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How should it take to build a car?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by JPMACHADO, Apr 3, 2006.

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  1. JPMACHADO
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 983

    JPMACHADO
    Member
    from Not Listed

    I know this is a general question, but what are people's experiences, as far as time goes, for completing a car. I'm looking at a 2 yr completion time. Is that good or bad? I started from raw materials. Just asking out of curiosity.
     
  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 58,306

    squirrel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    One took me 2 years, one took about a month, another is 3/4 done after 8 years.

    There's no answer to your question.
     
  3. rocknrods
    Joined: Feb 1, 2006
    Posts: 217

    rocknrods
    BANNED

    Whatever your time to give it, or money to spend on it will provide.
    More of either or both = faster.
    If either is not a problem you can git-r-done in a year. But figure two and you wont be heart broken (if your in your garage).
     
  4. Never completed, only driveable, and that takes longer than you told the wife it would.
     
  5. Kevin Lee
    Joined: Nov 12, 2001
    Posts: 7,645

    Kevin Lee
    Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    How long is a string?
     
  6. 53sled
    Joined: Jul 5, 2005
    Posts: 5,817

    53sled
    Member
    from KCMO

    How hard is soft? I bought my car a year ago, still not road worthy.
     
  7. Kevin Lee
    Joined: Nov 12, 2001
    Posts: 7,645

    Kevin Lee
    Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Variables are endless. We don't know much about you, what kind of car you'd like to build, what you have available, what your budget is or even if you have one, how resourceful you are, what your definition of complete is, and those are just the things I can think of right off.

    Give some good info and I think you can expect some pretty realistic results from this group. Or at least be able to show you some completed projects that were built in a similar situation.
     
  8. Started building my '64 Pontiac 'vert from a solid, showable driver in '84 and still don't have it done....
     
  9. 51 MERC-CT
    Joined: Apr 5, 2005
    Posts: 1,594

    51 MERC-CT
    Member

    Setting deadlines only seems to work on TV shows. (Boyd)
    Been driving my latest for a number of years and it still ain't done.:) :D
     
  10. JPMACHADO
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 983

    JPMACHADO
    Member
    from Not Listed

    By raw materials I meant the steel tubing for body and chassis. Not mined ore. Also, this was just a curiosity question coming from someone that wants to get done sooner than later. Some of you guys take yourselves way too seriously. Other guys, the light hearted ones, gave me some great stuff. Isn't this supposed to be fun?
     
  11. dabirdguy
    Joined: Jun 23, 2005
    Posts: 2,404

    dabirdguy
    Member Emeritus

    My Elky project stalled last november due to a traffic accident slowing me down to a crawl. I had figured on it taking 6-9 months.

    My 36 is on hold now and will be for quite a while due to the above AND the finances. I had figured it to be a 3 year project. Now it looks like 4-5 yeaars.

    The main thing is to KEEP GOING forward. Motovation is the hardest thing for me. When you don't see progress, and you keep finding things wrong it is hard to stay on the project.

    Two years is NOT outta line for keeping a full time job, maintaining a family, and doing a project car in my mind.
     
  12. Gerg
    Joined: Feb 27, 2006
    Posts: 1,828

    Gerg
    Member

    i am looking at 3 years. the car is completely stripped and i need to do tons of rust repair. if it goes longer then 3 years so be it if it takes me less time then that i suddenly became skilled with rust
     
  13. i've done them in 6 weeks , 6 months...6 years

    what it takes to build a hot rod is: tools , time , talent , space , parts and MONEY

    if you have lots of all of the above..it can go real fast

    if you are short on one or more....then it takes longer
     
  14. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,711

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    I think goals help us keep focused. If you want a good estimate on a ground up build on a '40s-style A/V8 roadster, Mike Bishop provides one in his book How to Build a Tradtional Ford Hot Rod - 50 weeks. Of course, that doesn't count the time it takes to hunt down everything, or learn skills you don't have.

    I'm calling my Model T assemblage "Project T Minus 30" because my target date is June 15, 2012, the day I turn thirty.
     
  15. Vance
    Joined: Jan 3, 2005
    Posts: 2,135

    Vance
    Member
    from N/A

    I heard on one of the weekend car programs like Dream Car, Car Crazy or My Classic that the average guy takes, again on average, 4 years to build their car.

    With that being said, I better get my ass in gear, I only have about eight months to finish it.
     
  16. zgears
    Joined: Nov 29, 2003
    Posts: 1,569

    zgears
    Member

    ive got 5 years and 25k in mine. its not a "ratrod" , id like to think it would have been one of the nicer cars seen on the flats in 1946.
     
  17. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    Time and money. If I have the time I don't have the money. If I have the money I don't have the time. Family? Hamb addict?
     
  18. spudshaft
    Joined: Feb 28, 2003
    Posts: 673

    spudshaft
    Member

    4 years and counting. Won't be all that nice either.
     
