I did a body off on my 81' and am doing one on my 68' right now. I don't think there's a whole lot to it. Takes some time and some cash, but it's not that big of a deal. I did every bit of labor myself on the 81', and have $10,000 into it including what I paid for the car. Hiring people to do the labor is what costs the big bucks. I do think that the advice of considering whether or not you are really in this project to the end is good. Think long and hard about whether or not you are prone to get discouraged and quit working on it. That happens all too often. I did the 81' in exactly one year start to finish, but that was working on it every available minute. The 68' isn't going to be that rigorous of a schedule. I'm going to take my time a little more on this one. It's a hobby. Enjoy it.

-Justin

 

:bs If you want a 99+ point Blomington Gold car and you don't know how to turn a wrench, then yeah, you could spend some big bucks to have someone else do the work.
I have far less than your low figure (like 1/3rd or it) into my car. We pulled the body, patched the holes and painted the frame, rebuilt front and rear suspension, rebuilt the tranny and rear end, cleaned up and painted anything that could be reused and bought what we couldn't. It takes some time and resources, but if you know how to use a socket set and have a place to work, it's not all that hard. Unless you're a complete Bubba, it's hard to screw up mechanicals. If you can't paint or rebuild an engine, leave that to the professionals, but the little things are easily done by amateurs.

 

I'm with you Scooter. These guys quoting these huge sums obviously have never done a frame off themselves.

I'm on my 2nd now and have helped my friends do several midyears. I have accounted for every penny I have in both cars. I'm into my 69 427/435 (see below) for $16K, and that includes buying it. Obviously I have chrome, paint, and upoltery left to do. I usually tell people that if they want to take the body off to restore the chassis (not including motor and trans but including rear and halfshafts) they should plan on spending about $3500. That includes a front end and rear suspension kit (I usually go with a full F&R Vette Brakes kit with new springs), rebuilt steering box, SS calipers, new SS brake and fuel lines, new bushings all around, sandblasting and painting the frame, brackets, and halfshafts (powdercoating is more), and new U-joints. Obviously if you want to cad and black-oxide plate all the bolts it will be a few hundred more. The savings by doing the same job with the body on is no more than about $1000. Taking it off is much more work and requires more space, but the cost is inconsequential.

If you just want to do a cosmetic restoration with just new upolstery and paint, fine. But if you intend to rebuild the suspension, drivetrain, and brakes (which is what I call a restoration and not a clean up) there's little added cost to taking the body off. But I'll tell you this, I'll gladly spend the few extra bucks because its a whole hell of a lot easier to rebuild the suspension when your car looks like this:

 

Can someone please explain the "purpose" of the so-called body off restoration to me please? Here's the way I understand it. You take the car apart, refurbish or replace all worn, or broken pieces, make phony inspection marks with paint, buy aftermarket reproduction pieces and then put it back together...with the idea of making every single nut and bolt perfect. Then....you go and drive the car and within a couple of thousand miles...you're back to where you first began because all those new and shiny parts are used, dirty, worn and maybe even broken or ready to break again. And all this...to what end? Let's face it guys....it's just a frigging car, albeit...a very fun and great car...but....nevertheless....just a car. The idea of spending $10,000 plus to make all the parts new looking just seems rather stupid to me. On the other hand...if the car really needs all this work....and unless it's something like an L88, ZL1 or GranSport.....why not just sell it and buy another one in better shape? It just seems to me that the dorks, who seem to have more money than brains, are the ones who do this kind of stuff. Then, once they have the car fully restored...it never gets driven because then it would be....oops here we go again.....dare I say.....used!! Those of us who do the work ourselves aren't really dorks, we're just ****. The great thing about all of this is you can do whatever you want to do and all of us don't think alike. It's that old thing about buying a leather couch...and then covering it with a gross looking piece of plastic so you don't wear out the leather. Man....wear out that leather, drive that car and if it shows some wear....well.....now....that's a good thing!!!!

 

Let's see...
if I will ever get to my body-off, it'll be in order to fix the rotten parts of frame. maybe stiffen it a little bit. Do a complete suspension rebuild. My car is 33 years old and NEEDS new parts in order to stay on the road. It's not about Bloomington gold, but about getting performance and reliability so I can keep driving her. I'd say that's a GOOD reason :D

Stefan

 

WHOA!! Where'd you come up with that figure?

If you want to check out my step by step, see the link in my sig. (my piece of "junk")


[Modified by Chris@VetteFinders, 1:54 PM 4/26/2002]

 

Neil that thing will be like a car off a show room floor, but is street modded....sooooo sweet !

:cheers:

 

fontking1a
I totally agree with you, the reason a lot of us own a C3 is because we like the looks of the car and the brute force of the engines in some of our vettes, No company will ever install a BB in any car these days. My vette is built to be driven and enjoyed once I start worring about numbers matching that is when I sell the sucker. I also cant understan these crazy guys that buy those so called servivors "Who in the hell wants a smelly rotting 30 year old car.

