[JASonic]

Something really cool happened today and now I want you guys opinions. My son came to me and asked "hey dad, we should go out and buy a classic and restore it". He said it would be cool for us to use the extra garage space to rebuild something. He even went as far as saying it would be great to learn together. Whoa! You guys will learn someday that as a father, you love to hear those words. What a cool opportunity. Lil J's 15 so he's at an age where he could easily become a stranger. I try real hard to give him space to grow but at the same time stay involved.

So we've always screwed around with the Mustang a bit but never anything real serious. As you guys know, Im not a hardcore gearhead. More like a part time weekend warrior! However, I would be willing to invest some $$ and time to do something like this with the boy. Especially since he came to me on it.

So here is my question. What car could you suggest? I'm looking at something cheap too. My budget for the car would be $5,000 to start. Of course then it would be a slow process of buying tools and learning the whole thing. We'd take out time and learn together which is great. I couldnt go out and get everything at once. I would say I would like to shoot for restoration within a year or so.

Got any ideas? Are we getting in over our heads since "MM" is the closest real form of backup we have. Its safe to say we're on our own down here so it makes me a bit nervous. If I get to a point where something cant be fixed or restored, I might be screwed. I dont know. what do you think? What would be a good car and year?

[TheUNZippee!]

1967 Mustang GT fastback.

[graystang01]

68 fastback ftw

i wish i had one

[JASonic]

But arent those expensive even if in shitty condition? Are the parts to restore it expensive? Are they easy to work on for a "beginners" with a haines and a chiltons?

[BWAL]

'67 fastback, but that'll run you alot more than 5k lol

[JASonic]

what is a good one that would be "easier" than others? With my luck I'd get something and you guys would say "shouldnt have gotten that,,,its a bitch to work on and get parts for".

I mean it could be a 70s or even an 80s model if it made more sense.

[G.T. Rags]

does it have to be a classic?

fox body FTMFW

easy to work on, cheap to mod...

and technically anything before 82 is now considered a classic...

[JASonic]

Rags,,, yes. Fox's are easy to work on? Thats cool. I can assume the parts are cheap since there are alot of them still around and even maybe bone yards have certain things. Hell, I know you guys know alot about them as well so we'd have alittle back up here.

[MSO]

dude, fox bodies ARE the best mustangs to learn on cuz they're so cheap and the parts are cheap and there's literally tons of information on the restoration and modding of foxes

but in any case, just buy a book or two on restoring cars, they have plenty out there.. hell, they got books for building the engine, repairing the body, interior, etc. so u got lots of info on anything really, just look for it.


but u shud get it started fast, as a piece of advice from someone with ADD.. if it doesnt make any progress, he's gonna get bored and lose interest in it

and my opinion for a resto-project, 2.3 turbo (of course , plus its cheap as dirt) or a 1970 mach1 clone

[JASonic]

Thanks MSO, thats good heads up advice. Im as ADD as he is! I'm thinking we would need to find one with a decent engine to start. The engine is something that intimidates me a bit. For whatever reason, bodywork seems to be something we could handle. Im not afraid to go out and buy good equipment and supplies to do it piece by piece. Hell, we'd be able to see some quick progress to help us stay motivated. I'm sure we'd have to re-do it more than a few times to get it right but, hey, thats part of the learning curve I suppose.

[BWAL]

you should let your son choose what kind of car to buy

[JASonic]

Originally Posted by BWAL09 you should let your son choose what kind of car to buy

Ya......... we talked about that. He's a huge Mustang fan like me so he's cool with a Fox. But, his first suggestion was a Camero RS he seen in the trading post. It was like an 85. I wasnt to hip on that car for some reason.

[MSO]

Originally Posted by JASonic Thanks MSO, thats good heads up advice. Im as ADD as he is! I'm thinking we would need to find one with a decent engine to start. The engine is something that intimidates me a bit. For whatever reason, bodywork seems to be something we could handle. Im not afraid to go out and buy good equipment and supplies to do it piece by piece. Hell, we'd be able to see some quick progress to help us stay motivated. I'm sure we'd have to re-do it more than a few times to get it right but, hey, thats part of the learning curve I suppose.

cars are extremely simple

i used to be intimidated too, before i junked old reliable i took that bitch apart and put her back together

nothing to it

the engine was a bit difficult, but i did a step-by-step picture session as i took it apart and it made it nice and easy

body work is by far the easiest shit to do, but the hardest to get right! lol

[G.T. Rags]

Originally Posted by BWAL09 you should let your son choose what kind of car to buy

+1

Originally Posted by JASonic Ya......... we talked about that. He's a huge Mustang fan like me so he's cool with a Fox. But, his first suggestion was a Camero RS he seen in the trading post. It was like an 85. I wasnt to hip on that car for some reason.

i also think u should sit him down and give him a crash course in whats what...

break it down to him the pro's and cons of each vehicle and everything....

[BWAL]

then fox FTW

if you want a fairly simple, straight forward project, buy a nice solid 4 banger mustang and put a v8 in it. any v8. 302, 351, etc. that'll be a good amount of work for beginners, but you will both learn a shit ton and have a badass car when you're done that you and him both will be proud of

[TheUNZippee!]

Any classic car is going to be expensive, JA.

[MSO]

fox + 460 = by the time ur son graduates HS he will be known as the man with the baddest car at school

[BWAL]

Originally Posted by MSO cars are extremely simple i used to be intimidated too, before i junked old reliable i took that bitch apart and put her back together nothing to it the engine was a bit difficult, but i did a step-by-step picture session as i took it apart and it made it nice and easy body work is by far the easiest shit to do, but the hardest to get right! lol

cars are simple if you have all the parts on hand. buying a car and taking it apart and putting it back together would be very easy, but buying a stripped down car and buying piece by piece to put it back together is a good bit of work. i would know. lol

but that's why i recommended a 4 cyl. fox body. you can get one cheap, and just doing the v8 swap will be a nice little project.

[G.T. Rags]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! Any classic car is going to be expensive, JA.

even a 79 crapmaro

[BWAL]

show your son this video

YouTube - 1985 Mustang 514 cu in Big Block "FOR SALE"

YouTube - 1985 Mustang 514 cu in Big Block "FOR SALE"