Can it be done???

[porkchop]

O.K. guys here's the deal. At 45 years of age I'm tired of sittin on the side lines,or being a bench warmer. Its been at least 20 years since Ive taken a car to a national event. So here is my plan. I have a clean 70 firebird but does need quarters and rearbody panel. Do you think I can completely tear down this car do though build. Im talking up on rotissre fixing minor issues under the car udercoating then reassamble.I have all parts for it already.I thinking working on it in the evening and weekends about 15 hours a week give or take a few.Goal is colunbus G.G. Please no jokes about really clean but needs quarters and rearbody.lol About 22 weeks till columbus. thanks guys, Mark

[Musclerodz]

good luck since full quarters or tail panels are available for that year. 80% quarters sort of fit. Anything is possible with enough determination

[tgvettes]

I say that depends on how good of a mechanic or how many good friends that are willing to help you with the project you have. anything is duable. 15 hours a week for maybe 15-20
weeks is probably not enough time. I think you need some outside help.

Tonny

[coolwelder62]

Good luck!! It took me 7 months to build my car start to finish.And my car is not not great.I spent about 20 to 25 hours a week.:thumbsup:

[BlackenedRR]

Best of luck!! I say stock up on beers and pizzas, invite the boys over as often as they'll come help and give it a go. Even if you don't make it, should at least have some good fun and good stories to tell about the mad thrash...:willy:

[TreySmith]

Shouldn't have no issue. I have seen some nasty cars transformed with only a few days work. I watched my friend do my car in one day.. I worked on it nearly every day for 3 months and then my boss yelled at him and the next day it was finished. I was like wow...

Do you know what you are doing? If not I would recommend outside help. It's easy once someone shows you what to do for a few days.

[GregWeld]

Nope --- figure a year or more... because there's no way you'll get out to the garage 15 hours a week every week... and it's easier to tear stuff apart than it is to put it together... and sometimes life gets in the way... and sometimes you just don't get much done... and some weeks you get a whole bunch done. But the reality is that there is always WAY more work than you expect - and sometimes you are waiting on parts... and sometimes you can't find the parts... and sometimes your buddies come over to help but end up just drinking your beer. :rofl:

You should take on the project - just don't set an unrealistic deadline. Doesn't sound like you've been working on these for the last 20 years -- so there's the practicality of knowledge - skills - tools.... etc. Treat it as a hobby - enjoy the "process" -- the hunting and the gathering -- the friends you're going to make (#1) and the pride you'll gain when you complete each step of the process.

:cheers: :woot:

[DRJDVM's '69]

Can it be done...maybe...probably not.

My recommendation....unless you are a guy that thrives on pressure and deadlines, dont try and do it this way. It will take it from being fun to making it "work". Setting unrealistic goals and deadlines just makes it a " I have to work on it" to "I want to work on it"...and thats no fun.

Take what you think it will take....and then double it and add alittle more.

But too each his own....some guys love this kind of challenge. Not me.....

[RECOVERY ROOM]

Nope --- figure a year or more... because there's no way you'll get out to the garage 15 hours a week every week... and it's easier to tear stuff apart than it is to put it together... and sometimes life gets in the way... and sometimes you just don't get much done... and some weeks you get a whole bunch done. But the reality is that there is always WAY more work than you expect - and sometimes you are waiting on parts... and sometimes you can't find the parts... and sometimes your buddies come over to help but end up just drinking your beer. :rofl:

You should take on the project - just don't set an unrealistic deadline. Doesn't sound like you've been working on these for the last 20 years -- so there's the practicality of knowledge - skills - tools.... etc. Treat it as a hobby - enjoy the "process" -- the hunting and the gathering -- the friends you're going to make (#1) and the pride you'll gain when you complete each step of the process.

:cheers: :woot:
What he said

[Rick D]

Listen to Greg!! Can it be done sure, if you have everythig already and you don't need any custom parts. My old shop built a 69 chevelle in 16 days and scored 997 out of 1000 at Chevy Vett Fest. BUT the car was painted already, the frame and ALL suspension and drive train where in the frame. There where 2 of us working on the car in the day time and 1 at night. The last weeks push we worked a couple 20 hr days. So CAN it be done yes but I think it would be much better to take your time build it right the first time (it's much cheaper) and enjoy your self and the friends you have and the new ones you will make on your car building journey. Remember it's a hobby.

[awr68]

If you don't start it will never be finished.
Deadlines are good as long as you are ok if you fail to make the show...however perhaps this is the push that gets the car built this year and you have time mid season or at the end of the season to enjoy it!

