need opinoins on Mary Kay-yes this is a Charger question

[mauve66]

the car - not the cosmetics....................

do to question complexity you can choose 5 times

honest opinions whether i like it or not.  I have to decide which way to go before monday night (cyber monday)

A while back i was thinking of getting a truck as a toy (insert Ram SRT10) and taking my time with my car 'cause i would still have fun with the truck.  Then i rationalized that the monthy note+extra insurance (not to mention gas/tires/law enforcement donations) could be put straight to the car and just keep driving the current ford ranger till it dies.  So i start saving to have a large amount of cash to have a decent start- finish on the car (3-6 month).  by the end of Dec i will have 9K.   My plan was to start next fall and have it ready for MATS 2014.  As of May 2013 i will have had Mary for 20 years.

I just learned yesterday that i will be taking ANOTHER $600 month pay cut, but my hours will change so now i will have time to work on the car everyday but not the funds to do much.

Steve's passing last month had jolted me to get my car done at an increased pace.  So the last 3 weeks i have been looking up prices on everything i would need to replace interior and exterior to make mine as nice as Steves.

the following is already done or purchased sitting in the garage:

suspension front to back
4 wheel disc brakes
daytona wing
wiring harness front to back
gauges/el system just redone (thanks Mark, they look great)
wheels/tires
bumpers
street/strip trans with GV overdrive
4.10 rear end
headlight motors (currently getting fixed by Topher)
seat covers
partially hidden stereo


After searching 4-5 sites i come up with the following that STILL need to be done.  I'm hoping Cyber Monday will help but in reality only about 5K will be eligible for cyber monday slaes, if that:

540 sixpak motor - 9K- current engine may be ok, just not big enough for my dream
new hood/scoop - 1K
        the scoop i have is too flimsy and the hood is poorly done and will need alot of body work in my opinion and AAR makes a better quality hood/scoop also
Paint - 2K maaco or 5K quality shop
suicide doors - 1K
air conditioning - $1325 (this is VEGAS baby)
finish my pistol grip lightning rods (already shipped out to builder) - $500
PW/PDLKS - holes already sealed - 1K
various interior/exterior parts - 5K most of this is dash-taillight trim that makes or breaks a 1st gen
frame connectors - $500
total - $21000+ on the low side, $24500 on the high side

my question (more specifically to those that have already finished their car)
1. did you hold tight to the dream no matter the cost or time line??
2. if you didn't, do you regret the compromise you chose?
3. whats the best bang for the buck with minimum regrets??

tax return is for a vacation (1st one in 10 years) and anything that might come up with our daily drivers or the house

i really hate the idea of painting the car and putting crappy trim back on it.  I did that in 99, even a back yard paint job looked worse with fair condition trim.  I guess i could swap trim as i go over the next several years (as long as its still being made, this isn't a 2nd gen after all).
i know i NEED to at least primer it to protect the metal and filler.  we don't have alot of moisture out here so i'm not worried about the filler absorbing moisture or getting rained on.
with just primer i could delete the hood/scoop until it lifts off the car at high speed (its been 19+ years, there WILL be high speed)

i appreciate anyone that has taken the time to read this and vote honestly.  To anyone that has already had to go through these decisions, i don't know how you got this far.

I hope all have a great holiday this weekend and if your traveling, watch your 6

[mauve66]

p.s.
for those that think i'm dreaming too much, this is the SHORT list of things i wanted for this car, the not ultimate dream
of course i could still be dreaming too much for those that prefer stock cars

[nvrbdn]

im for getting the car on the road. the air is good, the paint and trim is important. the 9 g's for a motor can be put into your own motor/plus do other jobs as well. bhut all things aside, steve would say do what makes you happy and get it on the road so you can cruise that car.

[Ghoste]

Exactly! 

[Dino]

I'm a bit worried about this:
Paint - 2K maaco or 5K quality shop


First of all, what happened to the maaco under a grand paint jobs? 

