How long have you been working on your Pro touring car?

[kevin_l]

After 1 year, my project has slowed dramatically due to cold weather and finances this time of year. Just got me wondering, how long does building and financing one of the awesome cars take the average Joe?

If everything goes as planned I am hoping my car will be drivable in the next 18 months. Just depends on life and money :G-Dub:

[tubbed69]

3 1/2 years for me,I do mine 100% myself and half to work alot of overtime to fund it.Dont worry if it takes awhile because you will enjoy it when your finished.

[waynieZ]

7 years :censored:

[will69camaro]

4 years and seems like forever to go.

[sd67]

I thought my project would take 5 years. Figuring that between finances, waiting for shops to finish and just life in general, it might take longer. Along the way I realized that I really enjoy the process, buying and selling, even the changes in direction. I would say 2-5 years is realistic for those of us on a budget. Can't wait to drive it but I like the project management part of the journey.

[Mkelcy]

13 years.

Home built except for media blasting and paint. On the road now but getting alignment, vibration and other minor issues sorted out. I have so many "for sale" ads drafted I had to buy larger back up for my computer.

That said - I go to the shop, turn the key, the LS3 fires right off and it's good times.

[DEIGuy38]

7 slow years. Have 2 kids, one is 7 and the other is 4, garage time is a little tough. Building all myself in a 3 car garage with a little help from a few friends. Have all the parts just need to finish and pick paint color.

[kevin_l]

Thanks guys, you're making me feel normal! Can't tell you how many nights I've laid in bed thinking of all the spent money, wondering if I should just sell it thinking it and cut my losses. Aside from some frame straightening everything has been done in my 2 car garage. Loads of overtime pay for the parts, can't imaging paying labor too! I love working on cars, but I've never been this far over my head in a project. It's scary thinking about all the unknowns, but with forums like this I am hopeful we'll get it done. Some day!

[randy]

4 years and it won't be 5. This car will be done by Aug for my birthday and when the 1st made 67 camaros were made.

[Sieg]

I bought it in late '89 and it will be done when I have to forfeit my license. :thumbsup:

[will69camaro]

4 years and it won't be 5. This car will be done by Aug for my birthday and when the 1st made 67 camaros were made.

I said that about last July... Wanted it done by 30. Now just hoping I make power tour.

[analyte]

Will be 4 years in March, but I hope to have her running by the end of May.

I'm doing as much as possible myself, since I enjoy it, but to get the shops with good reputations takes waiting in line...

[68Cuda]

This iteration started when my son and I started disassembling the car for paint in December 2012. Went to the paint shop in September 2013, came back to the house painted in June 2014 and is now slowly coming back together. I bought the car in 1988.

[fishface]

I have had my car about 5 years but was slapped stupid by the protouring thing about 3 years ago. Its fun doing the upgrades but have to go as fast as funds allow. Going for the biggie this year with suspension and drivetrain. Recently ditched the gf so should have plenty of time. Lol

[Sheck44]

Going on my 3rd complete rebuild in 2 1/2 years ...
Cheers
Steve

[Jay Hilliard]

3 years 2 months for my wifes car, but I did take a break here and there to get re-energized. Unless you have your budget up front and not doing it yourself, 2 years is very quick IMO.

It takes time to do things right.

[Rick D]

18 months :disgusted: was just going to be a quick repaint buuuuut!!! Money and time always seems to be the issue, I have time but no money or I have the money and no time!!

Starting a new job next Monday (back to management) so better money but now time will be hard to come by!

[SSLance]

I've had my car a bit over 7 years, the first resto project on it took about 6 months (restored the underside of the car) before I got it back on the road. Couple years later I restored under the hood and that took about 4 months or so. Since then I try to not take it apart for longer than 3-4 weeks at a time for upgrades. I find it's easier to keep motivated on getting the projects done if they are well planned out, short and I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor sooner. It's been taken apart for a few weeks now for a fuel system\ignition upgrade and it looks like parts jail is going to delay me a bit more than I'd like, but it's currently 7 degrees outside so there really isn't any hurry to get it back together right now.

Like Sieg said above though, I doubt it'll ever be done done...

[Che70velle]

Bought my Chevelle November 13, 2011. Drove the car straight home, backed it into the shop, and started the tear down. Other than the drive home, I've never driven this car. It's been 3 years, and almost 2months for me, but I'm close. I'm in paint, and then assemble the interior, build the doors, glass, trim, etc, and I'm done for now...