 

73-454,

They are meant to be driven, aren't they. They are just cars, really really neat cars and if something is broken...I say fix it. But, who the hell cares about matching numbers, factory stickers, inspection numbers and all that stuff? A guy could get an ulcer worrying if he has the right color inspection number on his rear end. Who needs all that? Drive the damn thing and consider yourself lucky if you have one. Take care of it and when it's all used up, no good anymore, rotten, smelly, broken...buy another one. When I bought my car in early 1970, I was worried what I would do when the engine needed to be rebuilt. I wasn't very wealthy then and thought if the engine croaks...I'm up sh%t creek without a paddle. Well ....guess what? I'm 55 now. The car still runs great with that very same engine, no rebuilds yet and the only thing I'm worried about these days is if I can be restored when the time comes. And, unfortunately, I do know the answer to that one. So, you young guys...enjoy your Corvette. It's for having fun and that's what life is all about.

 

OK fontking. Terms like "dorks who have more money than brains" aren't gonna make you many friends around here. From a guy who is completing his 2nd body off restoration I can tell you (and I did above) that the costs are not very high. Stop making assesments of things you know absolutely nothing about. Sure, if you go down to your local corvette shop and hand him a blank check to do your resto for you you'll spend big bucks. In fact I know someone who bought a 65 roadster for $25k and then dropped $55k more in an NCRS top flight restoration. That's $80K! I could/would never do anything like that but it doesn't offend me that he did..

I'll have a total of maybe $20k in my restoration. And that's EVERYTHING, including frame, suspension, interior, paint, chrome, wiring, vacuum systems, engine, trans, rear, brakes, and tires. The reason is because I'm doing almost everything myself. The car will be new when its finished. I'm not worried about inspection tags and markings, and I have quite a few non-date matching components. I don't care. If I have the correct part I'll use it. If I don't, and the cost is prohibitive to get one, I don't get it and find a substitute. Will I have more money into it than its worth? Maybe. Maybe not. I didn't with my convertible, and that was my first resto, so I think I've learned a bit since then.

When my car is done I intend to drive the wheels off of it. Does that mean I'll intentionally take it out in rain and snow? No, probably not, in fact I don't do that in my 96 LT4 either, but that's not why I have corvettes. I have them as a hobby. My Mazda MX6 and my Explorer have the honor to hauling my butt around in crappy weather. The corvettes are fun. I drive them whenever I get the urge. And drive them I do. Sure, because I put the time and effort into the body-off I spend a bit more time cleaning them up when they come back from driving in the unexpected shower. No biggie. Maybe an extra 30 minutes. I happen to take pride in my workmanship and love restoring/modifying/driving these cars.

Its ignorant of you to make generalizations about what people should and shouldn't do in this hobby. If a guy wants to dump $80k in his car, that's his business. If you want to drive yours until it needs restoration and sell it to buy another because you're not the type to get your hands dirty, so be it. I don't see you any more self righteous than the 'dork' with the $80k.

Until you start talking about things that you actually know and understand I suggest you pipe down. I know there's a street corner somewhere in San Fran where some one will lend you a quarter to buy a clue.

 

Well said 69L71.

My Mother still hasen't learned that just because she's older than me, she doesn't know more on every subject yet, either.


[Modified by Chris@VetteFinders, 7:11 PM 4/27/2002]

 

Wow, a lot of opinions on this here...and depending how you look at it fontking1a, I'am could be on the verge of being a dork or ****..cause all my friends tell me they wouldn't drive it on anything but a perfect day!!!give me a break, it would appear the magazines are full of them too..Going to try and keep it out of the rain though the best I can..

Thanks ylose for the encouragement, you hit the nail on the head. My thought exactly when I started

I have built a car I can drive anywhere, road race or take it to the strip and not have to work on it all the time...It is a performance machine that runs as good as it looks unless I tear it up of course..Yea, I made some mistakes and some of them costly, but I found out as I went along I changed courses a few times

I have 10,000-15,000 in it which includes everything, 388ci engine,Built 700R4 transimission,VB Performance plus suspension,trailing arm rebuilds, rearend rebuild,new steering knuckles and rotors,complete frame restoration to like new condition to include all stainless steel componets, complete brake system replacement stainless also, complete new interior in leather,carpet,3 door compartment, complete rebuild of AC/heater box system, all vacuum hoses to final B2Z paint shot on the car. That is off the top off my head.

Now I have the car "I" wanted to build and it don't have no marks but my blood and won't see a trailer unless I tear it up. Yea, I plan to enjoy this machine with new technology. I have done most the work myself but had Bairs complete the trailing arms and check the rear gears.

Hope to make one of the power tours with my partner in his street rodded 69 baracuda
Dang, I am still thinking about putting some NOS on this machine after all I have done...
Call me what you want, car nut, hot rodder,wanna be,stupid,dork, **** or whatever...

