How much are you guys spending on restoration?

[Track Junky]

A decent driver can be built for less than 30K if you pick something up to where the body is straight and the paint is decent. If you play it smart, you wait for the guys on this site that bought parts for mock up or simply changed their mind for an upgrade and decided to sell the new part. I am into this car for 27K with a manilla envelope full of receipts and warranties to prove it and it has the basics. And yes, it is still for sale but I am in no hurry to sell it. Just dont tell my wife that, LOL.







Global West UPC's
New Be Cool radiator
New 420 hp 383
Rebuilt M-21 w/resurfaced flywheel and New Centerforce clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing
New clutch and brake pedals
New gas pedal
New 275/40 17 BFG G-Force Sport tires(laid a couple decent burnouts on the rear tires)
New Corbeau A4 seats
New stock center console with Autometer gauge pod and gauges
New Baer Track Plus brakes
New trunk pan(old one was cut for fuel cell and shock mounts)
Existing 8 point Alston Cage
12 bolt posi with 3:08's
QA-1 single adjustable shocks on all corners
New MSD billet distributor w/blaster 2 coil and 6AL box
My old 17x9.5 Torque Thrust's
Detroit 2" drop leafs
New heat register
New weather stripping throughout
Tilton High Torque starter
New Edelbrock fuel pump
New Alternator
New Power steering pump
New Edelbrock water pump
Doug Thourly Tri-Y headers
Other odds and ends here and there that I'm sure I left out

[Blake Foster]

that looks like a good deal.
want to trade for a drag car..............lol

[69x22]

Those front spoilers add up...

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Here's the real problem, it NEVER ends. If you actually drive the snot out of them, they use up and break stuff. Then there is chasing every last bit of performance. How about the tools needed to work on these babies? I was a GM tech and I've had to buy a slough of tools. Oh yeah, maintenence. An oil change costs me about $125 2-3 times a year. Brakes need blead out after most events with expensive fluid.

2nd set of wheels(3 piece I may add)
2nd engine(YOWSER that chapped my aise)
3rd set of front rotors(2nd set of wheels dictated and current are wore out)
2nd set of complete rear brakes(Brake Knockback)
Pile of brake pads(Performance Based)
2nd set of axles(Brake Knockback)
2nd set of springs all four corners(Performance)
2nd master cylinder(Knockback and wore out)
2nd clutch(See number 2)
Going on 3rd radiator
4th set of tires
2nd front sway bar
3rd change in oil plumbing
2nd set of tail lights
3rd or 4th front spoiler
2nd drive belt
2 rear sway bars(Neither are on the car)

Certainly not all by neccessity.

I sold a 2001 Corvette convertible for parts. It had about 16,000 miles on it and sold for 30k in 2007.

If I could go back to 2006 when I got this hair brained idea, here would be my advice to meeeself. Find the cleanest car in the right color with a good paint job and mod it WITHOUT doing a full resto. Building anything from scratch is EXPENSIVE. The good news, it's a better investment than many other things I've sunk my money into over the last 5 years. I've enjoyed the hell, and continue to enjoy the hell out of it. If I ever sell, I'll be OK with the loss.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Here's the real problem, it NEVER ends. If you actually drive the snot out of them, they use up and break stuff. Then there is chasing every last bit of performance. How about the tools needed to work on these babies? I was a GM tech and I've had to buy a slough of tools. Oh yeah, maintenence. An oil change costs me about $125 2-3 times a year. Brakes need blead out after most events with expensive fluid.

2nd set of wheels(3 piece I may add)
2nd engine(YOWSER that chapped my aise)
3rd set of front rotors(2nd set of wheels dictated and current are wore out)
2nd set of complete rear brakes(Brake Knockback)
Pile of brake pads(Performance Based)
2nd set of axles(Brake Knockback)
2nd set of springs all four corners(Performance)
2nd master cylinder(Knockback and wore out)
2nd clutch(See number 2)
Going on 3rd radiator
4th set of tires
2nd front sway bar
3rd change in oil plumbing
2nd set of tail lights
3rd or 4th front spoiler
2nd drive belt
2 rear sway bars(Neither are on the car)

Certainly not all by neccessity.

I sold a 2001 Corvette convertible for parts. It had about 16,000 miles on it and sold for 30k in 2007.

If I could go back to 2006 when I got this hair brained idea, here would be my advice to meeeself. Find the cleanest car in the right color with a good paint job and mod it WITHOUT doing a full resto. Building anything from scratch is EXPENSIVE. The good news, it's a better investment than many other things I've sunk my money into over the last 5 years. I've enjoyed the hell, and continue to enjoy the hell out of it. If I ever sell, I'll be OK with the loss.

I couldn't agree more!!!!!!!!!!

[Track Junky]

Originally Posted by killer69

that looks like a good deal.
want to trade for a drag car..............lol

Not sure that would make the wife too happy.....

[GregWeld]

The very definition of "hot rod" is -- whatever.


In other words - it's whatever the guy building it can do - or can't do - and whatever it is that they want.... regardless of whether or not it's pro built or a junkyard dog. I have friends that don't have in their whole car what I've spent for wheels. So what.... nobody cares. Fire it up and let's go!

Hot rodding has been this way since the first guy took the fenders off his Model A.


What's it cost? Nobody can answer that question... it costs what you can afford (and then some!). Most people lie when asked that question anyway. They build a 50K car and claim it's worth 100... They spend 400K and are embarrassed to say so... Who cares. It's a hobby - enjoy it for whatever it does for YOU. Just don't try to build a SEMA/Riddler/AMBR show car for 50K because you're only going to be depressed.

[Blake Foster]

And there you have it, discussion over ,CLASS DISMISSED!!!

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by killer69

And there you have it, discussion over ,CLASS DISMISSED!!!

Pretty much!

[intocarss]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

The very definition of "hot rod" is -- whatever.


In other words - it's whatever the guy building it can do - or can't do - and whatever it is that they want.... regardless of whether or not it's pro built or a junkyard dog. I have friends that don't have in their whole car what I've spent for wheels. So what.... nobody cares. Fire it up and let's go!

Hot rodding has been this way since the first guy took the fenders off his Model A.


What's it cost? Nobody can answer that question... it costs what you can afford (and then some!). Most people lie when asked that question anyway. They build a 50K car and claim it's worth 100... They spend 400K and are embarrassed to say so... Who cares. It's a hobby or an addiction - enjoy it for whatever it does for YOU. Just don't try to build a SEMA/Riddler/AMBR show car for 50K because you're only going to be depressed.

Fixed it for you

[GregWeld]

So well said!!