Hello all,
I have been working on my chevelle since 1999 and I can't seem to get enough money or time together to to finsh my chevelle. I have done all the mechanicals on the frame but now they are starting to look old and used and I have not driven the first mile yet. URRRRGGGG. How are you other guys, what's your plan?

No plan for the car, just a plan on how to explain the bills to the wife...lol

Seriously, I just dove in and decided it was time to get it done.
(Bought the car 11 years ago)
First it was to get rid of the rust. DONE
Then buy over the winter months the parts I need to finish it off. DONE
(Motor, Trans, Rear end ..etc..)
Now just on hold till Spring comes around.
Maybe late summer, early fall..
The project should be 99% done..

PS: A car is never really done...:thumbsup:

It took me 6 years and a home equity loan to get mine done

If you want a 100% correct resto, then I can see it taking awhile, but I think the point of owning a car like these is to drive them and have fun with them. Sure a museum piece would be cool, but to me, its too much money and too much worries. Your not trying to design a space shuttle, its just a car, put it together and have fun while you still can. What happens if your 2/3 of the way done and you get sick and cant ever finish it?
I dragged my just parted out chevelle home, after I got the title in hand, it was reassembled and driving in 2 1/2 months. Its not a show car for sure, But, I can go out and drive it anywhere. I keep upgrading it, but at the same time I drive it every chance i get. last thing was the interior, next up is a 4 speed change over. I dont know if you had a hotrod in school, but thats kind of what we did, You collected parts, and installed them on the weekend, hope it works as planned, if not you walked to school monday. Good luck on your resto, just dont take it too seriously, 9 years is way too long. no matter what you do to your car, theres always going to be something else that needs to be done. Just put the thing together before your too old to enjoy the it. Jim

A little over 2 years for me and I am almost done finally.:yes:

Just for the record I didn't do a nuts resto our salt air got me 2 front fenders 2 door skins 1 quarter panel and the trunk lid with the associated fitment horrors 2 paint shops,and money is short sometimes but you got to hussel to enjoy it.

Took me 6 years and that was a frame on. I either had the time and no money, or enough money but no time.

Since spring of 99. I just got it back from the body shop where it was there for 10 months. I too took out an equitey line to pay for part of it, the other was saved up cash. It kinda sat for two years while my wife and i were bouncing between teaching jobs untill we were settled. Im going to have it "done" in a couple of weeks just in time to drive it around a little and give my son's first ride in a car home from the hospital along with his mother...... in style.

Two years and counting and the body is still not back on the frame. Alot of work and more money then I expected. Plan to keep moving forward. Exhaust is next and the frame will be done.

Mine has been apart for years, mainly due to it being in 2 different bodyshope long term.
Now that I have more time I have 0 funds to finish it. Set aside the dough years ago and due to a failed business last year (and scantily employed since)Im beyond flat broke.

This thing is going to run no matter what by springs end...Body is going on next week, need wiring harness and ignition to fire it up, the rest is about 2-3k and some labor on my end to be done..

If I have to go borrow and do it on credit Im going to break my own rule and do it. Coming up on 40 this year, got the car in 97 and put 1200 miles on it before taking it apart.

Lifes too short, go play while you can. Seems like you turn around and youth is gone in the blink of an eye.

Now Im gonna be one of these grey haired dudes I laughed about when I was younger driving a super lopey Hot Rod.

Good:D

I don't know what to do about mine. It's in worse condition than what I thought when I bought it and I keep just fixing problems and trying to put things right. Rust is another major problem and I don't know what I need to do to get it sorted. Frame off and send the bits off somewhere?

I'm not looking for showroom condition but a reliable drive that won't disintegrate...

Hmm...

Mine had a lot more rust than I expected as well and I have been going for over 5 years now on a frame-off.

To keep costs to a minimum, AND to treat it as a hobby, I took classes on welding, bought a welder on sale, and did most of my own work. Sometimes more than once.

I am at the paint stage now and I am painting my own car ...for the very first time in my life. Taking my time, researching, asking advice, and doing it right.

I have my own tools that I never had before that will come in handy for many things in the future, and I have a whole lot more knowledge on how to do things.

Steve

Took me 6 years and that was a frame on. I either had the time and no money, or enough money but no time.

