re: Advice on Buying a Car to Fix Up as a Hobby?

69 charger
70 cuda
Box style Chevy truck
Some of my preferences.


Guy from my former city has a building full of old 60 and 70’s cars. Really nice and in mint condition. He died 2 years ago and now his brother has them. I’d love to have them.

My neighbor has

70 charger all original
67 nova wagon
68 corvette
34 truck (can’t remenber make
80’s box style Chevy
Early 50’s truck he is rebuilding
And a few more

In fact I have several neighbors here that have lots of older cars. I think it’s a requirement that if you’re over 50 and live here you have to have at least 1.

If I had the $$$$$ and time I’d spend it doing this.

quote:

---

E30 325is. Build something that will actually drive worth a shite.

---

If someone is going to restore/restomod a BMW an E36 M3 would be the place to start. I would do a Euro S50 conversion.

That said having spent a good bit of time wrenching on my E36 and E46 track cars they are a magnitude greater complexity than a 1960s muscle car. The average hobbyists can get neck deep in an old Mustang (I built my first small black Ford engine at 16 with nothing more than a Chilton SBF book) but doing a BMW for most people means farming out most of the work.

quote:

---

My plan is a 351W/TKO600 as of now.

---

I have thought about a FF 65 coupe many times.

Just curious are you thinking a crate 351 or something else?

My advice is spend the extra money now for a working weekend vehicle.

If you must fix it up, double your budget on time and money each, and you might come in under that.





In hindsight, I when I bought my CJ5 I should’ve just paid extra for one already done like I wanted rather than trying to get it right myself.

quote:

---

90s cars have much better handling, good power,

---

If you have the will and the money particularly 60s Mustangs, Camaros and Corvettes can go a long way to matching and beating a E36 BMW outside of the obvious advantage in power.

For a 67-68 Mustang go with an all aluminum engine, aluminum flywheel, Tremec TKO, Coleman full floater rear housing with a 9" Strange pumpkin, 3.50-3.75 gears with a Detroit locker.

You can do miracles with suspension:

Stock upper A arms Modified to roller bearing inner shafts and pro motorsport negative wedge balljoints. Shelby 1" relocation of mounting point
1970 Mustang spindles
Global west lower arms
QA 1 Aluminum double adjustable coil over shocks mounted to the lower control arm
475lb springs
1 1/8 front sway bar
Flaming River rack and pinion
BBK (Wilwood and others make 6 piston/13-14" rotor setups).
Cobra Automotive road race rear springs with slider box rear mount.
All Star 3rd link spring snubbed QA 1 90 10 brake snubbing shock
Koni adjustable rear shocks

With that setup, you could shave seconds off the lap times of even a turboed E36 Lightweight. The only negative with the Mustang would be a greater propensity to understeer unless you flare the wheel wells to put more meat on the front.

Now the OP obviously isn't planning to go this deep but I was just showing that a 60s car doesn't have to handle and stop like a 60s car if you don't want it to.

A Jeep or Early Bronco would be a great project. Plenty of aftermarket support and you’d have a convertible to drive on the weekends.

If you've never done anything like this I'd tell you to start with something simple and unique. Try restoring an old army jeep. They aren't that expensive. They are easy to work on. They are really simple. There are still tons of New Old Stock parts out there for pretty cheap.

It will be a hit at the car shows too. There are a couple of generations to choose from also.

What is your starting point here?

If you have a stable of automotive tools, an engine hoist, and good mechanical knowledge you can probably start from scratch on a rebuild, though still risky if it's your first go-round.

If you have no experience, I would strongly recommend you don't push a rolling chassis '65 Stang into your garage. It's going to sit there for 3 years and then you'll sell it for less than ya' bought it. At the very least, buy something that is in running/driving condition (or as close as possible) so you can enjoy it while you restore it. You also want a vehicle that is easy to work on. If it were me, I'd dip my toes in with something like a first gen Miata. Simple car, cheap and easy to work on, parts readily available.

That will give you time to build up a toolbox and learn the skills while still enjoying your project. Commit yourself to pulling the engine and transmission at least once, even if it really doesn't need it. Much better to screw that up/fight/learn with a Miata 4 banger than a chevy crate. Then once you're confident enough, sell it for your real project.

Make sure you have some buddies that know what they're doing, and beer to bribe them with.

I didn't read your post, but my advice after having a 66 mustang and a 69 Torino is to just buy one already done. Or at least the interior and exterior done, engine and transmission stuff isn't that difficult but the interior stuff is stupid. You will end up saving a ton of money and headache.