well if no one else will...

[jmd]

I will.

I know that I have had my original build (1600dual port bone stock way old) up to 112 MPH bouncing it off the red line (just before the fan belt tore itself apart and my motor almost ripped itself to pieces, oh and this was down hill with a backwind with a friend following for verification). I also remember very clearly the feeling of hitting 70MPH in my car, the car would simply settle into the ground dropping about an inch and a half but it was a little wiggly at those speeds but awesome!!!!.

I have been pulled over EVERY SINGLE TIME I have been behind the wheel of my car, on the open road from LA to San Fran to Vegas to Salt Lake... This includes getting rope-towed at midnight by my GF at the time, to my warehouse to start working on it... never a ticket, one police escort home (my electrical system collapsed at 3am resulting in no lights of any kind, the officer was very nice, most of them just want to know what the hell a long haired kid is doing behind the wheel of this car they know nothing about and thinks is some high-end exotic!).


as for costs... I don't know that a single person that jumps into what we do that wants to actually admit (to themselves mostly or their wives/S.O's really) what we have dumped into these things...

I can toss out a few random numbers for some perspective:
Original Car - $4500.00 (totally built and totally mint but later discovered to contain horrible build quality under the skin resulting in a complete tear down and ditching of the Swing Axle Chassis / Pan)
New Chassis - $2500.00 (fully built IRS based corvair powered baja bug later ditched the engine/trans package due to weight and complexity of servicing the corvair motor)
911 transmission and adapter package - $3500.00 (5 spds is spendy)
Suby STI Engine package - $4500.00 (brand new with full harness / ecu and bits)

so that there is $15000.00 cash.*insane*
and that is all I am going to talk about cause that makes my stomach turn a little...

in fact, I just want to delete this now that I have put those numbers out there. But it's important for the reader to understand that I have had this car for over 10 years. So my investment has been over the span of much time, and I think equal to my investment in coffee... so I don't feel so bad, almost... Also, I quite smoking 4 years ago and in doing so took that 5+ dollars a day and put it into a jar... over the 4 years, I "Earned" my STI Engine, paid for in cash money so I don't even consider that an expense.

8 )

anyone else wanna put up some numbers and make themselves sick?!
*hmmm*

 

[ydeardorff]

He, He I'm in the mode of not mentioning ANYTHING of my plans for this car to my wife, yet.

Shell love the end result, just not the journey to get there!

Congrats on quitting smoking! Im working that right now. Perhaps I can fund my project the same way?!*ah ha*

 

[thestevie]

4500 for the car
another 12000 for all the work.
fiberglass repair, painting, wiring and everything. i
ts still not done but almost.
but im young and stupid so i think its worth it.

everything is stock so it will cost more klater down the road

 

[Brastic]

Thank you for being honest. It is amazing how much money and time these projects take. Even more fun is how many people think that they can do these projects with out investments. I purchased my kit for $4500. I put no extra money into it beyond maintenance for many years. I am now $3000 into my Subaru engine upgrade. Once it is running again, I will start looking for WRX engine.

 

[Nic]

When I bought my car, my wife said to me "We need to talk about a budget for you. What do you think you'll spend on this car?" Scared out of my mind, I sat there for a minute, hm'ing and working calculations in my head, and was just about to say roughly $10,000. I apparently sat there for longer than I realized. She finally said "Nevermind... I don't want you spending any more that $20,000 over the next 10 years.

"OK... I think I can manage that!"

So my total to date, no idea. But here's what I know...

Purchase price - $5,000
2 flatbed trailer rentals - $200
Parts from CIP1 - No idea - but at least $500
Parts from MooreParts - ~$1800
Money spent at Ace Hardware for new tools, various nuts and bolts, supplies - about 3" of receipts worth.

All told, I think I'm about halfway to my ceiling, which makes me kinda happy I haven't gone ape-crazy with stuff, but also scares me that I MIGHT run out of funds!!! I'm glad I took so long to calculate.