[69hugger]

I am so in awe of you guys with the focus & tenacity to dig into a project that takes years to complete. I have such a short attention span (ADD, ADHD, or whatever else they call it these days), I could never build a car from the ground up & actually complete it. Especially the fab & body work... they would never get done. I would gather parts, change my mind, sell the parts for a loss, buy new parts, etc. I know some of that that goes on with lots of guys, but I would be out of control. After a couple years, I would abandon the whole thing.
I do love trick cars, so I CAN however, buy a complete car, then change things to update and re-create it to my current taste. Which is what I did. Took 5 minutes to buy it, but all this winter to tear it all apart & freshen things up.
Instant gratification. I don't get quite the same pride factor you guys must feel, but I know myself well.
Here's to you guys that can start with a rusty hull & end up with a complete, well running, great handling show piece.
I am truly envious!

Bill

[kevin_l]

I am so in awe of you guys with the focus & tenacity to dig into a project that takes years to complete. I have such a short attention span (ADD, ADHD, or whatever else they call it these days), I could never build a car from the ground up & actually complete it. Especially the fab & body work... they would never get done. I would gather parts, change my mind, sell the parts for a loss, buy new parts, etc. I know some of that that goes on with lots of guys, but I would be out of control. After a couple years, I would abandon the whole thing.
I do love trick cars, so I CAN however, buy a complete car, then change things to update and re-create it to my current taste. Which is what I did. Took 5 minutes to buy it, but all this winter to tear it all apart & freshen things up.
Instant gratification. I don't get quite the same pride factor you guys must feel, but I know myself well.
Here's to you guys that can start with a rusty hull & end up with a complete, well running, great handling show piece.
I am truly envious!

Bill

I think this (adhd) is part of my problem, I bought a done 65 chevelle, but when people asked me if I built it telling them no made me feel strange. I've always worked on cars, know a little about each aspect of building one, but I have never tackled a ground up. So I sold the chevelle and started my nova build. Like you said, I often think about selling it and wish I did things differently, however I think the end result will be worth the wait. So after reading how long many "Joe's" take to build these badass rigs gives me the motivation to hurry up and wait! lol

[SSLance]

My Motto is... "buy the body, build the drivetrain"

Much easier and faster that way.

[MeanMike]

My Motto is... "buy the body, build the drivetrain"

Much easier and faster that way.

I agree. Paint is the single most expensive thing you can do to a car. I paid less for my car (body and interior) than it cost to paint it.

I've been converting mine from drag to Pro-Touring for about 10 months and it will be a couple more taking it easy. But the whole project has been going one for over 4 years now.

[66fury]

Ive passed the ten yr mark on my build. Owned the car since 86 and mid way through a rebuild in 2004 just to freshen up a resto i completed in 93,i decided to pull it all apart and do better. Did it all in my garage except motor and trans.i hope to make goodguys kissimmee in april.

[Tony V]

There's a reason why i called mine "eternity".....13 yrs ago i was dating my wife and she helped me remove the seats because i was going to update them and some minor suspension parts.....well safely to say a marriage and 3 kids I missed a couple milestones and blew my $30K budget out of the water. looking at a realistic roll out in 2017:bang: but haven't given up....

[GregWeld]

I've built and or body off complete restorations many cars in less than a year and a half.... but you asked about "average joe"... and I'm not average because I'm retired and have ample finances.

The killer I think for most of these builds "time wise" is the finances. It's hard to move forward without having the parts at hand -- or the tools required. How can you build something if you don't have the parts laying right there to continue to move forward?

Factor this in - with the average amount of hours required... 1500 to 2000 hours?? That's the amount of hours a guy works in a year (at 40 hours a week)... So unless you can work full time - and then come home and work another complete full time job on the car... there's no way a guy can get it done. More like 4 years worth of part time and on the weekends and even then you're going to spend a LOT of time in the garage away from family etc.

The rebuild of my brother in laws Camaro - which essentially was a full build - took TWO GUYS 16 months.... with an unlimited budget and every tool required already on hand. It took even longer then for the paint and upholstery.

[andrew5]

Thanks guys, you're making me feel normal! Can't tell you how many nights I've laid in bed thinking of all the spent money, wondering if I should just sell it thinking it and cut my losses. Aside from some frame straightening everything has been done in my 2 car garage. Loads of overtime pay for the parts, can't imaging paying labor too! I love working on cars, but I've never been this far over my head in a project. It's scary thinking about all the unknowns, but with forums like this I am hopeful we'll get it done. Some day!

i'm on year 5 and should be completing by this spring or early summer.it's a long road!:G-Dub:

[pro68chevelle]

Iv been working on my 68 Chevelle for about 3 1/2 years and hoping to paint this spring and get some testing in before next winter but now I'm changing my suspension again!

