Vision Too Big For Bank Account????

[ccracin]

I was talking to a board member last night and we started discussing the fact the we are seeing more and more unfinished projects showing up for sale. What's the deal? I understand the economy is bad and all, but I'm looking at this in a different light. Alot of these projects were started way before any of this happened. Some were already stalled before the bust.

My question is: Is it better to have a finished 40-70K car that you can drive and enjoy or an unfinished 150K+ car that you have to sell because you are 40-70K in and can't see the end of the tunnel?

Is this a product of poor planning up front, lack of knowledge in what it takes to get to a particular level of build, or was there a reasonable budget in the beginning and then things went south after spending many hours looking at build threads saying I want that or I need to get rid of this to get that or something else?

We are victims of my last scenario. We changed from a Big Block we had to an LS mostly due to my time on this site. LOL Is it going to be cool, hell yeah. Is it going to be alot more money, Hell yeah! I find myself now trying to treat our project more like I treat my projects at work. What is needed, what is wanted, what's the budget? I don't want to have a 50K pile of parts that I have to sell for 30 2 years from now.

I just thought I would throw this out and get some input. Maybe people starting builds or progressing along will be able to gain or keep some focus as they move forward.

Remeber, You can't have 1000hp TT taste on a 350hp Q-jet budget!

What's everyone think?

[Vegas69]

I've noticed the same thing lately. All kinds of projects not even half done with a boat load of quality parts. The fact of the matter is they will need to take a hurting of at least half to off load the project.

These projects take a long time to plan and execute. They Always cost more than you think. They are also the first to go in any hardship. This site is horrible for the check book. If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn't of built this car. I have to be honest. I have way to much money tied up in it. I'm my own worst enemy. Remind me to never build a custom house.

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Remind me to never build a custom house.

Todd,

Absolutely! It's because of that my Camaro is still stock!

[67ragtp]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I've noticed the same thing lately. All kinds of projects not even half done with a boat load of quality parts. The fact of the matter is they will need to take a hurting of at least half to off load the project.

These projects take a long time to plan and execute. They Always cost more than you think. They are also the first to go in any hardship. This site is horrible for the check book. If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn't of built this car. I have to be honest. I have way to much money tied up in it. I'm my own worst enemy. Remind me to never build a custom house.

With out getting to personal I dont understand when people say "if I new then what I know now" the future cant be predicted. You obviously have a huge passion for this hobby, perhaps you may have built your car differently. Is it knowing the state of the economy now as opposed to then and not spending the funds at all. At some point your passion is going to lead you in to spending it now or later.

I built my 67 around the same time, and spent a boat load, I dont regret it. Im doing another one now and have a basement full of high dollar parts, it will get done, you are right about the execution taking a long time, for me it always seems that Im waiting on a vendor, and it becomes out of my control.

Maybe poor planning is responsible for a lot of projects being on the market. I think its a combination of long term projects especially the ones that go on for years and then financial hardship forcing the sale.

Rich

[chr2002ca]

Yep, same stuff happened to me during my build, and mine wasn't half as complex as some of these I see out there. Much more time and money than I thought it would be. And I'm still spending to get it right. It just goes on and on. That's the very reason why I dumped all the details into my own build site, to give people some realistic insight into what it really takes and how all those small things and parts and costs really add up. My site is more of a 'warning' than anything. A few of the people who have signed my guestbook have mentioned things like "thanks for opening my eyes" and "I had no idea", so I hope maybe my passing along of details is helping a few people in one way or another.

Yes, Lateral-g has cost me some money also, but without it and the contributions of all its members, I probably would have never built my car and made some great friends from here. So to hell with my empty wallet, it was worth it.

[akrapovic]

Just a sign of the times. I attribute some situations creating to a budget when times were good. Followed by being too far into the project to adjust when our economy crashed. Luckily I never had the capital to dream of building a six figure car so I still have mine. I will agree though it kinda bugs me at times when I think about the other things I could've spent my money on. Oh well, love the car and wouldn't change a thing.

