Need some advice

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by Weaver

My plan is to find a nice driver, i.e. not a lot of rust repair. The condition of the interior or exterior is not an issue. Also, it needs to run solid and don't want any issues with the engine or transmission. I am not looking to build a show car as I know that would cost at least $50k if not a lot more. I could always upgrade later to a better engine/tranny. I would just like to get the suspension, brakes and wheels done. If I could get that done for $30k with the purchase of the car as well, then that is what I am looking for. I figure I could get a car for $15K, so an additional $15k for parts and labor for the suspension, wheels and brakes. I want to run 18's in the front and 20's in the rear, so it would have to be tubbed. I figure wheels and tires will set me back a few thousand and the brakes a few thousand, so that would leave about 8k for the suspension. Of course, this isn't counting any rust repair. This won't be my daily driver, so I could work on it as need be.

Maybe i just have a pipe dream after all.

Weaver

minitubbing is $4K to $5K in most areas. Maybe get a tire combo that doesn't need tubbing?

Jody

[Weaver]

Maybe I can start selling crack rocks. That would help.

JK

Weaver

Originally Posted by camcojb

minitubbing is $4K to $5K in most areas. Maybe get a tire combo that doesn't need tubbing?

Jody

[Stuart Adams]

For me it has always been almost double what I thought the cost would be. I'm not very bright!

[Weaver]

It sounds like I am just going to have to give it a shot and look for a finished car and then eventually change it like I want.

Thanks,

Weaver

Originally Posted by Stuart Adams

For me it has always been almost double what I thought the cost would be. I'm not very bright!

[rocketman]

The best car building advice,take your budget and add 20% that should cover building it.

[fatlife]

yeah, I have to agree with these guys, farming out the labor is way too expensive, anyway thats not what this hobby is about, its about building your own car, doesn't mean you have to take on everything yourself, but its no fun if you can't get your hands dirty some. I understand not everyone can do it, due to circumstances and such, but if you can't do anything yourself your gonna pay out the wazzoo for it.

I can understand though if you DID have the money, it would be nice to just let someone else go through all the headaches and just be able to write a check, wait for it to be done, and then go drive it.

My advice is either get some more money, learn to do some work yourself, find a car already done, or find someone on the side who does work cheap under the table, and start with a car that is already half way done

[Weaver]

Thanks for all the advice. I know I can find one close to what I want for $35 to 40k as I already have on ebay, but it would just need to be more suited to my taste, i.e. changing the color, changing the wheels, etc. Right now, I have $37K and with selling my current car, I should have another $25. I am going to buy a beater, but that won't eat up more than $7k, so that would leave me with $55k, of which I would like to save some, but I will have to make that call based on what I can find. I think my best route is to 1, find a finished car and change to my liking or 2, find a project that is near completion or halfway done. Like I said, I am willing to learn, but I don't know anyone that does this where I live and none of my friends do either.

Again, thanks for the advice.

Weaver

Originally Posted by fatlife

yeah, I have to agree with these guys, farming out the labor is way too expensive, anyway thats not what this hobby is about, its about building your own car, doesn't mean you have to take on everything yourself, but its no fun if you can't get your hands dirty some. I understand not everyone can do it, due to circumstances and such, but if you can't do anything yourself your gonna pay out the wazzoo for it.

I can understand though if you DID have the money, it would be nice to just let someone else go through all the headaches and just be able to write a check, wait for it to be done, and then go drive it.

My advice is either get some more money, learn to do some work yourself, find a car already done, or find someone on the side who does work cheap under the table, and start with a car that is already half way done