Restoration time length

Josh Rutter

Josh Rutter

Hey guys, I was wondering how long its taken you to restore your cars. Even though ive had mine less than a year it already feels like im never going to get to see it as it is in my head.
Lack of funds and bills keep me tied up and probably will for awhile. Some weeks I barely have enough to throw some gas in it to run. I stress out over not being able to do much body work on it just yet too. Ill never sell it, I guess I just need some reassurance on patience.
 
A year is nothing !!! It takes pateince, and persistence . A part here a part there.. Just be happy you even have her. Hell I have had my 60 close to the same amount of time now and can't even drive her legally in Ma. When i got her last summer i got the windshield frame done and a new windshield put in.. That was the biggest thing. Then she sat till Last week.. Just had the rear lights re wired. Now she will sit again till i can money for an exhaust and ball joints.

I have not worked steady in a year and a half.. So dont loose faith man.. It takes time and patience. It gets frustrating.. Just be glad you have her.. It will come in time..
 
It takes, time, know-how and money.

If you have know-how, it will save you money.
If you have time, it will get done faster.
If you have money, you can get what you need.

If something is lacking, expect delays.

Some of the finest restorations I know about have taken between 9-15 years.
Lots of time and money too.


Don't worry, it will get there,
Darren
 
My 41' Henney-Packard took 12 years. Bad condition of the car, finding parts, no money, changing jobs, moving, raising a family, starting a business, were all factors slowing the progress. It was worth it!!!
Mike
 
My '59 Imperial Crown Southampton is right at 11 years now undergoing a full restoration at a restoration shop. I have never driven the car. The biggest problem with stringing them out that long is that it is easy to loose interest after that long. Everyone's interests/priorities change with time. I was all about pro cars in the late '70s and through the '80s, then somewhat lost interest as my priorities changed. Really got into the Virgil Exner-era Mopars for the next 20 years, now I am back mostly focused on the pro cars. Try to keep your project moving, regardless of how long it takes. Once you stop, regardless of the reason, it is tough to get started again.
 
Everything depends if you're doing some minor resto or a complete one. I know that for a pro-car only for a paint job you can count between 100 and 300 hours, depending on the surprises you have when you remove the trims and doors...
 
I have owned my dream car (1959 Cadillac S&S Victoria 3-way) for about 7 years. It has been in two body shops for the last 6 years...still no where close.
 
Jack wrote:

Doubt I'll live that long. Out of money at 15K & employers of 64-year olds just aren't holding open the door.




Jack, then you need... a lot of money ! :D

Just dish it out and buy your car all done ready to drive. ;)



Darren
 
Josh,
Have had my National for a number of years now. Spent quite a bit of time in the early days repairing frame damage and mechanical items until health issues intervened along with business concerns. Since I still have both I have not been able to do any body work in quite a while. That being said I have never lost interest for a couple of reasons: 1) I found a vehicle that is "me" for many reasons. You said that you'd never sell yours so you did the first step and chose your car wisely, 2) the PCS has kept me motivated just by reading the forums and the magazine. I've never met the crew in person but feel that I'm part of a very unique and supportive car family. That alone can make the months and years of a resto slide by. Take advantage of the support. Can't actually do the body or paint work right now? Then ask questions and get answers in preparation for the days when you can. It will be like doing the job. And you may find that you just may save a bunch of time and and money because you did that in advance rather than just diving in.
Bottom-line:
Don't stress over not being able to do something since this should be your stress relief. When you feel you are log jammed and will never get back to it go out and sit in her tighten or untighten some screws or bolts that need it (there are always some), adjust the mirrors, or simply just find a small hidden scratch that can be sanded and primed. Before long you'll have a bunch of little 15 min. things done that add up to preps to the days when you can start tackling the big stuff.
Above all I know that I will always own my dream procar ambulance, a 1951 Chevrolet/National Imperial Series Ambulance, no matter what state of resto it is in as long as it is going forward. And an happy to say that it is not in a yard out back somewhere for the past 10 to 20 years with the owner saying saying "someday I plan to restore it".
Here is one good thing that you and your 1977 Miller-Meteor Cadillac Landau Traditional can enjoy -- the fact that, when you can afford it, you can put gas in her to run it. With each run do something small that cost nothing and takes only 15 minutes. You'll get there. Enjoy the Resto. :17875:
 
A friend of mines 67 M-M ambulance has been in the resto shop now over 6 years for a full frame off restoration job. I've been assisting on this as well and their just now at the halfway point and getting on a good roll on it now! My cars on the other hand were in pretty nice or in good enough shape when I got them so a frame off restoration wasn't called for. As for restoration work on mine I do like Ed says and do my work on "the installment plan" a little here a little there as time and money and job priority permits with most work being done myself. But I enjoy doing it that way and get to see the progress first hand when done!
 
I spent exactly a year working almost every evening on it and about $10,000 just getting mine from the "sitting in a junkyard the past 15 years" to where I could actually drive it.
After it was on the road, I've spent another $2,800 completely rebuilding the rear axle, driveshaft assembly and transmission. Next year I'm figuring on about $4,000 to rebuild the engine completely. Still has no interior except the rollers and drivers seat. Paint and bodywork is at the end of the list.
Money pit....
 
My '54 Eureka took about a year and a half, and I'm still nibbling away at parts of it. For me, I had a huge desire to see the car finished, so that played a big part. The next big part, maybe bigger, was that the stock market was doing well at the time and I sold stock to have the funds to do the restoration in a good, quick, logical sequence. Darren has it right, though, take gobs of all the things he was mentioning. Desire is a big part of it, though. If you have the inspiration, you'll make things happen.
 

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I've had the 1964 Chevy-Pinner service car for 3-4 years now, and all that's done is the new 350 engine & Powerglide tranny are in and new wheels/tires. Often buy parts for it and pile them in the back so that when there's time, there's plenty to do with parts already purchased.
 
A lot of excellent comments from those who have "been there, done that". I think one of the most important points is to keep the project moving along, one way or the other, even if it involves just tinkering around with the car a couple of hours a week. Otherwise, you will lose interest in it.

I was fortunate enough to be able to pay others to get my project as far along as it is today. I generally stay away from anything that involves skill, luck or patience. In addition, neither of my homes permit vehicles in the driveway that can't be started and driven on short notice, so that eliminated a long term restoration project based out the the front yard.

Overall, it took about a year to get this car from the "before" to the "after" phase. Three months or so for the mechanical, and the rest for body and paint. And I know it wasn't worked on every day. Now, if I can only find the correct interior fabric (also used in S&S in '59), I would like to get the interior redone.
 

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Ive owned my 49 S&S for 10 years now, and do a little here and there. It has a LONG way to go and I know it will never be done while I own it, but still enjoy driving it as it is.
 
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