68 for a casual summer driver.

 

....and, I can't agree more. Don't take this personally, but you clearly don't have the knowledge and experience yet to make such decisions about this car. The most important decision you [and/or your girlfriend] will make is what you want to do with the car.

If the car is "all original"...except for the engine...you can restore it accurately and maintain resonable value for it. It will never command an elevated price, because of the engine, but it will hold good value and continue to appreciate because of the 'original' restoration.

But, you can also do as you are thinking and sink $30-50K into that car by putting 'bling' and 'pizzazz' on it. When you get done, however, the car will only be worth $25K or so to someone else. Modified C3's are only worth what is invested to the present owners, cause that's what they wanted. I'm assuming that your girlfriend is the one that will 'foot the bill' for any restoration work. Just make sure whomever is paying for this work is getting what THEY want. {I get the impression from your post that you are the one who has the vision for the car.}

 

In case you want to see how the original colors looked.