owning a cool Mopar v being broke (rant)

[CB]

I am working serious overtime to finance my car hobby and denying myself some joys of life (going out for a movie, going out for dinner, buying cloths,...) but it seems that during this bad economy, hugh gas prices and high rent/heating costs,... my cash always goes to bills instead of parts to enjoy my ride. I know some of us encounter the same problem.

Since I bought my Charger (May this year) I put less then 100 miles on the meter.

How do you keep the faith on hanging there and hoping one day you got the 'wow! this is why I went through so much head aches, worries and saving up my last pennies' - feeling?

Okay some of us do have the dough aside for their never ending projects and sure it is a 'family first then hobby' policy.


Thanks
CB

[bull]

How do you keep the faith on hanging there and hoping one day you got the 'wow! this is why I went through so much head aches, worries and saving up my last pennies' - feeling?

Lots of ways:

1. be glad you don't have cancer
2. be glad you have a job
3. be glad you have a house
4. be glad you have a family
5. be glad you have a running/driving Charger instead of one in 400 pieces like I do.

[rt green]

think about how long you wanted one. and if its paid for, let it sit till you can  aford it. times get better, they always do.  you wanted a charger. and you worked hard to get it. you want times to get better, sounds like you are working hard to get that too. you'll get it . ya got your charger didnt you?   

[69*F5*SE]

That's the way the sauce is cooked sometimes.  Sometimes it tastes better the next day. If that makes sense   

[CB]

Yea I do have all the things you mentioned, Bull, but I sometimes have the feeling that I should sell the Charger and go for a Satellite and clone it into a RR over the years for example. The thought of driving a 'clone' isn't really motivating when having a big block 69 Charger tho.


Buying the Charger as it sits now has put a stop on the cashflow towards the hobby.
I might or have over-budgetting on this one because 'they' say to buy a car that is mostly finished is better then a full project.
What do you think?
CB

[CB]

Or maybe I should stop reading Franks' (SFRT) threat on how he is building his wicked R/T 
It is both motivating and heart breaking
CB

[Hemidoug]

Well, it's a labor of love....that's all I can say.
Take me for instance...in one and a half years I've been through 3 builds on my hemi and waiting on build number 4.....If you think pulling the motor 4 times inside a year and a half is fun, then I have a bridge to sell....let alone the costs involved....

Let's count the costs...

1. 1st motor broke a rod at 5000 rpm a year ago last May....went 2 months without the car, Just made Carlisle. Cost for original motor was 10K...cost to rebuild 8K
2. 2nd motor got me through the rest of the year. Took the car to Mopars @ Englishtown this past spring....floated the valves @ 6000 RPM and dinked a piston...cost to rebuild 5K
3. 3rd motor went back in jut before Carlisle AGAIN...made it to Pinks All Out, ran fine (lots of other issues up to that point, could write a book). After pinks I went to a cruise and dropped a valve seat. Turned the pistons, heads and cylinder walls to goo....cost of rebuild will be 8K or better. I have been without the car since Aug and it won't see the light of day until the spring...

I haven't even gone into the fried clutch, the holed rad, or any of the miscellaneous stuff.


Feel better?


Now...I'll let the picture show you why it was worth every cent and drop of blood....

[CB]

Hemidoug I see your point! But a guy who has a 71 440 6pak 4spd & 69 Hemi 4spd and is into racing is a guy that would have some extra cashflow, right? No offence, it sux when parts brake and months of building goes up in flames in a 10' run. Excuse me I assume your Hemi runs low 10s  could be far off.
CB

[Hemidoug]

Oh...you would be wrong....I've owned my 71 car since 1980, my 69 since 1990. The 69 took me 10 YEARS to restore, my 71 is going through it's second restoration (It's first one really, restorations back in the early 80s weren't up to todays standards). I assure you....every dollar spent hurts something else. I'm no rich dude by any means......I was just lucky and have been at this for a LOOOOOOONG time...Going on 30+ years.

