First Old Project Car?

MitsubishiOwn · Sep 10, 2012

Okay I recently bought a 04 GTO and after I buy a winter beater I decided I am going to try and find a project car to build. My mechanical knowledge is not very good but I am willing to learn and put in the time. I am decently smart so I should be able to figure out most things with a little bit of reading over the internet. I would like to make my first project car a old muscle car preferably from the 60s to early 70s. The reason I want to do an older car is because I know that they are a lot less complicated and I think I would have an easier time working on or fixing up one plus I have always like muscle cars. I am not looking to make a race car out of it or anything like that but I would like to make it kinda fast like my current GTO.

My question for you guys is do you think I am going to be getting in over my head or what? And are they truley easier to work on than newer cars like the 3g. The reason I am posting this on here is because a lot of you are mechanics and have actually built up cars from the ground and would like to get opinions on what cars from the 60s-early 70s are good cars to build. Thanks before hand

jstewart92 · Sep 10, 2012

I dabbled with a 67' Camaro over the winter/spring time. Mainly doing a complete rewiring for someone, but I also helped my brother install a new MSD ignition in it, once you get one updated with newer parts --- alternator and distributor being possible problem areas, I think it is indeed very easy to work on.

You should still have me work on lights for you at some point

MitsubishiOwn · Sep 10, 2012

jstewart92 said:
I dabbled with a 67' Camaro over the winter/spring time. Mainly doing a complete rewiring for someone, but I also helped my brother install a new MSD ignition in it, once you get one updated with newer parts --- alternator and distributor being possible problem areas, I think it is indeed very easy to work on.

You should still have me work on lights for you at some point

Awesome man thank you for the information! Yeah my Dad and I just thought you know it would be something fun we could do when we get bored and hopefully piece together a nice looking car.

And I am for sure having you do my lights on my GTO when I get the money and decide if I am going to keep this one! Don't worry whenever I decide to do my lights you will be the person I am contacting.

Bitter · Sep 10, 2012

Have you ever driven a 70's era V8 RWD in the snow?

Edit: I read that wrong.

Can't go wrong with a GM A or X body.

MitsubishiOwn · Sep 10, 2012

Bitter said:
Have you ever driven a 70's era V8 RWD in the snow?

Nope and don't plan on it

Sorry might have made the first post confusing. After I buy a dd for this winter I am going to save up and buy a project car with my Dad.

GTmitsu · Sep 10, 2012

Take it from me, dont buy someone else's "project". Meaning, dont buy something that was started by someone else, ripped apart and raped. Buy a whole car and start replacing small things. With that said, don't bite off more than you can chew.

When I was 15 I bought a 65 Nova with the intentions of tubbing it, throwing a 327sb with a Stroker kit, and making a street machine out of it. I was making $5.50 an hour. Before long I realized it was too much for me to do alone, and it was time to sell it. I bought a 64 Belair (still have the car) and have been doing minor repairs/maintainence for the past four years. It's still a blast to drive, it's reliable, and parts are cheap.

So, before you buy it, research aftermarket parts, figure out a gameplan, and then figure out if you can afford it.

XwP1ayawX · Sep 10, 2012

Start with a mid-late 80's monte or a camaro. 305's are cheap, easy to work on, and you can still find the bodies cheap. You can probably find a running driving one for a little over 1000 depending on where you look. Parts are everywhere. They're not fast OEM, as fast as a stock 4 banger eclipse, but they're bad rides.

Corey16 · Sep 10, 2012

They really are easy to work on. A 57 year old friend of mine I have known for a couple years because of his son I knew and was friends with. He owns his own shop offered me a great opportunity to help rebuild and restore a 1969 mustang he owned. It was an awesome experience and truly a really easy thing to do. That is one you could try to find and have as a project car. I have helped him work on older model classic muscle cars from time to time when people needed repairs to be done like any other shop, I hung around his shop almost every day. There weren't many people that owned old classic muscle cars. They weren't amazing things but just $400-$700 beat up cars that people just happened to buy just to have the satisfaction of owning them. They were all pieces of crap, but ran lol. I highly advise you do it, it really will be easy to work on and you will be satisfied by the ending result more than likely.

MitsubishiOwn · Sep 10, 2012

Thanks a ton guys! I think I am going to stick with a car from the 60s unless I can find a early 70s trans am which I imagine would be really expensive even one in rough shape. If you guys run across any deals online or something let me know for sure. After hearing some of these comments it makes me want to do this even more.

NHRATA01 · Sep 10, 2012

XwP1ayawX said:
Start with a mid-late 80's monte or a camaro. 305's are cheap, easy to work on, and you can still find the bodies cheap. You can probably find a running driving one for a little over 1000 depending on where you look. Parts are everywhere. They're not fast OEM, as fast as a stock 4 banger eclipse, but they're bad rides.