I say go for it and the worse thing that can happen is that it takes a little longer...in the end it will be the same killer car you have in your head right now! :thumbsup:

[NOT A TA]

I agree with Greg, not going to happen at 15 hours a week from the information given. If it needs quarters and the tail panel there's probably going to be more work you'll find once it's stripped clean. Have you located a tail panel for it yet? They're not easy to find.

[Warpath Pontiac]

I dont think its enough time to do it the right way. Get it done, sure, you could probably slap it together for one event. Then after you're done you will tear sections of the car back apart to fix the things that you didnt have the patience for or where you cut corners (after I painted my car and saw the light at the end of the tunnel, I was in a full on sprint to get my car back together). I ended up cutting corners and going back to fix them later. I wish I would've slowed down and been a little more patient, but that first "complete" drive was pretty sweet.

I would say take your time. Enjoy working on your car as a hobby, not a job.

[redfire69]

Don't know if it can be done or not. But it always seems to take twice as long as you budget or allow, so try 30 hours a week. Good luck! :thumbsup:

[deuce_454]

with an endless supply of money and cheap expendable labour.. anything can be done.. youve seen overhaulin, it only takes 30 guys a week to finish a car if they work 20 hours a day... no wait thats 20*7*30=4200 hours... so you can do that in 210 weeks if you work 20 hours a week.. thats only 4 years:D provided you have the same sills and work as fast ofcourse

now were you to buy a project where the metalwork was complete... it might be possible.. IF you can find somone who will do the paint turn-arround quick and it will be alot of bolting stuff togetherm no real time to get into finer details

[V8TV]

Hey Mark!

I think it's possible, but you know how hard it is to secure the 15 hours. And those 15 go by quickly.

For those who don't know Mark, he's a very talented body tech, and helped us out on the Royal Sport Camaro and a couple of the other V8TV project cars.

The trick is gettin' the time and workin' fast.

But just like SEMA, the deadline helps!

[GregWeld]

Well that's just CHEATING!! LOL

He FAILED to mention that he has tools -- that he has skills....

But (big but) a one man band trying to do a car = body off full on resto... part time.... My money is on... <buzzer> can't... It's just too much work.

[Scotch]

The body and paint are a big deal. That's what holds up most projects. But, you've got talent in this area and most of your OP was dedicated to it.

It's the stuff you can't do, or that you'll have to farm out, that'll end up pissing you off.

Engine? Trans? Rear axle? Suspension? Cage? Upholstery? Wiring?

Details will mess you up too. Goofy stuff like heater controls or something will inevitably bite you somewhere along the way.

I've had the best luck getting something on the road and improving it from there. Paint and body were never high on my list since I typically can't afford nice work and it won't make my car any faster. But, I have no tools/skills for body/paint work either. My cars are rarely pretty, but always pretty fast.

So, I say set the deadline out a bit to account for the stuff you can't do yourself. GG 2011 is not unreasonable, but if you think you can thrash on it and get it done by this year- more power to ya. Best of luck - and start a build thread so we can bust your chops about getting it done...

[syborg tt]

Don't forget about Pandora's box.

When you got to cut the quarters off you never know what your going to find.

If it was me - Just start working on the car and when it's complete it's complete

[DFRESH]

Overhaulin

[porkchop]

Thanks for all the replys. Kevin that might be the nicest things anybody has said to me.LOL Kevin, Im getting closer to your neck of the woods I lost my sweet job at the dodge dealer know Im working in columbia Ill. Back to the car. Yes, I know is a up hill battle. While I did think life is going to get in the way. Sometimes I forget how busy you can be with a 10 year old son.
This week we only have one night that we have nothing going on. Maybe I should have called this thread reality check or seemed like a good ideal at the time. And it doesnt take scottland yard to know if it needs quarters its gonna need outer wheelhouses and trunk drop offs. So heres plan B, finally get started on the project and set a realistic goal,maybe G.G 2011. Thanks for the input good or bad (truthful) Mark

[GregWeld]

You want the truth.... you came to the right place! No BS here...


:rofl: :rofl:

[FreddieCougar]

So heres plan B, finally get started on the project and set a realistic goal,maybe G.G 2011. Thanks for the input good or bad (truthful) Mark

I think you made the right decision. When all is said and done, it is just a show. ONE show, and there will always be another one around the corner. If you rush your car, and maybe cut a corner to make said show..the regret over that cut corner will last far longer than the satisfaction of making some arbitrary deadline for a show....
Tim