My experiences serving as "general contractor" on a restomod build... any interest?

[TomsResto]

I introduced myself to the forum a couple months back as my '69 camaro was going in for a DSE full front subframe swap... the car was a good way to where it needed to be when I bought it, but I wanted it to be better.

I have the car back now, took it out for about 150miles of local cruising over variety of surfaces for my "road testing" this weekend, encountered/resolved a few minor issues along the way, observed a few things that I want to ask some follow up questions on, but overall very pleased. My long term goal is to build up trust/confidence and work out any remaining bugs that would prevent me from being able to hit the power tour in 2017.

OK, enough yappin Tom... what's your question that you just posed in our our cherished "build thread" !?!?

Question/Botttom Line Up Front
I'm trying to decide if typing up a "build thread" that outlines what my ride was, what it is now, decisions I made along the way, with quite a few pictures would be of interest to this group if I'm not the one turning very many of the wrenches. I've done some things on my own, but I bought the build pretty far along it's way and then hired out what I deemed as "big" components, such as full front subframe swap.

So speak your mind via reply here... tell me "yeah" I'd be interested in that thread with commentary and pictures after you read the "Introductory Detail" section below ... or tell me "whatever Richie Rich, this forum is for those who "do", not for those that just "buy" (which feedback I'll take on the chin in the direct worded responses or the lack of responses). If the later is the case, then I'll just roll on down the road enjoying my ride and reading posts from others rather than taking the time to compose my own. Some mileage from now if someone pops me a PM and says "hey, just saw your offer/question out on the forum, what's your email/phone number so I can ask you a few questions because your situation is like mine" then I'll do my best to promptly reply and help another brother/sister in need.

Introductory Detail
First off, I want it to be understood that I have a ton of respect for all the guys (gals) on this forum that over the course of months/years transform their machines into one of a kind awesome/improved rides with truly their own blood, sweat, tears (and beers?) and I can see where many could hit a "build thread" that is just a guy yapping about what conversations/decisions he made as he mostly paid others to build his restomod (I don't think my build is worthy of a "pro street" label) and not find much value. On the other hand I could ponder a guess that maybe there are some others out there who read this and say "that's me too... I envy those guys that can do it themselves, but I just don't see that as something I can do" who would find some value in this type of thread.

However, when being honest with myself on my own practical/applied skills (damn desk job) I simply knew that I would not feel comfortable completely rebuilding the front end of a car and then put my wife & two kids in it and go down a twisty/hilly 2 lane highway in the middle of Iowa (yes we have alot of cornfields but we're far from all flat, things get quite hilly to the east over towards where many moons ago the glaciers dug the trunch now known as the Mississippi river)

So I essentially became the general contractor (borrowing term from the house construction industry) deciding what subframe to buy (I looked at, read about several, spoke to those who had some experience with the various vendors products, snooped this forum heavily, etc.), decided what brakes to use (just couldn't justify the Baer brakes that DSE sells after deciding to go with their subframe), then engaged a reputable wheel manufacturer on fitment of new fronts and rears to fit over the new 6 piston calipers I went with up front, etc.

While the front end swap was going on I would regularly stop by the shop (great guys, and luckily enough "midwest nice" they at least waited to look away before they rolled their eyes) taking pictures of progress and comparing what I saw in the changes being made with the new parts/assembly to what I had before it went in, etc. (things like drive shaft angle, drive shaft coupler angle, etc. were most apparent but others pop up when reviewing the pictures). The guys at the shop and I also had conversations about things like OEM style body mounts or the aluminum from DSE, whether it was necessary to remove/replace the DSE subframe connectors that were already on the car and replace with new ones, etc.

I also have some experiences with my first weekend drive with the new setup... little things like set back of a battery that lost it's cranking amps, an air pocket/bubble in the power steering assembly that took first ~10miles of driving to surface but was seemingly able to remedy in my own garage (resolved morning of 9/11 before going on a 150 zig zag around various surface roads and all seems to be well now)

So, here I am... do I bother typing this up for any potential benefit to anyone out here while things are still relatively fresh in my mind??? ... only if some others chime in and say "yeah, it would be worth it to me"

If I get some feedback that makes it seem worthwhile then I also want folks to understand that I'm not going to name names (at shops, at vendors, etc.) and I'm not going to give specifics on exactly what I paid ... sorry, internet message boards are still too strange of a world to feel comfortable going that far... and for the sake of the shops out there (including those I dealt with) that don't need some guy out there on the internet yapping with scanned images of receipts or something.

