I've spent close to 18k to buy the truck ($1,800)and parts/machine work/patch panels!
That doesn't include what I've spent on consumibles, like sand paper, welding wire, grinding wheels, paint, oil, permatex, filters, belts, solvent, etc...
Last year Patrick's mentioned that they get in the range of 30k to restore one if you provide a truck in good shape and I thought that was outrageous. Now that I've put hundreds of hours into the truck and 16.5k in parts, it is starting to sound pretty reasonable!
1000 hours at a shop rate of $40/hour, which is a generous average of body/mechanical work rates, would be 40k in labor plus say 15 k in parts means it takes $55k of time and effort to restore one of these suckers.
Guess I would have thought a bit harder about buying a restored one for 15k when I had the chance if it weren't for the fact that 1/2 the reason I didn't is 'cause I like doing the resto!
