Reality Check

[brak]

Ok, we all have a project in some form, and most know pretty much without a doubt, the parts, and pieces you WANT / NEED. but how many have actually sat down and figured out the total cost in advance?

Yesterday I took all my catalogs, and wishlists and entered them into a spreadsheet so i can track the progress of my truck, because i have a bad memory, and will end up ordering wrong P/N or duplicate parts.

i found out the following.

$$$ invested so far: $3k (including the cost of the truck 5 years ago)

Parts needed/wanted: $6,875.00

now the second figure doesn't include Paint, media blasting, upholtery...
it's amazing how a couple $10 -40 emblems, some sheetmetal, and window regulators can add up so fast.

Don't tell my wife.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I spent between 6-7K on this. 100% built "at home." Go to swap meets and you'll save about a grand on your list of parts

Unfortunately, these trucks cost a lot to build

[brak]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I spent between 6-7K on this. 100% built "at home." Go to swap meets and you'll save about a grand on your list of parts

Unfortunately, these trucks cost a lot to build

Yeah, i'm no stranger to the junk yards, but here in minnesota, swapmeets don't exist, especially now that winter is setting in.

this will be the 4th vehicle that i've restored, or performed major modifications to, and i've never kept track of how much money i dump into them. but this time will be different.

I posted this more as a comment on how looking at a list of parts, with "cheap" price tags is decieving, the actual price ends up being at least double what you are thinking.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Yeah, I finally learned to take my time and $$$ budgets and multiply them by 3 and that should get me close

[roj2323]

well honestly i'm pretty anal about expences so i know within a couple dollars of what something is going to cost me. for example i have decided to use all stainless hardware on my truck so i made a list of every nut washer and bolt on my chassis. i then sorted it by what was included with kits and what wasn't. then i got to adding. before shipping by stainless bolts are going to cost $677.33. i've also done this for many other aspects of my build as it gives me goals to reach which keeps the project moving.

for my daily driver i've kept all of my recites hoping that i can write some of it off on my taxes as vehical maitnance. with the cost of the truck $2300 + parts to make it safe, i've spent $3600 total this yr on it.

[timcos]

That is not actually that bad. Most hobbies will cost that much over a 5 year period...some more.

I knew a guy who spent $5,000 on a custom Baretta shotgun.

There is an upland game and Big Game hunting place in Paradise Utah (www.whitesranch.com) and my buddy spends about $4,000 a year there...so all in all...

we get a truck out of the deal...all he gets is dinner (ok...a lot of dinners).

Tim

[BACKYARD88]

Originally Posted by timcos

That is not actually that bad. Most hobbies will cost that much over a 5 year period...some more.

Tim

Exactly. I used to have a fourwheeler riding hobby. I spent 10,000 in eight months including the fourwheeler. That doesn't include fuel or traveling expenses tho.

[Ron 586]

I have found that being a truckaholic is a lot cheaper than most of my other vises. I also learned that ignorance is bliss and don't worry about what it cost. I don't dip into "house" money to fund my play toys. As long as you can spend what you can afford and not get caught up in "everybody else has ..... you will be alright. Poor business but more fun.

[shifty]

I am saving my receipts, so I'll know whether to just pay someone else less than what they invested to pick up their nearly-finished truck

[boundstaffpress]

I'm still under $2500 for my truck. That includes purchase, driveshafts, u-joints, tires, some body panels, (not installed) door window seals, bulbs and switches, brakes. It drives me to work every day, but will not be a show truck

You couldn't even start a Chevelle project for the small amount some guys on here have invested in their entire running trucks. Thank God daily for the cheapness of parts for our trucks.

[Draggn66]

Yes it does add up but it still doesn't seem to be as bad as any of the bikes I've restored or customized. I am keeping all my receipts in a box........hidden away in the garage!

[67ChevyRedneck]

with the others.....

