I did all the sheet metal repair on my Wildcat (not all Buick models enjoy available replacement parts). I got the body straight and naked. I replaced every available suspension part and brake part myself, along with bearings, timing cover and chain, and engine incidentals. The body stayed on the frame. Final body work, a new top, new carpeting and a better dash pad than I had, paint/rechromed bumpers and trim, with all new rubber seals ran around $28K. I did EVERYTHING I was capable of, and farmed out what I couldn’t do. Add around $15K to what I spent and I think that’ll put you near the ball park. Oh, I was able to save and recondition every trim piece and emblem. Many of us here know how hard - and expensive it can be to replace those items. Make sure what you start with is as close to the finish line as it can be.
You don't want a new car... Im fine that makes sense.. nor do I really have any ambition to own another car..... Now Im lost... Restoring takes time.... Or do you know of a 30 minutes or less drive thru restoration shop. like Jiffy lube...
if you can get past that stubbornness and sentimentality you are better off selling it and buying something already done. even if you have to finance it. then simply jump in and enjoy, restoring a car {even frame on} is very time consuming! not to mention how much slower the progress is when you are older and dont have a good garage plus proper tools. i change some cars every 2-3 years. almost done with my car bucket list. charlie,,,
If you want to restore Rosaline so you have daily transportation I suggest you buy a used commuter for 3K every 6 months. If you want to save her for the future get her in the garage and preserve what you have. I'm totally new to old cars because I can finally afford new vehicles for family and business. lease a new car for $300-$400 per month. I'm spending that weekly on "door latches, heater hoses, and battery trays.
I understand that, but that would be like selling a family member or something irreplaceable. I couldn't imagine doing that. Besides, why would I? If I got in a wreck (and I have) I would be more concerned for my car really.
I spent my early years doing brakes, changing transfer cases, rebuilding plows, gluing, screwing and wiring things back together to get by. Drive some P.O.S. to get around. Save the Buick until your ready.
Fred is giving good advise.. You need a good primary source of transportation... to do what you want.. Last month I spent 800$ for parts that look better than mine. Just replacing the carpet can take a week.. NO such thing as a 2hr task..... Also the more you drive it and leave it out in the weather the more it needs later...
I agree. I mean,she's lasted 694000 miles, plus I do all of the repairs. But she probably needs a rest eh?
I think the mechanical aspect of restoration is the cheapest part. Rebuilding an engine, transmission, replacing brakes, suspension components, steering etc are all charged the same as any other car. Some mechanics won't work on them, others will try and gouge you if they think your knowledge is shallow, but find one that you vibe with and it's a good experience. A lot of things are easier to get to and thus cheaper than more modern cars, like a Range Rover for example where every little thing is like 12 hours of labor Bodywork, glass, seals, interior etc is where things get expensive. I went to 10 different body shops and only 2 even agreed to fix a hanging A body door that wouldn't close. And only one of those two bid a reasonable price. None of those 10 shops said they would work on the inside of the door (window crank, glass, regulator, seals etc). I ended up fixing all of that myself and it wasn't easy finding the right parts.
Thats true. Plus its that feeling. The "go anywhere, live life" feeling I get behind the wheel. One of the few moments of joy I have.
You owe it to yourself to get a hold of Adam, Smartin on this board. He is very near you and does this for a living. It's worth your time to drop a dime..
You don't restore a Buick and expect to make $. You restore it because you love it and plan to keep it, and don't care if you lose money later. The big problem with Buicks is the engines are kind of costly to rebuild, and good Buick engine rebuilders aren't as plentiful as good Chevy guys. A Chevy you can just buy a crate engine for less than a Buick engine rebuild cost. Rears and trannys are about all the same. Chrome is more for a Buick, and harder to source. There's no question good body and paint are the biggest expense on a resto. Rusted floors and trunk, etc. can add a lot of cost. Around New England, labor is double + what other people say they are paying for labor here. I'm with Charlie on here, as far as getting the best car you can rather than looking forward to putting your car in body shop jail.
I am finally in the finishing stages of a complete restoration that I have done entirely by myself except for engine rebuild. 6 years working on it almost every spare moment. I have been obsessed! If you are going to restore your car, please heed the advice in this thread. It is a huge project. If I needed/wanted a classic daily driver, I would definitely buy what I need. If you aren't into diy, need the car for transportation, and you aren't rich, forget restoration.
I, too, am in a similar boat. Did the engine rebuild myself (except for the hot tank/mag flux) back in the 1980s when I had little money but lots of time. Then life put the body work on hold until now. Me too, but welds don't need to look good to be good. Just keep grinding and re-welding. Exactly where I am at too. Recently de-rusted floor pan and installed repro carpet. Just replaced fuel lines, and there is surface rust on the underside of the body and frame to take care of next. Then on to sanding, Bondo, and primer. If my car was perfect I would never drive it. I want to be driving it whenever conditions are safe to do so. So that will lower the cost of the resto, since "show condition" is not even in the game plan.
I finally have the garage and tools, so I plan to do virtually everything myself and take Motrin for the old-man aches and pains. When it's time for the DIY paint job, if it turns out unsatisfactory, that's where I will turn things over to the $100/hour guys.
