$$ How do you fund your project, when you don't have expendable cash???

[PlumcrazyRR]

I do the same as some are saying on here. I keep an eye on craigslist, go to swap meets, watch ebay. I will find parts that don't look great that are selling real cheap, but I know that I can fix up and restore pretty easily and turn around and flip them on ebay or trade them. One persons garbage is sometimes my treasure. You just have to know what you are doing, know the going prices, and be willing to put in a little time. This hasn't made me a great deal of money, but I feel it as a double win, the part is coming back from the dead to be used again and I am getting a little spending money for my car or trading for parts for my car.

 

[747mopar]

If you have any other talents use them, I do allot of woodworking, automotive repairs, selling parts, scrapping, exchanging favors, etc and still have a small fortune in mine. I honestly can't see how some of these guys can afford it unless doing it themselves. My advice is to reuse as much as possible rebuilding as many parts as you can because rebuild kits are usually pretty cheap in comparison to new or rebuilt items.

 

[ws27]

What you guys don't realize is that Old Skool is really an IRS representative...and he's taking notes. LOL

 

[old_skool]

hahaha, those bastages took the last dollar they'll ever get from me

 

[Coronet 14]

I know what you mean. I'm a disabled vet single dad. Raising my son by myself. I save up until I can get something. Sometimes I buy a few thing at a time until I have what I need to complete what I want to get done. Gonna have to slow down on the car in a bit so I can have my roof replaced.

 

[72Fourspeed]

Have to echo what everyone else had said. Scrounge,wheel & deal. I bought a used up 283 2bbl with cast aluminum finned valve covers on it. Decoded #s & it was a 60 Vette motor. $50 motor I sold for a lot more. That bought a lot of Mopar parts. And don't get in a hurry, patience is the only way to do a budget.

 

[ma mopar nutz]

I give plasma every month they pay me 300 bucks a month for this easy money just takes a little time but it's basically free money !!:headbang:

 

[cryplydog]

old skool, what kind of stuff do you need? what kind of car? can you pay shipping? are you able to install stuff. cryplydog. also, where are you.

 

[HT413]

Me, i'd focus on brand x cars with little value but big fun factor. 6cyl, 4 door versions of the cars you love.

I'm a teacher so to fund my car habit i teach nights, summers (when i can get it) and used to teach saturdays too. To buy my mopar i spent a month renovating a friend's home.

 

[bobtile]

I have been buying cars cheap that need an engine or trans. I find a junkyard piece or one from Craig's list and swap it in. Sometimes only make a couple hundred bucks, but have been focusing on dodge stealth/ Mitsubishi 3000 gt lately. I have become extremely proficient with these. I can pull the motor and trans and swap another one in and have it running in hours. I will usually keep them for a month or so to make sure that everything works. The last one I sold, I made about 2200 bucks for about 7 hours of work on the weekend. Not bad extra cash.

 

[old_skool]

old skool, what kind of stuff do you need? what kind of car? can you pay shipping? are you able to install stuff. cryplydog. also, where are you.

I appreciate your interest, but, re-read the very first post I made, particularly to the last paragraph.
I only started this thread to see what idea others had to create some extra disposable income possibly other than what I already do, for new ideas for myself and others needing a little help with their hobby, bills or whatever. ABSOLUTELY NO CHARITY There are plenty less fortunate than myself out there deserving of yours, mine and anyone else help when we can provide it. I sincerely appreciate your gesture though.

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I have been buying cars cheap that need an engine or trans. I find a junkyard piece or one from Craig's list and swap it in. Sometimes only make a couple hundred bucks, but have been focusing on dodge stealth/ Mitsubishi 3000 gt lately. I have become extremely proficient with these. I can pull the motor and trans and swap another one in and have it running in hours. I will usually keep them for a month or so to make sure that everything works. The last one I sold, I made about 2200 bucks for about 7 hours of work on the weekend. Not bad extra cash.

I pretty much can work on anything a car can throw at me (former ASE tech/shop owner back in 91) but don't have the facility or tools for most major stuff now. Just an unfinished dirt floor garage with no heat, so limited to outside work weather permitting.

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I was restoring old motorcycles up until last year, but that was getting a little difficult to find it profitable, as the market keeps shifting, competition can be fierce, I'm awesome with electrical work/wiring, bikes cars etc, even drawing schematics. I re-drew several MC schematics in color, or made modifications for people, but never did it for money, one of these days I'm going to do a color schematic of my 72 Charger's wiring diagram and have it printed on poster board. It's funny, once I've done a schematic, I basically have it memorized, makes for easy future diagnosis without a manual. Was my first job out of tech school mechanical/electrical drafting.

 

[HawkRod]

I agree with what many others have said. Trade or sell your skills for money or parts, and barter or sell stuff you have.

The other thing is to pay yourself first. My 70 Road Runner is my dream car. I have saved for awhile to do the restoration I want on it. Little by little, I have tucked away money into a special fund just for that car. Before you know it, it equals something. Even if it is saving small change in a cup, make a fund for the car. Then find various ways to fill that fund.

Even with my Road Runner restoration budget, I am finding that the money is draining fast. I have spent way more in sheet metal than I thought, and $1000 on a gas tank I never knew I needed. So I am being realistic with other things - no engine work and cutting out other things I can do later. Prioritize what you need and do that first with the budget you have. Spend wisely based on having done your homework BEFORE you part with cash.

