RJ, if I had the opportunity to get a 57 Chevy for that price, you're darn right I'd buy it and resto it. It would obviously be a project car that would take a long time to finish. Not just a quick weekend project type of thing.

I was referring to people who come here (or any forum) only owning one car, their daily driver, and wanting to do some improvements to their car. Projects that won't take their car out of commission for long periods of time.

A lot of people are not looking to build a ride with super crazy hp, do engine and tranny swaps, custom body work, etc. Some people just want to improve on the performance a bit, get a better sound (engine/exhaust), and improve the looks without breaking the bank on their daily driver.

Project cars like what you (RJ) have done with your 57's, and what Duane (cowboy6622) is doing with his Torino is different. Some people do have their Monte as a project car, and are not afraid to spend money, wrench on it, and experiment with it.

For now, my Monte is my only vehicle and therefore has to be my daily driver. Therefore I'm being conservative with what I do to it right now. As soon as I pay it off, I plan on getting a second vehicle as my daily driver. Then, I can start doing some real mods on my Monte. Stuff that if it doesn't work, I can fix at my own pace.

I'm not arguing with you. You're right in a way. More and more people are going with mod kits now. But as some people here found out the hard way, sometimes when you experiment, it costs A LOT to reverse the damage. Especially when re-programming from a dealership comes into play.

I love it when people take on a project that they've never done before. Like the member who wants to drop an L67 into his Alero. That's a hell of an experiment to try. And if it works, he'll have a great sleeper of an Alero.

 

that's why I wanna get my 2nd car...

really tempted to do some turbo builds but afraid to blow another tranny and be out of a car...again

 

Like i said, forums are a great place for knowledge when you cant afford to make very costly mistakes on parts and such. Thats why i'm starting to pick people's brains for a few things cause i will start turning wrenches next year.

Are we lazy? No. Just modern. LOL

 

I'm not lazy!

Hold on while I call for delivery of some coffee...

 

I'd post a reply, but you know...

 

I try to do MOST of my work. But sometimes it's just better to leave it to the pro's to make sure it's not only done right, but also SAFE! Problem is, so many of the "pros", ain't so pro! I have an elderly lady I go to Church with. She has been having problems with her Escort, and has put $1,300 in it, and it is still unreliable. Won't start when she needs it to. Turns out the plugs were toasted, and a simple tune up cured it. She took it to a shop owner we go to Church with.

My stereo, I let Dashworks in Portage, MI do it. The wiring in these 6th gen's is complicated. I had issues with the stereo in my '01. I'll do the simple mods, or even the basic ones. I've done most all my engine work, the brake upgrade, and the electrical panel in the back, housing my factory radio, the 2nd battery, etc. I even made the panels in the trunk. I made the custom CNC'd gauge cluster under my deck.

But some of the suspension, transmission, and other things, I leave to the pro's. Wheel alignment and other suspension issues. Changing out my flex plates (twice), and even some of the OTHER things that I COULD do, but would take me 4 times longer than the pro's.

Besides, there is sometimes when you are working lots of hours that you just need to look at it like this. I'm a toolmaker. They are mechanics. You don't do my job, and I won't do yours. And when it's your daily driver, you ain't got TIME for down time. Get it fixed, get it fixed NOW, and make sure it is RIGHT and SAFE to drive.

 

in a way i agre with rocknss if i need a tranny to be remand i will have a shop do it. but with the things that i can do i will do it to save on areas that will be alot. a chevy dealer 110.00 for a tune up 80 fo synthetic that i use they charge for desposal and desposal of the new oil as well. break job 250 per front and rear. where the parts i know are about 80 for breaks alawy around. shocks from kyb cheaper than from dealer as well. what i will look for is the suspention our cars have independent suspention keep an eye on it when the bushings go replace them fast before it wears out some thing expencive.

 

You have a lot of good points here Taz.

It does cost to make mistakes. When you can barely afford to make a modification right the first time having re-do a mistake isn't possible. So why not benefit from other's who have done the hard work already?



Never once have I ever thought that of you.