Car Project - Muscle Car

[Exodus01]

Hi Guys,

I want to start a project car like a Charger or Challenger or something however don't really know anything about cars.

I don't care about how long it would take or the cost its just something that interests me.

So my question to you all is how would you approach this? Where could i learn the detailed information about doing this not just the overviews you get through google like keep parts together etc.

[tweety bird]

start at tafe first.

this might help you.

http://www.enginebasics.com/

[greensa14]

Not a bad idea to do a short course.

Whatever your budget double it.......and whatever your time line....double it.

YOur choice in car is great but parts for those are not easy to come by so that may create some headaches.

A 1970 RT Charger is the bomb. Most important thing is enjoy it as if you biuld it from ground up it will become part of you.

My bro and i have been trying to build out Datto 510 for 2 years now and still dont even have it as a rolling shell.

Time is a hard thing to find when you got a family.

[Exodus01]

Agreed, i am working 3 jobs at the moment so time is quite hard to come by - i might look into some courses than. Anything in particular i should look into.. i.e. Is there courses on restoration or is it just individual key courses like engines etc,?

[tweety bird]

you're going to spend most of your time cutting out rust and welding in new metal then you would be sanding and painting.

do you have the tools needed to do something like this?

[Exodus01]

No not yet but plan to purchase as i find out what i do need.

[tweety bird]

this is going to be a very expensive project, i'm talking $80.000-$120.000.

yes i'm serious.

[SKITTLES]

Buy all your tools first. Like, even if you see a tool and think "Oh I probably won't use that", buy it anyway.

"Air compressors are on sale for $200 w/ painting kit? Might as well buy one" Srsly, it'll save your butt haha.

Also make sure you have plenty of room.

THose are my two biggest killers; i have 40-50cm aruond my car of room to move, and a limited supply of my own tools. I'm constantly driving my half-finished cars to bunnings because I'm missing something.

[GH05T]

this is going to be a very expensive project, i'm talking $80.000-$120.000.

yes i'm serious.

With the cars mentioned.... Easily

[Exodus01]

Yeah, i do have a compressor not a paint kit might need to look into it.. i dont know exactly what tools i will need which is why i was going to get it as i need/discover.

I don't have a problem with the cost of this as i have no idea what im doing im expecting this to take me many many years and as mentioned working three jobs pays well so im happy to spend whatever is needed.

Could anyone recommend a place for parts for these types of cars ?

[tweety bird]

usa.

btw one of those $200 air compressors won't paint a car (and do a good job of it).

[Birds]

Hi Guys,

I want to start a project car like a Charger or Challenger or something however don't really know anything about cars.

I don't care about how long it would take or the cost its just something that interests me.

So my question to you all is how would you approach this? Where could i learn the detailed information about doing this not just the overviews you get through google like keep parts together etc.

Join a car club specific to the type of car you buy. Trust me when I say this! The club's members will be happy to help out with advice and tend to know more about their car than anyone else. They will also be able to advise you on where to get the cheapest parts etc. Just look at all the info on SAU and people willing to answer questions. I rebuilt my first car (including the engine) a year or two after buying it, learning everything from people in the car club and it's forum.

[Exodus01]

OK i might look for a forum for the charger. its hard to find forums like SAU which is so well managed and a great community!

Thank you all for your replies.

[75coupe]

join a car club that deals with the car you want to restore, the types of enthusiasts your after are old school, they dont sit on the web, they have face to face meets at the local hall or rsl monthly...

Boy are you in for a shock though... its not just the money, its the time and knowledge factor, because you have very little knowledge you'll find just trying to locate the simplest of thing or figure out where to start will take about 5 times longer that you assumed and you may still not even have what you were after and left with more questions...

learn to cut and weld metal, and then realise that just being able to cut and weld metal wont help because you have not experience in heat control, or where best to cut panels and then also how to protect the panels from the almighty rust gremlin and you'll be learning along the way on a old muscle car shell that is already rare and quite expensive, not a good way to learn...

your goal is way too high at the moment, start off with something simpler, its sounds like a great idea, I know I did it, but I had bit more knowledge and thought yeah I can do it... after a couple of years working on it when I could and transporting the whole lot to different locations to continue work on it over the years, I started doing (after I had gained alot more know how and real world experience) the maths for time and money involved, knowing that I couldnt never be able to do all things required to restore the car to the level I wanted, that it would cost another 40K easily just in parts alone... I realise then I had bitten off way too much for myself...

Do you know what a car rotisserie is, if not, start reading Id say you have about 12months of reading and learning before you can even start to think about looking at cars to purchase.

I havnt even mentioned tool... wow, yep start saving, and no supercheap will not be where you want to buy your tools from, you'll need decent tools that will last you years cause this will take you years... set aside about $2K to start with for tools.. that will get you started on the idea of a restoration but it wont end there.... do you know how to weld? do you know what a welder costs, no not an ebay one a real one... then the gas, then the wire, then learning to use it...

I could ramble on about this all day to you... you have everest times 10 to climb I hope you realise.

[Exodus01]

yeah im aware of the difficulties and have no expectation of this being a walk in the park. and am prepared to spend alot of time looking for stuff. My brother does welding so hes good to help me with all that but yeah gonna have issues with where do i start.