do the math

[bucket]

i just mentelally (im that way) added up all the upgrades to my C 4 to make it run like a C 5.:bash.with those bucks....
i can buy a C 5...lol

 

[rlg]

one of the first lessons I learned 30+ years ago in restoring cars or working on "toys" is never count the money and pay no attention to the time spent, unless you plan to sell or make money at it.

 

[bucket]

good idea...if you love your car and it's a keeper...
i have owned a lot of cars..and somehow managed to lose money on all of em...lol

 

[vetteoz]

i can buy a C 5...lol

Yeah , but your in the elite C4 owners club

 

[roger longman]

And I think my '88 is the best thing I've had since my '65 E Type back in England. Roger.

 

[MBDiagMan]

rlq is definitely onto the secret about this!

I've been modding, rebuilding, restoring and whatever else you can think of for 47 years. My first car was a 48 Chevy Fleetline that I bought out of the wrecking yard for $12.50, and I was thirteen. (Uh-oh, now YOU can do the math.)

If I had all the money back that I've spent on modifications I could probably buy a really nice, new Z0 whatever, or maybe a couple of them. If I had all the cars back to sell at todays market prices, I could probably bail out the whole Corvette division of GM.

All that said, even after 47 years of the hobby, I will have a wrench or paint gun in my hand, or be under a car the day I die. The only thing that has been more gratifying than my cars has been my lovely wife of 35 years and two wonderful kids that are now grown.

The only suggestion I would make to a younger person with a similar affliction to mine would be that you should never do it with borrowed money. I did borrow money for a couple of car projects when I was much younger and I was lucky enough, or foresighted enough that I came out to the good on those projects.

In todays economy, you shouldn't buy ANYTHING beyond a house to live in or maybe a car necessary to drive to work, on borrowed money.

I didn't start as early as I should have, but I did start saving for retirement at an adequately early age. I know plenty of people my age that are approaching retirement that have NOTHING to retire on.

Enjoy your cars but look ahead!

 

[rlg]

to site a recent example, I was on Ebay looking for a part for my 69 GTX. I found the part went to paypal to purchase and was informed that I had spent $9989.00 since I opened the account and could no longer use my usual method of paynent.

I had no idea I had spent that much, But what fun I have had.

 

[MBDiagMan]

What did you buy for $9989? I had a 69 Roadrunner. It was a gem. That's what I was driving when I dated my wife.

 

[rlg]

that was the total on what I had spent since I opened the account a couple of years ago.

when you hit $10,000.00 on Ebay the rules change

 

[Fullback32]

one of the first lessons I learned 30+ years ago in restoring cars or working on "toys" is never count the money and pay no attention to the time spent, unless you plan to sell or make money at it.

Love it and ain't that the truth! My first experience in doing any of this was with a 1966 MGB I bought in 1983. Two words...Lucas Electrics. You are guaranteed to replace every electrical component of a British sports car using these electrical monstrosities at least twice within a five year time frame. But it was so fun to drive and the girls loved it, so all is well.

Then came the '85 Toyota Celica Supra I bought in 1998. Because it was a Toyota, I never had to put that much money into it except for some cosmetic stuff.

Now the '89 Vette I bought in February. I bought it KNOWING I would have to put money into it. Anyone who buys a 20 year old 'Vette for $8,000 and thinks it won't need any work really should stay out of those cars. In the two months I've owned this car, I have put a decent amount of money into it as I am impatient with anything mechanical that needs to be done. Cosmetics can wait, but not mechanical probs. Yeah, I've put some dinero into it, but as it purrs down the road, the smile on my face and the joy of driving it is totally worth it!

 

[MBDiagMan]

Yep, you'll put money into an old Vette, but as fun to drive sports cars go, it's still a pretty good value.

I just got mine out of the garage after a few years and driving it on a daily basis. I'll be putting a throttle body and injectors in it right off. THEN, I need to change the overdrive fluid and filter, an oil change, and the steering rack is indicating it might want a rest.

I live in the boonies with 20 miles of twisty, hilly, no traffic roads one way to work, so driving the Vette gives my day a good start and a good end.

 

[JimBobC4]

one of the first lessons I learned 30+ years ago in restoring cars or working on "toys" is never count the money and pay no attention to the time spent, unless you plan to sell or make money at it.

I realized this strange automotive math at the age of about 25. I poured every cent I made into a '66 Mustang HiPo for 6 years. The end result was about 17k less in my pocket.

However I was the proud owner of a $10k Mustang. If I counted the hours spent it would be well into the stratosphere Im sure.

I look at it as cheep therapy not as an expensive car.

 

[MBDiagMan]

JimBob is exactly right! It's therapy. I have maintained my sanity (although there are some that would say I have failed) with this therapy.

 

[bucket]

of course you are all correct..
im jus sayin...

 

[Paul Higg]

Join the club, but my C4 is like factory now. I wouldn't trade the car for the world. It is paid for, it is a keeper, and I love this thing. C5 next.

Look at what I have done to it and I have spent 10 grand so far. None on borrowed money.


Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Bought 1994 Corvette with 84+ on the clock.