Time and money ! I know what you mean. I bought my 66 almost finished. Well I've been layed off a good bit since Sept. so I've had the time just can't find the money. Got 19k in it. Need 1k more to finish.

Well I will say this. My car is no absolute original numbers matching car. I would call it a "Blue collar working man hobby car" I have been thru 3 chevelle to make the one that I want and need. I just have been trying to do it right, not having to redo it again in 4 or 5 years.

Started resto-mod on mine in 1983....Marriage, kids, houses, etc.....EVERYTHING came before the car. I kept dragging her along behind everywhere I went.Today she is in the body shop and ready to back on the frame. Hang in there ......it will be worth the wait.

Also.....the right guy for bodywork is SO inportant....motors, trans, brakes.....easier to do more than once......frame off....only one time please!

3.5 years for me. just kept buying parts when I had the money and now I am almost done.

About 3 years so far for me. It's almost running and ready for paint. Right now I'm in the "lack of money" slump, as the wife is forcing me to pay off debt rather then finish the Chevelle (which I hate to admit it when she is right). I'm still going to have it running by spring even if I don't have paint on it and have to temporarily re-use old parts... Because I REALLY want to drive it. Not even 1 mile on it yet since the frame off.

Just keep plugging away at it, like Johnny Cash sang "One piece at a time!" - except it costs quite a few dimes!

Kyle

Your not alone.

When I was younger I had time and no money. Now I'm older I have alittle money and have NO time.

The short story with my project is:

Tore apart in 1987, all the way down to body on frame. Built a motor, got it back together and in primer in 1990. Went thru various stages of work during a 10 year period (still in primer). In 2001, decided enough was enough and started driving it (still in primer). Hooked up with a fellow club member who offered to help me see my dream through. Finally got some color on it in 04.

It's actually easier for me to look at in terms of miles. From 84 to 87 I put 50,000 miles on it. From 87 to 07, I put 5,000 miles on it.

Still going since spring of 2000. This includes periods adding up to about 5 years of not doing anything to it.

I started mine in 1993 on a 1972 SS454. Life got in the way over the years and the car got done here and there. It's finally in a body shop. It's not going to be a trailer queen, but you can eat off of every part of the car if you catch my drift. All said and done 35-40K into the car. Patience, and kept saving is what kept my project breathing. Someone else mentioned it, having the right people work on the car if you can't do it yourself is key. Don't give up!!!

I bought my 72 Chevelle SS in 1991 and started a frame off, but like some of you, I got married, had kids, had a house built and so on. Even though I wasn't really working on it during those years as much as I would have liked to, I never once forgot about it and dreamed of the day I'd finally be able to take it for a ride.

I started back on it a few years later and today I am getting really close to finishing it. :D I basically need to finish the interior, glass, and a few other details. Hopefully by summer, I'll be cruizin' :hurray:

Mike

I feel your pain … I purchased mine in ’97, it hasn’t been registered on the road since ’81. I definitely feel your pain.

Spent many years pondering this, I’d buy the wrong thing … etc, etc. 2years ago I finally got serious about metal work. All required metal was replaced. Last year, I got serious into building the 454 I bought in ’01 … machine work’s all done, working on assembly now. This spring the remaining metal will be sanded down, and sprayed with epoxy.

This year it should make it on the road/drag strip. All black epoxy primer, half interior, fuelie 454/4spd. I don’t expect it to look like much, don’t expect it to run that fast, but I will be driving it! Vanity plate coming this year is “RATD OUT”:-)

I discovered a deep desire to put it on the road, and drive. The pretty paint, chrome, etc can come with time … but nice solid sheetmetal, and a decent powertrain, make for a great starting point.

Neal

Wow, I feel a lot better! I thought 8 years was long! Of course it's no way near done now, but I won't be setting any records if it takes another 2 years.
I just keep telling myself 'you can't rush quality' :noway:

Glad to see I'm not alone. Before I had my car, I golfed a lot. At the end of one summer, my friend had finished a frame off restoration of a '64 Corvette. I wondered where I spent my time that I didn't have time to do that. Quickly found out.
It has been apart for about 8 yrs. As I tell my wife and others, who ask if I don't want to drive it. "This is my Hobby". I am home much more. It is much more enjoyable than golf. My money is invested. I enjoy tinkering on it if that's all the time I have. I also enjoy the major undertakings with it. Frame off, new suspension, rebuilt engine, tranny, rear end, extra 2 1/2 bays on my garage etc.....
I do want to drive the finished product. Probably later this year it will be ready. I'm on the reassembly stage now.
If, God willing, I died before I finished it, someone will inherit about $20k worth of unassembled parts. I will have enjoyed everything that I have learned and the time spent with it.

