Project Car priorities.

"TurboSloth" (TheTurboSloth) 10/17/2013 at 19:39 • Filed to: TurboSloth'sProjectCarHell

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Oppo, when you get a project car (and it's your first project car), what do you do? Find a body without an engine, restore that, then eventually drop one, or find a running car? Pic not related.

 > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 19:40

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Find a rust free body. I don't care if it runs or not. If the body is solid the mechanical parts are easy.

Mazarin > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 19:42

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Sad patina is sad.

davedave1111 > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 19:44

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Depends on your priorities. I needed a runner to work on because it's my only car, and because I don't have anywhere to keep a long-term resto job.

Bandit > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 19:46

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My first car is a project car and my DD. The best thing to do would be to find something that runs (even if poorly) and isn't too rusty. It would be better if the car could drive, but is not necessary. Doing interior work is pretty easy and you shouldn't judge a car based on that.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos >  10/17/2013 at 19:53

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And the frame. Don't forget about the frame.

 > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/17/2013 at 19:55

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When I said body I meant everything including the undercarriage.

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 19:58

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What we did is find a running, driving car (actually quite similar to your pic- ours is a 55 2-dr hardtop) because no matter how rough, if it runs, it's a million times easier to work on than not running. Interior isn't that hard either, mine has the original interior.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 20:08

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My current project car was bought engine-first, then body, but that's because both were hard to come by on the cheap, I had the whole thing planned out, and the engine was easier/ needed less waiting. That being said, it's not my first project car, and my first (my Rover) was done all together over a period of years.

Current project (my 'chero) will need body gotten right somewhat first, but that's not only because of the nature of the engine drop, but also because it's an absolute hulk. For anything less, to avoid getting in too far over your head you should probably get something vaguely running but ragged, and work on it as time permits - leaving anything engine or fancy until last. As long as it's somewhat running and doesn't need a 100% body teardown, you're better off staying bite-sized.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 20:15

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If you are planning on getting a new crate motor forget about getting anything running. Its way easier to plop in a new motor than to tune something up thats 40+ years old.

BJohnson11 > TurboSloth 10/17/2013 at 20:42

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As most have said, running should be a main priority, and limited rust (with no frame damage) should be a priority as well. If it runs, it avoids a lot of hassle with having to move the car, and saves a lot of headache. Engine swaps are optimistic, but from experience, without a full blown garage, deep pockets, and a whole lot of time, that car wont run for awhile.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > TurboSloth 10/18/2013 at 04:16

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The two biggest considerations are lack of rust and parts availability. So long as you've got people that make parts, you can get pretty much any engine running. You can even buy whole new engines for most cars for a couple of hundred if yours is beyond saving.

Rust tends to scare people a bit. A little bit of rust is rarely an issue, but lots of rust can be fairly terminal (or an enormous effort to fix). What's more, to get a whole new shell you often have to buy a whole 'nother car.

To be perfectly honest, with enough effort pretty much anything can be restored. It's all dependent upon how much you want to put in.

If you pick up a rusty hulk, it'll be cheap but you'll probably have a bad time. If you pick up something in good nick that just needs an engine overhaul, brakes and some paint it'll be more expensive but a lot easier.

Unfortunately, if you're doing the latter it's easy to feel that you overpaid for something if it ends up being in worse condition than you thought.