Most expensive mistake you have made when restoring a car?

Getting my Son's envolved, remembering what it cost in the 60's & 70's, painful. I gotta say Roadster would never of gotten back on the road if not for my Boy's.

 

My vote is for doing things twice...
My vote is for... oh screw it.

 

letting the customer intimidate me into thinking that him pulling the car was worse than me kicking his sad, condecending,beligerent butt out of my shop. Years later ,his ride has been to other shops and STILL isnt finished.

 

I suggest that the thread might have been titled:

"The most expensive mistake I have made: Restoring a car."

 

a YUP!

 

My biggest mistakes in the early days was trying to hold old engines together with cheap fix-it repairs
Nowadays - build the motor fully and correctly = no hassles. May cost a bit however the peace of mind and time not spent on correcting or replacing a missed worn part is all worth it. If nothing else the Jappers in our lives have taught us that reliabliity is out there

 

Buying a car that is beyond your own skill set. And not having a schedule, budget, or clear plan.

 

what mean these words?

 

buying parts and crap I didn't need, never used and sold for half price

 

"Selling it" ('54 Merc) after I restored it, due to tough times... Since have figured out there is alot more to sell than classic cars to get by.

 

Telling my wife.................

 

I'm starting to gather that.

 

Took my Flathead to the local engine machine shop, when I dropped the block off one of the guys said " Man Ive never seen one of those... " That should have been a warning sign.... The valve seats didnt line up with the guides, and valves when I got it back. Of course I didnt discover this until I fired up the engine and it ran horribly and backfired. But according to the machine shop It was something I did, not their work. Off to another "reputable" machine shop and more $ I went.

 

My most expensive mistake is when I look at cars and see what they could be...and not what they realy are.

 

Always the same ! Buying another project instead of parts needed to finish the one you are working on.

 

Trusting a "Pro"
They always think you're not paying what they're really worth so they put the new kid with the claw hammer on it soon as you're not looking or do nothing at all untill someone else with more money comes in and they need to get your shit out of there to work on the new rich gullible client's shit. If your project isn't gonna make them rich and famous, it's not worth their effort and you're better off doing it yourself. Pro's are great at TV interviews and phone calls and bullshitting people into thinking they aren't getting the apprentice to do the real work when you aren't there.

 

Came here to say the same damn thing.

 

The Divorce, but at least I'm back in the garage!!

 

Letting someone convince me to paint my car. Now i have to wait 50 years for the look i really wanted.

 

well that makes three of us.

 

Yikes, congrats

 

I have adopted the philosophy of, "Do it right, do it once, never do it again". That saves lots of money and lots of time. Start with something worthwhile.

 

Don't let a pit bull with sharp claws hang around inside the shop unattended.

 

Trusting the sleezeballs at Hot Rod Heaven in Plainfield IL with my hard earned money, and then having to redo everything they did. To say the least, I learned if you want it done right you have to do it yourself.

 

I've got a pretty good whopper.
55 Chevy- very nicely done over a 10 year period. I could have sold it all day for 35k or more. Got the hairbrain idea I needed to do a frame-off on the car to take it to the next level (don't even ask). So- I took a car worth alot of money & turned it into a 3k roller. I completed the frame-off & later sold it but it tops my list of "What the fuck was I thinking" mistakes I've made. I could have sold the car & bought the roller & been money ahead.
To top it off- not 1 bolt, driveline, glass, trim, interior, etc went back on the car. I even used a different frame. WTF was I thinking?

 

Being misllead that they were Metal Fabricators and finding out in the end, they were COBBLERS !!!!!!

 

i agree with this guy. unless you plan on keeping it then hey do it. i did a 69 buick skylark completely restored it. did it all my self from body and paint to rebuilding the engine and the upholstery and everything in between. took me forever to sell it. had $3,000 just in parts and material not including my labor and sold it for $7,000 as far as i am concerned i lost my ass on it

 

Broke the Windshield on the 140 Jag. Just one last 1/3 turn of the screw. Crack. I Love British engineering. They don't engineer cars they just put them together!!

Broke the mounting lug off of a transmission for a 41 Cadillac.

Pulled the upper door frame off of a Sedan trying to adjust it and bring it in.

I know there's more!!

O Well goes with the job.

The Old Tinbasher

 

yup, telling the wife how much you have into it and her wanting the same in return for her kitchen.... ouch

 

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I understand that one, character is earned for sure. Just never wash it and drive the shit out of it. Leave it in the sun, and abuse it. You'd be suprised how fast you can wreck a shiny one.


Tim