Man, I guess I don't have as much patience as most of you guys :D. I bought my '68 in September, and although it was pretty much stripped down already, I have been busy refinishing parts that came with the car, buying parts (just bought a 396 motor last week) and just took the body off the frame 2 weeks ago. Some body parts are already at the bodyshop, the shell will go in a couple of weeks. I have the frame stripped down and just about cleaned, and I'll paint that myself and start bolting the new parts on hopefully within a week or so. I hope to get the body back in about 2 1/2 months and start to put it back together. Work has been slow, so the budget has been shrunk and I'll probably sell some Vette parts to fund the finish. I fully intend to drive this thing by shortly after the driving season starts up here, maybe in June. Here's what I had to start with:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/midshark/Picture011.jpg

Here is where I'm at:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/midshark/Picture005-4.jpg

This is why I built my car before marriage/home ownership etc. I had my car from bare shell to hittin' the streets in about 8 months. Of course there's been numerous upgrades as I drove, raced and broke stuff, or wanted to go faster.

count me in the group that wants to drive their cars. that being the case, there's two real drawbacks to the tedious, frame off, ever nut and bolt new or redone restorations; first they take a long time to complete and second you won't be as inclined to drive it if it's basically perfect.
for me the perfect car is a nice driver with some nicks here and there, solid mechically, like an 8-9 out of 10 type car. that way you can just have fun with them and not sweat it when something happens.

I bought my car in 93, and it's been apart since 94. It's finally in the body shop now, and if everything goes right, I will start re-assembly in the next couple of months.

Took me 6 years and that was a frame on. I either had the time and no money, or enough money but no time.

i have no money, no time, and a 71 in pieces. 454 that needs work before it goes in, 350 that still needs to come out, powerglide that is shot and needs to come out and a th400 that needs work before it can go in, a front suspension that is in total need of a rebuild, complete brake job (want 4 wheel disc but would settle for front discs for now), new floor pans a 10-bolt that needs to come out, a 12-bolt that needs new guts and installed, need 2 new fenders, need 2 new 1/4's, need new bumpers, new interior, new hood, engine bay detailing, new motor harness, new dash harness, new wheels, new tires, want a SS dash instead of a sweep style, countless hours of body work, paint job, new windshield, lots of chrome add ons... and the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. this is just to get me a nice driver.

:(:(:( :sad::sad::sad:

i don't know what to do.

I just put in an application at an auto parts store for part time work. A few extra bucks for the car, and a discount on parts.

If you're short on cash, there are ways.

I can definetly simpathize with some of these stories. I've had my 67 for almost a year. All I've had time to do is strip the glass out of it (except the windshield so I can still drive it from time to time), and pull the hood and one front fender off. I have the metal, equipment, etc. to finish the rust repair....just little time. I'm hoping spring will bring better results.

As for the total project...I'm planning on about 2-3 years and around $15,000 to $20,000 to finish. My goal is to be a long hauler on the hot rod power tour in 2009 with the car in primer. Then a long hauler in 2010 with full paint, interior and pretty much a completed car. LOL

I really enjoy working on the car when I get time. So remember when you get discouraged...sometimes its just about the love of the automobile.

I'm still waiting on that lottery to pay off...then neither time or money will be an issue! Good luck to you all.:D

I finished a 67 in a year and a half, I am retired and was able to work on it every day and most nights. The guy I did it for had unlimited $$$. I sure learned a lot from that. Now i am almost finished with my 61 impala and looking forward to driving it. Another guy asked me to do the frame on his 69 chevelle, so I stopped working on my Impala to do it. Working on them is the best part! I also have a completed 65 Chevelle that just sits in the garage, no time to drive it.
here are the links www.chevelle67.com
http://home.earthlink.net/~61_impala/61_impala/

I have a 69 chevelle that I bought 2nd owner in 1990 took auto body courses,paint course, upolstery classes,and wife and kids and home. Well 18 years later new quarter, frame off pro touring suspension,Painted like a candy blue with purple pearl with mixxer silver stripes, lt1 engine not hooked up yet done all myself and probably 1 year left if nothing else gets in the way. But I have done this when it was convient and after son made eagle BUT I AM STILL IN NO HURRY IT IS WHAT I LIKE TO DO

