The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Restoration Cost Estimate-loaded (UPdated)Question

(see updated question about reducing costs, on page 4 of discussion) thanks,

I have owned a 1952 1/2 ton since 1973. we are both 60 yo this year (truck and me). My wife and I have many fond memories with this ol truck, "Ol Blue".
Never done anything to it but keep it running since I have owned it. As a gift to ourselves we are ready to "have" it restored. I no longer have the back or the time for a DIY. So I have decided to try to farm it out to a restoration business for a Level II - ish restore. And I am considering a spunky 261 well-dressed, saginaw, and rear end gears, along with with the rest.
Planned Use: occasional driver, highway as well, show in local rallys, but not for big scores. And, want a nice spunky ride with minimal maintanance.
The Big Question: what range of cost should I present my wife with, for quality work. Present condition appears to be about a 2000-3000 dollar type truck on ebay. Thanks, Brad

Present your wife with a vacation first, Then during the vacation tell her how much you love her, And then tell her. You can spend a lot or a little. Nothing is going to be cheap having somebody else restore your truck.A good starting point would be around $10,000.If she doesn't fall over with that price that will be a good sign. Then you can tell her it could go higher "maybe". It all depends on how much you love your wife and your truck.

Baldybenny, those are some fine suggestions, there. I have always thought bribery and deceit is a key ingredient to pursue your inner kid, eh.

I am hoping to mutually agree to 15,000.00 +/- for a rebuild to honor 1952, but not a purist original restore. I want to pull my vintage Lonestar boat (I restored) to the lake 40 miles away.

Off the cuff wish list:
261 tuffy/cool look
saginaw 4-sp conversion
new gearing for rear end
New interior and glass, including paint (this all nearly original type)
Dashboard instruments and turn signals
some minor? body work
Good paint (though not for National Show)
frame powder coat?
new wood bed and strips
tires and wheels (not sure what to do on wheels)
The Patricks add on heat and air unit
New chrome bumpers
etc?????????????????????

I hope this additional info helps with cost guesses. I will be looking for a shop to take on the whole project (yea, been watching too many cable tv shows lately) in the Kansas area or inside two hundred miles from Wichita, or even in Wichita.

I'd guess 20,000.00 after looking at your list. Just be cautious and do your homework. I have seen lots of people blow 10,000.00 plus thinking they are going to have a new vehicle only to be devastated with the end result. Get yourself a catalog and start pricing out the parts for what you want. The numbers add up really fast. Make sure you pay attention to the detail items, bolts, clips and such. They make a big difference and all cost lots.
Good Luck
Don

Don't forget the new front disk brakes and dual master cylinder!

Kurt

Brad, I am planning to spend $20,000 to restore a 1952 Chevrolet Suburban, which includes $45/hour labor to have a small shop do as much as about $15,000 will take me. That includes new plywood floor, metal patch panel replacement, and a quality paint job. Then the remaining funds will pay for engine replacement(used), wiring, seat recovering and miscellaneous stuff. My cost was basically on stuff I didn't tackle myself. My recommendation to you is do as much tear down yourself, and then let the professionals do what they do and then rebuild stuff that you know you can handle. Good luck. V/R, Nick Cavallaro, Bel Air, MD

why dont you call Patricks and see if they would give you an estimate... they are great to work with and probably would love talking to you about it... then you would get an idea from a real expert..
contact number here

With that list I agree with Don,If you are going to do it , Then do it right the first time and spend the money to make it what you want,$20,000 might even be on the low side. I have spent 40,000 to 60,000 on restorations before but they were show and original. I wouldn't ever do that again.If this is going to be your last ride and you want to have fun with it then do it.

I would say if you could build it for under 20K using outside labor you have done well.

A good paint job is $10,000 now days.

I have the original purchase price to contend with, other than that I will have well over $20,000 in my Suburban. I just spent about $2500 in brake parts and getting my frame rolling, including stainless steel lines, power disc brakes, rebuilt steering, king pins, springs etc. I will have over $3000 in the engine, i have about $300 in patch panels and still have finish bodywork to do. Prices for chroming is high, finding the original parts at a reasonable price is getting harder and replacing rubber components, interior work and paint can cost several thousand dollars. So even if you do most of the work, it ain't gonna be cheap!

I am doing a ground up on a 46 1/2 ton. I have done everything except the engine machine shop work and some tranny work. I'll have 20,000 in mine.

