When is "too much" restoration????

[flypaper]

once you spend any money to "Restore something"
expect pennies on the dollar in return on your investment.
once you open up the can
20 worms will jump out
which ones will you chase?
if money/value is your concern (for some of us diehards that doesn't matter)
sell it before sinking another dime as now is where your peak profit will be.
it only goes down hill and the less you can do your self
the steeper the slope is.
good luck neat looking car..

 

[Johnpat]

Can't count your own labor time,that's a fact

 

[Mike67]

Feel lucky that your gen has multiple mfgs reproroducing everything you need !

 

[GetX'd]

I played that game with my GTX. I have a good very solid car that I’m the second owner of and have had for 47 years. I fell into the trap of I need to do this and that. Some of it I let people talk me into when if I were to do it over again I would not spend the money for. I ended up putting a bundle into my car but went ground up on the restoration - paint, interior, drivetrain and lots more. Am I up side down? Well I only paid $1100 for the car 47 years ago - but if I would have sold it I would be a good piece ahead. Didn’t because - long story - but it was a bucket list thing for me and I put the money into it. Will I get it all out - I seriously doubt it. Do I care - not really. I love the car and the way it turned out. Get a ton of compliments on it. These guys on FBBO know the drill and are right. If you don’t have the coin to restore it and enjoy it w/o regard to getting it back some day don’t do it. Do the minimum and see if you can live with that. They’re money pits but a hell of a lot of fun!

 

[WP29440SE]

there are still a few of us that consider this a hobby , a passion , something we love to do , and NOT some sort of investment or flipping episode that only care about getting the most money out of a pig wearing lipstick. that basically means we don't care or count how much we spend and don't give a **** about a financial return. its all about satisfaction and pride .once you figure out what the car means and represents to you , your decisions will be easy. I drive mine all the time , and I do not worry about getting it dirty or wet.

 

[tmaleck]

lo

When is "too much" restoration????

View attachment 635568

Been there

l

 

[Richard Cranium]

What can I expect (cost wise) for a "break even" point of amount invested versus estimated value?

Most likely, your break even point is probably now. From here on in you're underwater.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

I keep a spreadsheet beginning with the purchase of the car.
Have a laptop in the garage so I can log in my time and materials on a daily basis, then transfer that information to a Total Costs spreadsheet that lists Parts (including shipping), Materials and labor.
The hours can quickly climb above 400 and in cases where there is custom work (lowered, bagged, interior, paint) it can double that.
Doing the labor yourself will save a boat load of money but only if you have the tools and ability to perform the work properly.

As pointed out earlier, unless the car is "special" you will not be making any money on it when it comes time to sell. That being said, many of us restore cars more as a hobby and passion rather than a business investment.
It's more about the satisfaction one feels when bringing a rusted old car back to better than new condition.

If this is your dream car then you won't mind all the time and effort it takes to bring it back. If it is not your dream car, then follow the advice given and do the bare minimum to enjoy driving it for a while. You will have a better chance at making money when you resell it later.

 

[tak419]

Mine was going to be a basic freshen up and repaint LOL. In the end I literally tore apart every single component and restored/rebuilt it. By the way you could buy the power steering pump rebuild kit at NAPA for $7.00. Even took the steering column apart, I mean everything. That's when I stopped with mine. As for money, I didn't keep count, my labor was the worst, 7 yrs worth. I did it for the LOVE of working on old Mopars, the enjoyment of a stress relief, the time away from the wife lol. But for value, no ! Yes the car looks brand new from top to bottom but I didn't build it for an investment, I built it for my piece of mind, self gratification and enjoyment !!!!! What's funny, I can paint cars, rebuild motors, transmissions and set up rear ends but can't get my carbs dialed lol.

 

[Officer Higgins]

You're going to also decide when it will be too nice to have fun driving. It happens alot with restoration work.

 

[Officer Higgins]

Not speaking badly of queers thst drive bowties, what those weiner washers do in the privacy of a democratic fund raising is their business. Have heard i really wanted to restore something different and rare say one of the above mentioned queers who is speaking about his one of 6 million vin tag switched never made camaro.

 

[danf_fl]

Check the rear top of the block where it meets the trans bell housing. The VIN should match. If that matters to you.

I am wondering if the VIN on the block would match if an engine was replaced under warranty?

 

[Superfreak]

No, warranty blocks apparently had no numbers.