[Rolling_Thunder]

CB - I feel your pain dude...   I make peanuts and have two mopars...    neither of them are on the road...    My charger has been off the road for close to 5 years - it was never the way I wanted it but I realized something...      I love my car...      there are days i think of selling both of them and just buying something like a newer truck and getting on with life...      but I cant.  Going to shows and wrenching is something i enjoy...     not having $$$ does suck...    but sooner or later you'll save it up and get what you want....     I am about 6 months away from having my 6.1L hemi swap / 5-speed Charger done...    then it is YEARS of enjoyment...     things will break and need to be fixed and i'm sure i'll need new tires...    things like that but its all about the game we play with these older cars...           

[CB]

Oh...you would be wrong....I've owned my 71 car since 1980, my 69 since 1990. The 69 took me 10 YEARS to restore, my 71 is going through it's second restoration (It's first one really, restorations back in the early 80s weren't up to todays standards). I assure you....every dollar spent hurts something else. I'm no rich dude by any means......I was just lucky and have been at this for a LOOOOOOONG time...Going on 30+ years.

  Didn't know that!

Okay I was a little biased, my apologies.
CB

[CB]

CB - I feel your pain dude...   I make peanuts and have two mopars...    neither of them are on the road...    My charger has been off the road for close to 5 years - it was never the way I wanted it but I realized something...      I love my car...      there are days i think of selling both of them and just buying something like a newer truck and getting on with life...      but I cant.  Going to shows and wrenching is something i enjoy...     not having $$$ does suck...    but sooner or later you'll save it up and get what you want....     I am about 6 months away from having my 6.1L hemi swap / 5-speed Charger done...    then it is YEARS of enjoyment...     things will break and need to be fixed and i'm sure i'll need new tires...    things like that but its all about the game we play with these older cars...           

1 good thing: you do have the skills and have parts sources, do you? Parts overhere are sometimes double if not tripple compared to your local shops.
Building a 5spd(!) Hemi Charger is even out of reach....ever
I'd be more then happy if I can afford the gas (30 bucks for a little fun cruise through town), fixing the electric (40yo wiring you know) adding disks in the front...
CB

[The70RT]

I feel your pain. Everything is going up and the paychecks are staying the same. If I didn't get my Charger 30 years ago I sure couldn't buy one and start restoring it. I figured I could never save enough money to do it so I started anyway. I sold another to partially fund it and will just have to make extra money or slowly sell some other things and parts to continue on. Hang in there and don't sell it. If everything else is getting paid your ok with an investment that you could turn if you really had to 

[68charger383]

CB, you got the car (nice one I might add) so it will take some time. Getting the car is the big problem...getting it perfect or on the street, to me, is the smaller problem.

The car is sitting in your garage, so now "when" you have the extra time & money, it's there wating for you to work on it and get it up to speed. 

[Mopar2Ya]

My car hasn't been on the road in over 10yrs. 4yrs ago I decided to get the body done, well I get screwed instead. Almost $10k down the drain. Now 4 yrs later I'm ready to take the gamble again. I don't know if I can do it a 3rd time though. I bought the SRT to try & stop the hotrod itch, as kool as the modern performance is it isn't enough. Cherish that sweet ride you have, the rest will fall into place eventually. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

Since I bought my Charger (May this year) I put less then 100 miles on the meter.



Thanks
CB

I bought my car in 1995. I have never driven it. Every spare cent I get goes into it. 9 out of 10 of my vacation days off from my lousy dead-end job over the last several years are spent working on it. Most of my weekends are spent working on it. Several times I have walked away from it for up to a year at a time, because I didn't have any money to spend on it, life got in the way of the project, or the damned thing just pissed me off. I've replaced, repaired or modified damned near every panel on the car, I converted it to a power sunroof, from an automatic to a four speed, crank windows to power and now I've converted it from a regular 69 R/T SE to a Daytona R/T SE...It should be ready to go to my friend's shop for paint in a couple of months-He's about ready to shoot me, I've been giving him one excuse/delay after another for the last dozen years or so- But this time I think it might actually happen. After he gets done with the paintjob, I'm sure it will take me AT LEAST another two years and AT LEAST another $30,000 until I can finally twist the key on this thing and drive it for the first time.

