Restoring a classic?

atlanta donate junk cars

I say, get started now. $2000 should be enough to keep you in parts for awhile, why wait until you have the whole bundle?

besides which (this only applies if you're not married) – when you get married, if you already have a project (car, boat, whatever), it'll be a part of who you are and she will accept it (how ever grudgingly), but just try to start something afterward………. Don't ask me how I know!

atlanta donate junk cars

It mostly depends on which car you are restoring, and what condition it is in.

So I will be kind of general.

You say the car you are starting with has no drive train.

I will use an old Chevy for example.

First, you need an engine. You have several choices. You can get a junkyard engine for a few hundred dollars. This may not run well or last long.

You could buy a crate motor. A new GM Performance Parts 350 starts out at about $2000 for a 300 HP model. Figure another $500 for all of the odds and ends to get it running.

Or you can spend much more on an engine. A GM Performance parts ZZ572/720R costs about $15,000

Exhaust. Single figure about $300. Duals figure about $700. Add $200 if you include headers.

You now need a transmission. Automatic or manual. Again, you can go with a junkyard transmission for under $1000. Or spend $2000 – $3000 on a re-manufactured one. If you are installing a high horsepower engine making over 500 HP, you will need a racing transmission.

You will need a rear end. Again, you can uses a junkyard rear end for a few hundred dollars. But if you are using a high horsepower engine you will need something stronger and spend a few thousand dollars.

You will need tires and wheels. Stock steel wheels with hubcaps will cost about $50 each. Add another $400 for tires. Aluminum wheels can cost over $200 each ant the tires over $250 each.

You will need brakes. A standard set of brakes can cost a couple hundred dollars. A disk brake upgrade can cost $1000+

Your ride will most likely need paint. You will need to fix any problems with the body before paint. I hope you picked a model car that still has parts availible. You may need to search the Internet very hard for parts for a more obscure model car. These will also be more expensive.

For paint I would figure $1000 if you can do it yourself. $3000+ if you have to pay someone.

You may need to replace interior parts

You may need to replace chrome.

What I suggest is finding an old classic that is still drivable but not in the best of condition. Your initial investment will be a little more. There are drivable classics out thete for less than $5000 or less. But you can fix it up a little at a time as your budget allows. And you can still enjoy it.

atlanta donate junk cars

you may end up with a driver for 2k but it is going to take a lot more plan on somewhere around 5k+ over the purchase price of the platform to have it be considered a restoration

you will always save money buying someone else's project let them do all the ground work then you can step in and finish it off and save a huge amount over doing the entire thing yourself

it is better to have money in the bank saving up to the point where you are ready to do a restro that will be finished in less then a year then to get the chassis and then have it sit for many years while you save up ending up build it up little by little

goodluck

atlanta donate junk cars

more than $2000.
there are a bunch of little parts other than the drive train,moldings weatherstripping brakes etc.
6 years ago i did a frame off on a 67 cougar and spent close to $15,000. my advice to you is pick a car you want to restore and start searching for the parts to rebuild it just to get an idea of what it will take. some parts you may have to make or have made and that cost even more, for me it was the rear lamp panel( i had to make it)
older cars had chrome parts , the cost of re-chroming isn't cheap.
I'm not trying to dissuade you just trying to give you an idea of the cost.