Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

[William B.]

I have read different posts about hours spent restoring an ADVERAGE car. I have restored a number of cars and we usually end up somewhere around 1000 to 1500 hours. That includes paint, engine and most everything else. We job out a few things like chroming, powder coating and upolstery. How can some people do it with any less time? Are they jobbing out the paint, body work, engine assembly and then coming up with 500 hours on just reasembly. Just curious on anyones thoughts? Bill

[Patrick H.]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

Bill,

FYI, a friend of mine has done 3 1960's in a row, and ends up with about 1000 hours on each one. He's always surprised how consistent it is. I'm not sure how it can be done with less unless someone else does all the body and paint work, and you just reassemble your car from parts purchased from a catalog house.

Patrick

[Larry Poropat]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

I agree with 1000 to 1500 hours, after you've done a couple. I think I could do it on the second one. The first one for me has been a huge learning curve.
I've done all the labor with the exception of paint, chrome and gauge rebuild. If I subtract the time for research, mistakes and chasing parts, I might be close to that. But then again, I'm not done yet.
Larry

[William B.]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

I guess I must enjoy the punishment, I find it hard to accept my per hour pay if I were to sell any cars. So far I just add to my collection. The big plus that you can not buy is, I know no one has taken any short cuts and the car is how I want it to be.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

Bill I did a frame on restoration on a 73 coupe in 800 hours No paint work. Engine got oil pan and timming chain and valve cover seals and painted, Frame was ( Rust Cured) and painted with all parts removed. Steerig gear box not jut painted but taken apart and rebuilt. Trailing arm rebuilt not sent out but taken apart and rebuilt.All parts rebuilt. Complete new interior and installed the seat covers myslef. Scored 97 plus the first time shown at a regional. Lyle

[Harmon C.]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

I should have said I buoght that 73 from the original owner in 2000 and he had every part that was ever removed. That being said I am sure this is on the low end for hours worked. Lyle

[Roy B.]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

I always have a blank look on my face when some one tells me it took 5 years, 10 years or more to restore their car. Am I missing some thing? or are they broke or plan to live to 100.?

[John M.]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

Bill,
I spent in excess of 2000 hours on my 60, but I am REAL anal rententive!LOL

Regards, John McGraw

[Gary Cederman]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

Roy,

There are many reasons as to why a restoration took the time needed to complete the work.

Mine took 5+ calendar years to do a complete restoration. Looking back on it, I know that I could have probably shaved anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 years off of that time. But, my goal was not to just finish the work as quickly as possible so that I could drive the car as soon as possible. I think that I had just as much enjoyment restoring the car as I now have driving it.

I rather heard that it took someone X-years to complete the restoration rather than hear they have had a corvette (or any other car) in their garage for 20 years and say “Someday, I going to restore that car!”.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Adverage Time?

You must not have kids, at least little ones in school. If I get 2 hours a week to myself, that is a miracle.

At 2 hr/wk, 1000 hours = 500 weeks = litle less than 10 years.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Restoration Hours?? Average Time?

Amen.

Right now the 8, 5 and 3 year olds keep me busy.

I usually figure that if it takes someone 5 years, it means they actually have a life other than Corvettes. I redid my 71's engine and a lot of other items in one winter several years ago, but that was pre-kids. Now it would take me a year minimum. It's a 2 1/2 month job right now to R&R my Muncie.

Patrick

[Peter K.]

Who's really counting...Does it matter???

As far as I am concerned, it's a labor of love, if we didn't love these cars and take pride in our accomplishments, why would you really care how long it's going to take????

Peter

[Larry P.]

Re: Who's really counting...Does it matter???

For me it's a good balance. Money is part of it, at 5K a year, 7 years should just about do it. I'm almost there. It doesn't help that I run my own business and play over 100 rounds of golf a year.
Larry

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: Who's really counting...Does it matter???

Larry and the others, I a with you. Three kids 5 1/2 is the oldes. Between the kids, wife, extended family, private school, and oh yea I run my own business I am lucky to get a few hours a week and buy a few hundred dollars a month in parts. I dream of the day my '72 BB is running down the street look'n all perrrtyyy. I must say it is a hell of a "ride" restoring. Loveing "almost" every minute.

Brandon