 

[GreazMonky]

well i can say i got one hell of a deal when i bought my sebring. i traded a jeep cherokee for it. had all of 1600 bucks in that jeep*rock on* and it ran, for the most part. lil parts here and there, with new tires on the rear, i think i'm only at 1,000 for now. just put in a new set of pedals over the weekend, with new clutch cable, bigger throttle cable. still tweaking to get it right. kinda lost my top end now. seems slow above 2500 rpm. course parts for my 2.8 v6 have been pretty cheap. most i spent was for a rebuild on my carb. de worth it though. was gettin only like 15 when i first got it, now 20-23, so def worth it! don't know what it tops at, haven't really tried. kinda played atleast round 80, but my speedo only goes to 80...so dunno

 

[Brastic]

For my last kit car build, I kept perfect records of every expense. This was a mistake. If I were to walk around the car and add up everything from the head and what I see, I will only be at 60% of how much money I have put into the project. I laugh when people talk to me at car shows about how they could build a car like this for half of what I did. For me the ROI is a part of the journey.

 

[Unofun]

Hmmm-- Should I keep my mouth shut?

With 6 sterlings It would be Wise!!!.....
I know you guys won't believe this..
But by buying carefully, and looking hard I've actually made or or I'm ahead over 13 thousand and own all the cars outright, have enough engines for all of them, and ALMOST all the parts to complete everyone of them. Do I have alot of work ahead of me? sure! but It sure beats what my 201k has done. And you wonder why my wife has no problem with me buying these? *thumbs up* Although everytime I say one is going to be for her to drive I end up selling it, NOT A GOOD THING! *nothing to see*

The secret is to go quality, try not to make too many mods, and do your research, price what you sell fairly, and try not to make it a business!*yipes*

Awww BULLHUCKY!----- I"ve just been lucky and have had alot of ideas and help from you guys! Thanks!

Greg

 

[Hogwit]

Wow...well you saying that you have at least $15,000 in it kinda just scared me...

I spent $1,750 on the car... which right now is basically a really large, cool looking go-kart. By that I mean it starts, and drives just fine, but can't be driven on the road (things like seatbelts, electrical, windshield defroster, etc.) are keeping it off the road (by law ). I just hope that I don't spend a ridiculous amount of money in the completion of this car which includes, and probably is not limited to installing all of the electrical, lots of body work, paintjob, interior, and complying with ct laws (same as above and more).

 

[Nic]

$15K sneaks up on you fast. You'll find yourself looking for any reason to go to the local hardware store... just to look around, maybe you'll find something that will work with the car, or make it cool. You'll also find you're asking for car parts for Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Passover.... any holiday that MIGHT include a gift to be given. You'll lay awake til the wee hours of the morning thinking about the car, ways to style it, improve it.... making VROOM VROOM noises in your head.

You have not purchased a car.... you have purchased an illness, a mistress, an evil task-master that you can't seem to stop thinking about. It tortures you... and you LOVE it.

 

[thestevie]

I wish I only spent 15000 on my sterling.
The wife still nags me about it. It was all paid for before we were even dating...

Pray that there isn't any big wrong with it. Do all the work yourself.

Hogwit dopes your school have an auto shop class?
If it does see if you can get the class to do some work for you...
My high school auto shop class use to do that all the time.

 

[Hogwit]

At 14 I don't think that $15,000 can disappear from me too quickly...

 

[Hogwit]

Yes my high-school does have an auto body class, but no they won't work on it, they each have their own projects, and I tried to get in the class, but I didn't get in, so that's out.

 

[letterman7]

$15K sneaks up on you fast. You'll lay awake til the wee hours of the morning thinking about the car, ways to style it, improve it....
You have not purchased a car.... you have purchased an illness, a mistress, an evil task-master that you can't seem to stop thinking about. It tortures you... and you LOVE it.

Bingo! *laugh*

The car I just bought was represented as complete, running and legal. Which it was. Except for everything that was wrong with it and items that definately need to be brought up to current specs (seat belts, brake lines, etc, etc..).
With careful planning you can sneak a low budget into a project car, but don't expect it to be what you want in the end. My most expensive purchase was my dune buggy, both in the original purchase and what I eventually dumped into it to restore it to what I wanted. When it sold I got approximately 1/3 of what I had invested... and that was close to $15K over the course of two years.