  19. 49 Fastback
    Joined: Jun 24, 2005
    Posts: 500

    49 Fastback
    Member
    from Ohio

    I was supposed to have it driving last summer. Now I'm aiming for next month (next month?! Better get my butt in the garage!).
    I think the first car, you are in a hurry and concerned about getting it done so you can enjoy it. After you have one "done", though, you get the whole Zen thing where you are much more relaxed about the time you spend in the shop.

    Tucker
     
  20. JPMACHADO
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 983

    JPMACHADO
    Member
    from Not Listed

    There's a lot to be said for that attitude. I already feel that if I had one to enjoy on summer nights, I could go slower on the next one. When you have nothing to drive around, except your daily driver, you feel like you're missing out!
     
  21. Turbo442
    Joined: Nov 27, 2005
    Posts: 702

    Turbo442
    Member

    This is the best answer you will get. Your resources, money and material wise, Time and effort you can put into it and skill level will dictate how long it will take.
    Another one I have heard is to double what you think it will cost, double how long you plan it will take and it will never be done! Oh and if you think all the little, easy stuff is easy, it is usually the hardest.
     
  22. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,869

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    How stupid can a stupid question be?
     
  23. JPMACHADO
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 983

    JPMACHADO
    Member
    from Not Listed


    Just asking for opinions and stories. Not writing a book. Let it go.
     
  24. Kevin Lee
    Joined: Nov 12, 2001
    Posts: 7,645

    Kevin Lee
    Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Now just stop and think for a minute before you start with the "way too seriously" garbage. We don't know you. We don't know anything about you... other than you want to complete a car.

    So while we may know a little more now, we weren't sure if you wanted to complete an early custom and your raw material was a '39 Merc, or maybe you want to complete an early hot rod - and your raw material is a Deuce five window that your Dad had squirreled away? Or maybe it's just a 4x8 sheet of 18ga steel?

    There are lots of different people here and the skill levels are greatly varied. I wouldn't be suprised if there is at least one HAMBer who actually did[i/] start with mined ore for some part or another - so your reply might not be as witty as you think.

    Point is, chill out. If all you wanted was someone to fire off a wild guess at a time frame with no reference you could have gone anywhere. If you want real info from people who are up to their elbows this is the place. You aren't likely to find another anywhere.

    And yes, this is fun as hell. That's why we're all here.
     
  25. No_Respect
    Joined: Jul 27, 2005
    Posts: 1,178

    No_Respect
    Member
    from So-Cal

    Just asking for opinions and stories. Not writing a book. Let it go.
    First off every one has an opion there like ass holes every one has one just some stink more than others trust me I know as I was a professional porn star;) As far as your original question who cares? I own five hotrods in varoious stages and every time i start making head way on one some thing happens And i dont care because to me its more fun working on them then it is breaking them like last month I was working on my 63 country sedan when a guy i knew came over to ask what a good price was for two jet skis he was trying to sell i told him what i thought, and then he cut the price in half and asked if i wanted them so of course i bought them. that put me behind on the Country sedan by a month oh well but now i have to project jet skis!
     
  26. Mutt
    Joined: Feb 6, 2003
    Posts: 3,219

    Mutt
    Member

    Actually, Nads is correct, given the question. The addage that there are no stupid questions is difficult to uphold when the question is:

    "How should it take to build a car?"

    There is something missing isn't there?

    Long? Much money? Many people? Many bolts? You get the idea.....

    Before taking a 'tude, maybe a little proof reading is in order....

    By the way Nads, love your new signature....


    Mutt
     
  27. uc4me
    Joined: Feb 3, 2006
    Posts: 516

    uc4me
    Member

    My projects are usually done in less than a year (6-8 months on average) I tend to lose interest if I can't get out there and drive them within a reasonable amount of time.

    Although I have had my AMX for 16 years and It'll never be finished but its been driveable for 15 of those years
     
  28. Goozgaz
    Joined: Jan 11, 2005
    Posts: 2,555

    Goozgaz
    Member

    Here's my formula...

    Skills + Money / Items on the wifes honey-do list = project completion.
     
  29. el Scotto
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 4,720

    el Scotto
    Member
    from Tracy, CA

    Took me 52 days to build my '52 Plymouth that I dragged out of a field. It was running, driving, and registered when I was "done", but it LOOKED like I built it in 52 days. I started running out of time before Paso, so a lot of stuff got cheesed. The floor was made out of a 'Cuda hood, the wiring was dirt basic, only two gauges, and never got the doors done. It was fun, gray primered 'Hot Rod', but I learned while I went along.

    I feel confident that the Model A will make it to Paso this year, and we're down to 50 days or so. It's more complete, and easier to find parts for than the Plymouth. Parts and information are a LOT more available for this project, and I know a lot more about fabrication and stuff, even though I feel I'm still a newbie at this Hot Rod stuff. The body will be far from what I want, but it will be a driver, and I want to keep this project, so later I'll straighten it out.
     
  30. Jackie
    Joined: Mar 16, 2004
    Posts: 12

    Jackie
    Member
    from So Cal

    I started my T Bucket 2 and a half years ago with some steel tubing for the frame. I finally got the chassis completed, less running gear. I have most of the parts, but no time to spend in the garage. =(

    -Jackie
     
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