Installed or replaced:

FSM
Sony stereo CD and new front speakers.
Bought a new lower front spoiler
PKE
Two new keys.
Lug wrench
Garage floor wheel stop
Floor mats
Driver’s headlight
Cigarette lighter.
Replaced ALL fuses on passenger door side, found many corroded
Wiper blades.
Radiator cap.
Clear plastic sill protectors.
Bilstein shocks
Lower ball joints
Battery
Four wheel alignment
Rear license plate holder
Fixed the manifold oil leak.
Serpentine belt
Sun visors.
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Gas filler protector.
Backup lights
Steering column rag joint
A frame bushings
Two new serpentine belt pulleys
Fixed SYS light with the resistor mod.
New header garnish.
Rear deck trim
Removed and replaced radiator, cleaned it and straightened fins
Engine Coolant Temp sensor
Center air dam
Inspected the brake pads
Right door power window switch
4 Kuhmo’s
Alternator (generator) rubber boot on electrical terminal.
Cleaned rear wheel speed sensors.
Riveted sheet metal onto door panels and used tool dip to cover all surfaces so no more squeaks.
Delrin bushing mod
Transmission fluid and filter
Left manifold gasket
Fuel pump.
PCV valve.
Removed and cleaned the IAC.
Removed and cleaned the EGR and replaced the gasket.
Replaced the oil and oil filter.
Had the emissions test.
Replaced fuel filter
Serviced air conditioner
Fuel line clamp in engine compartment.
Both front outer tie rods.
Both rear outer tie rods
Front end alignment
Rear leaf spring bushings
Detailed exterior with all three Meguire products.
Rear inboard brake light fixture.
Installed new machined metal bushings with silver anti-seize compound in headlight horseshoe brackets
Removed and cleaned the throttle body. Replaced all gaskets. Replaced all hoses too.
New throttle position sensor
New u-joints
Right manifold
New water pump
New optispark
New plugs & wires
New blue top
Left seatbelt
Right door open switch
Vacuum check valve
Restored the rims myself

 

[MBDiagMan]

Paul,

You should offer specifics here on the forum. We have no time for generalities!

Seriously though, it appears that you have a similar disease as mine. Taking care of the car is as much or more of the experience than driving it.

 

[Paul Higg]

You bet it is! Since I no longer work aircraft and I have all the tools, well, I need something to fill my retired time. But you're right, it really is part of the fun. Isn't it gratifying to know this car almost inside and out? And when you do a job you KNOW it is done correctly? Its like taking a trip, sometimes getting there is more fun than actually getting there! :L

I am just grateful to God that He blessed me with my dream car. I have wanted a Vette sine I first rode in my grandmother's 73 when I was 8 or 9. I've been a Vetehead ever since.

 

[killain]

one of the first lessons I learned 30+ years ago in restoring cars or working on "toys" is never count the money and pay no attention to the time spent, unless you plan to sell or make money at it.

This is gosple, I have a 1/12 inche file folder full of recipts from the restoration of my 79 and I finally won a NCRS second flight award, so to me it was worth it. But if you love cars and you worried about money ? then take up collecting stamps.:L

 

[Fullback32]

Join the club, but my C4 is like factory now. I wouldn't trade the car for the world. It is paid for, it is a keeper, and I love this thing. C5 next.

Look at what I have done to it and I have spent 10 grand so far. None on borrowed money.


Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Bought 1994 Corvette with 84+ on the clock.

Installed or replaced:

FSM
Sony stereo CD and new front speakers.
Bought a new lower front spoiler
PKE
Two new keys.
Lug wrench
Garage floor wheel stop
Floor mats
Driver’s headlight
Cigarette lighter.
Replaced ALL fuses on passenger door side, found many corroded
Wiper blades.
Radiator cap.
Clear plastic sill protectors.
Bilstein shocks
Lower ball joints
Battery
Four wheel alignment
Rear license plate holder
Fixed the manifold oil leak.
Serpentine belt
Sun visors.
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Gas filler protector.
Backup lights
Steering column rag joint
A frame bushings
Two new serpentine belt pulleys
Fixed SYS light with the resistor mod.
New header garnish.
Rear deck trim
Removed and replaced radiator, cleaned it and straightened fins
Engine Coolant Temp sensor
Center air dam
Inspected the brake pads
Right door power window switch
4 Kuhmo’s
Alternator (generator) rubber boot on electrical terminal.
Cleaned rear wheel speed sensors.
Riveted sheet metal onto door panels and used tool dip to cover all surfaces so no more squeaks.
Delrin bushing mod
Transmission fluid and filter
Left manifold gasket
Fuel pump.
PCV valve.
Removed and cleaned the IAC.
Removed and cleaned the EGR and replaced the gasket.
Replaced the oil and oil filter.
Had the emissions test.
Replaced fuel filter
Serviced air conditioner
Fuel line clamp in engine compartment.
Both front outer tie rods.
Both rear outer tie rods
Front end alignment
Rear leaf spring bushings
Detailed exterior with all three Meguire products.
Rear inboard brake light fixture.
Installed new machined metal bushings with silver anti-seize compound in headlight horseshoe brackets
Removed and cleaned the throttle body. Replaced all gaskets. Replaced all hoses too.
New throttle position sensor
New u-joints
Right manifold
New water pump
New optispark
New plugs & wires
New blue top
Left seatbelt
Right door open switch
Vacuum check valve
Restored the rims myself

I'm keeping this list. I found things I left off of my need to do list.

 

[bucket]

good job...
i find it depressing...lol