Advise

[steve from staten island]

Thoughts and opinions are needed. I have a #matching 69 sport satelite conv. with 383,buckets consol,fact air,fact mags. The car has casters on the front and the rear is still in it,other then that its just a shell. The body was blasted and is completely done. The quarters and trunk floor were replaced,other than that all the sheet metal is original. Lead was used through out the body and it is completely solid with absolutely no rust anywhere. It is painted the original color which is Spanish gold. The body is perfect. The trim is all there and mostly in good condition. The engine needs to be rebuilt and the rest of the restoration completed. Its a nice original car with the body work finished. I want to keep it but just can't afford to finish it as of now due to reasons id rather discuss in person. Ive been told by friends just hold on to it until the time comes when i can work on it. Collect as many parts as i can and im thinking maybe i should do this but yet sometimes i get disgusted and would like to sell it. The car is covered up in my daughters garage,every time i look at it i get a heart ache and lately ive flip floped in my thoughts many times. So what do you think,and thanks for listening

 

[Bruzilla]

Steve, the bad news is you're a victim of the biggest mistake a collector car owner can make, which is tackling the body and drivertrain first. The good news, if you can call it that, is that you're not alone as this is a very common mistake. I was just looking at a 70 road runner this weekend. The guy's into it for over $10k in engine and bodywork and wants to sell it because it's become nothing but a huge cash sponge to him. He's dunked $10k into it, and it's nothing but a pile of metal with a great engine that can't do a damn thing for him. He's so sick of it that he's willing to lose close to $5k just to get out from under it. I've seen this quite a bit over the past couple of years, and the story is always the same... the owner sunk a ton of money into bodywork or the engine and had nothing that was readily apparent to show for it.

My advice to you is forget about the engine for now. It's going to cost you even more money and you still won't get any satisfaction from it. Start working on the interior instead. Figure out what pieces you need, and start getting them as you can. The interior provides owners with a lot of little victories that don't cost a whole lot, which are great morale builders. Once you can sit in the car, listen to the radio, and get a feel for it heading down the road, you'll quickly regain enthusiasm for the project.

When it comes time to do the engine, I would suggest putting off paying $2k-$3k rebuilding your 383 and find a decent used 383, 400, or 440 for $500 or so instead. That will get you on the road for a lot less money and since there's always a market for these engines you'll be able to sell the engine to someone else once you get the money for rebuilding your 383.

 

[Propwash]

Steve, the bad news is you're a victim of the biggest mistake a collector car owner can make, which is tackling the body and drivertrain first. The good news, if you can call it that, is that you're not alone as this is a very common mistake.

And why is doing the body and drivetrain first the biggest mistake? What makes you the pro with restoration? I'm sorry, just because someone isn't doing your version of a restoration doesn't make you the almighty on this stuff. I don't see no published articles or badge on your shirt exclaiming you to be captain resto! You really need to chill out with this stuff. You had someone do most of all the work on your car to include body and paint and soon the engine, and now your the authority on this? Myself, and like a bunch of other guys here that do our own work tend to find it insulting when a keyboard restoration specialist gives out advice that's frankly garbage or doesn't relate to a majority of the scenario's out there. I really don't think the guy was looking for advice on how his restoration has been wrong thus far because it don't meet to your standards of restoration planning and budgeting. A great majority of restorations start out with body and drivetrain and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I usually don't pipe up, but honestly your theory on how to restore a car is your opinion and not a fact. Not saying it's good or bad, but don't go pushing it like everyone else is wrong.

One thing to be remembered is a lot of projects to be restored, have no engine or tranny in place. Half the parts are missing and the body is in need of major repair cosmetically or structurally. So where does one start? Wiring? Exhaust? Suspension? Why?? We all don't purchase running/driving project cars that can be tinkered with while driving them at the same time. A lot of the time the cars need to be literally brought back to life. If the core/shell of the car is rotten, why go strapping parts to an unstable chassis that will require you removing them again down the road? This guy is already over the hump and is simply asking keep it or let it go.

As far as your question Steve, I would say hang on to it if you can, but obviously you know the variables in your own life that make that an option or not. Value wise you're not going to see any kind of drastic depreciation down the road. It possibly may go up just the way it sits. Its a B-Body convertible so it holds a bit more of a rarity and own special want than a run of the mill satty. Good luck

 

[RustyRatRod]

Everybody has their own way. What helps me when I get down is to divide something into smaller parts. Sometimes that helps with both sense of accomplishment and it helps break it up into smaller pieces to finance. For instance, instead of doing the engine as a whole maybe get the heads reworked. THe cost there would be smaller than the engine as a whole and when you're done, you can stand there and see some nice heads.

