How many of you are doing total restorations?

[Model51]

rockfla - Thank you. I'm first in line to see it finished! Had I ever known how difficult it is to do a big truck, perhaps I would never have started. The silver lining is that by trying the hard way, I had much of the material for my book.

[busmania]

Didn’t vote as mine fits neither category. Every part (almost) will be new or refurbished except the paint. Got a thing for ugly outside, hot in all the right places. Frame off as we speak and it’s all being built back up. 5’s rod style with a cigar lounge feel inside when I eventually get to the interior. Excited to get the body back on in the next 2 months or so.

[TagMan]

Hope to finish my '36 3W coupe this Summer. Started it in 2010, but lost a few years due to medical issues and a relocation.

[Jacques1960]

Thanks to this forum, I continue to chase the details on both my 1936 Phaeton and 1938 Station Wagon; while many of these details remain hidden from view, I know they are there. I completely agree with those who find joy in the research, the hunt, and finding “the guy / gal” who can point us toward the unobtanium we need. Connections on this board have helped me source a NIB(!) temperature sending unit / gauge, open car antennae, spare tire cover plans (thank you Dearborn !), and specialists for coils, pneumatic Trico components, glass bug etching kits, and on. My sincere compliments to those older members who accomplished these similar tasks without Google / search engines - the true Sherlocks among us.

[slowforty]

See my Avatar. Resotation after a total. Hit in the Ass by a lady on a cell phone. Took three years. For got to ask "How Long?" Turned out Nice. Toobad about the "Why Dont Yous?" They cost about $500 Each. As long as you are doing this,Why dont you?

[Ron_r1959]

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I am doing a 41 pickup for me this time, I have worked on a few over the past 25 years. One thing that is a constant, it would have been much cheaper to bought one already done LOL!

[busmania]

Originally Posted by Ron_r1959

it would have been much cheaper to bought one already done LOL!

No doubt but what fun is that? I consider the time I spent not as an expense, but as an experience!

[Ron Pilger]

3/4 done my ground-up resto on a 36 3-W

[RKS.PA]

Seth, this was a great question you've posed here!!

Love the diversity of responses you got in very short order.

If there's a common thread I picked up, it's about the "doing"!

Thank you for thinking of this!!

[DavidG]

Yes, it's all about the "experience" and the "doing" and blessedly, those mean different things to different people.

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by RKS.PA

Seth, this was a great question you've posed here!!

Love the diversity of responses you got in very short order.

If there's a common thread I picked up, it's about the "doing"!

Thank you for thinking of this!!

RKS.PA
You hit the nail on the head, for me. It's the challenge of the project, its the satisfaction of using your hands, working through the process, learning, talent, and completion of each task that builds to the fulfillment of the reason I love this hobby!!! I helping my best friend on his project, He keeps telling me "I don't need perfection" on all the work I do for him....I told him, "I work to do the BEST I can do....IF that is perfection then that is what you get....BUT I am trying to do as perfect of a job that I can possibly do!!! The RIGHT way, as best I know it to be!!!

[Ron Pilger]

The nice thing about doing a thorough restoration is you gain a true understanding of the vehicle you own and drive. It also gives you a real clear picture of the fix involved when you breakdown on the road!

[Seth Swoboda]

Great responses so far. Keep them coming. I have enjoyed reading them all. This is a question I pose to Michael Driskell from time to time. One thing that is important no matter what your level of interest is, there are still folks involved in the hobby in some fashion, keeping these cars and trucks on the road.

[deuce_roadster]

Of the early Fords I own, I only tried to put one of them together to be judged at an EFV8 Concourse. I did it as a challenge to myself. Not to "win" or outdo anyone else. Most of my cars were in very sad shape when I got them and this late in the game, restoring a 32 is almost an impossible task unless you start with a VERY complete car and or lots of money, or picked up the hard to find items long ago. Even though I am 73, I missed out on the time when you could buy many NOS parts as I had lots of Brand X cars before I bought my 1st flathead V8 car. Also I grew up very poor and learned metal working and painting skills due to necessity. The 34 sedan delivery pictured in my MISC folder is an example of what I could afford to start with. I had the good fortune of learning for 41 years about EFV8s from a well respected person who had many 32s. I feel I did as well as I could for the money I had on my 1 concourse car. The rest i just want to drive and really are only judged by me.

[Old Redneck]

When I bought my 32, 6 years ago about all I knew was what a 32 look like. It looked nice but completely all wrong. Did have a 32 motor and that was it. Springs were wrong, Oil Pan,Woodgrain, Carb., Wiring , Plating, and Generator plus 1000. other things. All bolts were Metric. I was total ashamed of myself that I had not done any homework before buying a 32. First I got Dave books and his e-mail then started trying to correct this darn Contraption is what I called it. Maybe it was best I did buy it because with Dave's books and his e-mail I have learn a lot trying to correct the 32 as I call it now. Almost 6 years and lots of homework its starting to look decent. I wanted to take it to the National meet to have it judged to see where it is now. But do to my wife's back problems I had to cancel. She more important them the 32 any day of the week. One problem is I am 83 now a bit shaky and stumbles a lot, trip over and falls because of my poor eye sight. I might be a bit bang up but I am not quoting because of little things. I have learn to love the 32 and do enjoying learning about it. Have not name the 32 yet but a lot of names I have though of. Will not repeat them now. Maybe down the road a nice name will come to me. Dave have been a super good help on the 32 plus the internet. Without the internet we all would be lost. That the story about my 32.

