Charger Rrstoration still not finished. Options for what to?

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Sat Dec 31, 11 9:51 am

Some of you may have been following my restoraion threads inthe workshop section. If you have you will have also noticd progress is very slow!

My problem is quite simple. Given my work commitments, i only really get to work on it at christmas and probably 15 sundays through the year.

Given this, its obvious that completion will take years rather than months or weeks.

Its already been 11.5 years and frankly im bored of waiting.

As a result ive considered my options. As a result, im wondering if i should give the job of completion to someone else?

However, i would want the work to be completed to the standard i have been doing it, which i guess really does narrow down the options.

But im not sure what those options are never having had anyone work on my cars before.

Yes, i know this will cost, im in the automotive trade myself, but ive got to consider it.

I currently have a huge pile of parts to fit to it, though i still need to buy some stuff, but as i see it, its an assembly job now, not a restoration, and probably not that big a deal for someone who knows the cars. Sadly i took it apart so long ago ive forgotton how it goes together which really slows me down as i have to discover how to do each job!

Any/all thoughts welcome.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat Dec 31, 11 11:12 am

Ultimately it's a question only you can answer Roger. No doubt JPC could finish the car to your standard at a price.
It seems to me that the "process" of restoring the car is as big a part of it as actually driving the finished car.
Given that you are so far in, and have done all the hard stuff, the nice bit of final assembly should be very rewarding and reasonably quick even with limited time.
I know all about the highs and lows of long term projects, and I think you should see it through, because really that's what you'd want to do in an ideal world.

autofetish · Post by **autofetish** » Sat Dec 31, 11 11:48 am

Well said blue

The pictures i have seen on here of JPC work he looks good.

I find that once i have finished a car and its all ready to drive im bored.
I sell it and buy another banger just so i can spend more time under a car.

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Sat Dec 31, 11 1:00 pm

Blue wrote:Ultimately it's a question only you can answer Roger. No doubt JPC could finish the car to your standard at a price.
It seems to me that the "process" of restoring the car is as big a part of it as actually driving the finished car.
Given that you are so far in, and have done all the hard stuff, the nice bit of final assembly should be very rewarding and reasonably quick even with limited time.
I know all about the highs and lows of long term projects, and I think you should see it through, because really that's what you'd want to do in an ideal world.

The thing is, its not a rewarding process anymore. Just frustrating. When i had more time on my hands, it was different, but not anymore. I still want the car done though.

You are of course right about the ideal world. Problem is, it isn't one

And therin is my problem.

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Sat Dec 31, 11 1:02 pm

autofetish wrote:Well said blue

The pictures i have seen on here of JPC work he looks good.

I find that once i have finished a car and its all ready to drive im bored.
I sell it and buy another banger just so i can spend more time under a car.

I used to be like this. I used to make the progress you are making on yours. But i cant do that any more.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Dec 31, 11 1:41 pm

Happy new Year to you Roger!

Cheer up Fella, you is at the best part, bolting on da shiny NOS parts LoL!

Just send your wonderful Charger over to Mopower of Ashford, and it will be finished for the Nats!!!

Half the price of JPC and twice as good looking LOLOL!!!
Is the pedigree of Mopower worrying you?
It's backed by the best restoration team in the World!
Charger Guru, Paul Davey, Mas the Merciless, Peter the Finn and Julius Steuer aka Restorations by Juilius Californication.

Who could want more? Oh yes and me doing all the hard work! Bacca the Boss.

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Sat Dec 31, 11 2:02 pm

Roger wrote:
Blue wrote:Ultimately it's a question only you can answer Roger. No doubt JPC could finish the car to your standard at a price.
It seems to me that the "process" of restoring the car is as big a part of it as actually driving the finished car.
Given that you are so far in, and have done all the hard stuff, the nice bit of final assembly should be very rewarding and reasonably quick even with limited time.
I know all about the highs and lows of long term projects, and I think you should see it through, because really that's what you'd want to do in an ideal world.
The thing is, its not a rewarding process anymore. Just frustrating. When i had more time on my hands, it was different, but not anymore. I still want the car done though.

You are of course right about the ideal world. Problem is, it isn't one And therin is my problem.

roger send it to jpc let him Bananarama! whilst you earn the big bucks from the monaro gig, its a no brainer you have done the donkey work so you can be proud of yourself........

db · Post by db » Sat Dec 31, 11 4:15 pm

I have a lot less time to spend on mine these days and it does get bloody frustrating! If i didn't have the Truk to drive around i might have packed in and sold up for a finished car. If i had the Bananarama! by now i'd be tempted to get a lot of the work done, but finances won't allow.
That said, i'm proud of how much i've done myself, i've learned a hell of a lot and still am learning, and i've been amazed at the help and encouragement you get from folks on here

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Sat Dec 31, 11 7:07 pm

If you've got the cash and can afford to do it, then getting the car restored and drivable for 2012 maybe a better option than another 2 or 3 years of odd days here and there!

Only you can answer if having the car available would be of greater significance than the knowledge that your own hands ripped it apart and rebuilt it!

I'm only 4 months in but can understand your frustration.
Bought my car in August and my daugter was born at the end of September!
Needless to say she takes precedence and the car hasnt been uncovered since mid November.

I even set aside a day over Xmas to work on the car.....Failed.....Best laid plans and all that!

