how did you figure out what to do with your car?
 

well i am sitting here trying to plan out the final things i want to do the chevelle. I have so much i need to do i am starting to feel lost. at first i was focused on working from the trunk to the front. for some reason i got stumped by the brakes and i stopped working on it. now that i figured out the brakes i just have not pulled the trigger to get the parts. so i started to focus on the interior of the car. Nothing crazy just getting it back in to order. I know i am going to have to take it all back out because i am going to cut the trans tunnel and put in a 6 speed manual trans.

basically what i am i asking you guys is how did you plan it? how did you say ok i am going to focus on this and continue to work on it. its been a lot harder for me to work on my chevelle since my RX7 came back to the garage. I am working on the 7 to get it in better shape so that is where all my money is going. Plus i got pissed when i sold my 454 swap and then the buy backed out on me i lost a lot of motivation from that point.

so i am looking for a way to refoucus myself on getting the chevelle to meet my summer of 2013 goal. That goal is not to be fully restored but to have it in running and driving order and work on getting it to look better and drive better every winter from then on. I am have sat here and thought about selling both my LS1 rx7 and my 69 chevelle to buy another chevelle already done and running. but i dont know! just thinking out loud i guess!

I think we all feel your frustration Shaun. We have all been there.

1) We made a list of what was most important (to get it road ready), kinda like an outline.
2) Then we priced all the items on that list.
3) Then we figured what would make the most sense to do first.
You said "so i started to focus on the interior of the car. Nothing crazy just getting it back in to order. I know i am going to have to take it all back out because i am going to cut the trans tunnel and put in a 6 speed manual trans." Try to plan what is going to be the most time effective for you.
4) Figure a time frame for each item and be flexible, (example: it will take 3 days to do the brakes, but it might take 5 because you got interupted)
5) Take lots of pictures so that you can see the progress.
6) Post here so that we can root you on. Sometimes you need to have someone, who has been there, tell you that you can do it. I know that I needed that.
7) Ask for help. Friends, neighbors, family or anyone who can come over and make the time working on your car more enjoyable, and maybe even a good time.
8) Most of all be patient. It didn't get in that condition over night, so it is going to take some time to get it to where you want it.
9) Have a beer after your done every night.

Nice list Nancy.

I agree the first thing is getting road ready. Building a car is a lot of work, that's why about 80 to 90% who start these projects never finish them, plus it is cheaper to buy one done at today's prices. For me the interior is the last thing to worry about. If it can't move under it's own power then nothing else matters. For me it was start on the frame and work my way up from there.

Ray,
it is really sad, like you said, that it can be cheaper to buy one done at today's prices. I just think about the stickers I see on car windows "Built not bought". I wouldn't give up all the time with my kids, all the frustration, and all the time and love that was put into building my car. It may not be worth what I put into it financially, but personally I don't care...it is a piece of me and my family...and to me that is priceless.

If I had a vision for my car to be exactly what I'm making it now when I started on it 14 years ago, I'd be at least $10k richer now... I have learned through building the car to "almost" what I want, that it gets very expensive to re-do things later.

Make a plan, and stick to it. Be honest with yourself on what you can afford and how you will REALLY use it.

I see a lot of guys stick 10k into an engine they never race, 8k into a suspension they never push to the limits, etc... you can quickly get wrapped up in trying to have the best of everything, which is great if you can afford it and have a use for it. If not, it's just a source of frustration and delays when the money could be better spent elsewhere on the car. My desire for an LS1/T56 took my car off the road for 2 years, when I could have just rebuilt the 4L60e and kept on cruising. On the other hand, I have had a lot of people ask me if I wish I hadn't tore my Chevelle apart, and my answer is "no". Now I'm building the car to be what I want, rather than what was cheaper and easier to do at the time. I'll be much happier with it in the long-run.

That's my long-winded advice... wish I could have learned it the easy way. :o

Well said, I would not trade the experence of building my own car for anything (priceless) I know what I have and some day my son will enjoy the car with his family.

Great advice also Derek

thanks guys next pay i am going to order my parts i need for to complete my rear end i dont need much more for it. new shocks, fill my rear diff with oil once i get my brakes in and change my wheel studs and then everything in my rear will be brand new!

Shaun just take it one step at a time. And when you get frustrated, remember we are here and will listen to the rants, that's what friends are for. Most of all, we love pics ! or at least I do. lol...

lol thanks! i have no real new pictures to take as of yet. next week i hope i can get my parts in before the weekend but if not no biggie. i have an extra long weekend for memorial day weekend so that way i can work on the car in one day and get the rear end in place the way i want it!

When we bought Joans 72 convertible our original plan was to go over everything mechanically and drive it for a few years .We replaced all belts and hoses ,tires and all the normal things you would change after getting a car that has been in storage for 15 to 20 years.We got it safe and were enjoying driving it when I accidentally found a great body shop to restore the body and paint .I made the mistake of asking him in front of Joan What it would cost and she asked when he could do it and he said anytime we were ready and the next week it was there for restoration. Of course with new paint we had to have a new top and new interior and it snowballed from there to a new crate motor ,overdrive transmission, new rearend gears and then new wheels. We were able to pay as we went and took a kittle less than a year to build it her way. We could have bought one done for a lot less but we know this car and would not change a thing.

so after sitting down here at work thinking about my chevelle and my plans i have come up with the following.
What is the car going to be used for? Taking out for a drive with my wife and kids to go to events and show.