Anyway, with all that work and money going into the car I would not cut corners on prep and paint.  That said, I don't know of any place that'll do a great paint job for $5k anymore.  I sure hope you know of one.

I'm also riding the 'forget the $9K engine for now' train.

[mauve66]

maaco says they will do regular car re-paints for under a grand but they say this will be considered a specialty item plus the extra charge for any "red" color (there words not mine) plus trunk, door jambs, engine bay, color sand (which they say they normally don't do)

105 views, 4 voters, i know its work time but since i'm off right now  i'm biting my fingers......... not the nails, the whole finger

[Big Sugar]

Robert....I know exactly where you are.....and your dreaming.

Focus on the now and get that Fucken Car together !
You need paint !.. Start there,  forget the $1000 Suicide doors and the Air Conditioning $1350 Rims and tires  and the Hidden Stereo   That is all Paint and Body Money !!
Focus  Focus Focus on what you need NOW and start there, Build a realistic Step # 2 and on Interior or Drivetrain, AC and Stereo can be done anytime, Put your money into production.
Select the that motor you want in Reality 500+ hp means the whole drive train needs to be ready to handle it. more $$ You'll see the $$ pile up real fast and I feel your
just procrastinating with the dream list. Narrow it down get back to your objective too getting back on the road.

Sorry if this sounded Harsh but in fact I'm just trying to motivate you and get you priorities in order.
Your wife is waiting foe a cruise down  sunset strip.  and so are you.

Your Bud
   Ron

[bakerhillpins]

My POV on this is get the body and paint work correct with good trim and AC. Stick with getting everything else back in the car and get it running and on the road.

Ditch the engine for now. Once you are cruzing around you can put another block on a stand and build up what you want. It's easy to drop the new engine in. Its a giant PITA to skimp on the paint or skip the AC buried in the dash and have to pull it all apart again to correct/add that stuff. Even the dash board and basic interior stuff (such as seats/door panels/etc.) can be easily upgraded after the car is running.

[mauve66]

sugar sugar,

tire/rims/stereo is already in the garage, has been for a couple of years
i can understand the doors............... sorta
the a/c i can definitely chop off........... at least i won't have to listen to the wife bitch about the speed, she won't ride if there's no a/c
the suspension and rest of the drivetrain were built to handle that motor 8 years ago........ only  thing that might break are the axles

so, paint/motor is your vote??

don't you like all that pretty shiny stuff inside and outside on a 1st gen??

[tan top]

 get any metal work /body work  welding out the way  , & get car  painted  ,   don't buy any more stuff , unless its a must to put the car back together  & not easily done at a later date  , finish interior too  , get the car running & reliable ,
forget the new motor , A/C  , suicide doors , hood scoop ,

[440]

My car isn't finished yet and there are lots of things I wish I could do.

I agree with sugar and putting the money into bodywork and paint. Nothing worse than cheaping out only to find out you have to re-do it 3 years later. Paint is the most visual on a car and one of the hardest things to alter/change once a car is assembled. Everything else can be added or changed later.  

[Cooter]

9K motor?

oh hell no.

$65K truck??
Oh hell-to-the-no...

Dump in a 440 and a 4-speed, do your own bodywork/block sanding, and paint that sucker...Next, get running and go have some fun.

[hatersaurusrex]

9K motor?

oh hell no.

$65K truck??
Oh hell-to-the-no...

Dump in a 440 and a 4-speed, do your own bodywork/block sanding, and paint that sucker...Next, get running and go have some fun.

^^^^ This.   

[nvrbdn]

there are a couple maaco shops around here. but one in particular does an absolute awesome paint job. the owner cares about the old cars and their owners and the paint looks great. i know of alot of local muscle cars that were painted there.

[hatersaurusrex]

there are a couple maaco shops around here. but one in particular does an absolute awesome paint job. the owner cares about the old cars and their owners and the paint looks great. i know of alot of local muscle cars that were painted there.

Too bad Earl Scheib isn't still around.  He'd paint any car for $99.95.