Dad and I bought my 69 right after I started college in June 98. I tore the engine, trans, interior, and glass out of the car the next day. Within a week, I was sandblasting the frame and taking a quarter off along with the trunk floor. I was taking Automotive Technical classes so I was able to do alot of mechanical work on the car for class credit (engine overhaul, trans, suspension and steering). After I was out of school, the car went to a body shop where it sat for 4 months not being touched. We ended up doing both quarters, trunk floor and some other patches our self with the help of a body guy. Then I met my wife, had a son, and built a house and the car got pushed into storage for about 6 years. Now I have gotten on the kick to get it finished and have been moving pretty good. The engine is coming back out this weekend to have the firewall painted and the car is going to get the jams painted soon. Then I can throw it back together and get the car painted and put the interior and glass back in it and be good to go. Hoping to have it at CB 08.

I finished my 67 ss in 10 months it was in bad shape when I picked it up here are some pictures hang in there it will be worth it ,I learnt several things that I would do different if it were to do over good luck
http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z74/jimmytomlin/

I'm into year four of mine!!!!!

I started my 67 frame off nut and bolt resto in august 07. My plan was to finish it before spring 08. Still can happen but I have fallen a little behind schedule. No rush though, I like to take my time with the details. As Luis would say "it's all in the details".

Billy

Gave a guy 10,500 for mine in 2002 and took it completely apart the starting the next day.I should have left it in Alabama.I'm probably another 23-25 grand deeper now and scared to tally up the bills.Finally got it back from body shop after 2 years but the paint and body looks great.Im retiring in July and hope to finish it up by next spring.Totally and I mean totally restored every bolt and nut.Had to use alot of aftermarket stuff or else would have $ 100,000 invested.
Wife has been pretty good about it ,I told her that her and her new man would look good in it after I was dead and gone(LOL).
Take whatever time you need and if you need to drive it right away,go buy one already put together,I guarantee it will be cheaper like that anyway.Otherwise be proud of what you are accomplishing.By the way Im 52 and working on it every night.
NEVER GET OLD NO MATTER WHAT

11 yrs. for mine, a few reincarnations in that time. It sat for about 6 yrs. doing this and that. Put it together drove it a couple yrs. in primer, did some of the upgrades during this time. Finally got it to my vision last year. Time, money , ambition. Seemed like i was always out of one of these.

owned mine since1994 or 93
hoping to start working on it this spring..
it won't be perfect..as that push it back 5 years ..
but i'll be able to drive and injoy it. sooner..

seen to many people make their cars so nice, they never use them..
we'll see..house eats alot of extra money..
sites like this makes it so much easier to "keep on truck'n"
with the build...

4 years and 30k later it starting to go back together and starting to look awsome

Bought my 66SS in 1991 not running. Frame off. About 60% done in 1993 with body back on frame and all rust repaired. Met woman..got married..had kids... By summer of 2007, still 60% done. Sold business..been working on 66 ever since. Broke in cam 2 months ago, should have on road in 6 months. Best $16K ever invested. Learned a ton, especially since I started back up last summer and found Team Chevelle. Great site.

Some of us that have taken longer do have more patience than some, and sometimes smaller budgets! Or both!

I have no problem taking so long on mine. The car is paid for ( long ago ) and I'm never afraid to just let it sit. Other things come up...houses, renovating, daily driver repairs. I also collect comic books and spent around $2000 doing that last year that could have been spent on the car. It's done when it's done. It's covered up in my garage, and the resto work that I've completed will still look fresh when I get back at it in the spring.

The only schedule I'm on is mine. Sometimes just going out and looking at everything I've already done gets me in a really good mood, as I'm very proud of the car and what I've done to it so far.

