restoration question...time frame?

[dgangle]

Ok, I thought you were looking for meaningful responses.

My 'original' project took 14 months. Would have been 10 if the painter would have worked on it when they said they would instead of using it as a shelf for 4 months.

Assuming facilities, tools, ability, money and dedication, the more one can do for themselves, the more control they will have on the projects timely completion.

 

[Seth_O]

I'm over six years on mine. For the first time the other day I looked at it in the driveway and thought "Hey, I'm starting to make progress....."

In the meantime I've had 3 kids, moved twice, built a barn, etc......

 

[fj40taz]

well i guess i will see you all in about 2 years. LOL

just starting to dig into mine..

 

[copasspupil]

I've only been at mine for about 4 months. You're not far behind me

 

[Cirbo]

2 years as well.....

 

[dargreg]

First one a BJ took 6 months it wasnt a frame off.The last one took the longest 2 years , it was a total frame off and sand blast from ground up.Overshoot the budget by 20,000 and twisted its tail, no regrets.

 

[jtoro]

Mine has 3 yrs and juuuust barely ready for starting tear up. I decided to get it 100% mechanical stuff as new before starting with paint.

 

[uted]

12 months so far and still cutting out rust

 

[kenpoloren]

4 years and still going........

If it were not for the kids, wife, and a job I could have had this thing done in a month

 

[tmarx]

Just realised that I started on April Fools day 08 ....

 

[centerlineseal]

I joined MUD in February 2007 and stated teardown sa few months before. We have just over 100 miles on our full frame off/resto/modification. Do the math, just don't ever, EVER, add up the receipts! Especially where can find it!

 

[Bubblee]

2 years and going... taking it apart took a week (took me 5 days to realize that the tub wasnt fiberglass but in fact bondo!)

 

[Volcano cruiser]

working on a year and a half and still a long ways from done, When I had a bunch of money set aside for the project it flew now that the cruiser has left me poor it is at a snails pace

x2 So far 16 months and counting. I've hit a few parts sourcing snags along the way and I am overshooting my budget for the project. Hopefully I'll get done before November

 

[pappy]

I've hit a few parts sourcing snags along the way and I am overshooting my budget for the project.

When I first started I actually had a spreadsheet budget. After awhile it became obvious I had no clue on how much the project was going to cost and tossed the budget in the virtual trash. Folks kept telling me to double what I think it was going to cost. In the end the project morphed and it probably cost 4x what I originally thought.

 

[kb3gun]

When I started in Jan 2008, I figured six months to finish it. As of today, 08 Aug 2009, I figure I'm about 4 or 5 months away, so I hope to be done by April/May 2010.
I've had about 6 different plans, 5 different budgets (I now quit looking at how much it's costing), and continue to change my mind on how to do things (thanks Coolerman...).
When you change one thing, you must look ahead to what else will change because of that one change. Example: Now want to use FJ55 springs front and rear. This now changes wheelbase, pinion angles, drive shaft lengths, anti-wrap angle/length and shackle angles. Glad I didn't do my cut-n-turn yet.
I've found that as long as you do something every weekend, you're moving ahead. Even finishing little things is finishing something. You must keep motivated to keep a forward pace.

My new motto: I don't need no stinkin' budg-hets.
Second Motto: It'll be done when I die.

Good luck on your build!

 

[ken_79-fj40]

I've been working on mine during the winter months since 01 or so. The first year I had it I had no choice but to drive it in the winter quite a bit. That wasn't kind to it so the following winter (after getting my 89 pickup) I tore it down for frame repairs, fixed the body, and repainted it. Basically did a whole frame off cosmetic resto on it in about 8 months. But every winter since then I have worked on another area of the truck. Now I have a kid, so stuff happens a lot slower. This year has kinda sucked. I pulled the motor in the fall for a rebuild and just got it running about a month ago after several problems. Then 2 weeks ago the wiring harness went up in smoke. Now it's back on the road again, hopefully it will be fine the rest of the season. This winter hopefully will be a family cage and maybe a front axle rebuild and rear discs. But then again I want to do a 5 lug swap so I can put 13" brakes on my Mustang this winter too. We'll see what happens. The only vehicles in my collection that are "done" are the Tacoma and 4Runner and that's only because they are bone stock and staying that way.