At 02:09 PM 10/22/96 -0400, you wrote:
>I'm struggling with a decision and I'd like your input.
>
>Background:
> I purchased a '66B in July of this year. The motor was toast and has
>been removed and is at the local specialist being rebuilt ($1,800) So I
>started out stripping the engine bay to repaint it (color change).
>
>Dilemma:
> The car does need to be painted. I was originally planning on
>finishing all the mechanicals and then having it painted and put in a new
>interior. But a little voice is saying to me "Strip everything off the
>car, paint it, and then re-assemble it. C'mon Doug, let's do it the
>'RIGHT' way!"
>
<snip>
Hey Doug!
Well, I personally have vouched for your original plan of "drive it while
you restore it". Sure, long-term it may be more work, as I'm
replacing/repairing stuff that'll have to be torn off again when I'm ready
to paint it, but what the heck. (By the way, if the estimate your friend
gave you included all necessary body work, and you're car has as many little
dings and dimples as mine does, it's a great price! Expect to pay around
$1500 for a quality paint job, which includes only final sanding, etc.)
Here's my game-plan, if it helps. 1) Take care of any mechaical
difficulties that present themselves first. 2) Save up a big chunk o'
change, and get the bodywork done, including paint. 3) Put in a new interior
(why risk messing up your new carpet/leather while tearing it out to do the
paint?) This way, you win both ways. You get to drive the car around, and
keep your burn for it, while saving up the cash to do the bodywork/interior
RIGHT. This saves me from cheaping out on it when I find out, inevitably,
that it'll cost more than originally estimated. HOWEVER, if you've got the
money to spend on it now (I don't currently have that luxury: I spent it
buying the car!), I'd do the bodywork first, and save myself a little effort.
Oh, another BTW: If you've been told $3000, be prepared to spend at least
$4000. You never know what you'll find when the skin comes off!
Regards,
J
________________________
[ JASON DUTT ]
[ simjason@ix.netcom.com ]
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