To Resto or not, How do you decide?

[OMTWF-72SE]

I think the paranoid thing is something to consider too. I know if I had a $250-500k right down to the line marks restored Wellborn museum quality 71 RT 426 4 speed I'd rarely drive it except on and off a trailer. I think I'd still have a personalized driver that I could park at a local show and walk away from without lapping by it every 15 minutes.

 

[Black_Sheep]

My GTX is more of a resto mod than a restoration but it could be returned to stock configuration fairly easily. Ultimately it is what it is because I built it to my own tastes. I’m going to have fun and enjoy it for as long as I possibly can.

You do you and ignore the haters…

 

[Darter6]

There ya go Bud69. 3 pages to make your head spin.
What ever you do,enjoy it !

 

[71 Runner]

I'm currently doing a Resto mod / restoration on my 71RR. It happens to be my very first car I bought my senior year of high school in 76. It was an original 340/727 auto 8 3/4 car with bucket seats and console non A/C, GF7 paint. I have the #matching engine but the trans is long gone. The wife and I dated in this car and luckily I managed to keep both. In June we had our 46th year Annv. I am putting in a full headliner to carpet Saddle Legendary interior as original. I am also repainting it the # matching color. I want to be able to walk up to the car and open the door and it looks exactly like it did when we were dating.

The resto mod changes I am making are suspension and powertrain related. Although I bought a date coded 71 440 block, I am doing a 502 stroker kit with aluminum heads and Holly sniper with hyper spark ignition. I'm also changing the 727 out for a Tremec 6 speed manual. The suspension will be the full QA1 coil over front with 4 link in the rear hooked up to a S-60 reared. I'm dumping the 4 wheel drums for 4 wheel wilwood discs. I'm adding the Dakota Digital dash since it didn't have the tach in the rally gauges and I really like the look and new wiring under the dash. Because I live in Vegas, I'm adding the Vintage Air A/C to it as well. I would like to drive it year round.

I know some may not like my choices but when it's all done, I will have a really nice riding and driving car that you will have to get close to see the mods that I added. I'm not building the car to be a trailer Queen or to sell for profit, It means way too much to me! I'm really hoping it will be done in the spring next year. Yes, it will be a **** load of money invested in it when I'm done but it's the way I want it to be.......A One of One 71 Road Runner!

 

[Bud69]

There ya go Bud69. 3 pages to make your head spin.
What ever you do,enjoy it !

Ain’t that the truth…. Haha And appreciate everyone’s comments.

 

[Krooser]

I've been modifying cars since the 60's. Did a tri carb manifold install on my buddies '56 Chevy when I was 15. Helped my brother with a SBC install into a Pagan Gold '52 MGTD before that.

My last project was a '56 F100. 4" chop, shortened 100" wheelbase, B body torsion bar suspension, blown 331 Hemi backed by an 833. 9.25" rear narrowed 13".

But I like muscle cars to be basically stock. Just do.

My beater Coronet won't be stock...a 273 TF car getting a 318 4 speed . But it's an $800 car . Nobody cares .

I'd prefer a /6 car remain that way. I don't even like seeing a 383 pulled for a 440. I love those B blocks.

I have a low mileage Gen3 engine sitting in my shop...18k on the clock. I'd never put that in my '65 even though it would be cheaper than rebuilding the 340 I have planned for it.

I just don't like the look of a new engine in one of the cars I grew up craving.

My Dad's generation often thought the same about their early Fords being chopped, channelled and modified.

20 years ago I saw a '32 Ford five window barn find at Back to the 50's in Saint Paul. 5,000 legit miles. Perfect condition.

The owner was a late 80's gentleman that bought it from the window of the original owner. We talked about the car for an hour just pointing out all the original details you never see in a restored car .

Later that day I learned he had just sold the car for $80,000. The new owner pledged to keep it all original.

Lots of different opinions... none wrong except putting a SBC in anything.

That will get St. Peter to turn you around from the gates of Heaven headed south in a hurry.

 

[vsj100]

Build it the way you'll like it. I recently worried about the way my car handled. 68 Coronet 500 - 440 engine 727 trans - super bee tribute. Tires and big sway bars made a huge difference and did not break the bank. Tires are 15 inch, fronts are 225/60 and rears are 295/50. It had rear air shocks but now are stock. I suppose Q1 shocks all the way around would make a huge difference too. All of this without getting into the front or rear springs.

 

[Darter6]

68 Super Bee.... NICE !

 

[Some Car Guy]

Depends on your time table. If you plan on changing cars every few years, better to go stockish so you can move it easily. I’ve seen umpteen million modded up cars that struggle to sell. Sure some go quick, but you can usually see extra details a lot of the custom cars lack. If you are keeping the car for the long haul, then do as you please and it won’t matter.

I’ll tell you that a custom build will take far longer than a driver type stocker.

 

[PA_65_Plymouth]

When trying to decide if a Resto is the best option for your car, excluding personal preference what are some of the factors you use to make that determination? I have a 69 Superbee 383 post car originally blue/blue that has a lot of great qualities and wouldn't take a lot if you wanted to take it to an original car but it's lacking the original motor and fender tag. Currently it has a 383 from a 69 Charger in it and I also have a 69 440 orginal from intake to oil pan with high flow manifolds that I could also power it with. I love the idea of a Resto with modern powerplants but, is there a point where you got to look at the car and say this restoration would be of more value and sense if it was an original restoration? Torn on direction, any advice or wisdom would be appreciated.
Thanks

I’am really happy with my conversion, it’s not for everyone and I get sneers from people when they see it but I don’t care. Car has great power and is fun to drive again.

 

[70ChargerRT]

To each his own. I consider my car a retromod but I absolutely hate modern power plants in these cars. Seeing a Hellcat type engine in these cars does absolutely nothing for me. Zero excitement whatsoever but I did however do a T-56 Magnum swap about 7 years ago. I’ve done way too many upgrades to list but it is true doing an original car is way way cheaper but they sure to hell ain’t no way funner lol.