 

[ydeardorff]

Oh yes Letterman, you hit the nail on the head there,... you got 1/3 what you had into it, in return.

One cannot presume that any car will be an investment for the positive cash flow concept.

Hell I'm going the route on my car that warren referred to as the "dream setup".

Ive got myself so far, invested into the car including purchase:

2000 for the motor, trans, and electrical system
4000 for the car
1000 to have it shipped
and
another 1000 for misc stuff so far, and Id consider my self low on the expenditure route thus far.
But also realize, I'm doing far more than a lot of people. Im going with a WRX Subaru setup.


I still need another 1000 for the Porsche 944 bits
800 for the heater and AC system
250 for the rad
2000 for the flipped diff and other parts for the trans
not to mention wheels and paint, and upholstery....

And that's only getting the stuff, not getting it all in place and ready to use/drive/show

So yes like Nic said,... 15K will sneak up on you quickly! So learning how to be a DIY'er is a plus in this hobby.


Working on cars is definitely a hobby, and a passion, despite the cost it does have the reward at the end for all the hard work. Its just a matter of staying the course.*thumbs up*

 

[Hogwit]

Well according to the guy, under the exterior, its pretty much all new. So I think that I'll do all the body work, then have it spayed (profesionally), then have someone (a professional) wire the entire car, have our favorite mechanic go through its mechanics, and by then I should be a broke 16 year old who just put a ton of time and money into the car which I won't be able to afford to put onto the road.

 

[Hogwit]

Forgot add a new interior.

 

[ydeardorff]

Now quick question,...

Are planning on doing this yourself? Or are you planning on "hiring out"?

Then how much of an interior are you planning? total custom, or just a refreshing of the current interior?

I just two days ago walked into Jo-Annes fabric store, and got a price of about 5-600 bucks just in materials. But for me its a completely custom interior. That doesn't include the sewing, and installing it.

Just some things to think about.

 

[letterman7]

Wire it yourself. It isn't rocket science, and if you get a loom from say, Painless Wire, everything is already marked out to where it goes. It's then just a matter of stringing everything to where it needs to be... plastic conduit epoxied in body cavities makes for a neat job!

 

[groundflyer]

Wire it yourself. It isn't rocket science, and if you get a loom from say, Painless Wire, everything is already marked out to where it goes. It's then just a matter of stringing everything to where it needs to be... plastic conduit epoxied in body cavities makes for a neat job!

Well first sorry for my none caring typing lol
So true even do as much of it yourself I have been toying with cars along time I buy and sell as a side job and you CANT make money by spending money IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.. Not how can I change my working tail lights too the neat cool ones I see Is there any interior? if so is it riped or torn if not clean the parts and get the armor all And update when you have the money. You will learn alot.
And Painless Wireing is about 30 min from my house NEAT SHOP

1.Car complete most lights working top headlights 1000.00

2.Motor was locked up not trying to rebuild I look craigslist over for a few weeks and found a 89 caviler running great 250.00 2.8 mpfi

3.Traded what was car for motor swap with a friend new timing belt plugs oil filter he also did that for the car50.00
4.Brakes out. New master cyc 40.00 new pads 20.00 ok will say 75.00 did work myself

5.using the existing wireing on motor and car got all lights working and motor running still need to update new sensors for mec gauges 0.00

6.Paint was so dull I could not see a reflextion Got some compound and alot alot of work alot still needs to be done 40.00 paint job

7.Insides all that could not be fixed was the drivers seat 75.00 rest soap and lots of towles and armor all 75.00

Drove to its first show in along time I call it Stump the car guy day.
So im in for a about 1500 for a sebring 2.8mpfi 135 hp right now with a running stoping all lights working but brakeslight easy fix car tires are old but holding air right now so good till I ready to go no fancy rims no fancy inside but still looks sharp What im saying if it not broke Clean it paint it.
Sorry for my rambling

One more thing a little back in the post you were worred about 75hp and the link with the orange race car that has a 100 hp Looks like he's flying kinda good here and that is a nice link found him on facebook also