"Hard part is done?"

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cojohnso

cojohnso

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I have been seeing more and more unfinished projects on Craigslist. With my favorite saying. "The hard part is already done?" With the core body completed and drive train somewhat installed? And of course they want 10 figures. On an A-body. Or Chevy Nova type build. I want to post back. "No, the fun part is done. Now comes the time consuming, money dragging part of wiring, dash assembly, windows operations, not to mention the almost endless misc parts. Then of course the $$ of paint, tires/rims ect...

Ok, I'm done with my Sunday whine.
 
cojohnso said:
I have been seeing more and more unfinished projects on Craigslist. With my favorite saying. "The hard part is already done?" With the core body completed and drive train somewhat installed? And of course they want 10 figures. On an A-body. Or Chevy Nova type build. I want to post back. "No, the fun part is done. Now comes the time consuming, money dragging part of wiring, dash assembly, windows operations, not to mention the almost endless misc parts. Then of course the $$ of paint, tires/rims ect...

Ok, I'm done with my Sunday whine.
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:lol::lol:
 
Been looking for that in process car or truck and yes they want way to much money and yes the drive train is some what there I would prefer without the drive train but
 
cojohnso said:
I have been seeing more and more unfinished projects on Craigslist. With my favorite saying. "The hard part is already done?" With the core body completed and drive train somewhat installed? And of course they want 10 figures. On an A-body. Or Chevy Nova type build. I want to post back. "No, the fun part is done. Now comes the time consuming, money dragging part of wiring, dash assembly, windows operations, not to mention the almost endless misc parts. Then of course the $$ of paint, tires/rims ect...

Ok, I'm done with my Sunday whine.
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These are the folks that are NOT hard core restoration hobbyists. They think we all get truly paid for our hourly input into our projects. Wouldn't that be nice.
 
Lord Sparky said:
1 out of 10 owners actually complete a restoration.
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Not too far off. A friend of mine who has now passed saw me take the X-wifes Chevelle down to the last bolt and said it destined to become beer cans lol... I proved him wrong but there were moments where I thought it would never end....

IMO if the paint and body is done and right that is the hard part assuming the rest of the car isn't jacked..... As I sit here realizing I have been in machine shop prison over a year... But were close lol....

JW
 
Funny how all those basket cases on the Mopar Facebook groups are all advertised as "25K car when finished!" "dont lowball me, i know what ive got"
 
DentalDart said:
Are these cars or the "restoration" ever done? :poke::)
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Nope.:D
Even when they are “done” if you drive em they need upkeep here and there.
Went for a 140 mile drive out in the middle of nowhere across the desert the other day and my fan controller died.
Had to activate it manually and have it be on the rest of the drive.
 
I’m at the hard part done all I have left is interior, gauges, springs, hood hinges, and rebuild a 742 8 3/4 3.91 and custom wiring
 
I think of it like this "do I have the $$$ to keep going" I just ordered the upholstery from legendary I wont see it till around August but its paid for and being made. The interior is out of the car save for the dash and front bench seat just so I can move the car around my property, getting ready for coat # 2 off 2 K and more block sanding etc etcc people look at the car and say "It looks good,when are you painting it?" I say "Not yet,it isn't ready..." the wife says it'll never be ready...:) I just said to the Wife, "I should order the repop rally dash trim and grill why skimp now...:) Again on the money note.. I have been fortunate that my wife hasnt been to hard on me,all she ever said was "pay the bills first" I also have never kept track of what I have spent. i dont want to know,it isn't about the $$$ i always say "I just saved it from the junkyard that all I did..."
 
The hard part is body and paint work. Once its painted, the assembly is the fun part. Bolting all those new shiny parts on and watching it become a car again. Its more satisfying due to the fact that you probably spent a year or several staring at a stripped down shell.
The last 10% of the car is when you have to open up the wallet again to buy all the small (and usually expensive) things that you didn't think about before.
 
Well yeah, It is fun but also the most stressful part. While I have not fully restored a car, I did do a full paint correction and polish, buff, wax, clay bar, everything on my truck when I first got it. What I did not think about was having to install the new grill and window trim I got. That was the most stressful afternoon of my life. I just repeated; don't scratch it, don't scratch it, don't scratch it.... but hey, it looked great after I was done.
 
Looking for a cheap ish project, just hunt the unfinished projects some dude started, took all apart, lost half the parts, including fender tag and/or vin, set the engine outside with no carb, sold the 8 3/4 to the neighbor that needed one for his VW, and ...........ha
 
i think the started projects are kind of overpriced really like said usually half the stuff is missing or gone etc. and the seller has no clue where any of it is. Even worse is the rusting hulk that needs everything and they want thousands of $$$$
 
Dartswinger70 said:
i think the started projects are kind of overpriced really like said usually half the stuff is missing or gone etc. and the seller has no clue where any of it is. Even worse is the rusting hulk that needs everything and they want thousands of $$$$
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It's my #1 recommendation. Keep to a platform you are familiar. ESPECIALLY if you pickup a started project. I am on an E-body project. But I'm familiar with A&B. (In fact. I often go look to see how the A&B has setup.) But if this let's say a Mustang project? I would be in the Ford chat rooms whining "Why the hell did they do that? And what the hell is this?"
 
This is a perfect example of what I call the 90/90 Rule:
The first 90% of the project takes 90% of your time and money.
The remaining 10% takes the OTHER 90% of your time and money.
:D
 
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