A starter 69 camaro in crappy condition will cost you 5K (and thats CRAPPY condition)

[gouldie]

there was another thread here that was asking how much people have spent. alot of guys are under 10 grand wich isnt bad for a nice truck.

[Brad]

I figure it's cheaper than a new car payment and muuuuuuuuch easier to work on when it does break down. Not only that, but you can make upgrades when you want rather than monthly car payment that come EVERY month.

[ERASER5]

67ChevyRedneck, It looks like your truck has made it to Greenville. Any updates?

[67ChevyRedneck]

If you divide what I spent on my truck (lets say 7K) over the TEN years I've owned it... that comes out to only $700/year

ERASER 5: Yup, she's in greenville. Now I have to hope for warm weekends to do more to it (paint interior, line bed, etc)

Look here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=216249

[panhandler62]

I got the truck for $2000 .. should have been about $1700 but I were a newb.

I have about $200 of stop-gap body work into it (patch metal and fiberglass to keep the inside dry until I can ter it down and patch the cab up.)

I have purchased $100 carpet, installed a stereo I already had and bought about $100 in odds and ends that I *might* need later.

I recently swapped in a new HEI ($50) and an aircleaner that didn't have a huge dent in it ($30) I have about 50 hours of sweat equity into it so far.

I'm estimating $13,800 cash out to have the project ready to paint if I include general enhancement of me stuff (tools and such.. ) $12,600 if you dont cont the tools.

Projected costs:
1. Tools I still need
Welder.................. $300 to $600
Compressor............ $300
Air tools................ $100
Odds & Ends........... $200

2. House mods needed
Run 220 circuit to workshop .... $200

3. parts
Front suspension parts......... $2500
Rear suspension parts.......... $1500
Wheels & Tires.................... $1500
Gas tank & lines.................. $600
Engine parts....................... $2000
Body panels........................ $3000 (I need a new bed)
Gauges & wiring................... $400
Steering wheel..................... $100
Seat.................................. $300

4. materials......................... $500

5. paint ............................. ?????

[shifty]

Man I am glad I wired my own house, and that my breaker box is in the basement about 3ft from the place I needed to put the outlet. but buying that 25ft extension cord @ 3 bucks a foot SUCKED!

[Blue85]

I put about 15g CDN into my shortbox, and didn't rebuild the motor, i would have to look back for a complete breakdown of what everything cost, but every body panel and piece of hardware on the truck is new (door handles, lights, cluster,etc) Also sprung for a Vintage air unit, Painless wiring, blazer tank etc. I basically dropped the truck off at the body shop lookin like ****, and got it back as a show truck, i installed everything else myself. Coulda saved a couple grand by doin some stuff myself, but i didn't have time.

[drink2mny]

I just don't want to cry in front of family and friends when I think how much for things for my projects..
I am a grown man damit...

Thats why i won't make a list

[Boise69]

I started out a bit high when i purchased my truck for 8k. After getting it i decided i wanted it better, it was an older restoration and needed updating and then my taste kicked in and my appetite for better does have a price. now i'm glad i didn't just jump in and start replacing things and instead i found this forum.

Now i've been making lists of parts i *have to have* and parts i would *love to have*. If both lists combine i will have 22k total in it when i'm done. worth it? the fun will be, but if i do it right i think it also will be if and when i go to sell.

If i stick with the *have to have* list then it will only be 18k. I think the extra 4k will be worth it for just the fun factor alone. Cant put a $ amount on the fun and its good for my marriage because a hobby is a healthy distraction.

[jimmydean]

My problem is I have "phases" in my head that are between $1000 and $1500. I start a phase and the next thing I know it has blured into the next. Here is a perfect example:

I wanted to bag my truck. I had worked out what I wanted to run and how, what it would cost and where I would get it. Just before starting the bag kit, my wheel bearing burned out. So I decided it was a good time to do a drop spindle disc kit (and it was on sale). Then a bunch of little things have come up and the next thing I know, BAM!

