[ChrisTransAm78]

5 years in Dec and well mostly done but now fixing the small things...want pictures and dialogue to make you feel better - look at my site....

[69gtocv]

14 years??? I think I tore mine down either late 1992 or early 1993! Should hit the streets in a month or two! On wife #2 since and a whole lotta $$$$ later.

[67whitetrashbird]

Once the engine is dowe along with the tranny and rear end I'll feel ALOT better. At least then I can drive it and enjoy it. I'm not too far off then.

[Grand73Am]

There are so many cars of all kinds being restored, modified or restified at this time, it will be amazing when they all get done! Hope to see some of them at the cruise nights and shows.

I've got some project cars that have sat around since 1988. I don't think they count since I haven't actually tried to start working on them.

I've finished a couple. From the time I start buying parts to the time the car is done, I'd guess it takes me about 2 years, doing it in my spare time. My next project is a 79 TA and so far I've been collecting parts for it for 7 months, and done a little maintenance to it. I know most people take longer, since they can't work on it as often and have more family obligations than me.

As for having to do without your pride and joy during resto work, my strategy was to buy a nice driver for not much money, so I still having something fun to drive, while the other one is down. And the driver goes up in value the longer I own it too. There are still some good deals out there for those kinds of drivers.

[67whitetrashbird]

Hard part about that is where I live. In Northern Nevada everyone thinks if they have a muscle car car for the 60's or 70's it must be worth tons of cash and will not part with it. Buying out of state is hard since I dont have a trailer or know anyone with a trailer to get something back home. I see great deals in southern cali all the time. Plus dealing with rust is a real issue around here with old cars.

[Grand73Am]

Buy one that "can be driven anywhere", so you don't have to tow it. After all, that's what you want, a car that runs and drives dependably to begin with, with no work required. You shouldn't have to tow it. And it depends on what kind of car your want your driver to be. A very valuable car isn't going to be a good choice, since you don't want to spend a ton of money for it. There are less valuable years and models that are similar to yours that are still fun to have and drive. You might choose a different car that you've always liked too.
I found my driver 1800 miles away in N.Dakota 5 years ago. I found it on collectorcartrader.com, got some excellent digital pics from the seller, and he said it could be driven anywhere. So he agreed to hold it for a small deposit, I bought a plane ride, the car was just as good as it looked in the pics and I drove it back to Atlanta with no problems. It made for a fun road trip experience. I flew up on a Sunday morning and could have been home by Tuesday night, but I stopped to visit friends in N.C. for a few days. It was well worth it. Sure, it's better to find one locally, but if you can't, this is an alternative that can also be fun.
For more inspiration on turning a car purchase into a road trip, here's a similar story to mine, but more entertaining : http://www.showrods.com/73gto/00.gto_home.html

[kookykrispy]

My '72 Chevelle I built in 6 months. My '67 442 took only 4 months. My 67 GTO is taking longer because I am doing stuff the right way. I bought it in '02 and it was sitting in a field, had been off the road for at leat 10-15 years or so. I did have it running and driving last summer, but soon afterward I pulled the 400 engine and sold it because it wasn't fast enough for me. Now my 455 6-71 blower motor is coming together and this summer will it will be cruise time again. Here in Seattle we are having awesome weather lately, I wish I had my car running now! The goal this summer is to have it mechanically sound, running and driving. The interior is part-way done, with new parchment pearl seats and door panels (they look terrific) but no headliner or carpet yet. Body & paint can wait. Its relatively straight, and wearing black primer. Good enough for this year, and I want to drive it!

[68addict]

Originally Posted by 67whitetrashbird

My car is in pieces in my garage and it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Right now I'm pouring money into it and I've got a garage full of parts. When I got the car it was running atleast and was able to take it for a spin around the block when ever I wanted. I parked it to fix an over heating problem and it's sat there ever since. I'm hoping it will be ready to run this summer but I've also prepared myself if I don't get it on the road til the following summer. My car is the poster child for budget build but it seems like I hold out a little longer to get the better part that it needs. How long did you guys wait to finally get your car on the road and driving fast? Maybe I'm having the winter blues, is any one else???????

Hey 67,

I bought my goat 7 years ago and NEVER even drove a GTO beforehand. Mine was a good barn find in pieces already. Over 3 years the car sat while I built a small humble garage. I finally this year really got serious and after collecting a part here an part there, I am restoring components I have purchased or taken off the car. My car won't be done until 2010 and that is being conservative....so hang in there man!!!!!

By the way, it the front was off of it and parts like teh dash, console, engine trans were all missing as were doors and a decklid....I thought my folks would kill me...I ran PHS and it was an HO car, electric antennae, 8-track hidden headlights all missing...so very expensive to replace...

