cavebull, over the years I've learned a few things that work for "ME".
Anyone can tear one apart in a day or two and pile it in the corner. Then it becomes an eyesore and depressing everytime you think about it.
So, now when I tear one apart I fix it as I take it off. I'll admit not EVERY piece but for the most part when I take something off I clean it or blast and prime it and sometimes even paint it. This way I stay motivated and you can always see something "finished" or close to it. If it was weather stripping, radiator or glass ect I follwed this same rule. It still takes as long but you can SEE some progress.
Just this past summer I put parts on my panel that had been purchased as far back as 2006 or 2007. Example, I had purchased the radiator years ago for about $250 and when I put it back in they are almost $400 so some savings also comes in doing it as you tear a vehicle down.
...and last but not least. I try to spend at least 15 minutes EVERDAY (except sunday). If I sit in my lazyboy and look through the vendors catalog and make a list of parts I need then that can count for my 15 minutes that day!!... and I was always ordering the little cheap stuff when the budget would only let me spend "X" number of dollars that week/month.
Cletis, I am definitely not a body man but I had the metal ready for the body man. I had blasted and sanded it all. I would take a magic marker and draw out 12 inch squares on the side of it. It looked like a checker board. Then, 15 minutes a day will sand down or strip a 12 inch section depending on what you use. You'd be surprised what you can do in 30 days. (30 one ft. squares) That is a lot of body work and savings.
Well, I didn't mean to bore you fellows and each of us must figure out what works for your own way but this way keeps you, or me, interested and involved and motivated.
I've heard it said most restorations have an average of 2200 hours. You just decide how you want to do them.
Hope this helps cavebull.
