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creative corner

Started by hawkeye, August 23, 2012, 09:48:10 AM

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hawkeye

being new to the forum, i hesitate to suggest too many changes, but i would like to a new discussion topic on restoring your charger more economically.  recently there was a post about the expense of restoration.  one person said he limited himself to 3000 a month.   that's my yearly budget!    i'm not talking about doing things with cheapo parts or halfass. i don't have a matching numbers car and am not anal about finding the exact part, just a good workable one.  if someone has a suggestion on how to save a nickel i would love to here it.   i myself search craigslist and ebay and try to do as much myself as possible.  i am looking at some good used radial t/a's,  which it seems are about half price.  all i want is a good looking dependable car, not one i have to live in.   whats everyone else think?

cdr

when buying parts i have found that shipping cost is a killer,be careful,sometimes used parts cost more than new because of shipping  :Twocents:
LINK TO MY STORY http://www.onallcylinders.com/2015/11/16/ride-shares-charlie-keel-battles-cancer-ms-to-build-brilliant-1968-dodge-charger/  
                                                                                           
68 Charger 512 cid,9.7to1,Hilborn EFI,Home ported 440 source heads,small hyd roller cam,COLD A/C ,,a518 trans,Dana 60 ,4.10 gear,10.93 et,4100lbs on street tires full exhaust daily driver
Charger55 by Charlie Keel, on Flickr

moparstuart

Quote from: hawkeye on August 23, 2012, 09:48:10 AM
being new to the forum, i hesitate to suggest too many changes, but i would like to a new discussion topic on restoring your charger more economically.  recently there was a post about the expense of restoration.  one person said he limited himself to 3000 a month.   that's my yearly budget!    i'm not talking about doing things with cheapo parts or halfass. i don't have a matching numbers car and am not anal about finding the exact part, just a good workable one.  if someone has a suggestion on how to save a nickel i would love to here it.   i myself search craigslist and ebay and try to do as much myself as possible.  i am looking at some good used radial t/a's,  which it seems are about half price.  all i want is a good looking dependable car, not one i have to live in.   whats everyone else think?
First start a thread on you car .  Tackle one project at a time .  Post up what your next task is going to be .
Then people can post up economical ways to aproach that task .  I own a late model salvage yard and am always trying to find stuff and ways to fix things cheaply on my projects .   :Twocents:  
GO SELL CRAZY SOMEWHERE ELSE WE ARE ALL STOCKED UP HERE

Ghoste

And be patient.  Also, if you can't buy parts outright, look for opportunities to trade parts or barter services.

Back N Black

I'm not sure what you skill level is WRT restoring a car but there is so much you can do that is not hard on the pocket book.
Here is what i did while my car was at the body shop.

-Stripe and paint the dash.
-Rebuild the gauge cluster.
-clean and paint wiper linkage
-clean and paint plastic interior pieces.(SEM dye)
-clean and paint center console. (SEM dye)
-clean and lube all door mechanisms.
-clean all glass
-stripe,clean and paint seat tracks
-stripe and paint park brake and brake pedals/linkages
-clean seat belts and redye if required.
-polish all stainless steel trim
-stripe and paint rear drum backing plates
- clean and paint calipers
-clean and paint lower/upper control arms
-clean and paint other front linkages
-clean rear tail light lenses
-grill repairs and paint
-clean and rebuild heater box
-on the engine, clean and paint all brackets and valve covers
-clean and paint battery tray.

The items listed above are low cost, just paint,sandpaper,cleaning materials and lots of elbow grease.
This is tasks that have to be done and its time consuming, do one piece at a time. you will be glad when its time to put her back together. My  :Twocents:

bill440rt

Lots of good suggestions mentioned:

* Bartering. Huge money saver.
* Scrounge local swap meets for deals. Saves on shipping, tax, and you might be able to haggle a bit.
* Have Mopar buddies? Work out trades for parts, help one another on projects. Friends tend to help one another.
* Learn to do things yourself to avoid paying others to do the work for you.
* Find clean used instead of new/repro/NOS
* Fix instead of replace when possible.
* Have a yard sale. Look around the house for stuff you don't want or need anymore.
* Get a side job.
* Donate blood, sperm, a lung, etc.  :D

Hundreds of other ways are out there I'm sure. Having said that, with a budget of only $3000 per year don't expect the project to fly together. Depending on your expectations it could take many years.
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

chargerboy69

Quote from: bill440rt on August 23, 2012, 02:03:06 PM
Lots of good suggestions mentioned:

* Bartering. Huge money saver.
* Scrounge local swap meets for deals. Saves on shipping, tax, and you might be able to haggle a bit.
* Have Mopar buddies? Work out trades for parts, help one another on projects. Friends tend to help one another.
* Learn to do things yourself to avoid paying others to do the work for you.
* Find clean used instead of new/repro/NOS
* Fix instead of replace when possible.
* Have a yard sale. Look around the house for stuff you don't want or need anymore.
* Get a side job.
* Donate blood, sperm, a lung, etc.  :D

Hundreds of other ways are out there I'm sure. Having said that, with a budget of only $3000 per year don't expect the project to fly together. Depending on your expectations it could take many years.



:smilielol:


I just had pop come out of my nose.
Indiana Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry. Nightfighters. Fort Wayne Indiana.


A government big enough to give you everything you need, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have.
--Gerald Ford


                                       

hawkeye

thanks, all good ideas, except maybe the kidney and sperm, i'm a dairy farmer and already work about 80 hours a week so i think the extra job is out of the question.  but i was looking for people to share maybe 1 or 2 things that they did with their car to save money that turned out well.  maybe some things they thought they could save money on but didn't in the long run.  some maybe were being in the right place at the right time and some may translate to everybody.   i have no illusions that this is going to be cheap and i was just trying to be funny with the $3000 a year comment.   but i can't help but think with all the experience in this group there aren't alot stories about saving money on their rebuild.  thanks hawkeye

twodko

Quote from: chargerboy69 on August 23, 2012, 02:09:03 PM
Quote from: bill440rt on August 23, 2012, 02:03:06 PM
Lots of good suggestions mentioned:

* Bartering. Huge money saver.
* Scrounge local swap meets for deals. Saves on shipping, tax, and you might be able to haggle a bit.
* Have Mopar buddies? Work out trades for parts, help one another on projects. Friends tend to help one another.
* Learn to do things yourself to avoid paying others to do the work for you.
* Find clean used instead of new/repro/NOS
* Fix instead of replace when possible.
* Have a yard sale. Look around the house for stuff you don't want or need anymore.
* Get a side job.
* Donate blood, sperm, a lung, etc.  :D
Hundreds of other ways are out there I'm sure. Having said that, with a budget of only $3000 per year don't expect the project to fly together. Depending on your expectations it could take many years.

:smilielol:

I just had pop come out of my nose.

What was he doin' up in there anyways???

FLY NAVY/Marine Corps or take the bus!

Chryco Psycho

Buy my car for .30 on the $ & save a ton of money & work

six-tee-nine

Well If you upgrade stuff on your car then dont junk the old stuff resell it to people that can use it. I'm upgrading my 4-speed clone to a Dana 60 so Resold the 8-3/4 rear to a guy that was looking for one locally....

Reselling stuff that is restored brings even more money. I might be upgrading to a hydro boost brake system, but I fully restored my original vacuum booster. When the time is there i will sell it for just a little more then what a unrestored rusted one is worth. The work I put in it did'nt cost me anything. All these things help.
Greetings from Belgium, the beer country

NOS is nice, turbo's are neat, but when it comes to Mopars, there's no need to cheat...


c00nhunterjoe

Hit every car show you can and talk to people. Find the mopar people and begn making friends. They will tel their friends, who will tell their firends, who will tell their friends, and before you know it, phone calls will roll in with guys that have left over parts from their restorations.

Paul G

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on August 23, 2012, 10:57:30 PM
Buy my car for .30 on the $ & save a ton of money & work

Is you Charger still for sale? Still in Canada? That is such a great car.

Back on topic, enginuity is your best friend. Replacing every thing with new, nos,  or reproduction is great if you have deep pockets. The rest of us have to be very frugal. Reconditioning parts your self is the biggest money saver.
1972 Charger Topper Special, 360ci, 46RH OD trans, 8 3/4 sure grip with 3.91 gear, 14.93@92 mph.
1973 Charger Rallye, 4 speed, muscle rat. Whatever engine right now?

Mopars Unlimited of Arizona

http://www.moparsaz.com/#

nvrbdn

trade parts is a great idea. make a list of items you will be needing. trade for them as you need them. i would get parts that i wanted early in my build that wouldnt be used till the end. unless you are getting a great deal, it takes up money that could be used for a part you would need right now.
70 Dodge Charger 500
70 Duster (Moulin Rouge)
73 Challenger
50 Dodge Pilot House