It sure can be difficult somtimes I just started on my malibu, making into chevelle basket case project car about four months ago. "pretty rough" Just finished all the metal work time to start body work its a long road but its worth it in the end

<<count me in the group that wants to drive their cars. that being the case, there's two real drawbacks to the tedious, frame off, ever nut and bolt new or redone restorations; first they take a long time to complete and second you won't be as inclined to drive it if it's basically perfect.
for me the perfect car is a nice driver with some nicks here and there, solid mechically, like an 8-9 out of 10 type car. that way you can just have fun with them and not sweat it when something happens.>>

This is a very true statement. If I did it over again, I would have never made our 66 a frame off project. And there are probably different opininons on what a frame off is but to me it is remvoing every last nut, bolt, and widget for cleaning, painting, and reassembly. My wife won't hardly drive it because she is paranoid about something happening to it. And then the fact is some of us are not of the right mindset to do a frame off. I let Hinshaws do some of my work. There did not do anything special and I worked overtime to pay for their labor charges and it was worth every penny! I just don't enjoy working on cars that much and it did seem overwhelming during phases of the project. But it was an experience that most people in the world never do so there should be no regrets. If you can make it over the hump and see light at the end of the tunnel, it gets a whole lot better. Just break it down into phases and make list. Don't make one huge list, but rather small obtainable list. As for the finances, not much to say other than it is not cheap. Part time jobs or loans. Every case is different but I always think that a 10% interest rate on a loan is well worth reaching your goal of getting your car finished. Look at what we waste money on everyday. Get the car done and you will feel good. Trust me.

Good luck

2 1/2 yrs now, First summer I drove it twice, switched to disc brakes. That winter it went down for a simple engine freshening, that it did'nt need, thats when the snowball started to roll. I'm still planning on driving it this summer, all new from the doors forward. Motor, fenders, hood, trans, suspension. Still won't be finished for years.

It took me 6 years and a home equity loan to get mine done

Yes, I tapped the HELOC myself:(
3 years on the Velle and now also working on a Vette for about 1 year.
I actually ended up employed by the 4th body shop that the Velle was at, the one that actually finished the PAINt job. Damm job takes up a lot of my time, instead of working on the cars.
I have not gone out in my boat for months.
Also, last August, I had some serious surgery and I could not work on the cars for a while.
I am still not 100%.
Fred

I've learned sometimes it's better to buy an unfinished project.

Case in point; I bought my Chevelle in May of 2004. It still needed interior work, the 350 was on it's last breath and the suspension needed attention. BUT it was just painted and I only paid $2500 for the car. Had I had to do the body work god only knows how much longer it would've taken.

I got it as cheap as I did because the guy who owned the car lot it was on was liquidating his whole inventory and wanted it gone, so of course my gain was from someone else's loss.

When I go to look for my next Chevelle I'm going to look for something mostly finished and take it from there. Especially if it's one of those "I must sell it" cases. Hopefully I'll find something that runs and drives that I can do little bits of work to it, not to mention not have to pay what the guy has in the car.

Wow, I wouldn't have expected this kinda turn out. I guess there are more people restoring chevelles than I thought.

I have a 67 lemans convertabile I have been working on since arouund 1992. body and drive train done interior almost done. should be done this summer. then I 'm going to start my 70 el camino.

How many of us go to work all day, make plans on going out to the garage later that night, only to get home and be too tired or get distracted and never make it out to pick up a wrench? Before you know it, months have gone by and you haven't come one inch closer to finishing.

But if a buddy comes by in his car, you get so motivated that you get more done the next weekend then you have in the last 2 months!

So what that means is, all you guys with running cars need to drive by those who still have their cars in pieces so BOTH of you will be motivated to get more work done!!

chromes good
http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Hustler388/Pictures%20of%20my%20Junk/?albumview=grid



http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Hustler388/Pictures%20of%20my%20Junk/Chevellenoterresized013Medium.jpg

Over 3 years now, will be done by April!!!

The biggest problem with this hobby/investment is the domino effect. All I wanted to do was replace the floor. In order to do it properly the car has to be torn apart. Now it has a new floor and I’ll be damm if I’m going to put the body on a rusty chassis. Chassis has to be painted. Engine is dirty, but cleaning is not enough you have to rebuild it since it is out of the car. The new part does not look next to the old one, so we replace the old one. You all know the story. I have given myself 10 years to complete the restoration. Funds will come from work bonuses and overtime. It will be my retirement gift. In the picture from left to right Mike the bodyman, me, and Billy the bodyman/mechanic.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7687&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1181261422 (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7687&d=1181261422)http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7689&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1181261445 (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7689&d=1181261445)http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7690&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1181261457 (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7690&d=1181261457)