Finally, never be too proud to receive a little help. Be it technical knowledge, a part here or there, whatever. We each have things that drive us. Sometimes one of the harder things to do in life is to gratefully receive when you need it. If you have given many times in your life, then receiving once or twice when you need it is OK too. It is what makes the world go 'round...

 

[bobtile]

I appreciate your interest, but, re-read the very first post I made, particularly to the last paragraph.
I only started this thread to see what idea others had to create some extra disposable income possibly other than what I already do, for new ideas for myself and others needing a little help with their hobby, bills or whatever. ABSOLUTELY NO CHARITY There are plenty less fortunate than myself out there deserving of yours, mine and anyone else help when we can provide it. I sincerely appreciate your gesture though.

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I pretty much can work on anything a car can throw at me (former ASE tech/shop owner back in 91) but don't have the facility or tools for most major stuff now. Just an unfinished dirt floor garage with no heat, so limited to outside work weather permitting.

- - - Updated - - -

I was restoring old motorcycles up until last year, but that was getting a little difficult to find it profitable, as the market keeps shifting, competition can be fierce, I'm awesome with electrical work/wiring, bikes cars etc, even drawing schematics. I re-drew several MC schematics in color, or made modifications for people, but never did it for money, one of these days I'm going to do a color schematic of my 72 Charger's wiring diagram and have it printed on poster board. It's funny, once I've done a schematic, I basically have it memorized, makes for easy future diagnosis without a manual. Was my first job out of tech school mechanical/electrical drafting.

I don't have a garage that I can work in. It took me about 7 years to restore my car in my driveway on a hill. I somehow find a way to get it done. I pull the motors out on the side of my driveway in the dirt with a piece of plywood underneath. If you want or need it bad enough, you find a way.

 

[challenger6pak]

I hit things from a different angle. I paid everything off. My house, truck, and car. It took awhile (few years), but now that it is done I have $1,000+ per month to do with as I like. I did what many of you have done to pay everything off as far as Craigs and Ebay. If you are close to a recycling scrap yard, pick up any metal that the neighbors toss. I still do this and get around $80 a month just from their scrap.

 

[cryplydog]

old skool, I did read your post, I'm almost 60 and disabled also, I still work on the mopars and bikes more than I should but that's what keeps me going plus my 2 boys and 3 grandsons, but it is tough at times but everyone still wants me in the shop. good luck.

 

[old_skool]

old skool, I did read your post, I'm almost 60 and disabled also, I still work on the mopars and bikes more than I should but that's what keeps me going plus my 2 boys and 3 grandsons, but it is tough at times but everyone still wants me in the shop. good luck.

wasn't trying to offend, I have a hard time accepting help, seen so many take when they don't need and so many that need and don't have any help, kinda jaded me even accepting a hand up versus a handout.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, add them as you think of them, hopefully others will benefit as well from this thread. Sucks getting older, hardly any sleep last night, had to take the wife to the hospital last night, bronchial/asthma attack, couldn't hardly breath, she's also being treated for pneumonia, admitted her to Akron City Hospital, got to get ready and go see her, were a pair...lol

 

[Bruzilla]

I'd at least be pumping out the 'creatures' to those willing to buy them. Without any advertising, you are not claiming them to be anything. I see at least $15K just from your current inventory!

Well the Creature is so spot on that there's no way I could get around a bad case of copyright infringement. But the werewolves are far more generic, so I think I could get away with that.

 

[glassman]

wheelin and deallin is the name of the game

 

[GearAddict]

I agree with the great suggestions above...

I hope this doesn't sound brutal, but if your goal is to continue the hobby (not specifically the project your working on now) you could sell your current car (assuming it has some value in current state) and purchase something else to work on at a lesser cost, like and A body?.... or heaven forbid a Chevy! (am I going to be burned at the stake?) and then put the balance in a bank account to suppliment your project budget.

If you buy a chevy, I do not take responsability for the envious hatred that you will experience for being able to find cheap parts easily.

In all seriousness. Best of luck to you, continuing to do the things we love is important to quality of life.

 

[Budnicks]

I hit things from a different angle. I paid everything off. My house, truck, and car. It took awhile (few years), but now that it is done I have $1,000+ per month to do with as I like. I did what many of you have done to pay everything off as far as Craigs and Ebay. If you are close to a recycling scrap yard, pick up any metal that the neighbors toss. I still do this and get around $80 a month just from their scrap.

:iamwithstupid: I'M WITH YA THERE, PAID OFF MY HOUSES, WHEN I WAS 38 {I made extra principle payments, every 2 weeks, for 8 years, went by pretty quickly, learned to deal with it, still had a decent budget, still raced, played & mostly raised 6 kids by myself}, PAID OFF EVERYTHING SOME 17 YEARS AGO, Paid cash for my trucks 1999 Dakota SLT 4x4 & 2002 F350 Powerstroke Dually, I haven't had a mortgage payment or car payment, for quite a while, it does help to free up a little cash, but I seem to find places to spend it like I never had it, too it seems... I try to pay off my credit cards every month too, limit my spending to what I can pay off monthly too... chit is still way too expensive, but I keep on spending anyway... I'm kind of tired of rusty old junk & working on other peoples rusty old crap, I do somewhat enjoy working on my own stuff & my junk, but not other peoples anymore, allot of rusty crap out there for sale too... If I don't have the $$$, I don't go into debt to buy something... I also invested wisely :headbang: , worked my a$$ off when I was young, building cars & tuning cars, doing fab work, to fund my hobby & racecars, while running my business, racing was paid for by all my side work & building cars to fund my toys....