I bought my 54-5 window on 9/11/2005, and being retired I have clocked in 1400+ hours to date. I've kept a fairly accurate log of hours and dollars......I quit logging the dollars but have kept up with the hours. Someday I will add up all the tickets, but for now I sleep better with that part of the build a little mystery.
One thing you have to toss into the mix is the degree of expertise you bring into a project and the accumulation of tools and equipment you've collected over the years. If you've got to hunt up a welding or machine shop there will be lots of idle hours. Fortunately, I've only had to send my project out for the base/clearcoat painting....everything else was done in-house.
I discovered a long time ago that building/restoring old vehicles was like taking a journey. I've seen way too many "projects" wind up "for sale" because the builder just got overwhelmed by the multitude of steps that are required to produce a machine that is eye-catching but more importantly, safe to put on the highway. I think that first time builders should step back and take a second look at some of the "bargain projects", spend a little more money up front for something that isn't a complete basket case. A "git-r-done" attitude when you're reviving an old truck is missing the whole point. If you need a daily driver, have a family and those responsibilities that go along with a social life, you might find that a basket-case full-resto is going to create conflict and discomfort and diminish the great feeling that comes from making old iron new again.
But....this is the way I approach a project. You may look at things differently. If it works for you than you need to put together a plan, get some good advice from all the knowledgable folks on stovebolt and you'll get to enjoy the feeling of breathing life into some "old iron".
