About five years ago, I was given by a close friend of the family a 72 Chevelle that I was told was an original SS free of charge. I have always loved muscle cars and knew all the history and specs but at the time didn't know thing one about working on them. Didn't know at the time the car was a complete basket case. Listened to some bad advice from "experts" to start with(like cutting out the rusted trunk pans before having replacement pieces) that got it off on the wrong foot. Right now I'm in the middle of a frame off resto and I haven't touched the car in about a year. I'm starting to think I've bitten off more than I can chew. Blowing it apart was easy but the cost, expertise, and equipment that would be involved in restoring it are beginning to be a problem. Here is the condition:
Mechanical- Small block untouched in the garage but I have a 402bbc I bought to put in the car taken down to bare block waiting to be built. No tranny yet. 12 bolt rear end. Have the suspension back together and painted with all new rubber ready to go. Had to use a donor frame from a 70 because the original was rusted beyond fixing.
Interior- The seats are ok by and large but almost everything else needs replaced. I just redid the dash myself but the gage cluster is apart and needs going through electrically. No radio or speakers.
Body- This is the worst part. Its swiss cheese. Blasted and epoxy primed but needs new complete quarters, body mounts, trunk pan, foot wells, rear under seat, rocker repair, wheel wells front and rear, front fenders, tail panel, and a seemingly endless number of small holes blown open in blasting.
Wiring- Rat chewed and destroyed. Needs completely replaced.
Value/Numbers factor- Was told it was originally an "SS Car". Found a Vin tag replacement form in the car from the DMV. Turns out the original auto body had been switched out for a donor body at some point that was from a manual trans car. Had to replace the frame so literally nothing left of original car the vin went to. Guy I got it from claims the donor body was an SS car too not that it matters. In short this car is now a franken-chevelle.
I am about $4000 into the car at this point. I may seem like an idiot to you, but I was 22 and knew nothing about working on cars and had a bunch of people I trusted around me telling me "there's nothing that can't be fixed" and "you could build a new one out of parts if you wanted to". Of course when time came to work on the car all those guys disappeared. I am an average guy and can maybe spend $100 a month on the car if I'm lucky. I've never done body work. Never painted. Never built a motor myself but I've gotten pretty good mechanically. I don't have a big compressor or a mig welder. I have another weekend car, an 06 Mustang GT that's almost paid off, and I 'm considering selling it and the Chevelle and taking the money and getting a car that is more in complete and in my skill range. I know someone with the skills and equipment could make a great car out of this project but I'm starting to think I'm not that guy. Is it time to call it quits?
Mechanical- Small block untouched in the garage but I have a 402bbc I bought to put in the car taken down to bare block waiting to be built. No tranny yet. 12 bolt rear end. Have the suspension back together and painted with all new rubber ready to go. Had to use a donor frame from a 70 because the original was rusted beyond fixing.
Interior- The seats are ok by and large but almost everything else needs replaced. I just redid the dash myself but the gage cluster is apart and needs going through electrically. No radio or speakers.
Body- This is the worst part. Its swiss cheese. Blasted and epoxy primed but needs new complete quarters, body mounts, trunk pan, foot wells, rear under seat, rocker repair, wheel wells front and rear, front fenders, tail panel, and a seemingly endless number of small holes blown open in blasting.
Wiring- Rat chewed and destroyed. Needs completely replaced.
Value/Numbers factor- Was told it was originally an "SS Car". Found a Vin tag replacement form in the car from the DMV. Turns out the original auto body had been switched out for a donor body at some point that was from a manual trans car. Had to replace the frame so literally nothing left of original car the vin went to. Guy I got it from claims the donor body was an SS car too not that it matters. In short this car is now a franken-chevelle.
I am about $4000 into the car at this point. I may seem like an idiot to you, but I was 22 and knew nothing about working on cars and had a bunch of people I trusted around me telling me "there's nothing that can't be fixed" and "you could build a new one out of parts if you wanted to". Of course when time came to work on the car all those guys disappeared. I am an average guy and can maybe spend $100 a month on the car if I'm lucky. I've never done body work. Never painted. Never built a motor myself but I've gotten pretty good mechanically. I don't have a big compressor or a mig welder. I have another weekend car, an 06 Mustang GT that's almost paid off, and I 'm considering selling it and the Chevelle and taking the money and getting a car that is more in complete and in my skill range. I know someone with the skills and equipment could make a great car out of this project but I'm starting to think I'm not that guy. Is it time to call it quits?
My 66 started out as a rusted pos laying on it's frame in a guys front yard. No interior, no engine, no transmission, no brake lines, no lights, no wheels! What it did have was a nearly untouched wiring harness, a parking brake that worked and besides the windshield, the glass was good. Also hadn't been registered for 29 years. I've been messing with it for a few years now sometimes not touching it for months at a time. Do a little bit here and there, buy parts when you can and eventually you'll be driving it like I am with mine. But, if you're not into it for the long haul, sell it and get one that's already on the road. It'll be cheaper in the long run not having to buy every single thing missing or beyond refinishing/repairing. As for those guys bailing on you and not helping out... happens to me all the time so I just don't ask anymore. 99.98% of the work done on my car has been done by my too hands and sometimes a foot or knee in the right place.
