Car enthusiasts

[ScottyB]

How hard is it to build a car? My dad and I both have wanted a jeep for a while and I thought I could save up so we could start putting one together on weekends and stuff. I don't know anything about cars but my dad knows quit a bit. I was thinking that if I saved up a grand we could slap something together. What do you think? I also thought this might be a good bonding exp. since we have grown apart the last few years.

 

[ScottyB]

^

 

[FrustratedUser]

$1000 will give you a POS.

 

[Zenmervolt]

If you're thinking of a "project" car, I'll give you one very important piece of advice: do _not_ buy anything that has even the slightest bit of rust or body damage. Bodywork is the single biggest bitch I've seen when working on a car, and rust repair is the mother of all expense when working on a project. Last year I bought a 1976 914 that is quite clean for about $3,500 as a "rolling restoration" project. It runs fine right now but it needs a lot of work to be brought back to showroom. I could fix all the mechanical problems for under $2,000. $2,000 wouldn't even begin to cover the minimal bodywork that needs to be done. The paint is shot and it needs a re-spray which will probably run me around $5,000 because the only way to do a re-spray properly is to have everything acid-dipped and then get each part painted separately. Properly re-painting a car pretty much requires that the car be disassembled. (That's not to mention the new rear floorpan and the fender repairs that need to be done.)

Find something with a good body but a blown up engine and tranny, much less trouble and expense in the long run.

ZV

 

[Stallion]

I have a Jeep, it just cost 2,000 for front discs, hubs,spindles,axle u-joints and ball joints. So like Frustrated said.. 1,000 will get you squat.

3,500 is a little safer bet. Jeeps are spendy even for junk ones. You are talking Jeeps and not wranglers right?

 

[ScottyB]

I have a Jeep, it just cost 2,000 for front discs, hubs,spindles,axle u-joints and ball joints. So like Frustrated said.. 1,000 will get you squat.

3,500 is a little safer bet. Jeeps are spendy even for junk ones. You are talking Jeeps and not wranglers right?

Like a CJ7 or something

 

[Stallion]

1974 CJ-5 304 V8, 3 speed T-15 trans, dana 20 transfer, dana 44 rear and dana 30 front.

 

[notfred]

Building a car costs significantly more than just buying a used car.