But I just keep on keepin' on.


You've had your car since May...patience my friend...patience.

[Back N Black]

I know the feeling, I'm in my fourth year of the restoration and still not done. I have never driven my car because it was half ripped apart when i bought it. I have an attached garage and i have to walk pass the car every morning on my way to work, some day i love the car, some day i hate the car.

[DodgeChargerNeeded]

CB, I was in the exact same position as you. I sold my Charger back in March and ended up finding a really good deal on a 69 Satellite. Mostly becaue of the money difference. It was a whole lot cheaper and a fun car but no matter what it still didn't have all the unique features a 2nd gen charger. Needless to say the Satellite went bye bye and I am a proud Charger owner again.

[BMOTOXSTAR]

How do you keep the faith on hanging there and hoping one day you got the 'wow! this is why I went through so much head aches, worries and saving up my last pennies' - feeling?

Lots of ways:

1. be glad you don't have cancer
2. be glad you have a job
3. be glad you have a house
4. be glad you have a family
5. be glad you have a running/driving Charger instead of one in 400 pieces like I do.

[TUFCAT]

This is easy for me! ...I don't have a Charger. 

When I sold my Charger in 2003 at a fire sale price because I needed the money - I swore I'd never let another car (or cars) put me in the poor house again.

I'm happy with the car I have..... even though the price difference and quailty is lower 

Nobody knows what the future might bring   ....so stay positive CB.

[SFRT]

my car is costing me every extra cent this year. my wife and I talked about it before we went into it, and we decided to just go for it. we both want  this car, and we figure in a few short years they will probably be illegal here where we live. ( san francisco ca) so its now or never.

[PocketThunder]

Try driving a 69 Charger 500 with a /6 because you dont have $$$ for a 440 build...          

[CharcoalCharger]

  This may be easier said than done, but just hang in there.  Like others have said, you have the Charger, so it isn't as big a deal if it sits for a little while.  You look like you have a great platform to start with...some have started with less.  I bought my Dart in '92.  I started a restoration in '95.  I would save a little money, get something fixed/replaced.  I got it to where I could drive it in '05...I replaced the suspension and swapped the 318 for the 340.  Not until this past spring was the car finally done.  So, it took almost 13 years, but it is done and now I can enjoy it all the time.   The Dart's completion wasn't the cure though, as I bought my Charger in June.  So, here we go again.  I haven't gotten to drive my Charger yet.  The motor is a bit tired.  I have saved some money and just picked up a few parts I know I will need whether it is soon or down the road.  This winter/next spring the car will be getting disassembled and the years of work will start.  I'm a little better off (not rich by any means), then I was 13 years ago so hopefully this one won't take as long...although parts also have increased in price since '95.  I'm going to put a six pack on my 440.  There is a complete set out there (air cleaner, filter, carbs, lines, intake, etc.) for about $2300.  I was looking at one at Carlisle this past summer.  I don't know if the guy was just trying to get me to buy one, but he told me to buy that one because by next year the setup will cost another $300-$400.    So, just hang in there it'll all be worth it one day.  You're car looks great so don't be too discouraged.  You have a large support group here.   

[Jon Smith]

My 2 chargers have been in a building miles from my house, with stuff to move out of the way to get them out, for years...the 72 has been laid up with engine damage and no room to work on it for nearly 2 years...finally got my own garage at my own place with room for all of them a few weeks ago...but now I have no money...
But I'm not complaining, I'm lucky to have what I have, even if they're far from perfect..
Anyway, the overdrafts getting smaller now, should be in a psoition to start spending again soon, I'm lucky to work for one of the few companies thats doing well at the moment

[dkn1997]

right there with ya.  smartest move I did was "finishing" the car before my 1st kid was a year old.  by finished, I mean paint/body/chrome done, motor transplant in and it runs/drives.  I still work on it, but I drive it too.  I'm about 20 grand away from where I'd really like it to be.  still needs gear vendors, aftermarket a/c, stroker rebuild, power windows, tilt wheel, better seats, etc....but I can do all that while it's on the road.