[69hugger]

Just my little project... freshen the motor, new heads/ cam/ bearings/ and rings... new radiator/ fans... redo the fuel tank... clean up & redo some of the wiring... and detail the inner fenders & rad support will take 3-4 months, and I am retired. Every day I discover I need a new tool, and/ or small parts needed to do the job correctly. Let's not even figure in the project creep. How do you not replace clutch parts while the motor/ trans is out?
These days you don't just run down to the store for a lot of this stuff...you have to go online. (Where do you buy Weaherpack or Metripack connectors locally? There are dozens of types!) Then you wait 2 days to a week to proceed. The little crap runs me $30 to $50 PER DAY! The freight charges add up too!
Even more impressive if you are in some type of auto trade, then come home & start on your deal. (got permagrease?) When do you watch Overhaulin & Bitchin Rides?
Again....a ground-up on a rusted hulk? Not this cowboy.
You that can & do...I salute you! :cheers:

Bill

[dhutton]

It typically takes me 1.5 to 2 years to complete a project but they are usually limited to rust repair/panel replacement and bolt in mods. They are not SEMA or track bound. :) I do all the work including paint so I am never waiting on anyone but myself. This also helps control the cost because I can't afford to pay someone significantly more than I make to do significant amounts of work on my car. Each project is financed through the sale of the previous project. I order long lead-time parts well in advance to keep things moving along. I also order parts Sunday night to insure they are available the following weekend. Summit is great for this because you can check inventory.

I am two months into my current 69 Camaro project. The new floor and trunk floor are modified for the AME IRS and installed along with minitubs. The rear subframe is installed. I am currently installing/stretching the rear quarters. The Speartech LSA harness and 6L90E should ship this week so I will be able to figure out what sort of tunnel mods are needed. When they arrive I will order the crate engine. Anvil leadtimes can be long so I ordered the fenders etc well in advance. All I am waiting on is the rear bumper. I am constantly watching for deals on parts that I know I will need. I just picked up some new Recaro seats from a 2015 Z28 that were being swapped out for more race oriented seats.

As stated in the post above I find the key to keeping the timeframe reasonable is a realistic plan and finances in place or at least planned.

Don

[Rod P]

purchased 100 bucks

http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx162/crazyshopmonkey/body%20build/l_d2b9b28f007e5b7c88a9694eb517711a.jpg


at 14 months later...ugly and driving

http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx162/crazyshopmonkey/Autocross/IMG_1046_zpse3dc7b6a.jpg

at 16 months I painted it

http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx162/crazyshopmonkey/body%20build/GEDC1142.jpg

and now!!!

http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx162/crazyshopmonkey/2014%20events/sema%202014/63954_10152471213165233_286242430317494320_n_zps54 ccbdd2.jpg

[DBasher]

Pulled the mustang into the garage in November and hope to have it back out in March. First round is chassis, suspension and V8 swap...I'll make it pretty later.

[rickpaw]

I spent 3 yrs restoring my 67 Firebird, from a rolling shell to a finished runner. But then spent 5 months doing LS swap on it, then brake/suspension upgrade.

As Sieg suggested, the car is never done.

[GregWeld]

I spent 3 yrs restoring my 67 Firebird, from a rolling shell to a finished runner. But then spent 5 months doing LS swap on it, then brake/suspension upgrade.

As Sieg suggested, the car is never done.



This is a HOBBY.... it should be fun... should last a lifetime... and should't be a time or financial strain. Enjoy the people you meet... the skills acquired... the tools... the satisfaction of a job well done. Then tear it all apart and start over! LOL

[MeanMike]

This is a HOBBY.... it should be fun... should last a lifetime... and should't be a time or financial strain. Enjoy the people you meet... the skills acquired... the tools... the satisfaction of a job well done. Then tear it all apart and start over! LOL

It took me a while to learn this. My friends and family gave me grief because I would build a car and shortly after finishing, I would sell it or tear it apart and start over. It took me a while to realize that I enjoy building more than I do driving. But, I think I need to finish this one and leave it alone and start on a second. It's not fun watching all the power tour cars drive by while mine is sitting in the garage.