G-bodies. Buick Regal/Olds Cutlass/Chevy Monte Carlo. Even they're starting to get expensive because they were some of the last body-on-frame midsize cars out there and the modders/racers are picking them up and yanking the wheezy 305s and 307s and swapping in BBC's and LSx's.

And of course the "real G's" like to turn them into donks!

NHRATA01 · Sep 10, 2012

MitsubishiOwn said:
Thanks a ton guys! I think I am going to stick with a car from the 60s unless I can find a early 70s trans am which I imagine would be really expensive even one in rough shape. If you guys run across any deals online or something let me know for sure. After hearing some of these comments it makes me want to do this even more.

Yeah, scrap the idea of an early 2nd gen, will be way out of the price range. Even the late 2nd gens (79-82) are pulling decent money, surprisingly enough.

GSXROFDFW · Sep 10, 2012

I have owned 2 second gen f-bodys. One Camaro that is gone and my 77 trans am at home that was my Moms car in 77 before I was born 2 years later. Body work for me is the bitch. Thankfully both cars were super unheard of clean bodys that were always garage kept. People think 2nd gens don't handle well or are heavy. They have WAY better geometry than 1 gen camaros or any of the novas did and in the late 70's were some of the best handling cars. The T/As especially. I am doing a Pro Touring F-bodys suspension kit with composite rear springs and all tubular front arms right now. You can make these cars handle really well even with out a 4 link and corvette frt clip.

I would advise buying a car that is "all there". That way when you take it apart you can take pics and know how stuff goes back together. Also know what you are looking at. I can tell you EVERYWHERE to look on 70-81 Camaros and Firebirds and know those cars well. Don't miss the common areas of concern that are the difference between a good car and a parts car. Get with someone in the know for the model you are looking at.

People watch to many car shows on tv and tear it apart for a frame off resto with big dreams and then end of with a pile of parts and run out of money, time or know how. I never take a part off of my cars without having one on the floor to go right back in with. It cost more and is a pain to do it in little bits but I still drive my car on a regular basis. I hear ALL the time "yeah I have a whatever at home I am building with THIS motor and it is a frame off resto blah blah" that they haven't driven in 10 years. My paint may not be there yet and I still don't have 600 ft-lbs of torque to fry the meats I have out back on my sick wheels but I am out driving around with my kids, getting thumbs up and people getting excited about it. That is what it is all about man!

What about a truck? 68-72 Chevys are the shit. I also LOVE 88-98 rcsb trucks slammed to the ground.

GSXROFDFW · Sep 10, 2012

NHRATA01 said:
Yeah, scrap the idea of an early 2nd gen, will be way out of the price range. Even the late 2nd gens (79-82) are pulling decent money, surprisingly enough.

Yeah for what you pay for a really rough 70-73 f-body you can buy a later car that runs and drives with little rust. I still think there is some really good deals on the late sec gens though. A lot of people think they are not as cool. I get some comments from co workers of am I going to grow a mullet or whatever. I have also gotten stopped by guys in amg Benzs drooling over it and saying how badass it is. I have a place for 77-81 Camaros WHEN DONE RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT STANCE.

skinnyGT · Sep 10, 2012

Get a fox body stang and be done thinking about it. If I didn't have an f body already, that's what I would do. They're lite, the factory rear ends take a beating, parts are cheap, and just about any engine combination will fit. The 8.8 rear is reason enough to consider it. Aftermarket rears ain't cheap.

GTmitsu · Sep 10, 2012

skinnyGT said:
Get a fox body stang and be done thinking about it. If I didn't have an f body already, that's what I would do. They're lite, the factory rear ends take a beating, parts are cheap, and just about any engine combination will fit. The 8.8 rear is reason enough to consider it. Aftermarket rears ain't cheap.

:agreed: my next project will be a fox body.

XwP1ayawX · Sep 10, 2012

NHRATA01 said:
G-bodies. Buick Regal/Olds Cutlass/Chevy Monte Carlo. Even they're starting to get expensive because they were some of the last body-on-frame midsize cars out there and the modders/racers are picking them up and yanking the wheezy 305s and 307s and swapping in BBC's and LSx's.

And of course the "real G's" like to turn them into donks!

MitsubishiOwn · Sep 11, 2012

GTmitsu said:
:agreed: my next project will be a fox body.

That's sweet man when you do it make a built thread.

skinnyGT said:
Get a fox body stang and be done thinking about it. If I didn't have an f body already, that's what I would do. They're lite, the factory rear ends take a beating, parts are cheap, and just about any engine combination will fit. The 8.8 rear is reason enough to consider it. Aftermarket rears ain't cheap.