[Stretch Cab]

At the bidding of my father, I took my 36 Fordor Deluxe apart about 50 years ago. The man who was to restore it backed out and it is still apart. I'm 66 and have started restoring the car with the running gear almost ready to put back together. The car will be nice but not judged. My motivation is that I want my kids to be able to advertise the car as running when they sell it when I'm gone.

I actually enjoy the build process but haven't had the time or money to really stay on it. I have also lived outside of the country for much of my life, so the car has languished in storage.

I'm also working on an early non-ford build.

[highbeams]

My '33 3w Deluxe (no body number anywhere!) will continue its 87 years, as it has . . . as it rolled off the assy line; later with one repaint Washington Blue peel'g off in areas showing the Ford Washington Blue.(should not've been repainted in the '50s;owner= too lazy to Simonize, obviously.)
very Original 'moosehair' interior, orig rumble seat with Ford original 'leatherette' as ford referred to it, good but deteriorating. Original Ford's fabric roof; good but deteriorating. Original 6Ford33 Safety Glass (except windshield . . .apparently was replaced w/plate. . . cracked. So I replaced with 6Ford33 Safety Glass from Sanders. (perfect)
Orig '33 flathead w/ replaced cast iron heads dated '47 & '45. has throwout bearing oiling tube. 100% Ford exact original 'fine-threadeds' size depending where/what per Ford.
Ford painted Tacoma Cream wheels with road-debris chipped to the steel, more-or-less, here 'n there . . . '33 (no blue) presentable original caps.
Deteriorated heavily-dulled '33 chrome. windshield frame I tennis-elbowed Bon-Ami 'hasn't scratched yet'.) (elbow now might need a Ford fine-thread machine screw)
Headlight-bucke- stainless still excellent.

Wards yellowed whitewalls; excellent tread=setting how long you say?), but are "retired" w/me. (Wards last made 17" auto tires= 1996+-) yellowed but excellent tread. hmmm.

I wouldn't have a resto'd-from-the-ground-up car with cadmium-plated fasteners, Chinese parts. I want a Ford-made-by-Ford; not a Chord = Chinese Ford. That's what 'resto'd from the ground up" are. You're driving a Chord . . .

Thank you for 'putin' up with my Archie Bunker-to-anyone-and-everyone style; and that's not a pigment of my imagination, Edith.*

[SoCalCoupe]

Originally Posted by DavidG

As Mike notes, I enjoy the research, the hunt for the parts, the frustration, and the sublime satisfaction of restoring them as built. I've just added another one to my list of those in final assembly, now seven in total. I'm not bragging or complaining; as well said above, to each, his own.

Originally Posted by Model51

The thing that keeps me going and interested is that I enjoy the research and the process of bringing back something to the way it was originally made (at least as best I can).

One thing I like about the Early Ford V8 Club is that there is no "winner", it's you against the judging sheet and everyone who takes the time and care gets rewarded. I sort of shot myself in the foot by publishing a 275 page detailed book about my truck, so now other can tell what's right or not, but for me the book was as much fun as restoring the truck, so I'm happy.

Theses are great explanations about the appeal of doing high-quality restorations. Doing one is a totally different thing than buying one. While not doing restorations myself, I've researched, worked, and hunted for parts for a number of mechanical and electrical issues in cars and other systems. Economically, I probably shouldn't have spent the time or done it myself, but solving them certainly gave me great deal of satisfaction.

[RalphG]

Most here have seen my 52 Merc and its never going to see a restoration while I own it. I have neither the skills or patience to do that. Plus it would be off the road and sitting who knows how long. I want a car I can drive, not a years long project that I might not live to complete. Its definitely no show car but it does get a lot of comments and "likes" at local car shows when they know the family history in it. I've spent many hours cleaning up the original paint and chrome and whatever mechanical repairs were needed to get it on the road and thats as far as I'm taking it.
I have a lot of respect for those that can do their own cosmetic and mechanical restorations but mine will always be just "driver class".

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by RalphG

Most here have seen my 52 Merc and its never going to see a restoration while I own it. I have neither the skills or patience to do that. Plus it would be off the road and sitting who knows how long. I want a car I can drive, not a years long project that I might not live to complete. Its definitely no show car but it does get a lot of comments and "likes" at local car shows when they know the family history in it. I've spent many hours cleaning up the original paint and chrome and whatever mechanical repairs were needed to get it on the road and thats as far as I'm taking it.
I have a lot of respect for those that can do their own cosmetic and mechanical restorations but mine will always be just "driver class".