I also have a dream, but now it is reality because I am living it :yesnod:
Neil in Tenn


[Modified by Nomad78SA, 10:39 AM 4/28/2002]

 

Hey Nomad, I live about 30 minutes from you. I'd like to see that car when you get it finished. It looks very nice so far. :cheers:

 

KYVette90,
Sounds like a winner. I would like to check your ride out as well... :yesnod:
Dave, Rolling Thunder lives in Paducah, KY and we get together when we can too. He has a couple of vettes himself..Super guy..

We are having a vette get together today at the local mall from 2-4. We have been working on starting a vette club here in Clarksville and finally the local chevy dealer started one up so we are all going to be one group. We have met a couple of times and today is the first gathering outside the dealership. Should be fun :)

Just for kicks, I am going to load up the rolling frame on a trailer and take it down and see what kind of response I get. I can crank it up and run it and it sounds good!!! I wonder if they can figure out what year vette it is..
Neil in Tenn

 

Remember guys Vettes are to be enjoyed, Some like myself love driving and fixing anything that breakes But worring abought number matching and all that stuff forget it. I am also fortunate to know a few vette guys that get a kick at restoring vettes that is thier pass time, I may even buy a restored vette from one of these guys and you guess it drive it and enjoy it. We both get what we want the restorer gets most of his money back and I get to drive a solid vette at a price that makes sense. Like one of the songs say " Dont worry be Happy"

 

Some pretty thin skins out there, folks. Hell, I'm as dorky as anyone, but at least I admit it. Doing a complete restoration is fun...and yes....expensive...but if that's your thing....have a ball. I love to work on my car but I've been around long enough to know that it's me who I have to please and that's what I do. Obviously, everyone should do what pleases them. But, please don't try to tell me that there aren't quite a few people who take this stuff to the extreme. And, if they do, it's their business. I'm just commenting, that's all. Personally, and this is just my opinion, I've never thought the Corvette was done properly at the factory so I don't strive to keep things original nor do I worry about such things. The '69 steering wheel sucked....so I replaced it with something I liked. It's that sort of thing that makes the car "more" fun to drive. That skinny, ridiculous ORIGINAL FACTORY steering wheel is just not to my taste...that's all. The original factory ralley wheel (covers) also looked "dorky" to me...ME...and so I replaced them with something I liked. My car is original with the drive train stuff but as far as the amenities...who needs it. Plastic woven seats....outta there. A cheap butt radio....gone in 30, not 60 seconds. Who ever winds up with my car after I assume room temperature may want to bring things back to factory, who knows. They may do a body, frame complete restoration...that's up to them. Guys that are into having perfect Corvettes are ****, and please don't tell me they're not. It just so happens, the way my deformed brain works, is that I'm not concerned with how the car looks, but how the car drives and how it makes me feel when I'm driving it. I own the car, the car doesn't own me. So, if you're into perfection, more power to you. But I won't change my mind. These cars are built to enjoy, not pamper or obscess over and that's the bottom line!

 

fontking1a,
Just because people are into their corvettes and want to do more to them besides "drive them" and "sell them" don't make them/us dorks! Like I said in an previous post I am doing a body off resto and plan to drive the wheels off of it and could care less about originality, but I am not going to knock those guys who do. If that is there thing then I am with them 100%. People are different and have different taste and just because they don't have the same taste as you that don't make them/us "dorks".

 

Well said Steve.

My current restoration is going to be a far cry from a complete numbers matching, all-flaws-accounted-for, NCRS show winner. Right now I'm planning on installing a 3.08 and Richmond 5-speed in place of the original 4.11 and M21. I have headers and plan to install DeWitts Griffen radiator and Spal fans. All these things are being done to improve the enjoyability and drivability of the car. I plan to keep the interior and body more or less factory because I like the original spirit and styling of the Chrome-nose Corvettes. I'm keeping the original 435 HP tripower system because it is such an integral part of what makes this car. Would a nice aftermarket FI system perform better. Yeah, probably, but that's not a line I'm choosing to cross with this car.

There is room for more than one flavor in this hobby. Just as one guy digs the blown 502 popping out of his hood, another guy likes knowing that he has the right color zinc primer on his fuel line hose clamps.

The reason I've chosen to restore this car is because I chose to correct all my car's ills at one time rather than waiting for a ball joint to disintegrate before replacing it. But just because I removed the body DOES NOT mean I've chosen to chase the details of a concourse restoration. THAT is the stuff that costs the major $$ not removing the body. When I'm done it will legitimately be a zero mile car. It will go when I want it to and hopefully not crap out on the side of the highway anymore than it would have in 1970.

The subject of this topic was the cost of removing the body to restore a Corvette not the validity of NCRS inspection marks. I'll make this clear: if you want to remove the body to retore your car the cost is not that bad. Your main limiting factor will be space. If you're doing it yourself and have the room, go for it. You won't be sorry. If you choose not to, that's fine as well.