Thoughts on Restomod Sequence

[CaliWagon83]

Hi All. Well, as some of you may know, I recently bought a new house. This is great news, as it will allow me to FINALLY bring the Regal wagon home.

But as you also probably know, a new house comes with a lot of new expenses. Among the other projects I want to eventually do is paver stones for the front driveway area. My father-in-law seems to think it’s going to be exorbitantly expensive, in the neighborhood of $20,000+.

So some tough decisions potentially ahead. First and foremost, I just want to get the wagon running, smogged, and registered, and mechanically sound and road-worthy. I figure getting it to the point of being a fairly reliable weekend driver will be in the ballpark of $2,000.

As noted, I’m estimating the all-in figure for the full restomod will be about $30-40,000. The biggest single chunk of it will be the drivetrain, at about $13,000. I’m debating whether I should do the frame-off (reinforcement, powdercoating) separately from the other parts of the build, or just suck it up, dive in, and somehow scrape together all the money to just get it done all at once. Thoughts? I value the collective experience and wisdom of y’all.

 

[fleming442]

Are YOU doing it or farming it out?

 

[Michael Watts]

A lot depends on what you can do yourself .by trades time line and how much you have to farm out. On how much it cost you in the long run

 

[CaliWagon83]

The basic tinkering and maintenance/replacement items, I’m planning on doing myself, with the help of my father-in-law and a friend. For the bigger steps, probably going to take it to a shop. I simply don’t have the room, tools, or expertise to do it all myself.

Another plan (assuming I can find the space to store them) is to gradually accumulate the items I’ll need until I have most of them, then go to the shop with them.

 

[fleming442]

If that's the case, I would avoid farming as much out as possible. There are some real crooks out there that will hold your car hostage and charge exorbitant fees. There's plenty of horror stories on this board alone. That being said, how do you feel about getting an extra frame to work on, then doing a body swap?

 

[DRIVEN]

Just for a little more frame of reference, what is your intended spec sheet?

 

[CaliWagon83]

Building up a separate frame is an option. I guess what I’d need to know before I go down that route are the following: First off, if the coupe/wagon frames are generally interchangeable. I know for sure the gas tanks are different. The coupe frames are a lot more plentiful than wagon frames.

Secondly, finding one as in good shape as the one that’s on it.

Thirdly, if the shop is willing to let the frame sit there as it’s being built up separate from the car. Unfortunately, the new house is in a neighborhood association that has pretty strict rules about non-operational vehicles. I do have a little bit of a side yard where I could store it, but it’d be a squeeze.

 

[CaliWagon83]

Just for a little more frame of reference, what is your intended spec sheet?

Longer-term, the vision is an LS3 E-Rod Connect & Cruise with the 4L65-E, 12-bolt rear with posi & rear discs. Wilwood fronts, performance suspension. Hellwig Frame FX frame reinforcement kit. 245/45-17 wheels & tires.

Also at some point want to do some tweaks to the interior (front buckets, custom console) but those can wait. Main thing is getting the hardware and mechanicals dialed in.

 

[565bbchevy]

Longer-term, the vision is an LS3 E-Rod Connect & Cruise with the 4L65-E, 12-bolt rear with posi & rear discs. Wilwood fronts, performance suspension. Hellwig Frame FX frame reinforcement kit. 245/45-17 wheels & tires.

Also at some point want to do some tweaks to the interior (front buckets, custom console) but those can wait. Main thing is getting the hardware and mechanicals dialed in.

So what do you need a shop to do?

 

[CaliWagon83]

So what do you need a shop to do?

Probably the frame reinforcement & powdercoating, and final installation of the powertrain. If I had more room (both for the car and parts) and better tools, I’d take more of it on myself, but that’s unfortunately just not an option.