Building - Doing everything yourself vs. farming some of it out.

Hello!

Been reading a lot of build threads and got to wondering...when you're doing a build, how any of you do everything yourself, i.e. bodywork, shoot the paint, rebuild the engine/transmission, electrical, vs. doing most of the work and letting someone else handle the paint/engine work/etc?

I'd probably be in the "do everything yourself" camp, although I've never done a bottom-up/frame off build or restoration. I want to learn how to do everything, but there are only so many hours in a day, and I'm sure that you'd want to drive what you're building before the start of the next millenium.

Chris

 

I believe that, traditionally, most people did as much as possible themselves. Thats what I do. I cant turn cranks, some things must be done by others

 

On my own builds I do everything myself. I can live with re-doing something if I don't like it, or having something not quite perfect but knowing I did it myself.

My customer's builds, I farm our some major items, just because someone else can do it faster, cheaper and better.

 

Friends and clubs with members who hold diversified talents, ahhh what an idea.

 

I built a th350 once. Now I farm it. I can say I did it, it's not terribly hard, but it requires some expensive specialized tools I can't borrow, and it takes time. For $100 bucks I found a guy at a local shop that did it on his own time. I thought it was a very good deal. Dropped it off on Friday, picked it up a week later, no trouble in 6 seasons.

I can do everything, and trying new stuff is fun, but sometimes it's cheaper and faster to have a pro handle it.

 

I've always done everything myself including paint and upholstery. If I didn't know how to do something then I would study and learn the skill. It helped to be working in the auto repair business because I was always able to find someone who's brain I could pick. I never felt comfortable in relying on someone else to do the work for me. You always pay more attention to detail when your working on your own stuff and if something fails you know exactly where to look and how to fix it.Another plus is you only have to look in the mirror to find out who you should blame if something isn't done correctly

 

Do all my work myself, except for the engine machine work and chrome. The thing about doing your own work, if you don't like the way something turns out, all you have lost is the material, self labor is dirt cheap. Redoing a part of a project, at least the second time around you can rely on your "experience".

 

I've been doing everything on my 54 Ford build, and it's been a love/hate sort of thing.

I love the fact that I've done it all myself, but there are times when the learning curve is steep and I get frustrated and just have to walk away and shut the garage door for a day or so.

It always seems to work out though, where I come back to the project after about 24 hours off and have run the problem through my mind. I get right back in there and seem to tackle the issue fairly quickly.

I've gotta say that building a 50's era car has been more challenging for me than my earlier stuff was.

 

when I was youger I did everything myself and it was not only cars. Now that
I'm older, wiser, slower, and no kids. I pick and choose what I do and what I hire.
the
T-MAN

 

Ill do it all myself ,Except for transmissions and interior.....and header welding I bought Matt's,,,It was cheaper and he can weld way better than I..........

 

Trannys and engines I leave to others the rest I attempt.

 

Prefer for now to do everything myself.
Current build includes paint, tranny, upholstery, exhaust, etc...

 

I do almost everything myself, but have never been in a tranny or rear diff.

 

Farming things out will give you a break and add perspective. I find that if i try to do every possible thing i head down the 'perfectionist' path and that is a slippery slope. Pick and chose what you want to do and have fun doing those things you enjoy, farm the rest and your project will get done sooner and you won't suffer 'burnout'.

 

Rat rods are an example of why most people need outside help.

 

I am a realist,there are things on the cars I can do but can't do well enough to make me happy,,ie,,the paint and interior on ladyhrp's wagon,so I farmed it out to fellow club members,,I in turn help them with their projects.

In my nearly 62 years I have built several cars from the ground up and have learned a lot,,I don't have to do everything myself if I don't want to. HRP

 

I used to do it all, but now I know my limits. I suck at bodywork.

 

Nothing will give you the understanding and confidence in your car like doing as much as possible yourself. That being said, few people can actually do EVERYTHING themselves. Good luck and use search on here for TONS of great advice and learnin'.

