Begining a restomod, seeking insight and anwsers

[69restomod]

Hi all, I have been lurking here quite a while now in my search for answers and insight into my newest project.  Of all the webforums I have been observing this one has the most knowledgeable member base.

I have decided to fullfill a life long dream of owning a 1969 Dodge Charger, specifically a restomod.

My first thought was to have one built by a company like XV motorsports but after seeing the costs (over 178k) I figured I could do it cheaper myself.

I have a found a totally perfect shell.  all the rust has been removed, new panels have been welded in as needed, and all dents dings and issues have been removed.  They guy wants 7k for it and it comes with everything excluding the front grill and bumper. I realize 7k is expensive, I am not gonna pay that.



Any thoughts on this shell?

The next step was going to be an install of a viper engine and transmission.  I found a shop in San Jose who claims they can install it.  I found a Viper engine and tranny for 15k.  Engine includes all wiring cables ect, its complete.

Am I an idiot for thinking it would be possible to have a Viper engine and transmission put in the car?  Assuming that all the parts for the engine and transmission are included how much should I expect to pay for the install? (I want to make sure the estimate is in the right neighborhood)

From there I was going to have the same shop that would put in the engine and transmission put on XV's level II front and rear suspension, front and rear brakes,  and a Dana 60 rear.  The XV level II suspension is a bit pricey but it is the nicest suspension I have seen on the market for a 69.  What should I expect to pay for the install of the suspension, brakes and rear?

I found another shop that will clean up and put in the original floor mats, extra sound deadening material and rear seats as well as two recaro buckets, the counsel the door panels, and all the glass.  They are also going to do the dash.  The shell comes with all the interior and glass (everything except front grill and bumper)

At this point I think I have found and priced all of the major things the car will need.  What bothers me is that all of the things I have just mentioned will cost around 45k for the parts and i have estimates from the three shops that will do the work for 15k for installation of everything.

What am I missing?

What am I not planning for?

What should I be expecting to pay (ball park) for various stages of this restomod or overall?

Would it be better to go with a company that only does restomods and have them complete the project from stat to finish?

Any advice or insight would be appreciated, I will answer any questions to the best of my knowledge.  Feel free to refer me to a shop or vendor for any part of this project.

I am planning to pick up the shell this weekend and tow it to the engine shop.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[Daytona R/T SE]

There's a place in Maryville, Illinois that always has viper engines on e-bay for a lot less money

than 15K.

They have a few on ebay right now.

Any estimate a shop gives you for cost of installation...

Double it.

Any estimate a shop gives you as far as time to complete the project...

Quadruple it.

[GT]

There are several v10 charger project builds on this site, and several other more famous ones done out there if you search.  Mine is ongoing... but i can give you some tips/advice on pitfalls if you interested.

If your anywhere near the Dallas area - drop me a note and you can come over and check the current unfinished status of mine.   

First I'll go on record and say that i am not a master builder/customizer.  I do all my own work myself.  No high end tools/equipment other than a nice mig welder, compressor/etc.   I paid no one to do my work or research.  I made mistakes, still probably will - but I enjoy doing it myself.

First - build what you want.  I appauld the v10 idea - but it is NOT for the timid.  Forget XV    i tried dealing with them on the K-member/etc. and they were pretty much asses about it and basically said it would take a lot of work/only they could do it, no headers would work, blah blah...  So i spoke with Billy Rielly and picked up an alterkation without mounts (made my own) Bill spent a lot of his time working with me on it.  Trust me - go this route.

Second, need to decide what you want for instrumentation.  It is difficult (not impossible) to get the old guage styles to work with the viper stuff.  I elected to go with modern electronics to get around a whole host of problems.  I also went with the ISIS multiplexing system for internal wiring - not needed, but i have other plans.

Dont under-estimate the level of cutting and engineering needed to make this swap work (electronics, PCM, suspension, trans tunnel, etc. etc.).   This is what I had to change to make this work as a package: Alterkation front suspension, cut and raise trans tunnel, move back firewall a bit and/or move radiator in front of the mount point, custom radiator, new flaming river steering column, steering column, custom shifter, custom engine and tranny mounts, cut out trans cross member and make a custom one, modify/aftermarket A/C system, upgraded brake system to control it (I went wild, but not necessary and can save some $ here), Dana 60, custom exhaust system will be needed, air intake system.  custom oil pan,  torque boxes, tied frame rails, then a boat ton of little mods to get stuff working (throttle linkage, cruise control, power steering and AC plumbing, etc.)

Shop around and you can get a viper motor and tranny for way cheaper than $15K.  I bought an entire wrecked SRT-10 for like $8700 with low miles. That's a gen 3.   If you go with a Gen 1 engine, the PCM/electronics are significantly simplier, it has forged internals, but makes less power unless your going to mod it.   If you get a newer motor and the vehicle had the SKIM security system - then thats another hurdle to work around.  You'll have to send the PCM off to get the security crap removed...

