Restoring Cars

**loanrangie** · 29th June 2014, 07:35 AM

My first 4wd was an LJ50 hardtop, if it had a 202 in it you'd be sitting in the back.

**Chops** · 29th June 2014, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by alien

Some interesting reading on people's thoughts and projects.

Chops,
There is another way of looking at what project you want to do.
If the plan is to tour the country why not do up something that could be used to do the trip with?
Do you know of a vehicle that is sitting idle that could be finished, like a bus?

Cheers, Kyle.

Now it's funny you should say that Kyle,

If I am to go ahead with that, I need a BIGGG shed.

Leeanne keeps making us look at new units, although, I've had a bit of a breakthrough on that front,,, we looked at a decent second hand unit a couple of weeks ago, and she was quite pleased with that

. Savings.

So with the bus, I have to wait on more info from work, it mayyy be that we have to move into another factory, a much larger one, and one that will hold the bosses boats and cars

**JamesB71** · 29th June 2014, 09:14 AM

Im currently saving my pennies for an MGB.

Hoping to pick one up for around 10 with some work to do on it, but running registered. Im not looking for a basket case, but something I can tinker with and drive on nice days.

**Mick_Marsh** · 29th June 2014, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by loanrangie

My first 4wd was an LJ50 hardtop, if it had a 202 in it you'd be sitting in the back.

That would require too much work. Think outside the box (or in this case the car). The grill had been cut and extended forward.

**4x4 MORE** · 29th June 2014, 09:32 AM

That would't look good at all!

Spoil the LJ's looks!

**loanrangie** · 29th June 2014, 09:38 AM

This is my baby, 1958 FC Special. Bought just before my 17th birthday, been thru a few different guises and running gear but sitting on commodore diff and HQ stubs with VN discs, LH Torana rack and pinion steering.
Hadfield chassis kit and toyota 5spd box, 78/79 Buick 3.8 V6 to go, the BMW rims suit the style but were only intended to get it rolling.
Diff is not centered and awaiting some saddles to be made and welded in.

**incisor** · 29th June 2014, 09:41 AM

Love a good fc

Had a few in my time

**Mick_Marsh** · 29th June 2014, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by 4x4 MORE

That would't look good at all!

Spoil the LJ's looks!

Yes. It was rather "agricultural".

**loanrangie** · 29th June 2014, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by incisor

Love a good fc

Had a few in my time

Got this by chance, first car was an EH then bought a HR with 179HP and disc front end which was to gp into the EH.
FC was in my parents carport without a motor so i bought it for $100 95% rust free and straight.

**cactus** · 29th June 2014, 10:30 AM

wow. didn't realise this thread was so long and I may repeat what others have said. if its a passion for a particular car ,what it costs is irrelevant . if its for profit one day choose wisely. I have a fb holden wagon. had it for years. just about to get a freshen up. ie paint and rebuild the grey motor etc. until recently, if I spent 5ooo on it I may only just have got my money back but over the last few years ive seen good restos of early holdens go for 20000. values can change in time of you have enough of it. next car was an mgb that I acquired for free as it came in safeway bags, like every single nut and bolt had been removed and never gone ahead with over the following 20 years. fortunately ? I was made redundtant at my job at the time so had funds and time to restore this one. 6 months full time work. new floor pans, sills etc. doing ALL the work myself except reupholstering the seats ended up costing me around 6000.. it was valued at 28000 when I finished it. that one was good money but if you factor in 6 months of no wages ?? still cars are a passion for me and I had 7 years of fun m in that car..

currently im doing a 1960 karmann ghia for an old lady who has a history with it and expense is nothing. no one else would take this project on for her and in a moment of weakness I said I would do it for her in my "spare" time. its been 6 years now and almost finished. every panel from the waistling down was rusted beyond repair and needed replacing. I learnt a lot about forming panels by hand with this car and spent lots of time away from it as it became a chore . never again for a customer . may have been paid what seemed like good money in the beginning but factor in time and never being able to enjoy the fruits of my labour, no more.
oh and costs? owes her around 15000 finished and worth around 20000 .

I worked for the healey factory in melb for a while and saw many cheque book restos. 200 grand for a jag etype convertible... 150 grand for the average healey. unjustifiable to me but for people who can afford to have it done, I guess it kept a company going well to this day.

moral ? just do it if it makes you happy and you can avoid selling the kids to finish it.

cheers chris

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