The only thing I'll say about doin the interior first is......what if the floorpans need attention? When you get the interior done, you'll just have to tear it back out again. Just my 2 cents.

Lastly, Steve, lemmie ask you......and no need to answer, just answer it to yourself. What's the car costing you NOW? I mean just to sit there covered up? Are you finacially strapped and need to sell it? If not, maybe you could just let it sit a while. If you sell it, that's a pretty permanent solution to perhaps a temporary problem. Just food for thought.

 

[WP29440SE]

the FIRST thing i ALWAYS do when starting fresh is the BODY/PAINT . then i install the suspension , then the engine/trans and then i finish off with the interior. thats the way I have always done things. i would NEVER consider that a "mistake". its a process. i would never drop a fresh engine or install a fresh interior in a car that still needs body and paint work (if this is a restoration) thats just retarded in my opinion. if you are just trying to drive the car and dont care about anything other than getting it running , then just get it running.
common sense tells ME get paint on the thing and THEN build it.

 

[hunt2elk]

I agree that the metalwork should be the first order of business when rebuilding these cars if it is to be a total restoration. This is by far the most expensive and most important part of the project. Start at the base of the project and work up. Why do things twice? As far as you keeping or selling the car, that is a decision that only you can make. Be sure you really love the car and the restoration process. Otherwise you should sell it now rather than continueing to dump money into something that really doesn't yank your chain. You will lose alot less money selling it now compared to after it is finished.

 

[19polara64]

A few years ago I had 67 Formula S Barracuda that my wife loved that needed a total resto. It ran fine, just tired. At the time I was really strapped for money and didn't see it getting any better, so I sold it for not enough money to an acquaintance that kept asking to buy it. Now I have a better job, things have gotten better and I regret selling it. Was talking with my wife the other day about building her a car after mine is done and she wants another Formula S. So I'll have to spend probably 10 times what i sold mine for to get a decent one. So I guess what I'm saying is if you like the car and don't HAVE to sell it just sit on it, even if it takes a few years. There are usually lots of no or little money things you can do to it. Also keep an eye out for killer deals on parts you need and buy them when you can. My 2 cents Rene'

 

[roadrunnerman]

Speaking personally, the RR i'm doing I've owned for over 20 years. Just lately I've found the time and finances to start working on it. I was fortunate that my wife said I could use our tax money to get the motor done and order some replacement parts. Did I ever think of selling it? NO. Would I regret if I sold it? Probably. If your daughter is okay with you keeping the car in her garage, then I would say hold off on selling it, unless you really need to sell it to take care of personal matters that caused you to think of selling. I've got my motor sitting in the car and still need to finish some work on it on the back of the car. I won't get the car finished as soon as i'd like too, and when I get tired of working on the body I work on something that takes less time to finish and just as rewarding when done. If you do decide to sell it, you do have one thing in your favor that's it's a convertible and most of the bodywork is done on it. The final say-so is up to you no matter how many pro's and con's are said here.

 

[steve from staten island]

Thanks to all but please don't argue,everyone has there own opinion. You guys gave me the kick i needed,the car is safe and sound and my daughter has no problems with me keeping the car. My grandaughters want to help PaPa with the car so maybe i'l attempt something soon. The engine bay looks as good as the outside of the car. What i wanted to do was rebuild the motor and put it on the K frame and slid it under the car and then use my engine crane to pull the engine,tranny and K frame into place. I mechanic i know told me back in the day,he worked for a cab company in NYC. They had complete motor trannys on K frames sitting on shelves,a cab with high miles needing front end work ect would pull into the garage. The men would go at this car and by the end of there shift at midnight the car was out the door back to work. The fenders are only being held on by a few bolts and i was going to remove them when i worked on the engine compartment. I though putting the engine up this way would cause less damage in the engine bay area. What do you think? Deep down i knew i should never ever entertain selling this car. The body work was a bargin that id never get again. It was those once in a lifetime deals,i know as i saw the work from beginning to end. Not to preach but as you get older,issues come up that you deal with. I don't need to sell the car for financial reasons so some of you are right on. Collect some parts,do what i can and just hang in there. I really like the car and i just need to be patient----------thanks so much and as soon as i learn how to post pics i will