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8009&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1182976414 (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8009&d=1182976414)http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8008&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1182976400 (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8008&d=1182976400)

Bought 64 2dr post for my birthday in Aug 06. Started frame off and took a week to get the body off the frame. Blasted the frame and upper and lower controls arms. Blasted and rebuilt rear end. Bought some 17inch american racing wheels,disc brakes for the front and drop spindles,bfg tires. Also tublar control arms for the rear. I still need lots of little things to complete rolling chassis. I've invested around 4k at this point. I decided I had to own a 64 malibu instead of the post car. So for my Bday in 07 I purchased one. I took that car apart in about a week. Sold the post body and Malibu frame together to a relative. At this point I'm 6k in with no end in sight. Malibu body is going be blasted this summer. The chassis will to be complete this summer. I maybe on the ten yr. plan at this rate. After the malibu was delievered from out of town not running. My father inlaw and I hooked the tractor up to it and pulled it two blocks to the garage. I set behind the wheel being pulled down street with a big smile on my face. The neighbors laughed while I pretended to be cruising looking cool in the 64. lol!! What a great day. If only that dam Money Tree would grow!!!

Bought mine in spring 2006. Moved from Va to Texas about 2 months after I bought it. Car stayed in storage in Va. Deployed to Iraq for 15 months. Now moving back to Va (Woodbridge; near DC) and can't wait to get it out of storage. New house has a 2 car attached garage and 4 car garage out back. Only problem is that I have 7 musclecars, so something has to stay in my parents' barn in La. Guess the other problem is what to do with it. It runs and drives, but needs a complete resto. I'm inclined to get it roadworthy for short drives and then figure out what order to restore them in... Think I've got enough cars to keep me busy for the next 60 years or so...

Scott

I've been working on mine since '99. It was a total frame off restoration and although it's still not "finished" at least it's drivable. It's kind of fun when people look at it since it's rough on the outside but all new underneath and inside. My plans are to get it in paint this summer.

Tom

(just stumbled up on this old thread........)
Bought my car in '98 for $1,200. It was in primer, with mismatched seats, no headliner, no horn, a/c removed, and had a tired 350 that was only firing maybe 6 out of 8, haha. but it was RUNNING. Since then I have done things here and there, but other than a 1 year hiatus to rebuild the engine and trans and add gears and posi, it has always been running. I think I would have given up years ago, had I bought a car in non-running condition. It just does alot to keep you motivated when you can at least take the car out from time to time and cruise!! I say always buy a running car, or get a basket case running as soon as you buy it. When it comes time for paint/bodywork, I would say get the finances together first, and do your best to find a good shop, so you can minimize the down time and get back on the road as soon as possible.

A friend of mine has been working on his 66 pro-street BB Nova for 11+ years. My estimate is at best 1 more year if he's lucky, probably more......he has never driven car ever.

Took me 6 years and that was a frame on. I either had the time and no money, or enough money but no time.

That is about right. I feel better after reading this post. November will make 3 years for me. Mine is a frame on also, as I intend it to be a nice driver, and just don't have the space now to do a frame off. Nonetheless, I am very particular, and have been taking my time to get it nice, without worrying about a perfect stock restoration. Example would be my valve covers. Not original, but look close to chrome 327 covers (which I intend to put in the car in the future). Almost everything else in the engine compartment is original. But all brake lines have been replaced with stainless. Every possible fastener has been replaced with stainless, and those that could not be were cleared for longer life. It just takes time to do all of these things.

So where am I at after 3 years? Car is in primer, most of the bodywork is complete. Interior is completely restored, sans the headliner and sail panels. Engine bay and most of the undercarriage is completely done...

I will spend the winter blocking the car, and hopefully shoot the paint in the spring. I have the capability and facilities to epoxy and primer the car, but I am taking it to a professional for the final coat. Then the fun part begins. I really like the reassembly after painting. But I plan on spending between $1500-2K for exterior trim, emblems, etc... once it is painted. So my goal is to have the car mostly completed by next fall, about 4 years after the initial purchase. And mind you, it will be a very nice driver, just not perfect. If I was doing a showcar/concours restoration it would be going even slower.

So hang in there and know that you are not alone!!

