Cheapest car to restore?

[badmatt]

Originally Posted by youthpastor

good tread if we stick to the question- what is a cheap car to build??

someone suggested an early chevy truck - good choice

s-10 square body style-- big motor

70's anything

60's a-body non chevy

78+ malibu

a wagon

any other ideas??

not always cheap.... me and Marty could tell you that.

[f1shman]

Originally Posted by TreySmith

Hey guys. I am picking up a 351W this weekend for $100. I am just wondering, what all I will need to get a car to the road? Let's say I am starting off from scratch. I am still not sure if I want to go through with the 69 'Stang just yet, but the engine is too good to pass up for $100. I can always haul one up here and do the bodywork myself, wont cost a penny besides a truck/trailer, so it couldn't hurt..

Here is what I can think of so far:
Tires
Headers
Battery
Fluids
Right tail light
Radiator
Hoses
Brakes
Lock and ignition set
Driveshaft---
Trans.---- Can probably get these two from a junkyard.. $150 max for both
Eh, anything else I might need judging by the looks of the green car?

Bringing a car back completely from a shell will be more of a drain on your wallet than starting with a complete car to begin with. A lot of the small items can really nickel and dime your budget to death. I am not sure how strict the automotive safety inspections are in Texas (or even if there is one), but from my state they really give the car a look over to make sure its in a safe, driveable condition before they let you pass.

Along with your list you are going to want to check all the items on the car that need regular service. That includes all the steering parts (inner and outer tie rods, idler arm, rag joint, ball joints, sway bar bushings and end links, wheel bearings and seals), suspension parts (shocks, leaf spring bushings, control arm bushings), brake parts (master cylinder, booster, tubing, flex lines, calipers, rotors, pads, shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, drum hardware, emergency brake cables), lights (headlight, tail lamp, marker and interior bulbs) ...and it just keeps going from there. I am not saying that you'll have to replace everything on this list that you look over, just make sure that what is currently on the car is still in a safe operating condition.

Good luck with your project!

[TreySmith]

Originally Posted by f1shman

Bringing a car back completely from a shell will be more of a drain on your wallet than starting with a complete car to begin with. A lot of the small items can really nickel and dime your budget to death. I am not sure how strict the automotive safety inspections are in Texas (or even if there is one), but from my state they really give the car a look over to make sure its in a safe, driveable condition before they let you pass.

Along with your list you are going to want to check all the items on the car that need regular service. That includes all the steering parts (inner and outer tie rods, idler arm, rag joint, ball joints, sway bar bushings and end links, wheel bearings and seals), suspension parts (shocks, leaf spring bushings, control arm bushings), brake parts (master cylinder, booster, tubing, flex lines, calipers, rotors, pads, shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, drum hardware, emergency brake cables), lights (headlight, tail lamp, marker and interior bulbs) ...and it just keeps going from there. I am not saying that you'll have to replace everything on this list that you look over, just make sure that what is currently on the car is still in a safe operating condition.

Good luck with your project!

Thanks for the list. Once I get it running, it will only have a few mile journey each day to school. But by the time it is running it will probably be summer, and all I will have to do is go to work, which is 4 miles or something.. But eventually that will all be replaced.
I am really starting to considering hauling one of them home. We are going up there the weekend after this one and I am going to thoroughly look them over. I don't want another rotted piece of **** like my Lemans. Then I will just sand the engine bay, have it painted, then find a cheap engine and drop it in and try to get it street able.

I want to sand and paint it first, but to me it gives the car pride. Personally, original lime green with surface rust is just so much cooler than a freshly painted car. It shows it has been through hell and is still alive.


Also Skooli I will try and get some pics for you. The primer car is an I6 but it has all boss 302 suspension parts. The car has everything a 302 car would have aside from the engine.

[awr68]

First order of business is to get the title....then you can start wrenching.

[TreySmith]

Out of the like 7 cars I have had, none of them have had a title except one.. God damn lol.. But by the time I get it looking nice I should have the title. Body work costs me nothing so if something does happen it wont be a big deal.

[awr68]

File for a 'lost title' soon then so you can drive it as soon as it's ready!!