How many of you are doing your own restoration versus having someone else do the work ?

[Xcudame]

I would certainly enjoy Rich Followell and Torredcuda as neighbors! That's taking a car down to "bare bones"! Luckily Heminut isn't too far away and I can pick his brains on things!

 

[torredcuda]

Current '70 road runner project

 

[torredcuda]

I would certainly enjoy Rich Followell and Torredcuda as neighbors! That's taking a car down to "bare bones"! Luckily Heminut isn't too far away and I can pick his brains on things!

The Barracuda had every outer body panel replaced including the roof after the sandblaster warped the crap out of it even though I told him not to do the roof! Also had the usual trunk floor and extensions, parts of the rear frame rails and plenty of small patches, and that was before most sheet metal was not reproduced.

 

[Xcudame]

Yes, I've warped a few panels with sand blasting so I bought one of those Eastwood sand / soda blasters years ago. For roofs and tops of hoods, soda is the way to go!

 

[hdwrench]

like the song say “ with a little help from my friends “! sometimes a lot of help . a good friend who is a mopar fan/ body guy is doing my metal and paint . i help when he needs me . i have no big body shop or body tools , he does . he is coming along nicely on the repair / restoration. a couple of other good friends no the driveline end and there also helping me along . wife even jumps in occasionally doin small paint n detailing on parts . hoped to hear the car run this year but it’s not looking good , but that’s ok we got a long winter ahead ….

 

[Cuda360-4]

Just curious how many of you are doing most all of your restoration on your own?

When I bought the car 42 years ago I had no money, so I did everything myself. It was my everyday driver. As I had more money, and wanted to restore and upgrade it, the decision became based upon who could do the better job. For body work, that decision was easy: a professional. I can do it, but there was no way I had the level of skill for what I wanted. I did most of the mechanical work myself, but not the machining work. I don’t have a machine shop.

For things that were out of the ordinary, like when I put three point seat belts and other things the car did not come with, no one would do it the way I wanted. I wanted to make sure it looked like it was done at the factory, so I had to do it myself. When I added upgrades, like the Rally Gauges, I was told it couldn’t be done, so I again had to do it myself.

By the way, my car was a Grand Coupe that I made into a ‘Cuda with parts from a 383 ‘Cuda that had been rolled: Rally Cluster, 8 3/4 rear, Rally Hood, air cleaner, etc. The 340 heads were from another ‘Cuda with a cracked block. Transmission was from a Dart. So in some ways, more work than a normal restoration.

 

[340challconvert]

When I bought the car 42 years ago I had no money, so I did everything myself. It was my everyday driver. As I had more money, and wanted to restore and upgrade it, the decision became based upon who could do the better job. For body work, that decision was easy: a professional. I can do it, but there was no way I had the level of skill for what I wanted. I did most of the mechanical work myself, but not the machining work. I don’t have a machine shop.

For things that were out of the ordinary, like when I put three point seat belts and other things the car did not come with, no one would do it the way I wanted. I wanted to make sure it looked like it was done at the factory, so I had to do it myself. When I added upgrades, like the Rally Gauges, I was told it couldn’t be done, so I again had to do it myself.

By the way, my car was a Grand Coupe that I made into a ‘Cuda with parts from a 383 ‘Cuda that had been rolled: Rally Cluster, 8 3/4 rear, Rally Hood, air cleaner, etc. The 340 heads were from another ‘Cuda with a cracked block. Transmission was from a Dart. So in some ways, more work than a normal restoration.

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Nice Work!

 

[Coupe]

Everything myself except for upholstery and auto transmission. Even those I removed and took to the shop, then reinstalled myself.

 

[Adam]

I do pretty much everything except machining the engine, and the thing I hate the most…UPHOLSTERY. If I never do front buckets or a headliner again it’s ok by me.

 

[GtxJon]

Nice replies guys!
I worked in a top Mopar shop some twenty years ago.
Full restoration was $100,000 and upwards.
You can double that now so its got to be 'all your own work' if you want to stay married etc...

We are currently doing a 69 Charger 500.
All our own work but its gone off to the paintshop now!
Would have painted myself but its non vinyl so tricky to do...

 

[GtxJon]

Saved my very rusty Canadian GTX from the crusher.
Its taken 25 years so far but the spirit is still strong!
Painted myself in a Chicken shed but its OK lol...
Engine, axle and trans all built by myself too.

 

[torredcuda]

I painted mine is `95 in the barn board garage in this pic - gaps between the boards, open rafters etc. I used an old DeVilbiss JGA siphon feed gun, a Sears 5hp 30 gallon compressor that couldn`t keep up and a box house fan in the side door. Yes, there was a LOT of wet sanding and buffing to do to make it look decent!

 

[GtxJon]

It always feels better when you do the work yourself!
Some don't come out so well and won't win any prizes,
But we saved them from the scrapyard to be turned into Honda lawn mowers...

This is me in Hotrod mag grinding on a Daytona a $125,000 resto some twenty years ago.

 

[Cuda360-4]

It always feels better when you do the work yourself!
Some don't come out so well and won't win any prizes,
But we saved them from the scrapyard to be turned into Honda lawn mowers...

This is me in Hotrod mag grinding on a Daytona a $125,000 resto some twenty years ago.

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Very cool

 

[moparlee]

It always feels better when you do the work yourself!
Some don't come out so well and won't win any prizes,
But we saved them from the scrapyard to be turned into Honda lawn mowers...

This is me in Hotrod mag grinding on a Daytona a $125,000 resto some twenty years ago.

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Restorations by Julius. I have seen some of their (your) work. And it was very nice.

 

[GtxJon]

Thank you Moparlee, I was just a small cog in the wheels of restoration.
Did some metalwork along with another guy who likes to remain anonymous.
He used to paint the cars as well but got ''burn out'' its a tough life indeed.
I like the mechanical side as I'm a lifelong engineer.

I personally believe that Mopar was a leader in all things Engineering.
The Hemi being the epitome and the Wingcars as well, prove that.
What a time to be a Mopar fanatic in the late sixties early seventies as well.

 

[marksmopars]

I do as much as possible and as I worked in a body shop as a 16 year old that is quite a bit. But this guy in town named Gene Pearson is in his 80’s and operates his little shop out back. He built Indy engines as a younger fellow and does engines for guys like me cuz it gets him off. The engine I took him last week is a number matched block to a AAR cuda, I picked up. I replacing all the sheet metal, etc, but my engine will be picked up ready to install. Also, I have another bud does trannies so I’m taking the paired 727 to him for refurb.

I think we all here do what we can and I know I surely enjoy reading about the adventures here.

 

[tazzymoto]

I hear that! that's why I put in a lift before I started the restoration , It's made things so much easier especially when working by myself.

 

[asskicked]

I realized many years ago that learning body and paint, by far the most difficult part of any old car restoration, was not an option if I wanted to remain in the old car hobby, it's an imperative. Ripped off too many times. It's understandable why it's so difficult to get quality work done by shops, it's extremely hard tedious work especially without the motivation that it's your car. I figure the average body and paint guy, even good ones, are burnt out in five years. If you have dreams of a collection of quality cars like me and are not a millionaire, it's a no brainer.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I do my own work. With the help of buddies and family members. Swapping out labor, equipment tools and just moral support goes along way to keep pushing each of us along.