[CB]

thanks guys for your support.

I gonna ask the body shop where I worked on my cars before if I can bring over my Charger for the winter time. There it is dry, warm , spacious and not far from home so I can hop in after work to do some stuff.

The big bucks parts like brakes and front end rebuild will be done later.

Please keep your  comming!

CB

[The70RT]

thanks guys for your support.

I gonna ask the body shop where I worked on my cars before if I can bring over my Charger for the winter time. There it is dry, warm , spacious and not far from home so I can hop in after work to do some stuff.

The big bucks parts like brakes and front end rebuild will be done later.

Please keep your  comming!

CB

It sounds like a lot of peole that are on here are in the same boat. I think most here wasn't handed anything and worked for what they have. Most on here just have a car or two. I bet most of the rich guys don't hang around on here because someone else is doing all their work and they don't need to know anything but drive or polish them.

Good deal CB. Just make sure you are blanket covered on your insurance as you know anything can happen 

Good deal. Just make sure you are fully insured.

[Supercharged Riot]

Depends on what you're willing to trade off.  I'm guesing we're all average working people.  I decidede to hold off on getting a charger because the last 3 years Ive been saving up for Charger funds.  Ive been miserable because people price them way too much han I can afford every year I get more money.

I quit saving up last year and starting buying other stuff.

I bought nice clothes and tools and worked on my other cars and its been nice for me.  I still have fun with cars that I can afford to work on.  I only got import cars.  Its ok.  The import scene has better (more) girls 

I still like thet Charger best.  But I guess Ill have fun with cars that are within reach like other people my age. 

It all depends on what your willing to sacrifice.  Im still young

[Harlow]

The muscle car hobby is expensive. Any of the desirable cars are gonna be pretty pricey regardless of make (Mopars might be the most expensive). I was hung up for a long time about wanting a 2nd gen. Then I found that I didn't want to save every last penny so I could buy a rust bucket 2nd gen. so I moved on to other car hobbies...thinking of doing a bike build also (hopefully an old Triumph). Plus I got sick of seeing rows and rows of cars that are pretty much the same. 

[CB]

The muscle car hobby is expensive. Any of the desirable cars are gonna be pretty pricey regardless of make (Mopars might be the most expensive). I was hung up for a long time about wanting a 2nd gen. Then I found that I didn't want to save every last penny so I could buy a rust bucket 2nd gen. so I moved on to other car hobbies...thinking of doing a bike build also (hopefully an old Triumph). Plus I got sick of seeing rows and rows of cars that are pretty much the same. 

In our country a Charger is still an attraction to see and hear.
Going to meetings will reveal lots of Mopars and Chargers are well present.
Still have a rare Muscle Car.
CB

[Chris G.]

Plus I got sick of seeing rows and rows of cars that are pretty much the same.

Which car shows do you attend? I have never seen "Rows and Rows" of the same Charger...let alone Mopars.

[The70RT]

Plus I got sick of seeing rows and rows of cars that are pretty much the same.

Which car shows do you attend? I have never seen "Rows and Rows" of the same Charger...let alone Mopars.

I rarely see any MoPars at shows period. Maybe 3-4 out of 100.

[BB1]

All I need to be happy is beer and sex. Charger is an extention of my... oh never mind.
CB get a girlfriend, then you know what working for something is all about.

[Harlow]

Plus I got sick of seeing rows and rows of cars that are pretty much the same.

Which car shows do you attend? I have never seen "Rows and Rows" of the same Charger...let alone Mopars.

True, that statement was pretty exaggerated. But even though the cars have different engines, options, colors, wheels etc... it does start to get redundant. There are definitely exceptions though when something really unique shows up. Again, just my opinion. Not trying to piss anyone off.

