Thread: Help me start

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I agree with all this excellent feedback and very much appreciate the inputs. I'm completely aware of the creep building projects take on. I've built several muscle cars and know very well that a complete/near complete car would be far cheaper and much less risky in terms of $$, time and my LEC (Life Events Coordiantor ;>)).

I think with all these good points pulled to the front of my considerations, I'll back off the "frame up" approach for now and maybe look for 80% done car. Thanks all!

Cheaper to find a project already started, but pay attention to crappy work, cost more to fix someone elses screw up. I have bought only one done Hot Rod, Liked it at first, later I couldnt stand it, 75 pro street chevy truck. One problem I have always had with buying a done project, I always want to change it If you have all your mech. and Fab., skills, and tools go for it. Then you can build it like you want it, not like somebody else did. Half dozen of one or the other. Either way old cars are cool

Runaway1
Now that your looking for almost done projects, pay close attention to things like is this a one owner previous project or multi-owner project. One of my lessons was the truck I bought had one guy who installed the engine and tranny and roughed the floor pans and tunnel, then dumped the project after completely messing things up(i.e engine installed at a 13 degree angle) floor chowdered, etc. Then the guy who bought it was a planner who started stockpiling parts for doing the job the right way, but never actually got to it, so it sat for 7 years!
I had no idea about engine angles, etc. when I bought it. And since it wasn't running I was unable to give it a test drive, check the brakes etc...
So like stated before I figured get the old engine running, and use it as is. Only the old engine was shot, the tranny not working, and the brakes rusted completely through. Then came the slippery slope of if I'm doing all this work to get it operable, better use new stuff and make it worth all the labor and time, well I'm sure you get the gist of it.
If you find someone who has kept a build log, especially with any aftermarket stuff like brakes and suspension,donor engine and transmission years, vehicle, ect.. that info will become invaluable!
I hope this is helpful and not saying what you may already know. It's just exciting to start a new project, and in my case the excitement interfered with making a informed decision!
Still love my truck though!

That is a very good point, that you really need to look at the quality of the engineering and workmanship the PO put into the car. The sad fact is, most of the cars for sale, either done or as almost finished projects, have things done to them that are horribly done. Even some so called hot rod shops turn out some real crap.

But being that you are a car guy already you will know what to look for. Things like goofy suspension setups, boogered welds, BONDO (some bondo is normal, but I'm talking about THICK bondo) and stuff like that. The secret seems to be to have cash in hand so you can pounce when the right one comes up, and also to not be afraid to walk away from a bunch of them until that special one does come available. The old saying is you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet a Prince(ss). and nowhere is that more true than in the car world.

Keep us posted on what you end up doing, we love to ride along on these adventures.........and we really LOVE pictures.

Don