Just curious to everyone's ideas on what to do. I know it's impossible to exactly say without seeing the parts but I've been sitting on this car for awhile now, I set aside $3500 and I'm going to finish it. What would you do? (Keep in mind I'm very handy with everything. I have everything I need to do body work and access to a booth for paint. So bascily the only thing I'll really need done is have the block hot tanked, then have the rods/pistons line honed and pressed. I'm not the best but all my motors have lasted and my body work in the past has held up great. So here is how the car sits, only now it's in primer with no body work done. It doesn't need anything replaced that's metal except the headlight buckets/fender extentions. The tabs are broke off. Empty interior but I have it all, empty engine bay but I have it all. Everything is basicly usable. Just not the best. The whole interior will need re-done along with the motor. I was going to: Strip off the fenders rebuild the brakes, replace lines, etc... rebuild suspension rebuild steering Then worry about body work then interior then motor.... The car is a 302, C4,8 inch 2 barrel car originally. What's your advise if you have $3500 to finish the car in the bank and waiting? When I got it: How it sat right before primer As of now, it's fully stripped of all trim,chrome, etc....
the first thing i would do is start a list of exactly what parts you'll need and then start figuring out where to get the parts at the best prices. i can tell from you a lot of experience that $3500, while it sounds like a lot, isn't much at all when you have to start buying parts, supplies, tools, paint, etc. since you're doing a complete repaint plan on, bumpers, weatherstripping, any missing or bad trim parts, new or replated bolts and other attaching hardware. the fender extensions are more than 200 bucks each for new ones and finding good used ones is almost impoosible any more. suspension and steering parts aren't cheap and can easily run $1K or more depending on what all needs replacing. dashpads for the 69/70 are THE most expensive ones being made and can easily run $300 or more. if you have a deluxe interior parts are really expensive but standard interior parts aren't too bad so if you have a standard interior it can be done for around a grand or so. i think i've already spent more money than what your budget allows in only a couple of small paragraphs. i'm not trying to discourage you here, just making sure you know where you stand and how important it is that you shop around for the absolute best prices you can get and don't forget to include shipping in there also.
Yeah, my bumpers and chrome trim is all "useable" with some polishing and cleaning but down the road it'll all be replaced. I'm starting off with a kit like this that I hope Mustangs Plus will get back to me about. I'd imagine it can't be priced too much higher for 69 parts. Super Resto kit The dash is mint, just a small crack in the center vent. Nothing bad. No worries there. Really the only thing that needs replaced asap would be the headlight buckets and carpet. Everything else could be replaced as it goes. I think I'll stick with my plan and rebuild and replace everything for the brakes, suspension and steering before worrying about chrome though. I feel I'm on the right track. Just looking for opinions on the order of operations on how to tackel the car.
from my experience it would be better to do the paint and bodywork before the brakes and suspension if you plan on detailing the undercarriage becuse that will all get covered in overspray, however it won't hurt to go ahead and get all the parts you need ordered and possibly mocked up on the car before paint.
So far it's worked for me! Just so you know, you don't necessarily have to have ALL the $$$ you need now (I certainly don't), but budget your purchases as you need them and rebuild the bank account as you go. As bnickel said $3500 really won't last too long.
