- Joined
- Jun 2, 2004
- Messages
- 5,034
- Reaction score
- 39
I wish there was a way how I can actually post my feelings. I know I don't always have the right answer, or attitude... at times. But I try to do what I can. I also know some of our membership would love to mix it up with me, but that's to be expected with a group this large. I also break balls a lot... but the one thing I'm sincere about is this; without the input, and help, from our members here my restoration would have been way more difficult than it already was. Parts...Advice....Corrections when I was wrong....a pat on the back when I got it right.... it all came to me from a truly great bunch of guys & gals.
THANK YOU ALL!
And now with the exception of some up-grades (new seat upholstery, dash bezel,trim restoration...) I am proud to announce that the Metal Mistress is.....
I bought 2 parts cars in order to get all the little things that were impossible to find.
One of those parts car purchases led the seller to ask me very casually if I was interested in a 3X2 barrel set up he had for sale. I nearly lost it when I saw what he had! I bought my 6 Bbl. set-up from intake to air cleaner for $250. It cost me another $800 to make it all right, but it was one of the coolest scores I've made in my lifetime. Period.
I spent almost exactly $22,000 from start to finish. I probably have another $1,000 to go to cherry out the interior and other non-essential stuff. I'm starting to save now. Maybe I'll do it next winter.
I've had the opportunity to meet some really great people during this project. There was a while when I always had a piece of the car with me. Either on the coffe table, in my toolbox at work, under the bed, or in my pocket. Last year I was socializing with Steve and Ben in San Francisco on vacation and Steve handed me a few items he had that I needed. This car just became a part of my day-to-day life and the biggest factor that made it all seem normal was my Wife Amy. She put up with things that most women would never have tolerated. The money being spent.... the hours of me being in the garage and her taking care of household chores without my help.... the personal trama and injury resulting from tripping over car parts in the living room; all of it.
I thank her the most. I love you Amy!
THANK YOU ALL!
And now with the exception of some up-grades (new seat upholstery, dash bezel,trim restoration...) I am proud to announce that the Metal Mistress is.....
FINISHED !!!!!!!!!!!
QUICK FACTS:
After searching for over a year to find a clean, solid start, I purchased my car on Friday the 13th, Nov. 1998 for $1,600. I pushed the shell onto a trailer and packed up 11 milk crates full of Barracuda DNA. The car was a retired drag car from Florida that I found in Brentwood, Long Island NY.I bought 2 parts cars in order to get all the little things that were impossible to find.
One of those parts car purchases led the seller to ask me very casually if I was interested in a 3X2 barrel set up he had for sale. I nearly lost it when I saw what he had! I bought my 6 Bbl. set-up from intake to air cleaner for $250. It cost me another $800 to make it all right, but it was one of the coolest scores I've made in my lifetime. Period.
I spent almost exactly $22,000 from start to finish. I probably have another $1,000 to go to cherry out the interior and other non-essential stuff. I'm starting to save now. Maybe I'll do it next winter.
I've had the opportunity to meet some really great people during this project. There was a while when I always had a piece of the car with me. Either on the coffe table, in my toolbox at work, under the bed, or in my pocket. Last year I was socializing with Steve and Ben in San Francisco on vacation and Steve handed me a few items he had that I needed. This car just became a part of my day-to-day life and the biggest factor that made it all seem normal was my Wife Amy. She put up with things that most women would never have tolerated. The money being spent.... the hours of me being in the garage and her taking care of household chores without my help.... the personal trama and injury resulting from tripping over car parts in the living room; all of it.
I thank her the most. I love you Amy!