[CB]

All I need to be happy is beer and sex. Charger is an extention of my... oh never mind.
CB get a girlfriend, then you know what working for something is all about.

no dude, can't take another project 
CB

[challenger70]

All I need to be happy is beer and sex. Charger is an extention of my... oh never mind.
CB get a girlfriend, then you know what working for something is all about.

no dude, can't take another project 
CB

Truer words were never spoken.   I am in the same boat My Challenger is a functioning automobile but there is always something to urgrade/fix.  The Charger needs a bunch of metal/frame work before I even begin the going through the trans/brakes/electrical/tuning   but I still get that giddy feeling when I open that garage door

[six-tee-nine]

Well CB I know it's hard. But try to stay positive.

I Had 2 Vintage Volkswagens wich were in perfect running condition an one of them was rotisserie restored. The money I got from them when I sold them, gave me the opportunity to buy my ultimate dream, my 69 project car. (old V-dubs just aren't woth as much as vintage Mopars).

Everything needs do be redone to my car and every part I buy I have to work for since I have no extra cash on the side to restore my car.

On the other hand, I consider myself lucky to be able to have a hobby like ours. Lots of guys around me cant afford what I'm spending on my Mopar.
But hey hang in there and after a while there will be light at the end of the tunnel  and you'll be able to cruise your 69 without issues...

[Mike DC]

 

I think we just put too much into trying to keep these cars perfect-looking and original. 



Building a functioning automobile is not difficult or especially expensive (in the big picture) for 21st century man.  Not even one that looks like a '69 Charger and has 500 hp.  But it's the details that really kill us.  It's always the last 5% of the perfection that takes 95% of the time and effort. 

It prevents us from getting our cars done, and it prevents the companies from tooling up (and selling) more affordable and widespread repro parts.  And the repro parts that DO get made . . . it's infuriating how often they're rendered barely functional for the sake of making some aspect of it look 5% more accurate. 

 

[BigBlockSam]

1. be glad you don't have cancer
2. be glad you have a job
3. be glad you have a house
4. be glad you have a family
5. be glad you have a running/driving Charger instead of one in 400 pieces like I do. 

you never know what tomorrow brings . so enjoy today and toss down a pint mate.      

[moparstuart]

1. be glad you don't have cancer
2. be glad you have a job
3. be glad you have a house
4. be glad you have a family
5. be glad you have a running/driving Charger instead of one in 400 pieces like I do. 

   

you never know what tomorrow brings . so enjoy today and toss down a pint mate.      

[SFRT]

 

I think we just put too much into trying to keep these cars perfect-looking and original. 



Building a functioning automobile is not difficult or especially expensive (in the big picture) for 21st century man.  Not even one that looks like a '69 Charger and has 500 hp.  But it's the details that really kill us.  It's always the last 5% of the perfection that takes 95% of the time and effort. 

It prevents us from getting our cars done, and it prevents the companies from tooling up (and selling) more affordable and widespread repro parts.  And the repro parts that DO get made . . . it's infuriating how often they're rendered barely functional for the sake of making some aspect of it look 5% more accurate. 


-this is why my car is a mix of fixed up old parts, good quality modern upgrades and the worlds cheapest paintjob. I want to drive real fast, a lot. I do not want to take it to a show and have some dude critique me because the numbers on the radiator hose arent 'blurred' correctly.

 

[Leonidas Rex]

Try to keep a positive outlook. I understand it can be very difficult. My loan on the Charger will be paid off in July 2009. At that point, my wife and I will have no debt but our house. She has already demanded that the car be started and finished within one year after. So, while it sits, as it has for the past 3 years, covered and disassembled in the  garage, I like to pull up a chair and look at the beast uncovered while drinking a few beers to see what I plan on doing to it. Then, I get depressed and go help someone else work on their car until the depression goes away. Seems to have worked for the past 3 years so it will have to work one more year!