My truck is apart and the front is 90% done, but I haven't touched the back yet. I went from $1200, to $2500 in parts and upgrades, now I am out of control.

While mounting the booster, I noticed my valve covers were leaking, so $60 for new Edelbrock covers. Then my wires were a mess, so $30 for new looms. Now my distributor looks bad, so $75 for a new shiny one. Now my headers are close with the bags aired out, so $170 for those. Now I need exhaust, so $200 for that.

Then on ebay I found an in-dash 7" tft monitor and dvd player for $130 (should never looked, but thats what happens), so now I might have tunes. Now I need to run some wires, but my floor is a mess, so $120 for carpet and pad + POR15 on the metal, FATMAT insulation, new threshold plates and screws...

My wife says, "I thought you were just going to replace the wheel bearing for $20?" Oops

[shifty]

I have HIS problem.

Engine swap turned into interior gut and front steering rebuild, power steering and brake upgrade, and finally I'm gonna bag the truck

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by shifty

I have HIS problem.

Engine swap turned into interior gut and front steering rebuild, power steering and brake upgrade, and finally I'm gonna bag the truck

You think Y'ALL have problems???? I WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO SWAP THE TRANNY!!! (I'm being serious)

[Rokcrln]

Here is only one of about 6 projects I curently have. It is a 71 SWB 2wd truck that I bought right after totaling a show 71 early bronco. I paid 7k for the truck but it was complete and in great shape (so I thought) and I did not want to build another vehical after spending 1year on the bronco and only having it done for 3months.

But with the 305 v8 in the truck and a real nice 1965 vett 327 sitting on my garage floor I figured why not. Now that that was done and running I realized that with a turbo 350 trans and 4.11 gears in my 12bolt that 6mpg was all I would get while doing 70mph at 3600rpm. So I decided that a simple 700r4 was the answer. But wait the 700r4 was a 20% lower first gear than my 350 did so I could lower the rear end gears to 3.43's and keep that great take off but add 20% reduction in OD. So the rear end came out and went to teh gear shop for 3.43's and why not a eaton possi as well right.

I thought now would be a great time to notch the frame while it was wide open so off came the bed. C-notch was finished and I painted the rear frame to clean things up. Then I started thinking what good is a Notch with stock suspention so here comes the air ride (keep in miind this was back in 1999) and drop spindles. Now with that done and painted as well the only thing left was the fact that my frame looked like crap under the cab so off it came.

While pulling it off I started to notice all the bondo and new paint under the rockers and when the new carpet came out it showed the rest of the rust. So as I checked things out real good I also saw the rust starting from inside out on the rain gutters so it was time for a new good cab. Found one and bolted it on the frame and started to put things back together and that is when it happened. With the bags fully deflated and the body all on I saw that the front sat lower than the back and I did not like the rack so off the bed came and I Z'd the rear frame to level things out. It worked out great but now the truck sat level but about 2 1/4" from the ground to the pinch weld on the lower rockers.

On my way home form work one day I thought why not lower the body down a few inches to get it to sit on the ground so again out came the grinder! After the body was dropped I had to fix the front and rear of the frame so things would line back up and raise the bed floor to allow for the raised frame and lowered body.

While doing the front frame I came accross a good deal (at the time) for a 93 corvette LT1 with only 30k on it so out came the 327cid. But with a vett LT1 in the truck I did not think I could get enough traction to use the motors power so I mini tubbed the bed and bought a set of 335/35/17 for a vipper and matching fronts but this left a rim problem. I found a place to build me some 17" vett rally rims in 11" rear and 8" fronts. Then I need a fuel tank with the vett pump so I had one built by Fat Fender street rods out of SS and it holds 35gal.

Since then I have moved twice and the truck is just now ready to get worked on some more in between customers builds. I hope to have it painted and on the road in about 6-7 months for the first time in over 7years and about $18k with about another 4K to go.

Now with all that being said I am glad I don't have a drug problem or I might have really dome some wierd stuff!

Kevin
LFD Inc.