 

hotrodprimer, that ford wagon is really nice! i have done a few carsover the years. i try and do as much as possible. with todays prices i have to. just finishing a 27 ford rpu. shes a driver. i painted it.its no show car by any means. but it will be a fun driver. do what you can do, but do it smart and do it safe! nothing wrong with farming some of it out. not many of us have it all to do it all.

 

What he said.
Back last year I lost a lot of what I had spent years collecting in a fire. Basically while I was in the process of moving, my house and shop burned to a total loss. Projects went from 7 to 2, basic hand tools had all been moved, and the 2 projects were moved. This gave me a new perspective on things. Now it makes sense to buy a new MIG welder and torch set up for $1000 rather than pay some one else five times that much to perform work that doesn't meet my standards. It doesn't make sense to buy a TIG welder because I gas weld a lot any way and would not use it much. And so it goes. A lot depends on whether or not you can find a capable person to do the work and not just rip you off.

 

Great question, like some of the "old guys" on here I always felt I couldn't paint or upholster but my last build forced me into painting and I actually learned to like it. Still send out for Upholstery, not only don't I have the equipment but others can do a much better job! Hope you get to do as much as you can yourself, I think you'll really be a lot more satified!

 

I do all my own work,but as I get older I farm sum of my work out and it help others in the bissnes keep there doors open,but as for your question do whot you can your self but there is nothing wrong with getting a pro to do sum stuff that you don't fell comfortable doing

 

I do what I feel confident in doing, which is almost everything. But I am honest enough with myself to say that I want certain things a certain way, meaning very correct. There are guys out there with the talent I need, so I send those things out. In the end, I am always glad I did. I think some guys think they can do it all, and some can. But most need help in certain areas. Dont let your ego make you regret not allowing someone else to touch your car.

 

I have had to do most things myself, and have tried to buy the tools as I go along. I have found, like others have said, I find some of the learning curves kinda steep. I have hit some brick walls during my build, and have had to walk away from it, sometimes for an extended period of time. I did farm out the upholstery, and I have had some help on some other minor things, but I do all my own welding, mechanical work and fabrication. I also try to learn from the guy doing it, how I can better prep stuff to cut his time investment. I also farm out the chrome, mostly due to the hazardous chemical thing...

 

I do alot myself and am teaching myself with the help of the HAMB. I do know my limits. ie. I don't trust my welding abilites yet so all my final welds on the frame and the front and rear end went to a professional after I tacked them in place. My thoughts, see one, do one, teach one theory. My first car was bought then I changed stuff on it to make it my own. The more I changed the more confidence I gained and after awhile the car became mine. Now I am doing my first full build from scratch. By the time I am done.... I will have built the car fifty times. But my labor is cheap since I'm not in a hurry.

 

I`d like to farm out Electrical work , the dark science. Weird smoke comes from the wires. Although a lot less now that I`m learning how to use a multimeter.

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with having a pro do some work for you if you can afford to do so.

"Us" pros do this sort of thing for a living and at a standard not usually seen in a home garage. Most of us have tools, skill and experience to do the jobs required to give you a satisfying driving experience. You need to enjoy your car for the intent you built it for, so unless you have the time and dedication it takes to pull off the various jobs required, give us guys a call. We're friendly!

 

The stuff that has to look good, such as paint and upholstery, I let someone else do it. The rest is easy so I do it myself.

 

I had a certified welder do the chassis work on my car. My little 110 AC MIG wasn't gonna cut it, and I knew it. If I screw up a tune up, I have AAA. If I screw up the chassis or suspension/brakes, someone will have to call the morgue.
I am also, this weekend, having a headliner put in the T. I've tried doing headliners, and it's just beyond my capabilities and and talents, plus the wife won't let me near her sewing machine.

 

I do everything myself `cept the uphostery work that i trade for in mechanical work.

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