Full on resto project, what will I be getting into?

[GeorgeG.]

Thanks for the insight guys. Fortunately I still have several more years before I have to decide.

So when I said "resto", I didn't mean restore to original. It would be more like rod it out. The motor and suspension would be gone and I wouldn't be too concerned about the interior being period correct...just redone nicely. Knowing that, does that make the process much easier and cheaper?

[Baba Ganoush]

Thanks for the insight guys. Fortunately I still have several more years before I have to decide.

So when I said "resto", I didn't mean restore to original. It would be more like rod it out. The motor and suspension would be gone and I wouldn't be too concerned about the interior being period correct...just redone nicely. Knowing that, does that make the process much easier and cheaper?

Possibly. It all depends on your vision. My money would be in the metal work and building/buying a nice chassis for it. You could really get out cheap if you have time to wait for deals on items, know the right folks and do most of the work yourself. Good luck!

Of course it's still worth a good chunk sitting as-is and its only going up in value.

[46Tbird]

So when I said "resto", I didn't mean restore to original. It would be more like rod it out. The motor and suspension would be gone and I wouldn't be too concerned about the interior being period correct...just redone nicely. Knowing that, does that make the process much easier and cheaper?

Why not use what's there? You don't have to throw everything away and start from scratch to have a really fun old hot rod. Those early V8 Fords are mechanically very simple and reliable. Spend a little money getting it running again (mostly fuel and electrical) and drive it around for a while. It's more fun that way and more valuable than blown apart in your garage.

[BLAKE]

Why not use what's there? You don't have to throw everything away and start from scratch to have a really fun old hot rod. Those early V8 Fords are mechanically very simple and reliable. Spend a little money getting it running again (mostly fuel and electrical) and drive it around for a while. It's more fun that way and more valuable than blown apart in your garage.

This exactly.

[Torinoman]

Crown Vic front suspension, 302 with an AOD, and Explorer 8.8 out back. Wire up the basic instruments and lights with a bench inside and just cruise the fuck out of it. If you don't care how it looks, you could turn it into a good cruiser on the cheap.

[Jimbo]

Crown Vic front suspension, 302 with an AOD, and Explorer 8.8 out back. Wire up the basic instruments and lights with a bench inside and just cruise the fuck out of it. If you don't care how it looks, you could turn it into a good cruiser on the cheap.

I totally get it, but i would feel terrible doing that to a car like that.

[46Tbird]

Crown Vic front suspension, 302 with an AOD, and Explorer 8.8 out back. Wire up the basic instruments and lights with a bench inside and just cruise the fuck out of it. If you don't care how it looks, you could turn it into a good cruiser on the cheap.

Nothing screams "hot rod" like bunch of '90s Ford parts stick welded to a '34 Tudor.

[Baron Von Crowder]

oh hai, Danny's here!

[46Tbird]

..

[Jimbo]

Nothing screams "hot rod" like bunch of '90s Ford parts stick welded to a '34 Tudor.

Proven formula.

[Jimbo]

http://fueltank.cc/blog/the-gilbert-tudor

[Big Dad]

Crown Vic front suspension, 302 with an AOD, and Explorer 8.8 out back. Wire up the basic instruments and lights with a bench inside and just cruise the fuck out of it. If you don't care how it looks, you could turn it into a good cruiser on the cheap.

[Big Dad]

As I said earlier

http://www.basskustom.com/

[Torinoman]

Its cheap and it wouldn't take much time to complete, and its all reversible. OP said he had little budget and time, but you're right, send it to the customs shop that will bill out 10k to get it running.

[BLAKE]

Not sure how reversible the crown vic suspension would be, but the stock suspension is rock-simple and wouldn't be expensive at all. A junk yard Exploder motor might be cheaper than getting the flathead running, but it wouldn't be nearly as cool and I don't see it taking anywhere near 10k to get there.