Every bit of that. Don't ask me how I know.

i'd say about $22,500 out of my shop for what you are lookin' for. not lookin for work, just tell'n ya my estimate. i've done resto's similar to what you are lookin for and thats that. look for a guy that's done what you are looking for and get references, shouldn't be a problem if the guy trusts his own reputation. just remember one man's "show" is another mans good enough. be clear on quality desired. you really pay for the difference between a "90%" truck and show, and it's more than that 10%.

90% truck - looks great-not show, reliable and worry free.

daren

I farmed out machining work, a final shake out of mechanicals and the final body and paint (I painted interior and chassis), I did all of the other work and I have well over 20k in mine.

I was told once to estimate what you think you will spend, double that and then add 50% and you will be close to what it will take.

1995-2000 put almost 20 grand in a delapidated 37 pickup.
2006-2012 I have almost 19 grand in a 52 panel....and counting. Maybe 4 more g's.

Each time I did all the work myself except for the paint/body.

IF you start with a decent truck it will reduce the cost. Don't skip over the little simple stuff or you will regret it later.
...and most of all, check and double check the guy who does the work and it is not out of place to put something in wriring as to what you want...and what is promised by the builder.
Its YOUR money so watch it close and check often on the progress.

Good luck and keep us posted on progress.

I'm not talking show quality work, but a good quality job hired out, $20,000.00 isn't going to get the job done. JMO. Also becarefull and to not get stuck in paint prison.

Thank you, for all of the replies. I suppose I should plan on a 20,000 dollar budget. I do like the front disc brakes and dual master cyl suggestion. Its the cost of the paint job that always seems to get me. I have talked to Patricks and they are very helpful and nice. She indicated that she could not take on a full restore job at this time. She is helping me with the engine stuff. I have United Engine in my home town, and Jerry seems to have quite the experience on inline chevy six rebuilds etc.
Now who to use for the rest of the work, I have visited with Wagner's Classics in Bonner Springs,Ks, I one local shop to check out.

Paint Prison: now that is a scarey thought? Brad

Unfortunately, time is not on my side, as I am fortunate enough to be on the road most of the time "working" yea. Nor do I have a place to do much tear down and truck work. When I was younger and had the time I did not have the money. I hate to not have the pleasure of DIY, but its where I am at right now.
So, at 20,000.00 at 25.00 per hour, that is a lot of hours, after figuring parts costs,eh.
How long of time would you expect the restoration shop to have the truck. (Lets see....on the tv shows they have them about 30 min. :-) Brad

for a full resto without to many mods, i figure 250-300 hrs shop time.(billable) no more than 3-4 months after they get started.

daren

Daren, and all of have been most helpful. Now, on the business/money side. what will I expect to pay upfront, then during the restoration progress?

Thanks, brad

Pay for parts when they hit the doorstep. Labor and materials as used / weekly or bi-weekly or even monthly. All depends on the shop your using. Pay as progress is made and you won't end up with hard feelings or headaches.

get what you expect done in writing. usually half estimate down,to cover parts, then labor as you go(monthly). ask to be given timly updates and if anything unexpected is found, so that there are no suprises.

daren

Brad,

I add a comment on the "maintenance"...

With any of these trucks, there's always going to be 'some' maintenance so either you should like twisting a wrench from time to time.. or consider that is your budget... IF you can find a local, experienced shop.

Most of all, have fun and enjoy the resotration process. Take pics and get involved. And share your experience with us.

Good luck.

if it was me, id find another truck that someone put 40 k into and buy it for 20,keep it in the garage and drive my current truck daily. you can get a nice ride for 12k , find a 261 and have that rebuilt for abot 3.

truer words were never posted

I think this might have a lot of sentimental value, so buying one that does not may not be the solution.

Yep, sentimental value. Shoot truck and me are both 60. Even in the shape it is in now, it will perhaps outlive me though.

I am pretty handy with tools and a shop, though not a mechanic by any means. Kept it running since 73, worked at a full-service gas station back in the day, etc. I just don't have the time to committ, nor the patience at this stage of me life to spend a couple years on it.

I hope sticker shock doesn't cool my heels, nor Marilyn's. We will see.
Then perhaps I should consider a less costly route, since i do not plan to show for dough.
In working on my daughters 64 Falcon, I could not find a "tweener" paint job somewhere between Earl Scheibe and custom work.