[syborg tt]

Awesome Web site - i've looked at it many times

Originally Posted by chr2002ca

Yep, same stuff happened to me during my build, and mine wasn't half as complex as some of these I see out there. Much more time and money than I thought it would be. And I'm still spending to get it right. It just goes on and on. That's the very reason why I dumped all the details into my own build site, to give people some realistic insight into what it really takes and how all those small things and parts and costs really add up. My site is more of a 'warning' than anything. A few of the people who have signed my guestbook have mentioned things like "thanks for opening my eyes" and "I had no idea", so I hope maybe my passing along of details is helping a few people in one way or another.

Yes, Lateral-g has cost me some money also, but without it and the contributions of all its members, I probably would have never built my car and made some great friends from here. So to hell with my empty wallet, it was worth it.

[Vegas69]

The economy isn't my excuse, I felt the downturn before the first bolt was pulled off my car. About mid 2006. I don't live beyond my means but don't tell me there aren't a few decision you've made that you look back on and go hmmm... Anyway, I don't regret building my car. I love my car and wouldn't sell it for $150k.(I know that won't happent) I simply wouldn't want to go back through the process of building it. I'm not one of those guys that enjoys the process more than the finish line. I like to beat the piss out of my stuff. If it get's cone rash all the way down the side, I just smile. It comes off, if it doesn't then it will get fixed when I freshen it up down the road. I guess what I meant was if I knew then what I know now, I would have bought a car with reasonable paint and made the changes to that car. I probably wouldn't of built it quite this nice either. The problem is, once you're all in, you're all in. You must protect your investment and the flow of the car. Luckily, I have done a major load of the work and that's saved me alot of cash. I can't imgagine paying someone to do all the little stuff. It just adds up so fast and really makes the car.

Originally Posted by 67ragtp

With out getting to personal I dont understand when people say "if I new then what I know now" the future cant be predicted. You obviously have a huge passion for this hobby, perhaps you may have built your car differently. Is it knowing the state of the economy now as opposed to then and not spending the funds at all. At some point your passion is going to lead you in to spending it now or later.

I built my 67 around the same time, and spent a boat load, I dont regret it. Im doing another one now and have a basement full of high dollar parts, it will get done, you are right about the execution taking a long time, for me it always seems that Im waiting on a vendor, and it becomes out of my control.

Maybe poor planning is responsible for a lot of projects being on the market. I think its a combination of long term projects especially the ones that go on for years and then financial hardship forcing the sale.

Rich

[67ragtp]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

The economy isn't my excuse, I felt the downturn before the first bolt was pulled off my car. About mid 2006. I don't live beyond my means but don't tell me there aren't a few decision you've made that you look back on and go hmmm... Anyway, I don't regret building my car. I love my car and wouldn't sell it for $150k.(I know that won't happent) I simply wouldn't want to go back through the process of building it. I'm not one of those guys that enjoys the process more than the finish line. I like to beat the piss out of my stuff. If it get's cone rash all the way down the side, I just smile. It comes off, if it doesn't then it will get fixed when I freshen it up down the road. I guess what I meant was if I knew then what I know now, I would have bought a car with reasonable paint and made the changes to that car. I probably wouldn't of built it quite this nice either. The problem is, once you're all in, you're all in. You must protect your investment and the flow of the car. Luckily, I have done a major load of the work and that's saved me alot of cash. I can't imgagine paying someone to do all the little stuff. It just adds up so fast and really makes the car.

Todd- Thats cool, I get it. I guess I fall into the catogory of the big chase and love to build, I too try to do as much myself and it truly does save a lot of money. This allows me to spend the money on the expensive big ticket items, definatly the Drug Attic. Now where do I find that rehab center

With out a doubt, you guys have made my car building journeys educational and cost effective and your a fine group of coconuts as well.

Rich

[Van B]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Remind me to never build a custom house.

Been there, done that. My wife actually printed up $1000 bills with our picture on the face because every time we turned around, we were dropping another g note because we figured "we've gone this far, we may as well add that".

Now my Camaro went the same route, with half of the DSE catalog on it and more billet widgets than you can count on your fingers and toes.