Will I race the chevelle? No that is why I have my Mazda RX7 for.

Do I want a lot of power for this car? As for right now with my 454 in it i will be happy with 200hp. I know that I have an LQ9 sitting in my garage with Chelly written on it. but that will be later down the road.

What kind of Hp power am I looking for. the goal is to see 400hp 400tq out of my chevelle. knowing this i can figure out what do i want to do. Do i want to stay with the 454 platform, or move over to the LSx platform. I am leaning a lot to the LSx platform ONLY because i know it so well. I am going to have to get my 454 running and learn a lot about how things work with a carb motor and so on. So maybe after learning on my 454 then i can go to get a 496/502 short block and go from there.

Do I want good gas miles/highway out of the chevelle? Yes which is why no matter what motor i use i am going to have a 6 speed trans behind it. I already have a brand new T-56 in the garage and i am going to use it. Behind the LSx or BBC motor it will be in the car since i already have a 4.11 eaton rear built in the car now. I also know that i can move to EFI on the BBC motors which is another reason why i am not selling my LQ9 as of yet.

So now knowing that i started to come up with a list of all the parts and things i need to get and this is what i came up with.

Chevelle list
Rear end
Parts needed total $369

Drum brakes spring kit $43
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...DRUMBRAKEPARTS

wheel cylinders $20x 2= $40.
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...=WHEELCYLINDER

e-brake cables $140
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...e=PARKINGBRAKE

wheel studs $16
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RNB-610-157/

Shocks $130
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...PENSION 

Front end
Parts needed $355
Front brake rebuild/replacement parts $298

Brake booster and master cylinder $170
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...STERMASTERKITS

brake calipers
option 1 $38
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AAZ-18-4039/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AAZ-18-4040/
option 2 $170
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv..._Code=CALIPERS

rotors
Option 1 $120
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...ry_Code=ROTORS
option 2 34 x2= $68
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RSD-BR02C/
brake pads to many options to list when the time comes I will select the right one.

Wheel bearing $22
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RAT-12126/
Front suspension parts

Front springs $57
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOG-6319/

Wiring $220
Front harness $161 only because mine is in rough shape and i am not sure if i am going to take the time to rebuild it or get a new one.
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...uct_Code=18015

sending unit harness $19 (mine is missing)
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...uct_Code=28540

Gauges $40 (just so i can keep track of everything and to fill the holes on the block and heads)
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...7CGRP2032_____

Tires $400 (guessing I still need to figure out what tires size I need/want)

Grand total of $1344 this is not an exact number this is just an informative way to look at the amount I would need to save up/spend to get it on the road.

so what do you guys think? am i off to the right start? anything you can think of that i am missing?

First off let me say, good job. You looked at what you wanted to do with the car and what made the most sense for you to do. I like the fact that you are going to "learn" with the 454, especially since it is something you already have. Do we have suggestions, sure everyone has an opinion but it looks like you have done some homework on where you want to start. And posting what you need may give you some leads here as to where you are going to find the best deal. Continued luck on this journey, we will be there with you the whole way.

yeah i want to learn just feel over whelmed thats all but i will get it

Nice list, about half of what you have on your list you can get at your local parts house and say shipping and probably get them to give you a discount. Don't be afraid to ask and believe me cash talks. I have built a relationship with a local vendor and every time I walk in I get a 10% discount. I purchased all my wheel cyclinders, brake springs and a few other parts local. On the front how are your dust shields and calipher brackets? I didn't see them on your list.

Ray

i already went that route with the local auto store. i can tell you that my auto parts stores SUCK!! i spent $107 bucks on the rear drum setup and everything was wrong. wheel cylinders wrong springs wrong so i returned it all. I live in the woods man and no real stores nor speed shops which is why i was going to order it from ground up. as for the front brakes i have not even taken the wheels off yet to look at them. i am just looking at them from the wheels and they look pretty bad:)
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/IMG_4917.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/IMG_4924.jpg

wow i see what some of the guys are telling me i finally found a napa not too far from me that has all the parts for the brakes i need in stock and the cost is so different then summit/ground up! the total for all of my rear needs comes to just over 200 where on the other sites i am looking at 370! big difference! i know where i am going next week thursday :)

Good for you Shaun.

Wow did this post really help me cause I was flip flopping back & forth & my garage is getting smaller & smaller from me changing my mind. The more I change, the more parts I accumulate & it = lost time & $. So many of u chimed in & touched on so many issues that are helpful. Like being realistic of what u can afford & trying to have the best of everything, starting point, stick to the plan etc. all these answers touched on my own situation & it amazes me how it's so common amongst us all but then again that's y we are here. Thanks for this post. I'll be making a list today of parts & pricing & checking it off as task are complete. Thanks for starting this conversation & thanks for the response.

no problem i made my list but i can tell you i got my brakes for half the price so far..lol

Joe, that is why we are here. To help each other. Once you get your list of what you need/want. Post it up here. Someone might have what you need, or may be able to suggest where to get them.

I myself have found that I have parts from my 72 that we are going to be getting rid of. I just put the EFI in and am still deciding if I want to hang onto the Holly Avenger 770 or sell it. Maybe others are in the same situation and another member asking/needing something may make us part with our used parts...which could make your build a little more cost effective.