[CB]

Try to keep a positive outlook. I understand it can be very difficult. My loan on the Charger will be paid off in July 2009. At that point, my wife and I will have no debt but our house. She has already demanded that the car be started and finished within one year after. So, while it sits, as it has for the past 3 years, covered and disassembled in the  garage, I like to pull up a chair and look at the beast uncovered while drinking a few beers to see what I plan on doing to it. Then, I get depressed and go help someone else work on their car until the depression goes away. Seems to have worked for the past 3 years so it will have to work one more year!

thanks bud for your advise 
CB

[Belgium R/T -68]

Hi CB,
Would be nice to meet you some time since we live in the same "small" country. I can asure you not being alone
trying to get the hobby and normal expences fit together. I ask myself every day why I don't sell my Mopars since I have only bad luck with them,
having breakdowns all the time but at the same time they have saved my life and without them I would go under.

//Per

[KS71owner]

I feel your pain....

I've had my '71 for almost 13 years now, and I spent the first 10 restoring and rebuilding it a piece at a time with the help of my family. The last major work I had done was a tranny rebuild, and that was four years ago. Since I bought my first house last year I've done nothing, barely even driven it. I think at this point I'm going to wait a year or two and start saving up some money to do a full restoration on the car. Since it was a driver for the first 10 years I had it I couldn't tear it completely down and start from scratch, and that is what I'd like to do eventually. While it's a lot of work, I learned the value of a full resto from my brother's Mercury Cougar...when you tear the car apart and replace everything, you start with a clean slate and no surprises. I found it to be a much less stressful working method. 

Fear not, keep the faith and hang on to the cars. If there is one thing this hobby has taught me it's that it requires a mixture of patience and enthusiasm. Patience for those times you can only look at magazines and dream, and enthusiasm when it's time to order the new parts and install them.

Eventually things will work out to your advantage and you'll have the time and extra cash to do what needs to be done - don't worry.

[superduperbee]

I had mine in storage for 12 years till I finally got a house. Paid storage fees all those years because I knew if I sold it I could never afford to buy another one. I would buy a few parts when I had the extra money [which wasn't often]. Been working on it the past 7 years when I have time & money [between wife, kids & bills]. Still needs bodywork, paint, electrical, brakes and a few odds and ends $40,000 later!

[moparstuart]

I had mine in storage for 12 years till I finally got a house. Paid storage fees all those years because I knew if I sold it I could never afford to buy another one. I would buy a few parts when I had the extra money [which wasn't often]. Been working on it the past 7 years when I have time & money [between wife, kids & bills]. Still needs bodywork, paint, electrical, brakes and a few odds and ends $40,000 later!

been ther done that , at least i have two down  3 to go LOL

[gordo1968charger]

i too am skint,had my charger 4 years,
working 2 jobs (40 hours each,car bodyshop and taxi driver,for nearly 3 years),i actually thought about selling last month,then had a reality check.
during the winter months its hard cos i m working hard and i never get to drive it,i only clocked 1100 miles this year.
the battery still is nt charging either!
This is what i do:
OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR,LOOK AT IT,PAT THE ROOF,SMILE A LITTLE AND GET BACK TO EARNING SOME MORE MONEY!!!!!!!!!

OR BETTER STILL IF THE WEATHER IS NICE,GET IN IT AND SEE HOW MUCH REAR TYRE YOU CAN MELT ONTO THE REAR QUARTERS,
THAT WORKS EVERYTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[moparstuart]

i too am skint,had my charger 4 years,
working 2 jobs (40 hours each,car bodyshop and taxi driver,for nearly 3 years),i actually thought about selling last month,then had a reality check.
during the winter months its hard cos i m working hard and i never get to drive it,i only clocked 1100 miles this year.
the battery still is nt charging either!
This is what i do:
OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR,LOOK AT IT,PAT THE ROOF,SMILE A LITTLE AND GET BACK TO EARNING SOME MORE MONEY!!!!!!!!!

OR BETTER STILL IF THE WEATHER IS NICE,GET IN IT AND SEE HOW MUCH REAR TYRE YOU CAN MELT ONTO THE REAR QUARTERS,
THAT WORKS EVERYTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did that for 12 years with my first restoration 69 runner , looked at it  drooled ,talked to it patted it on the hood and that was it .  wait for more cash to roll in

[gordo1968charger]

MOPAR:ITS A LIFESTYLE CHOICE