When to say when with a project car....
I've got a tough descision to make about the future of my '63 Valiant Signet Conv. project so I thought I'd ask you guys for your thoughts, experiences and opinions on the subject.
Back towards the end of last summer I ended up talking with a friend of a friend about this car, he was looking to sell it and it sounded like the perfect project so we struck up a deal.
We went back and forth for months trying to get the car here, I wanted to pick it up, he either wanted one last ride in it or said "but I've got all these parts to go with it" long story short, after nearly deciding to not get the car and 5 months later, he brings me the car, but no parts and at this point I honestly am not sure I'll ever see the parts. He's a great guy, but very, very, very laid back and in a hurry for no man.
So anyway, I got the car, a little rougher than described, but I kinda expected that..... I've been down this road before. I've driven it a few times and it drives great and it's already had so much stuff done to it, very mechanically solid just needs rust repair and interior.
Perfect project... what's the problem right? Right now money is very tight and it looks like it's going to be that way for us for a while. We currently rent and I do not have a garage to keep the car in, I do have one I can access for 3-4 hour projects, but no place I can really have the car being non-op for more than a day at a time.
I also don't really have many tools at my disposal right now, pretty much nothing that can't fit into my 3 drawer craftsman box that sits in the floor of our second bedroom. So stuff that might come in handy diring the corse of this project, compressor, welder, ect.... I don't have.
So it really leaves me with having someone else do the metal work I need done and I know that's pretty much an imposibility. I could maybe scrimp and save to get the patch panels but I just don't see any way of covering someone else doing the labor.
In all honestly, at this point and time I am feeling like it might be the best thing for me to do is try and sell the car, I hate to even think about it, but I'm not making any progress on it and we could use a little extra money.
It kills me though, I find exactly the project I've been looking for and can't keep it due partly to money, mostly to housing situation. I also feel like I'm letting the previous owner down a little, I had intentions of doing so much with the car but life is getting in the way.
Anyone else been in a similar boat? What'd you do? I'd love to keep this car but it just doesn't seem reasonable for me to do so right now. I've been racking my brain for days trying to figure this out...... help!
Also, description of the car might help you guys (not a for sale ad, haven't decided anything yet):
'63 Valiant Signet Convertible
Good:
mildly built 170 slant with bigger cam, twin 1bbls on an offy intake, pushbutton torqueflite
dutra dual exhaust manifold, new exhaust all the way back
newer mini starter
new battery
car has been converted to big bolt pattern with front manual discs
car also has V8 torsion bars and springs
factory power steering (works)
frontend rebuilt with poly bushings
rechromed bumpers
decent top with good back window (is power, currently manual)
14 inch rallyes with ok tires
front floor pans have been replaced
all lights work, was just driven on a 4 hour trip to me with no problem
Bad:
Typical early A rust, little on/in cowl, passenger door, 1/4s above and behind the rear wheels, trunk lid, trunk floor seems good but rear frame rails need caps.
Needs some finish work done on the floors
only have 2 seats, driver and rear seat, PO never gave me the passenger bucket.
door panels there but rough
rear side panels missing
Car drives good, pretty much needs a good cosmetic restoration....
I've got a tough descision to make about the future of my '63 Valiant Signet Conv. project so I thought I'd ask you guys for your thoughts, experiences and opinions on the subject.
Back towards the end of last summer I ended up talking with a friend of a friend about this car, he was looking to sell it and it sounded like the perfect project so we struck up a deal.
We went back and forth for months trying to get the car here, I wanted to pick it up, he either wanted one last ride in it or said "but I've got all these parts to go with it" long story short, after nearly deciding to not get the car and 5 months later, he brings me the car, but no parts and at this point I honestly am not sure I'll ever see the parts. He's a great guy, but very, very, very laid back and in a hurry for no man.
So anyway, I got the car, a little rougher than described, but I kinda expected that..... I've been down this road before. I've driven it a few times and it drives great and it's already had so much stuff done to it, very mechanically solid just needs rust repair and interior.
Perfect project... what's the problem right? Right now money is very tight and it looks like it's going to be that way for us for a while. We currently rent and I do not have a garage to keep the car in, I do have one I can access for 3-4 hour projects, but no place I can really have the car being non-op for more than a day at a time.
I also don't really have many tools at my disposal right now, pretty much nothing that can't fit into my 3 drawer craftsman box that sits in the floor of our second bedroom. So stuff that might come in handy diring the corse of this project, compressor, welder, ect.... I don't have.
So it really leaves me with having someone else do the metal work I need done and I know that's pretty much an imposibility. I could maybe scrimp and save to get the patch panels but I just don't see any way of covering someone else doing the labor.
In all honestly, at this point and time I am feeling like it might be the best thing for me to do is try and sell the car, I hate to even think about it, but I'm not making any progress on it and we could use a little extra money.
It kills me though, I find exactly the project I've been looking for and can't keep it due partly to money, mostly to housing situation. I also feel like I'm letting the previous owner down a little, I had intentions of doing so much with the car but life is getting in the way.
Anyone else been in a similar boat? What'd you do? I'd love to keep this car but it just doesn't seem reasonable for me to do so right now. I've been racking my brain for days trying to figure this out...... help!
Also, description of the car might help you guys (not a for sale ad, haven't decided anything yet):
'63 Valiant Signet Convertible
Good:
mildly built 170 slant with bigger cam, twin 1bbls on an offy intake, pushbutton torqueflite
dutra dual exhaust manifold, new exhaust all the way back
newer mini starter
new battery
car has been converted to big bolt pattern with front manual discs
car also has V8 torsion bars and springs
factory power steering (works)
frontend rebuilt with poly bushings
rechromed bumpers
decent top with good back window (is power, currently manual)
14 inch rallyes with ok tires
front floor pans have been replaced
all lights work, was just driven on a 4 hour trip to me with no problem
Bad:
Typical early A rust, little on/in cowl, passenger door, 1/4s above and behind the rear wheels, trunk lid, trunk floor seems good but rear frame rails need caps.
Needs some finish work done on the floors
only have 2 seats, driver and rear seat, PO never gave me the passenger bucket.
door panels there but rough
rear side panels missing
Car drives good, pretty much needs a good cosmetic restoration....