Oh yeah - make sure you like the sound of a v10... a lot of folks do not.  It does not sound anything like a v8.  If your not careful, the exhaust can sound like a UPS truck... so some experimentation is in order.

I am *seriously* doubtful of those estimates they gave you.   If you want it done in a reasonable time period - open your wallet and go to a high end place that specializes in this type of stuff.  The guys over at protouring.com can point you in a good direction.   

Looking at my spreadsheet - i've spent $27K (not including the v10/6spd) and still havent done the exhaust, paint work, and some interior work.  Keep in mind that im a penny-pincher and i dont buy anything i cant get a super deal on (i look 2 years for the viper engine).  I figure all said and done - doing 100% of the work myself, I will spend about $45K in parts/etc.  You might knock $10k off that if you dont do big brakes/fancy wheels/and get a good deal on the motor.    You need to figure at least $50-$75/hr labor to have these folks build it (and thats not a high end shop).  So $15K for install is woefully low.  Simple math says if they put in 40 hr/s week, that for $15K they can build it for you in 5 weeks... LOL aint happening.  Figure $40K minimum in labor, then paint/etc. on top of that.   You'll get a hack job for $15K.  Or it will just be (we dropped in the motor for ya - you gotta hook all the other shit up).

My advice on a v10 charger build - do as much as you can yourself, or be prepared to fork out some serious coin.     

Go visit pro-touring.com, get yourself hooked up with Billy Rielly, and other vendors that can work you part deals (for example, i worked with a custom builder in Florida to spec out and order my Forgelines, 14" Wilwoods, and Dana 60 at the same time - i saved enough to cover the cost of the Dana 60).

Good luck and definately keep us up to date!

[thedodgeboys]

I agree almost....

I installed Bills stuff in my 6.1 hemi 6 speed challenger, so I speak from experience when I say....

My  if your not going to build it yourself go buy one already complemented. It will be cheaper in the long run. If your plan is to save some mony by using discount shops you'll be disappointed and may pay to have some work fixed. In short im not a body work man so I paid to have body work done twice.

Best advice I ever revived was you want a great looking car, start with a good looking car!
And stay away from XV 

Unless you can do a lot of the work yourself it will become a money pit.
That's a cool build good luck.

[six-tee-nine]

I dont know what's going on lately with XV.
I'm waiting since march 2011 to order a set of body stiffening parts and they keep telling everyone soon, soon, soon...... Dont buy their stuff unless you are sure they can ship immetiatly or elswise you are shafted. They'll take your money and then keep you waiting for months.
On the other hand lots of members here bought their stuff and are really happy with it.

But if you want a XV suspention kit read this first :

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,77825.0.html

[Rolling_Thunder]

Another vote against the XV stuff - I put a 6.1L hemi in mine and am currently building a viper spec T56 to replace me TKO600 trans currently installed.
For the cost of the Viper installation (500hp and a 6 speed) you're looking at say $15,000 for the engine / trans plus modifications to the firewall, custom oil pan, etc - all for 500hp ?  If you're hung up on the Viper drivetrain then go for it - however assume about $25,000 all said and done for the swap (minimum including labor) - You could put in a built Gen III Hemi making 600+hp for that. (just throwing ideas out there)

Your location has a big part of labor cost - down here in SoCal it is $85-$100 / hr for labor. Other places are cheaper due to location.  

It all depends how much of the work you can do yourself - For my 6.1L / 6-speed charger - painted, interior done, wiring, suspension work, etc - only need to finish my big brakes ---   Total investment (including the purchase of the car, spare transmission, and parts to make my brakes) ~$28,500

[moparstuart]

  if you want a viper motor  don scharf auto salvage in wisconsin has a ton of them , he should have pull outs with accessories ,trans and  all  .   800-338-4002

  he has several  98's models with less then 20 k miles for  3000.00 to 5000.00   pull outs i assume that doesnt include the trans
   6 speed trans he lists for $ 1700.00

[RamZCharger]

7k doesn't seem too high a price for the shell if it is as you describe, particularly for a full custom build.  I have over that in my car for new metal and associated labor.  Also, that grille you are missing will be decent bucks, figure around $1,500 - welcome to Mopars.  With that, as a new guy in restorations I have fully enjoyed the build of my car, about 50% complete, and would not discourage you from starting such an ambitious project.  You are going about it the right way, the time and expense for a build like you want is a whole lot easier to digest if you have the right expectation.  Good luck!

[Mike DC]

 
I think some broader questions are in order.

How much experience do you have with muscle cars and fast cars in general? 
Not just working on them, I also mean owning & driving them too.

What is your intended usage for the final product? 
Street, track, what kind of conditions for each?