[krautwolf]

Bought my 63 Catalina Safari a year ago February. Made it run, put almost a grand into the front end, and installed front disk brakes to use it for the summer. Over Thanksgiving weekend I started a 421/2004R swap for the original 389/slim jim and hope to get it back from the transmission man (throttle valve setuo) today. The body is still in primer gray, interior gutted except for the front seat, but it should be a good driver.

[sharkbite]

I've had my car for 16-17 year, since I was 16, and it's still not painted. Have replaced every bolt and nut, 1/4's, motor, you name it, and I'm not sure it will ever be done, done. Maybe close after a paint job, but it's never done.

[gto mike]

Doing a frame off on a 67 gto-sand blasted the frame-rebuilt tran,engine-rear end and now its in primer-its 4 years now.Take your time and do it right.Mike

[rohrt]

I don't even remember what year I started but it was more then one 6 year old daughter ago.

[NBF823]

LOL! Best topic ever!

First time 1yr. This time, since then; Going on 14yrs!

Actually just held on to it for most of them(My first car). Had a parts buying spurt in the early 00s. Back on it again.

ETA~ A year or two; Depends, The more money I have, The wilder it gets, the longer it takes!

[Charlie Brengun]

i've had mine for a year and a half now and not getting anywhere with it.. it's my fault though.. i'm slow..

[Dustin68]

The day we brought it home, February 24th, 2008



15 months later:



Our goal was to drive it to our first car show on Fathers Day 2009 which we accomplished. This required 30-40 hours a week non-stop. Now we're building a performance engine and taking our time.

Doug & Dustin

[JohnTN]

We street rodded a 1939 Olds in solid condition -- frame-off restoration took about 1200 hours, most of it hired out labor to a shop.

[Junkyard Dog]

Originally Posted by Dustin68

The day we brought it home, February 24th, 2008



15 months later:

My 8 year old son looked at those pictures, and his jaw dropped open. He said, "That's what it is going to be like working on the GTO, except it won't take so long, because it does not look all junky!"

LOL!

To answer the original poster, however, 4 or 5 years ago, I was driving my GTO, and my son loved it. I pulled the motor, stripped it down, bought aluminum heads and a roller cam and custom pistons and H Beam rods, and BAM . . .

Financial ruin. (unrelated to the GTO)

So it is just sitting there in pieces . . .

I had a forum member here at the house looking at it to sell it to him about a year ago, and my wife, who always claims to hate the "ugly, old" GTO, called me aside and convinced me not to sell it, pointing out that it would always be something I would regret.

So I sold a few guns to get us back on our feet that month (including my only machine gun . . . sniff). Things have improved some since then, and every month my financial outlook improves, so I will get back on the GTO one day . . .

And to think I was almost completely debt free when that happened.

Real estate. Stupidity. Not a good mixture.

[ta man]

My 1980 trans am I have currently I bought in decent condition in 2001with a rebuilt 455.I upgrade or fix it every spring drive it all summer. Before it was on the road swapped heads,headers,new exhaust,shocks,tires and frame connectors.2003 dragstrip first run 14.5 down to 14.1.Bigger exhaust and tailpipes down to 13.8.2004 installed continental 3200 down to 13.5.2005 had heads ported valve job down to 13.2 2007 installed new cam had wrong cam for years and 3.42 gears down to 13.00.Spring 2009 SD KRE heads,roller cam,3 inch exhaust down to 12.11,fall 2009 replaced short block with another 462 some minor carb work down to 11.88.Other than performance work I've bought a set of sill plates and numerous back tires.I have another car in the works looking to have it ready in a year and a half.

[F ROCK]

1 year. worked at least 1 hour per day on car; usually more, but 1 hour per day is 365 hours per year. its disipline. you have to want it. my friends and family knew where i was gonna be; and that i needed an hour for myself. did everything myself (first timer), and without a garage. on rainy days i ordered parts and read books and was on this site.


bought a shell, stripped it down; replaced rusted out quarters, patched fenders; bought rebuilt350 cause it was cheap on craigslist; bought rebuilt t400 trans cause it was cheap on craigslist; washed with hot soapy water and painted everything i could; took it to maaco for the budget paint job and i was up and running. the inspection sticker from the previous owner was still valid. at that time total cost including the car was 5000$.

that was last year.
this year:
bought a 455 core and had rebuilt.
bought 12 bolt posi
preparing for that nice paint job this summer.

[1970gpsj4speed]

best advise I got was to Not Let it sleep.You have to work on something /Anythng every single day .Even if it is cleaning a bolt .I worked about an hour or Two every nite to get things ready for the weekend .It took me 2 Yrs and 2 months to complete .It is very rewarding when done tho!