[68X426]

Live the Dream. 

[Rolling_Thunder]

In all honesty - I would do anything that can be easily done later. IE - you already have the GV unit - I would try to sell it for added capital to get the "big" stuff done. Adding a GV later on is not a huge deal.  If you want AC = do it when you do the paint so you are not cutting / drilling in a painted engine bay. Engine can wait - fix what you have for the time being. I would do A/C, paint, polish the trim you have, do the electrical, brakes --- making it a nice driver. 

After you get over the hump you can start saving again and slowly accumulate parts to finish your dream - but getting it back on the road would make it easier to enjoy.

[JB400]

I done some thinking on this for a while.  I'm sitting in a similar boat.  Luckily, I'm not bailing water out yet.  I'm giong to go through your list instead of voting.

First off, you shouldn't have bought a stereo for it.  That money could have been bought at another time and money spent on more better things.

Your engine.  If the one you have now runs fine, don't replace it or rebuild it.  You can have your dream engine at a later date.  Right now, it seems your priority is to get it on the road.  Am I understanding this correctly?

Hoodscoop.  The one you have now could be stiffened up.  I assume it's 'glass.  Go to Wally World and spend $15-$20 for some resin and some fiberglass cloth.  It will give you an afternoon project.  I would go this route unless the one you have is completely junk.

Doors.  I personally would not suicide them, but if that is what you want, now is the time to do it.

Go ahead and put your air conditioning in it.  Might as well make it comfortable to drive.  That way, you enjoy it more and more likely, more often.


Go ahead and put a decent interior in it.  Little oddball nickel and dime items can be gotten at a later date.


I would go ahead with frame connectors.

I'd also put a decent paint job on it as well.  Seeing it in a new coat of paint will brighten up you enthusiasm that much more.

Concentrate on getting it on the road.  I wouldn't sell the parts you have, just go ahead and put them on.  Why buy them twice   Just get the car to where you can enjoy it now.  Dreams are just that, dreams.  Is your real dream with all this stuff on it, or just getting to enjoy a 1st gen?

[Patronus]

Where is this car (and you).. I would love to do a first gen with a wing. If it still looks like the pic, get it in paint and drive it. Interior would be the last thing you need.

[mauve66]

thanks for all the input, reason is rearing its ugly head a little, but i still have a hammer in my hand it get rid of it................

http://www.javascriptbank.com/javascript/game/Whack_the_Gopher/index.php

the stereo was put in in 1998, not updating it, just re-useing it
interior is done except for dash/console top plate for new shifter

my priority is not have to take it apart to this point again (this is the 3rd or 4th time, i've lost count now)

68X426- your right, the dream is just like a HUGE carrot out in front of me

i don't see selling the GV cause i wouldn't get much for it plus i would have to get another tailshaft for the trans again and a NEW driveshaft

used 05 SRT10's are only 20-26K but that's still a $400 payment plus insurance so thats why i didn't do it, plus i would probably start buying stuff or it instead of Mary, that's exactly what i did when i originally got the 05 daytona but damn it was good lookin

[Rolling_Thunder]

I've been looking at SRT10 Rams as well - but with their gas mileage and me shipping out in a few short months the last thing I need is ANOTHER vehicle   

[Ghoste]

I thought you were going to look at some barn find here shortly with intent to purchase anyway?

[mauve66]

if i squeeze really hard maybe i can get the 540 short block and paint and then just keep the current top end from the 383 so i won't have to take it all out again. then the rest of the trim i can get as i go.  a/c can be done later i supoose.  of course the motor won't breathe as well without the eddy rpm heads but that will keep me from abusing it ..... maybe

[mauve66]

just had a thought, with the block bored for the 540 piston will a stock 66 head seal properly with the gasket or do those size bores take a special gasket??

[mauve66]

i only found a 20% at classic, i was looking for 30%, so i didn't buy anything.  i will work on the body then send to paint. while its away i will try to see whats salvageable from the motor