[kevvingib]

My vote is to create the thread and show the story. I am capable of doing my own car minus the body and welding stuff but will be buying a project and taking your approach as I pay someone to build out my dream. Why? Time is the simple answer. I am involved in so much stuff and simply dont want to work on a car for 3 years when I can afford to pay the money out to have everything completed and be done in 6-8 months and probably get 110% of what I started out with as a vision.

I did restore a 90 Vette Con with my oldest son when he was 14 and what I thought was going to be a year and a half project was done in about 5 months because I laid everything else aside and we focused about 30 hours a week on the vette until we were finished. He turns 16 on Sunday and the car is ready for him when he gets his license.

I await your post so I can see how well your vision and selection of items aligns with all that I have been planning. Who knows, you might introduce something that I had not considered yet. I am not concerned about what you paid other than did you come in on budget but for selection of parts I think you should name the company that produced the items but not the cost associated. we can all negotiate our own deal in the end just like if I found a car that was close enough to my vision and I thought I could get where I wanted for 10-15k more invested I would probably buy it to speed up the process that much more in the end.

[ccmc]

Start a build thread!

[TomsResto]

My vote is to create the thread and show the story. I am capable of doing my own car minus the body and welding stuff but will be buying a project and taking your approach as I pay someone to build out my dream. Why? Time is the simple answer. I am involved in so much stuff and simply dont want to work on a car for 3 years when I can afford to pay the money out to have everything completed and be done in 6-8 months and probably get 110% of what I started out with as a vision.

I did restore a 90 Vette Con with my oldest son when he was 14 and what I thought was going to be a year and a half project was done in about 5 months because I laid everything else aside and we focused about 30 hours a week on the vette until we were finished. He turns 16 on Sunday and the car is ready for him when he gets his license.

I await your post so I can see how well your vision and selection of items aligns with all that I have been planning. Who knows, you might introduce something that I had not considered yet. I am not concerned about what you paid other than did you come in on budget but for selection of parts I think you should name the company that produced the items but not the cost associated. we can all negotiate our own deal in the end just like if I found a car that was close enough to my vision and I thought I could get where I wanted for 10-15k more invested I would probably buy it to speed up the process that much more in the end.

Thanks for note, and sharing the story on the '90 vette... your son has to be grinning ear to ear on the thought of getting that plastic in his hand on Sunday and hitting the road in the ride the two of you put together.... hat's off, that's awesome. Also pulls at my feels a bit as my son is now 13 and so I may find myself doing things in flipped order and get something going for him now that we have this one to enjoy together that I'm calling mine (he logged all 150miles with me this weekend)

Your last sentence is exactly where I was a year ago when I bought the car ... close to my vision, shortened the distance to the goal line and I then plunked down the additional coin about a year later when I could more comfortable afford the outlay.

[SSLance]

I'm sure there are many on here that would like to hear the other side of the story instead of the typical busted knuckle, bruised ego, 3 year long resto project. The issues that you encountered I would call typical of any build though. A lot of stuff was taken apart and put back together again...things happen. Let's see some pics and stats...

[SonomaZ]

I draw inspiration, motivation and ideas from EVERY build thread, regardless of the level of owner involvement or money (or time) spent. We all have different skill levels and budgets.
I have to chuckle at SSLance's "3 year project" comment above. I wish mine was only 3 years!

Let's see it.

[rickpaw]

As others have said, post up a build thread and share your experiences.

[slimjim]

Absolutely start a build thread, don't forget lots of pictures, we love those!
I for a large part of my build am also a "general Contractor", I have a ton of experience with cars but mostly in mechanical and modifications, so I am happily outsourcing all body work and fabrication work until the build is in a position for me to take over.

[keepat]

Please do! Look forward to seeing and hearing about your build
Pat

[HotRod47]

I say post it up. Not everyone can do everything. We have plumbers, we have neurosurgeons, and we have car builders. All do a different job, but i would venture a guess not one can do all.

We have to live and do what we know, or are good at. The rest, pay the guy/gal that does know how.

[TomsResto]

Thanks for the feedback folks ... sounds like there's enough interest to give this a crack, will try to mix some of my commentary with pictures.

Fun part will be trying to get things in rough chronological order, but I pull the pics I have into ordered list of when taken I think I'll be able to get there.

I'll see if I can figure out how to link this thread to a new "project updates"/build thread in case any questions come up down the road.

[raustinss]

I love pictures...coloring and beer...