[takid455]

7 years on and off mainly due to project creep and acquiring the needed funds. Original budget was 10k and that was surpassed many times over. Car was 'finished' in 2011. Each year there after I have have done something else to improve/ upgrade the car.

[Panteracer]

I bought my firebird 27 years ago
Took a couple of months to get it running
and start autocrossing... it was run for many
years and sat for over 7 years when the kids
were growing up... 9 motors later finally working
on suspension etc.. just put a lexan window in
out back. splitter and working on the updated rear
spoiler.. Like some say they are never done

My most work gets done when I have an event
to get ready for... Optima Thunderhill right now
since I missed all of them last year

Panteracer

[formula88]

My '67 took about 33 months from deconstruction of original powertrain/chassis to a running LS powertrain and DSE chassis. Still tinkering away on it as others have said..."they are never really finished".

I admire those who are skilled in welding /fabrication and paint. I wish I was that talented. Sled Alley did the metal work and painted the underbody, trunk, interior bits and engine compartment.

[frankv11]

5 years , 2 kids a ton of money and time and still no end in sight and yes I'm loving the whole building it all my self experience.
Like many have done , I sometimes look in the garage and amaze my self with the results. Other times I can not believe I have spent more than (xxxx)hours and close to six figures on a car that does not run.
WTF.

[tmadden]

6 years and still no where near done.

[Swain]

6 years getting really close my friends give me crap all the time but they don't know what it takes to build a nice car on a budget. I also have two kids and a wife that loves to spend money. :hello: :hello:

[mfain]

My "standard' answer when someone asks when I'll have it finished has been "oh, about three weeks", but that has been the answer for 39 years and 6 months. (Not a misprint) More of an experiment or engineering exercise than a finished product, but really, I am only about three weeks out. Technology moves faster than I do, so when I think I am done, out comes the chain saw to make room for "improvements". Hell, Ron Sutton cost me two years. This car is the poster child for project creep. The baby seat brackets I installed on the roll cage for my daughters got cut out a long time ago, but now I wish I had saved them - grandkids, you know! The good news is that I have incorporated my evolutionary changes into several other cars along the way, so all is not lost.

Pappy

[snappytravis]

This is a HOBBY.... it should be fun... should last a lifetime... and should't be a time or financial strain. Enjoy the people you meet... the skills acquired... the tools... the satisfaction of a job well done. Then tear it all apart and start over! LOL

Amen to that,,

[snappytravis]

I have been on my 69 Camaro for about 7 years hope to have done this summer. Then go back to 69 vette I tore apart in 94. I am sure it will go right back together after 20 years. I have done all the body, mechanical and electrical myself. knew some learned lots.. I don't see this hobby fading away until I can't walk to the shop or get under a car.

[awr68]

13 years this month.....and a long ways to go!
The car is always last on the daily to-do-list.

[ragz]

This is a HOBBY.... it should be fun... should last a lifetime... and should't be a time or financial strain. Enjoy the people you meet... the skills acquired... the tools... the satisfaction of a job well done. Then tear it all apart and start over! LOL

Well said,

I have had my car for 10 years, was going to be a 383 stroker restomod, then 6 years ago I bought a 03 Z06 and everything changed, found out about pro touring, ls motors, and had to rethink my entire build. Now I have all the pieces just need to finish body work and put stuff together. But I have loved the process and would not do it any differently of I could do it again.

SM-G900W8, 0x1
A recovered flashaholic since Aliance Rom 5.5

[OLDFLM]

30 years on June 2nd!

[preston]

20 years

But in that time I've used every aftermarket Mustang part available, built 3 tube frames, and tried on 4 or 5 different body styles. Its been drivable for a large portion of that time but never finished.

Before children I used to put in 20-30 hours a week on it, and I did that for several years.

But in that time I've also learned to MIG weld, TIG weld aluminum, steel, and stainless, learned in depth suspension design knowledge, become a pretty accomplished fabricator and all sorts of things that the normal software engineer doesn't know.

I've always thought those skills could be handy if everything falls apart on us. Or maybe i could semi-retire and do a little work for someone.

So it hasn't been a total loss. I wouldn't mind having teh $100k+ back that I've spent over the years though.

[Steve68]

Forever,


2 kids, 2 houses 8 years of child support, layed off, ****ty jobs with ****ty pay, built a nice shop 40x40, 6 months later moved 14 hours away to VA, but I have a better job now, looking to move the cars to VA by the summer then I'll get back at it, keep plugging along,

[Tuske427]

This month is officially 5 years for my build. Finances permitting, I should be driving it this year. Hopefully.