I thought I'd share my budget build on this great site. I've gained alot of knowledge from you guys so far and enjoy seeing the progress of other builds. I'll warn you up front, this won't be a wicked fast process, there's just too much going on in life right now for me to do all I want to do right away. I'll do my best at sharing pics along the way as well as just sharing stories. I hope you enjoy!
First, I'll share how I found the car. I race at the local circle track and spotted the brown wagon leaving the pits one night. I had enjoyed a few cold ones by that time and yelled at the guy that I wanted his car. I've raced with him for a few years so I knew him a little bit. He hit the brakes, and backed up to my pit. He kind of chuckled and just said... "Thousand bucks". Now it was a relatively clean car, dirty brown in color. Small rust holes in the bottoms of the fenders (right behind the wheel). Other than that, a couple very small spots of surface cancer only. It sounded quiet, except for the bearing squeal from under the hood (water pump or alternator most likely). I of course was slightly buzzed and said "SOLD!...when I get the money of course". It was racing season, any extra cash went into my pile of a race car. I looked it over a little, no frame rust, the little 267 V8 and TH350, AC (not working), a very basic car. Manual windows, AM/FM with the single dash speaker. Interior is a little rough as he used it as his "pick up". I knew that night that some day the car would be mine.
The whole rest of the '10 racing season, I saw the car off and on in the pits. I'd talk to him about it and he was set on selling it to me but wasn't in a hurry to sell so he didn't mind waiting on my funds. That summer, he swapped out the 14" tires and put on some of those aftermarket chrome chevy rally wheels with 255/60/15s in the back and some smaller crap tires in front. He sprung up the back to give the tires room. I wasn't a fan of the jacked up look but whatever. The wheels and 2 good tires were worth more towards my future purchase. Towards the end of the season, he started asking me if I was ready. He needed better gas mileage for work so he was car shopping and it wouldn't be his daily driver anymore. Crap! Now I was worried he'd sell it away before I could get it. I stayed in touch that off season and winter to make sure he knew I was very interested. At one point, I got an email saying $750 and it's mine. He was re-doing their kitchen cabinets and could use the money. Still a financial fail on my part, I couldn't do it yet. Spring time came and I had the cash. I contacted him about the car and got a response... "Well...I slid into it this winter with my truck and busted the header panel and dinged the hood. How's $500 sound?" I got a quick picture text to me and it wasn't too bad. An easy $250 fix in my opinion. I went and picked it up that weekend. Below is the picture from my way home with it. Drove good except for a low brake pedal which was a bad rear wheel cylinder. All in all I was happy.
And the damage that saved me $250.
First, I'll share how I found the car. I race at the local circle track and spotted the brown wagon leaving the pits one night. I had enjoyed a few cold ones by that time and yelled at the guy that I wanted his car. I've raced with him for a few years so I knew him a little bit. He hit the brakes, and backed up to my pit. He kind of chuckled and just said... "Thousand bucks". Now it was a relatively clean car, dirty brown in color. Small rust holes in the bottoms of the fenders (right behind the wheel). Other than that, a couple very small spots of surface cancer only. It sounded quiet, except for the bearing squeal from under the hood (water pump or alternator most likely). I of course was slightly buzzed and said "SOLD!...when I get the money of course". It was racing season, any extra cash went into my pile of a race car. I looked it over a little, no frame rust, the little 267 V8 and TH350, AC (not working), a very basic car. Manual windows, AM/FM with the single dash speaker. Interior is a little rough as he used it as his "pick up". I knew that night that some day the car would be mine.
The whole rest of the '10 racing season, I saw the car off and on in the pits. I'd talk to him about it and he was set on selling it to me but wasn't in a hurry to sell so he didn't mind waiting on my funds. That summer, he swapped out the 14" tires and put on some of those aftermarket chrome chevy rally wheels with 255/60/15s in the back and some smaller crap tires in front. He sprung up the back to give the tires room. I wasn't a fan of the jacked up look but whatever. The wheels and 2 good tires were worth more towards my future purchase. Towards the end of the season, he started asking me if I was ready. He needed better gas mileage for work so he was car shopping and it wouldn't be his daily driver anymore. Crap! Now I was worried he'd sell it away before I could get it. I stayed in touch that off season and winter to make sure he knew I was very interested. At one point, I got an email saying $750 and it's mine. He was re-doing their kitchen cabinets and could use the money. Still a financial fail on my part, I couldn't do it yet. Spring time came and I had the cash. I contacted him about the car and got a response... "Well...I slid into it this winter with my truck and busted the header panel and dinged the hood. How's $500 sound?" I got a quick picture text to me and it wasn't too bad. An easy $250 fix in my opinion. I went and picked it up that weekend. Below is the picture from my way home with it. Drove good except for a low brake pedal which was a bad rear wheel cylinder. All in all I was happy.
And the damage that saved me $250.