Again, Thanks, Brad

there are more inexpensive ways to go about it. and as for paint jobs, most of my buisiness could be described as better than "20 footer", but not quite "show" jobs. the main difference is the hours in wet sanding and buffing which are very time consuming(@$25hr). the corvette on my website was painted with acrylic urathane, with minor bodywork for under $1,600. just as an example.

i have built "inexpensive" trucks for people on tight budgets for under $12,000. These trucks look good, and are used as DD so they are reliable. very little mods, and originality was not important other than look. so it can be done, just you want the final result to be.

daren

daren

You'll have to decide what you want it to be like when finished. There are endless small parts that are worn. It will be much more than 20,000 if you want it all restored by a shop. I am working on the window regulators now. I could have just reused them but parts are worn and should be replaced. I am fabricating parts that I can't find. How you can agree on all this before you start will be difficult. Some parts are cheaper to replace than repair. I liked the pay as you go. The best deal is to buy a restored one.

I like that phrase: "better than a 20-footer,but not quite a show job". Nothing wrong with a paint job like that either, for a DD and customer desire. I used to paint fuel pumps for pickup utility tanks, but that was fairly junk painting-no sanding.

Most demanding paint job i ever did was in restoring a 56 Fender tele guitar, that had a butcher re-paint on it. I stripped it down, 30 coats of sander sealer and paint, sanding every third coat. after final coat, was down to about 1600 grit paper then buff out with a fine rouge. I did OK.... about a 5-footer, but not a 6-incher.

stripped to bare metal and painted my 1955 Lonestar aluminum boat. that is where I learned aobut the skill of a good painter, and that I am not. It was definetely a 20-footer. I admire you painters!

Brad

4 years ago i spent $22000.00 on parts alone and mine was in pretty god shape but when you start replacing it is like Bob Villa says, it is the while you are here syndrome. I drove mine for 20 years as is and could have driven it another 20 but got started and you can see the results on my Photobucket.

So....this discussion begs the question? (looking at it in reverse now)

for discussion purposes, say I put a 17,000.00 Cap on the project. And say, my gotta-have wish list includes:

Nice 261 slightly tricked out motor, spunky on street, highway speeds,
Saginaw tranny
rear end gear set
paint looks good inside twenty feet, but not for show and points
clean interior
new original style bed
cab floors need replaced or sealed/patched

So, considering its occasional use and display at local rallys, where can I save costs on restore?

Brad

Labor.
I didn't notice a time cap.

IMO your wish list is entirely doable with the budget specified provided you do the majority of the work yourself with the exception of engine machine work and shooting the paint.

"original style bed" - what is wrong with the bed you have now, or did i miss something?

looks doable for under 17 depending on shop.

daren

Truck has original "bed". The original wood & metal strip floor in my truck is shot. wood cracked up, broken out in one place. metal strips corroded in a couple of places. Sheet metal in good shape.

Regarding the DIY. I don't have the time (as I am on the road way too much nowadays working, gone for days and weeks at a time) Nor does my back allow too much heavy lifting, though I abuse that often (football saw to that). As much as I would love to make it a project, Its just not in the cards.

Brad

you could get have the body work done on you gal while you look for a truck with the frame/suspension/brakes/rebuilt engine, swap bodies and beds, keep the nice wood. then sell the pretty painted truck with your original running gear for a lil less then you paid (or the same who knows!) take you body worked truck and get your paint job. That way you had the frame off, and that labor already taken care off

just another idea

I did a frame off on my 49 Suburban for $18,800. The only thing I did not do myself was the sandblasting and the engine build which is a 283 from scrounged parts This includes a used junkyard TH350. Used the Andereggen IFS with power front discs and power steering. Iditit tilt column and other goodies. Kept it stock looking and made a fun driver out of it. I saved every receipt and kept track to the penny. I considered the labor free because I did it almost all of it myself. It took me 6 years plus. Now if I had kept track of the hours and assigned a minimum of $25 an hour I think it could have easily been another $10,000 making a total of $28,800. I don't think I could ever get my money back out of it if I were to sell it but the cool/fun factor made it all worth it. BTW I also did the paint myself and consider it a 10 footer. Whenever I get a compliment on the truck I tell the looker not to look too close.

Weeds