I talked to my Dad about this idea and we want to stick with an older car and maybe not even necesarrily a muscle car. He doesn't like the fox body stangs at all!

GSXROFDFW said:
Yeah for what you pay for a really rough 70-73 f-body you can buy a later car that runs and drives with little rust. I still think there is some really good deals on the late sec gens though. A lot of people think they are not as cool. I get some comments from co workers of am I going to grow a mullet or whatever. I have also gotten stopped by guys in amg Benzs drooling over it and saying how badass it is. I have a place for 77-81 Camaros WHEN DONE RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT STANCE.

Yeah man I agree but we are really looking at early 70s being as new as we are willing to go my father doesn't like most of the cars from the 80s and what not. He told me he would like to maybe even look into cars from the 50s.

NHRATA01 said:
G-bodies. Buick Regal/Olds Cutlass/Chevy Monte Carlo. Even they're starting to get expensive because they were some of the last body-on-frame midsize cars out there and the modders/racers are picking them up and yanking the wheezy 305s and 307s and swapping in BBC's and LSx's.

And of course the "real G's" like to turn them into donks!

Hahaha see a lot of the "G" look around where I am from. Actually that is all you see around here!

GSXROFDFW said:
I have owned 2 second gen f-bodys. One Camaro that is gone and my 77 trans am at home that was my Moms car in 77 before I was born 2 years later. Body work for me is the bitch. Thankfully both cars were super unheard of clean bodys that were always garage kept. People think 2nd gens don't handle well or are heavy. They have WAY better geometry than 1 gen camaros or any of the novas did and in the late 70's were some of the best handling cars. The T/As especially. I am doing a Pro Touring F-bodys suspension kit with composite rear springs and all tubular front arms right now. You can make these cars handle really well even with out a 4 link and corvette frt clip.

I would advise buying a car that is "all there". That way when you take it apart you can take pics and know how stuff goes back together. Also know what you are looking at. I can tell you EVERYWHERE to look on 70-81 Camaros and Firebirds and know those cars well. Don't miss the common areas of concern that are the difference between a good car and a parts car. Get with someone in the know for the model you are looking at.

People watch to many car shows on tv and tear it apart for a frame off resto with big dreams and then end of with a pile of parts and run out of money, time or know how. I never take a part off of my cars without having one on the floor to go right back in with. It cost more and is a pain to do it in little bits but I still drive my car on a regular basis. I hear ALL the time "yeah I have a whatever at home I am building with THIS motor and it is a frame off resto blah blah" that they haven't driven in 10 years. My paint may not be there yet and I still don't have 600 ft-lbs of torque to fry the meats I have out back on my sick wheels but I am out driving around with my kids, getting thumbs up and people getting excited about it. That is what it is all about man!

What about a truck? 68-72 Chevys are the shit. I also LOVE 88-98 rcsb trucks slammed to the ground.

Thanks for the awesome advice man I talked to my Dad about that and he agreed completely on how you suggested to start with a complete car do to us not knowing much about them. And I like the idea of doing like a part or two at a time its a good way to make sure you can afford the parts. I am willing to look at trucks possibly and now we are thinking cars from the 50s even.

Any suggestions on websites to look for older cars?

Bitter · Sep 11, 2012

How about a nice C10 Custom Deluxe with a 3 on the tree? You'd never need to worry about it getting stolen since no one would know how the fuck to drive it. :lol:

MitsubishiOwn · Sep 11, 2012

Bitter said:
How about a nice C10 Custom Deluxe with a 3 on the tree? You'd never need to worry about it getting stolen since no one would know how the fuck to drive it. :lol:

Wasn't sure what it was so I looked it up. Not a bad looking older truck! Couldn't find anything about why they are hard to drive but they don't look bad.

Any ideas for websites to look on? Been searching craigslist like crazy along with car specific websites such as mustangs, ect.. Also where should I look for information on parts for different cars I am guessing maybe an online catalog somewhere.

After doing a little looking I really love the 72' fast back but probably out of the price range I am looking at

Really any of the mustangs from the 60s.

Bitter · Sep 11, 2012

3 on the tree is an OLD manual trans, the shifter is on the column and anyone under the age of 50 won't know how to drive one. I can barely figure it out!

Having that on the side of the column would have been very useful to me.

First Old Project Car?

MitsubishiOwn

jstewart92

MitsubishiOwn

Bitter

MitsubishiOwn

GTmitsu

XwP1ayawX

Corey16

MitsubishiOwn

NHRATA01

NHRATA01

GSXROFDFW

GSXROFDFW

skinnyGT

GTmitsu

XwP1ayawX

MitsubishiOwn

Bitter

MitsubishiOwn

Bitter

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities