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Author
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Topic: Complete restoration - how hard is it?
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kinger44
Gearhead Posts: 274
From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 10-26-2005 03:31 PM
   
Well it's the fall and time to decide what to do with the car. I have narrowed it down to two options and the one I favor the most and that is most cost effective is to completely strip and rotisserie the car. I will be working with my usual shade-tree mechanic who has done a number of these in the past - although mainly Mopars, please don't start! The thing that is holding me up is all the little PIA things that will need to be done, rubber, clips, hoses, wiring, glass, screws, and probably a million other little pieces I will have to run around and source. I wonder if I'm going to sleep at night! Most of the body panels will be replaced - hood, trunk, fenders, quarters, inner fenders, rockers. The wife says to go for it as it will keep me busy this winter but I don't know. Can someone who has done this before tell me what it's like and if it's worth it all? Thanks very much in advance, Gregg ------------------
68 coupe, red on black. http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/kinger44.html
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ddenton749
unregistered
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posted 10-26-2005 03:37 PM
Take a look at my site. I started on mine 3 years ago. I'm doing all my own work.It's a very time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive labor of love. ------------------
'73 Convertible, 351C 2V
'91 LX Convertible 5.0
Member: Valley Forge Mustang Club
"The best things in life are free, but the really kick-a** things cost a fortune."
My Site
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Dave Gibson
Moderator Posts: 10251
From: Norfolk, Virginia, USA M&M#166 MCA#47921
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 10-26-2005 04:18 PM
I haven't done a full restorations as far as the rotiserie is concerned. But my wife and I recently did the interior and engine compartment of her '66 with excellant results. It's well worth the time and effort. As stated above, it's a labor of love. You are also correct on running into lots of little things. We had our initial list and budget. Made a trip to our favorite part store and bought a little over $1,100.00 worth of parts. Soon we also made a couple of phone calls for more parts that were in the 10% unexpected catagory. All in all, we spent around $1,500.00 on parts, paint and other needed items for the restoration. It was well worth the time and effort.  Bottom line: Go for it!  It's not often that you get to hear the wife tell you to go ahead and do it, either.  Dave & Terri ------------------
'65 Mustang Fastback
'66 Mustang Coupe
'02 Explorer XLT
Common sense isn't common anymore.
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bill haab
Gearhead Posts: 471
From: south bend in.
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 10-26-2005 04:23 PM
$$$$ first,lots & lots of internet surfing, oh yea lots of sleepless nights, then wow what did I get my self into. Mine has been three years almost done. Started doing everything my self, after 2 years started pulling overtime at what I do best, and paying a fab guy to finish. good luck and have fun & can't stress this one more, NO TIME LIMIT !
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Toronado3800
Gearhead Posts: 1063
From: St. Louis, MO
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 10-26-2005 06:00 PM
If your car is a almost reliable driver like mine was, I'd go about it piecemeal if I had it to do again. Even with a great local Mustang shop and an excellent body man things took two years, cost enough to almost buy a new one, and I missed out on doing too much of the work myself because it was in some one else's paint shop/garage.First I'd pay to get the underside of the car and suspension made right and go from there driving it for some time between underbody and fender/quarter work. It will keep you more focused, keep the car from becoming an eternal project, and let you enjoy the small improvements.
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 4692
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 10-26-2005 06:47 PM
I'll ditto what others have said, in that it is VERY time consuming. It took me about five years to do mine and it was not a rotisserie deal, just ground-up stuff. I had no sheet metal to replace, no body work to do, just a very detailed bumper-to-bumper restoration. I did everything myself with the exception of applying the paint. My budget was very limited, thus the looooooong project as I could only do things little by little. Be very patient! It's well worth it  ------------------
1965 GT coupe, 333ci aluminum headed/solid cammed stroker, four speed, 3.70:1 9" 12.58/110 on street tires, more to come;) All Blue Oval, no blue bottle
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/V8Thumper.html
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 21741
From: Reno Nv USA M&M#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 10-26-2005 06:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kinger44:
Well it's the fall and time to decide what to do with the car. I have narrowed it down to two options and the one I favor the most and that is most cost effective is to completely strip and rotisserie the car.
Gregg
Whats option two?
Gregg one day I'll do a total restoration,or replacement of every part that needs it. Until then I'll just drive it as much as I can.
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Mustangsandmore member #351w oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs BIG Boss hood scoop
My Pics "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it and then misapplying the wrong remedies." Groucho Marx
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grego37
Gearhead Posts: 376
From: los angeles,CA,USA
Registered: May 2004
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posted 10-26-2005 06:56 PM
A nice work spaceA nice set of tools Money Patience Time Lots of Internet surfing A good supply of beer And a good wife, who understands that she comes 2nd to your car.......haha
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kinger44
Gearhead Posts: 274
From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 10-26-2005 07:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fastymz:
Whats option two?
Gregg one day I'll do a total restoration,or replacement of every part that needs it. Until then I'll just drive it as much as I can.
Well, option 2 is selling mine (in the spring) but going out and buying a number 2 S-code car now. In other words go buy what I want instead of waiting. Trouble is that I'm not a bone-stock, concourse guy. I like my Cragars, and I want it to go FAST. So I like the idea of doing it myself and dropping a 400hp stroker in a newly restored car. Also, when I do the math, I am about $4,000 ahead and don't have to buy someone elses car that may need things anyway. So like I said originally I WANT to do this, but am a bit leery. BTW the guy I work with works at nights and all weekend. He plans to have it ready for spring. We have already done all suspension, floor pans, gas tank, and frame rails. The disc brakes are in and the interior is done. Thanks for all the replies guys. Gregg
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rmousir
Gearhead Posts: 778
From: Amelia, Ohio
Registered: May 2003
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posted 10-26-2005 08:00 PM
As long as you stay focused and you don't loose the project you can go for it. My self, I am going to do the part by part bit and drive it while I am at it. When it comes to body. I admit I am going to pay to have it done.Working on it is great and rewarding but driving it is the best part. Richard. ------------------
rmousir
'66 Mustang
Ford Blue & white stripes
302 auto
Mustang ~ 04-05
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mustangboy
Gearhead Posts: 1198
From: Ont, Canada
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-26-2005 09:57 PM
Like the others have said its very time consuming.If your thinking of this as just a winter project it will probably take much longer than that..The trouble is things that you think look ok on the car now just don't cut it once everything else is freshly painted or new parts are added.It becomes very tough to decide where to draw the line.It also gets very expensive when you start buying up all new parts.If your going to all the bother of putting it on a rotisserie you might as well go all the way so be prepared and good luck ------------------
68 J-Code,Sprint,306 4 speed,4.11s 13.69@101...............
66 coupe 289 4 speed, 3.20 cruiser http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/mustangboy.html http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/mustangboy2.html
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 3406
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-27-2005 08:52 AM
You also have a lot of the "since I'm here, I might as well do this..." syndrome. I am facing that now with my 68. I had replaced the upper and lower control arms about 8 years ago, but only put about 30,000 miles on them. When I pulled them apart last month I saw the ball joint boots were cracked/ripped (not from disassembly), and even though I'm sure I could just change the ball joint or even just the rubber boot, I'm contemplating replacing the whole suspension again anyhow just because its apart and once I start driving it, I don't want to have to take it apart again in 2 years or whenever to change something I could have easily taken care of now. Same goes for wiring. It is going to be rediculously expensive, but I hate chasing electrical problems and want every light, horn, switch, gauge etc to work on day one and am going to put in all new wiring for that reason. I can say take the time to do it right if you plan on hanging onto the car. In stripping my car I'm finding stuff that my Dad and I did 12 years ago that caused some of the problems with why the paint job I had didn't last, ie, we didn't strip all the old paint/seam sealer off, recaulk the drip rails before painting, etc that a little more prep time would have gotten us more useful time out of that paint job. But, in all fairness, I was in college and in a hurry to just drive the crap out of it, and didn't care at the time. Now I do care and am paying with time, labor and money for past sins...
