The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Amount of Time to Restore an AD?

A friend and I were recently debating how many man hours the restoration of one of these trucks would take. He said he heard somehwere about 1,100 hours. I'm thinking maybe a bit more.

By restoration I mean restore/mild modernization - ie-rebuild the engine, replace the brake system (new lines/ cables/ cylinders...), upgrade electrical system to 12v w/fuses and turn signals, add heat & a/c, go through steering box and rod ends, repair suspension (r&r front/rear stock springs/shocks only), tranny (rebuild stock or upgrade to t-5), rear diff (seals/bearings/gaskets or new axel and driveshaft) mild body work, install seatbelts, reupholster seat, redo bed, replace all body and door glass and rubber.

PS- I really wish I had started a time log on the restoration/upgrade when I got started so I'd know how many hours I've got in it and how much I spend on each different thing.

It really depends upon what shape your truck is in when you start.

I spent a half hour last night screwing around with my brakes, and this was just mounting the drum and adjusting the shoes (had to get the drum turned -- it was out of round).

I know that I've spent at least 80 hours on it so far, and that was just getting it running right and putting new brakes on. There has been some light electrical work, but that's really been it.

My truck wasn't in too bad shape but I decided to sandblast the cab and body panels, upgrade to a t-5 and open driveline, disc brakes, power brakes, hydraulic clutch, 12v, a/c etc... and rebuild a 261 w/hei, dual carbs, fentons etc...

I've got the driveline, suspension, brakes, tranny, rear diff, sandblasting and engine rebuild done and I'm sure I've put in at least 750 hours. I know there's probably 200+ hours left to finish priming and hanging the sheet metal, refinishing the bed, installing the wiring harness/turn signals, putting together the doors and installing the glass.

I was just wondering if I'm slow or everyone spends 1,000 plus hours tearing down and rebulding before the daily tinkering begins.

I spent 12 years restoring my 53 chevy pickup.Just put on road in March.Very orgional won 3 1st place trophys May 6th at local car shows here in Texas. A reel good looking truck ,even if I do say so my self. All work done myself and I'm not a profesional. Its a hobby for me.

I've never tried to guess but I'm thinking more than 1100 hours would at least get you pointed toward the ballpark.

I decided not to keep track of time or expenses. I know it would freak me out but more importantly my wife might actually croak on the spot.

now that,s a dumn ???.What do you know and how much money ya got too spend on this project??,Hel Foose puts them together in a week,But there,s 300 people working on his cars.If your worried about how long ,just spend your money on one thats already done.Just get a turn key an your worries are over.Your talking around $11,000++++. Its never done till the fat lady sings.Good luck.Don't want to sound like a hard ***.But big boy toys have gone sky high.A lot of toys are up for sell.Save time.figuare your cost.Get a truck finished.Or run around for 2 or 3 years trying to get parts which some people think there GOLD.GOOD LUCK.Ive got $18,000.+ in mine and there is always something more to dooooo

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!

Well I guess i'm different. I restored my '53 the first time in 9 months (engine, body work, chassis). However I needed no patch panels. It was solid, but surface rusty and seized. It was fine and drivable, but not pristine.
It wasn't good enough. I drove it for 6 months and now it's been torn down for a month and a half. I rebuilt the engine, aquired a T5, blasted the frame and acessoriesand painted them. Next is body work and assembly. Should be done in 2 months.
But I am 17 and work in a body shop. Everyday after school for a couple hours i'm either working in my shop, or working at the body shop working on, or just working to pay for my truck.
As for hours, tons, but it's a hobby and a learning experience.
I have time and no commitments.
Ain't I lucky? :p

Hard to say. my 53 took 8 years but how many hours is the question. There were weeks when nothing got done. My 49 will take forever as I am constantly tinkering with it.
Its like a home built airplane. Some people take forever. Some kits can be built in 4000 hours. If you work 3 nights a week for 4 hours and all day Saturday for 8 that equates to about 20 hours a week. Divide that into 4000 hours.....! If you still are building it after 2 years, you are dedicated. In the case of plane you want to finish it so you can fly it. In the case of a truck, hopefully you are able to drive it while you work on some of it at least!

My truck was a running original driver when I started. The best advice I got when I restored my '56 was to figure as close as possible how much would be spent on parts, outside labor, etc. and time to complete--then multiply by 3. It's scary how close it was. Two years; $27K.

Are you supposed to finish them?

Tell you what... after reading this, if any one wants to trade my just started '54 and hockey sock full of money for a finshed one, please call. (just kidding about the truck... I'll just turn over the sock full of money)

I spent two years, four months on a rust bucket, working steadily, averaging a conservative 20 hours a week on the truck. That's ~2400 hours. Yes, I did do a lot of do-overs.

Almost two years on my '50 so far and hope to be done within the two years. I only work on free weekends and some afterwork, probably 18 hours a week, maybe 35 weeks out of the year, guesstimation of about 1,200 hours. However, I did buy a rebuilt 261, so no engine time for me. Complete teardown and replacement/rebuild of everything. Another guesstimation of about $10,000 to $12,000 in costs. Of course, I am excluding the previous 27 years of repairs on this truck as a driver. Then again, I had to repair a lot of stupid stuff I had done to the truck back in the teenage years.
Steve O

In my case it is not about time to finish, I just love working on old stuff. I enjoy the build more than the finished product. It is just a hobby for me and I would rather build my own truck than buy a turn key. Some projects take years and others can be done in months, just depends on what you want to accomplish. Just as it has already been said, a project is never really finished as you always think of something else that you want to do.
James

It all depends on how much restoration you want to do. A concours job with everything perfect will of course take a lot more time than a barely adequate daily driver. You could spend as little as 200 hrs. for minimum up to 4000 or more for perfection. My advice, fixit safe and drive it.

Are we counting the time here on the 'bolt? If so, you better triple the time (at least in my case). This site kills my productivity at work.

my 52 Vincent touring rapide took 23 years
5 years just on the motor. but then again it's mostly motor

thata be a motocycle to most of you all

it's been three+++ years on the 51 - 3104. i have not yet got her to the blaster but that's coming soon. this bolt may be my fastest resto but then again i'm not doing 100% as she a daily. but almost a frame up

& i haven't really got round to the 39 injun another motocycle and i've had it since 1974

ho hummmmmmmmm..........

good luck in counting the hours cause i just count the years... that's bad enough :rolleyes:

Ps:
oldsub's right
'' Are you supposed to finish them ????????? ''