Currently:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l13/dragovich1/kaylaauthortea2007015.jpg

What I started with:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l13/dragovich1/chevellepictures335.jpg

Bought mine in 90, drove daily until about 95 or 96, got caught up in college, married, house, tore down for good in 99, stayed that way till 06. It's not done, but man, what a feeling to get in and go for a drive!! I haven't taken any shortcuts in what I've done, but I haven't been able to address all that I'd like to do. For now I can drive it, working towards being able to more regularly with more tuning for better mileage, and getting things like wipers and heater hooked up again. Myabe by the time the kids are all moved out in another 15 years I will tear back into it and spend some serious time. For now, it's a little bit here and there on an occasional wwkend afternoon..

Devin

fortunately I have one I can drive. With the wife's medical and then job issues I have not touched my 70 in over two years. I've considered getting rid of it a couple of times. did get rid of one of the project trucks I had. As long as it is inside so it doesn't deteriorate any further or bug the neighbors let it sit. When/if you've decided it will never get done, sell it and buy one already done.

Mine is 4 years and counting. First year and half I had it, I went like a banshee. First thing I did was body off frame and complete mechanical rebuild and chassis rebuild. Them drove it for a year before commiting to a repaint. I was fortunate in that the car had very little (almost none) repair work required. Even with that, it took me a full year to complete the stripping, blocking, painting. Finally finished the car this spring. Got it in July '04.

PS - moeny aside, you have to be prepared to put in some serious hours to get one of these done. Depending on the severity and the level of detail, figure on at least 1000 hours. Do the math and you can see why it takes so long. Someone who is focused might put in 20 hours per week. At that rate it takes 1 year. Cut that to 10 hours per week and you are at 2 years (working on it every week). Work on it every other week and you are out to 4 years. Cut that to once a month - get the picture.

I see these restos as happening with different frames of mind. One - is the need to get it done quick, hire a lot of it done and get it road worthy ASAP. The other is that the trip is as important as the destination - meaning that in my case, the process, work, searching, and assembling is as important to me as the end game of driving it. Don't get me wrong, I love driving and seeing these old beasts as much as anyone, I like it when others can actuallyappreciate the effort we all put into them too, even if they havent been down the same road we all have getting them done. Another way less appealing way to have one of these classics is to just go out and buy one 100% done and grag about how much it cost at Barret Jackson. To me, the trip to completion is as important as the destination of getting it finished - both are very important to me. That said, my 6 month planned rsto is now 6 years and counting - but the light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brighter now. I took it for paint last week! And it runs! Ed

I just brought mine home and been on it everyday since and don't plan on slowing down(famous last words,huh?)After reading this,you guys almost took the wind out of my sails.............Not really,hope mine don't take that long.

very very long thread!

Mine is ongoing, so I bought another car just to tide me over :)

i feel you.
i'm in the same bracket. in fact i'll loose some respect here for saying this, but i'm 42 and my car is out of state just getting out of storage. my uncle is working on it for me as he likes to tinker.

3 nights ago he did an under car inspection and noticed we have some pretty major "cancer" under the car where the body mounts to the frame... and trunk...

i came to the understanding last night that this project won't be finished by end of next summer, but prolly in about 2 years. that's ok. it's been sitting for 20. (also need to pay the fine line between retirement and car spending) :)

Man that would kill me! my car being that far away.

Much the same for me...
6 years
4 Bouts with cancer
1 HELOC
1 Very understanding wife
...and I'm still not done. Gettin' close though!

Merlin... your car looks pretty close to finished to me! Great work! I can only wish I was as close to "not finished" as you are...lol

I have had my 66SS since 1993. Still waiting for some work I have been wanting to tackle since the beginning. Like the trunk pans and some areas of the floor pan. I did do some detailing and restoration on it in 1999 and its been a driver since but the trim hasnt been on it since I have had it and the engine starting using a lot of oil about 2 years ago. Every time I get a bunch of money together, something always comes up.

I had a bunch of money together a few months back but tapped into it to grab a 69SS.

well i just told the wife if i had a million dollars i would finish mine next week . have a LS5 70 454/360-4spd. was driving and showing whacked a tree on the quarter.fixed that and paint screwed up .put it up for 14 years now.maybe i grew up some and the chevelle gremlims died . ha. doing frame off it is done [ NEW ] body on roteisery just cleaned bottom . boy thats scary first time. ive done 70 ht /69 nova / and 70 chevelle conv. clone ss 396 /400 turbo and sold . i also own drive and show a 70 malibu .big boy toys