RedRicer
Member
Hi All,
A long first post i know but I have to decide this before I ask any more.
I own a 1963 Convertable with a 350 from 1970 something. The transmission and the rest of the drivetrain is stock, down to the drum brakes. I love to drive it and want a car that drives as good as it looks.
I have had the gastank replaced, rear end rebuilt, and transmission rebuilt over the last few years and have enjoyed driving it. The 350 leaks oil, poses a fire threat with really old wiring, and is anemic at best.
I have two options RestoMod by removing the body and welding the frame, then adding: a Crate motor, Coil-over conversion, Rack and pionion powersterring conversion, and Disk brake Conversion. Plus the wiring and other 'minor' details (i know its a lot more than minor but they are just details)
otherwise I could pull the body, clean the frame and weld where needed, source a 327 and buy all the missing pieces (the chrome distributor cover comes to mind) and make it an original engine, at the same time i would need new wiring and other 'minor' details but all must be ncrs correct. Many (all) of the original components on the suspension need to be pulled, cleaned, new bushings etc, at the same time I would have to continue the yearly maintenance on the drum brakes which i hate how hard it is.
First I believe the cost to do both would be around the same, am I way off base here, have I left some thing major out or would the restoration be cheaper than i expect (I have 30k budgeted but ?
Second as for pure value which would return the highest value (original is a 'plain' 300/300 convertible), mostly would there be a HUGE difference?
Third what would you do and why?
A long first post i know but I have to decide this before I ask any more.
I own a 1963 Convertable with a 350 from 1970 something. The transmission and the rest of the drivetrain is stock, down to the drum brakes. I love to drive it and want a car that drives as good as it looks.
I have had the gastank replaced, rear end rebuilt, and transmission rebuilt over the last few years and have enjoyed driving it. The 350 leaks oil, poses a fire threat with really old wiring, and is anemic at best.
I have two options RestoMod by removing the body and welding the frame, then adding: a Crate motor, Coil-over conversion, Rack and pionion powersterring conversion, and Disk brake Conversion. Plus the wiring and other 'minor' details (i know its a lot more than minor but they are just details)
otherwise I could pull the body, clean the frame and weld where needed, source a 327 and buy all the missing pieces (the chrome distributor cover comes to mind) and make it an original engine, at the same time i would need new wiring and other 'minor' details but all must be ncrs correct. Many (all) of the original components on the suspension need to be pulled, cleaned, new bushings etc, at the same time I would have to continue the yearly maintenance on the drum brakes which i hate how hard it is.
First I believe the cost to do both would be around the same, am I way off base here, have I left some thing major out or would the restoration be cheaper than i expect (I have 30k budgeted but ?
Second as for pure value which would return the highest value (original is a 'plain' 300/300 convertible), mostly would there be a HUGE difference?
Third what would you do and why?