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gjz30075
Journeyman Posts: 84
From: Roswell, Ga.
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 10-27-2005 09:55 AM
Sig hit the nail on the head. I've been through a few 'rolling restorations' and it's a pain. You find yourself going back through what you just restored to get to something else that needs to be restored. Try to restore big chunks of subassemblies. Like, instead of replacing any one or two items in the front suspension, you might as well replace it all. The clutch chatter issue in my car turned into a huge 'while I'm at it' project but I'm not having any regrets. I'm getting all the issues I had planned to get to in a few years, now.
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Fastback68
Gearhead Posts: 4169
From: Sucat, Paranaque, Philippines
Registered: Jul 99
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posted 10-27-2005 02:18 PM
Yup, do it piecemeal and beware the "while I'm at it" trap. The only thing I would recommend doing right, and doing the whole car, all at the same time, is the wiring. Get that nailed and it will last you until you die - unless you're 14!
Geez, complete car restorations are like so many things - whatever you think it's gonna cost, it's gonna cost double. However long you think it's gonna take ... etc.
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 21741
From: Reno Nv USA M&M#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 10-27-2005 02:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kinger44:
Well, option 2 is selling mine (in the spring) but going out and buying a number 2 S-code car now. In other words go buy what I want instead of waiting. Trouble is that I'm not a bone-stock, concourse guy. I like my Cragars, and I want it to go FAST. So I like the idea of doing it myself and dropping a 400hp stroker in a newly restored car. Also, when I do the math, I am about $4,000 ahead and don't have to buy someone elses car that may need things anyway.Gregg
I can't tell you how many very nice Mustangs I've seen sell for $10,000-$15,000. With all the mods done,lots of new parts. I think it's less expensive to buy one thats all done already. Then add a few small things to it,then it is to build one yourself.
But then you miss out on all the fun and madness of doing it. Simon this is great advice,
"Yup, do it piecemeal and beware the "while I'm at it" trap. The only thing I would recommend doing right, and doing the whole car, all at the same time, is the wiring.
whatever you think it's gonna cost, it's gonna cost double. However long you think it's gonna take ... etc." Simple rear end swap has costs me more then double what I started out with. The good part when it's done all those other small items will be done too.
------------------
Mustangsandmore member #351w oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs BIG Boss hood scoop
My Pics "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it and then misapplying the wrong remedies." Groucho Marx
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Dave Witthoeft
Gearhead Posts: 2515
From: IL.
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 10-28-2005 05:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Fastymz:
I can't tell you how many very nice Mustangs I've seen sell for $10,000-$15,000. With all the mods done,lots of new parts. I think it's less expensive to buy one thats all done already. Then add a few small things to it,then it is to build one yourself.
But then you miss out on all the fun and madness of doing it. Simon this is great advice,
"Yup, do it piecemeal and beware the "while I'm at it" trap. The only thing I would recommend doing right, and doing the whole car, all at the same time, is the wiring.
whatever you think it's gonna cost, it's gonna cost double. However long you think it's gonna take ... etc." Simple rear end swap has costs me more then double what I started out with. The good part when it's done all those other small items will be done too.
Madness, yeh thats it, Madness, I've got three stangs and three bikes patiently waiting to be reborn...
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kinger44
Gearhead Posts: 274
From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 10-28-2005 06:53 AM
I want to thank everyone for their help on this. You folks are great and I appreciate the feedback.For me I have decided to store the car for the winter and look around for another one. The replies got me questioning if I'm really up for all of this. Also, the timing my guy is quoting me got me worrying about the quality of the work over what I am expecting. One again, thanks! Gregg
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