Talk me off the ledge.....

andycook · andycook's Garage

OK, here is the deal. I have been working on my SC for what seems like three years now. I have gone through an engine replacement, rewiring, and am now down to basically a tub with interior getting ready for a bare metal respray.

Seems like every time I try and do something I run into another problem that needs to be addressed (I know, I should expect it). Here's my line of thinking as of my last fiasco (which resulted in a high pressure gasoline bath coutesy of Porsche). That's another story.

Seeings how it down to just the tub, interior, and suspension, what would you guys recommend I do from here:

1. Continue on and work to complete the projects at hand
2. Dismantle the car completely and start from a bare tub

What am I looking at if I jump of the ledge and completely dimasntle the entire car? I know I should do the suspension, brakes, fuel lines (haha), wiring, etc. Just looking for some guidance from the people who have been there before.

So, with that said, either talk me back from the edge, or give me a subtle push in the center of my back!!! Thanks in advance.

KobaltBlau · 10-03-2005, 10:10 AM

Talk to your paint guy. I think if I were in your shoes I would go down to a bare tub so I could change the car's color to something COOL the right way.

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

When do you want to drive the car again, and how much $$$ do you have?? I keep thinking about the same as well, and every time I see pictures here of bare tub with fresh paint, I get really tempted. But I know if I go down that road, it will be a long time before I drive my baby again, and it will cost me a lot of money in a short amount of time. I do not count what my car is costing, but the cost is spread over a long time and not all in one goo to try and get her back on the road!! My plan is to just do it one job at a time, and try to keep her on the road for as much time as possible

) Just my thoughts on the subject!!

andycook · andycook's Garage

Andy...My paint guy is me! I have already stripped most of the other pieces to bare metal and have them in temp primer. My definite plan is to strip the tub as well. It is going through a color change, but that is not whay I decided to strip it. It has been neglected in the past (no rust) and I feel I am better doing it right the first time.

Paul... You mean I will eventually get to drive it again!! Yippeee
Seriously though, I know it will out of commision for some time if I di this, but I think it will be worth it to know everything was done and done right this time. PO's were pretty creative in some areas. As for the $$$, well, we don't count the $$. It's unproductive. Like you said, as long as it is spread over a period of time, it doesn't hurt as much. Big ting is, I just want my car "RIGHT"!

Not trying to make a cup car, but I would like it to turn heads and get the recognition a Pcar deserves. Is it worth not driving it for two more years to do this? Perhaps, that is why I am asking for a conencus form the Pelicans.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Paul is right - I recommend that people work on projects that keep the car running. Not being able to drive it is a drag, and you soon loose drive and momentum when that happens...

-Wayne

hkspwrsche · 10-03-2005, 10:34 AM

It would kill the project if I couldnt drive it sometimes. I would go ahead and jam the engine bay while it's out and next time the interior is out spray that but, try to keep it driveable as much as possible. What color is it now and what color are you changing to?

andycook · andycook's Garage

Wayne, I understand the "keep it driveable" ideolgy, problem is, it is not driveable right now anyways. I guess my big fear is some of the "creative engineering" that I have found along the way from POs.
My point of conention is that if I move forward with the engine upgrade, new paint, and new interior....what am I missing that will come back and bite me later. I can stand not driving it right now, and probably for about another two years, but if I sink all that $$ into it, and then cannot drive it because of something else that was half done, that would pi** me off.
I guess I just don't know where to stop, or start to insure a quality product when I am done. I don't like anything done half-a**ed.
Thanks for the input guys.

bkreigsr · 10-03-2005, 10:43 AM

get it driveable, one nut at a time.
brakes, fuel, suspension, interior, wheels & tires, etc, etc, can all be tackled one nut at a time, and still you get to keep driving the car.

andycook · andycook's Garage

By the way....this board is what keeps the project alive. Thanks Wayne! Without it, my wife would have had a fine german planter a long time ago!!

jwerion · 10-03-2005, 11:01 AM

I sounds like you are like me I have had a project for 5 years and it is now finished and running. I did it from a bare tub so that I new it was done right. I had a bad case of while I am in there I should change, add, or rebuild it. It was expensive and took twice as long as it should but I am very happy with the end result. (In this case my project was a race car with every mod I could think of) I suggest you really have a plan as to what you want it to look like and what level of performance you want before you go any further. This will help save some time and money but it will still cost more than you plan.

David · David's Garage

If you are making good headway now and you're not losing interest, I say go for it, strip it down. If you don't you'll really regret it later. I've only painted one car in my life. I spent a lot of time and money on it but I didn't strip it down to the bare shell. I've regretted it ever since and told myself if I ever paint a car again I'll go to the shell.

jwerion · 10-03-2005, 11:15 AM

I sounds like you are like me I have had a project for 5 years and it is now finished and running. I did it from a bare tub so that I new it was done right. I had a bad case of while I am in there I should change, add, or rebuild it. It was expensive and took twice as long as it should but I am very happy with the end result. (In this case my project was a race car with every mod I could think of) I suggest you really have a plan as to what you want it to look like and what level of performance you want before you go any further. This will help save some time and money but it will still cost more than you plan.

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

Ah, Shipwright's disease...

Many years ago I had a car I took down to the shell. The plan was to have it back together in six months. Three years later it finally re-appeared from my garage.

Oh sure, the finished car was stunning. But by that time I hated it so much that I sold it.