Whatever you do at least the car will be completed.....

mopar_mark · Post by **mopar_mark** » Sun Jan 01, 12 6:56 am

From what I have seen & written in your build thread, you obviously have the shill set & ability to put together a great car.

We can all at some time pull money together, be that by different means, to adjust our budget. One thing we can't buy, is time.

As an outsider, it seems much simpler
1) 11.5 years on a project is an exceptional long time, to maintain enthusiasm.
2) Given your free time available, another 4-5 years could easily drift bye.
3) If you have the money, then get a reputable builder such as JC to finish the car
4) As far as I an cncerned, getting someone to finish a car, is no slur on character or ability to build a car. Some don't have the aptitude or skill set to build a car to the standard they want. Others have the skill sets like yourself, but no the time to do it.. . . . Who cares, I seee it as another classic car being saved by a car lover.

So choose your builder, discuss your requirements & get the car booked in,

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jan 01, 12 11:22 am

Hi again Roger.

As we all know Resto's are great consumers of Time and Money.
Most working Folks have no spare time and limited amount of CAR-money.
With this in mind any level of restoration is gonna take a long time if you do it yourself.
Then there's the logistics!
Not everyone can strip and paint their own cars in their own premises.
Then there is the whopping great parts bill, shipping form the US is getting more expensive everyday.

As you may or may not know, I go to the California (Mopar only), Spring/Fall Fling shows.
The standard of Mopars there are very high there, as in the whole of the West Coast and across to Colorado attend!
Guess which cars regularly win?
Yep the ones done by the top West Coast restorers!!!
Why is this?
They do it for a living and use the best parts and the best people.
Is this trophy buying, well probably YES!
On odd occassions a home-built Mopar will win a top prize, but thats rare.

So ask yourself. what are you trying to achieve with your Charger?
A home-built 'Best in Show' car or a very nice driver quality car?
If so, just carry on whenever you can and enjoy what you have.
If just a trophy winner is what you want just give the Charger to someone else to do, and pay the bill.

Whatever happens the Charger will be judged by your fellow Moparfolks.
Some who know what they are looking at and most just wanna know how fast it will go LoL!

There are other options in between but they are complex.
Anyways, don't make any rash decisions as your fellow home restorers are more than happy to see a wonderful home restored Chrager taking its natural course!

Bacca in the 69 club too!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jan 01, 12 11:27 am

Hi Roger and All.

Anyone that works in the motortrade will have a fair idea about costs and time that car-work takes.
The people I feel sorry for are the ones that had a lifelong dream to own a Mopar or heaven forbid a Fraud/Chebby LoL.
They see a project car and think they can do a pukka resto in their 18x8 council garage.
They/we start with best intentions and strip the car down with Gusto.
Not marking parts or keeping them in any sort of order.
Then they realise why the car was cheap(£5000), it has no floopans, wafer thin frame rails and been used as a banger racer at Wimbledon at least once!
So no problem, save a bit of cash and get someone to do all the welding and lay some paint on the old girl.
Half way through the welding process, the bill Bananarama! £4,000, another £4,000 will get that done then its £5000 for paintwork.
So our poor lad/lass has £20,000 in a nice painted shell and then reality hits home.
After a weekend of checking through the pile of parts, there's gonna be another £20,000 to get this baby up and running again!!!

Does this story sound familiar?
It should do, we have been there or know someone who has LoL.

Happy New Year to all Charger owners me included, Bacca.

Adrian Worman · Post by **Adrian Worman** » Sun Jan 01, 12 12:03 pm

Roger, my Challenger has been on and off in restoration for the last 25 years, it's finally been complete enough to drive for the past 2 years but still needs a fair amount of work doing to make it really nice................... and I still haven't lost enthusiasm or interest in it despite having a huge amount of workload in my real life

In fact I've just taken on Ivors Barracuda cos I was getting bored of not getting really stuck in to a big project, I must be an idiot but it gets me all excited and is a good escape from all the everyday crap.
For me it works but everyone's different but I'd say stick with it and be assured of the attention to detail that you will carry on putting in to it, good luck with it whatever you decide on............. Happy New Year

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Sun Jan 01, 12 7:09 pm

25 years

That is a long time!

But seriously, thanks for the replies.

There was a time that it was important to me to do it myself, but, ive come to recognise i cant do it all. I ok with it being finished by someone else. 11.5 years is quite enough time already!

My only issue (aside from cost obviously) is that its done the way i want it done, so i wont be rushing into anything!

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Sun Jan 01, 12 7:12 pm

Adrian Worman wrote:Roger, my Challenger has been on and off in restoration for the last 25 years, it's finally been complete enough to drive for the past 2 years but still needs a fair amount of work doing to make it really nice................... and I still haven't lost enthusiasm or interest in it despite having a huge amount of workload in my real life
In fact I've just taken on Ivors Barracuda cos I was getting bored of not getting really stuck in to a big project, I must be an idiot but it gets me all excited and is a good escape from all the everyday crap.
For me it works but everyone's different but I'd say stick with it and be assured of the attention to detail that you will carry on putting in to it, good luck with it whatever you decide on............. Happy New Year

Part of the problem, and its entirely of my own making, is that my work is the same as my hobby! After a hard day of whatever you do (plumbing sales?) the car is a welcome change. Me i spend 10-12 hours working on cars, only to get home and find i need to do more of the same! Which doesn't get me excited because all i want to do is rest!