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Post by Mock1racer on Aug 27, 2008 10:57:58 GMT -5
I'm always thinking of ways to cut costs, it's my job at work to do this on a daily basis. Find the cheaper part, get a cheaper quote from multiple vendors, get a more competitive price for the same quality. When it comes to my car, I think the same way. When I first built my bug, everybody that saw it was like,"hey, that's cool,where did you get your brackets? or how'd you make that fit?What did you do to do this or that or whatever?"My response was " no man I made that " The response to that was " hey now that's really cool, that everything is homemade." It gave me a sense of pride that what I did in my garage with basic hand tools was appreciated by car junkies and other racers. Now my issue is this, now that I'm rebuilding this car I'm looking at using the proper parts I need to make it road worthy and street friendly. When I find whatever it is I'm lookin for, I see a price and fall over in my chair!! I think that I could make these parts with my eyes closed!! I have the materials , the tools , the skills, and basically the time. Obviously there are some things I can't make like shocks, universals, etc. But a 4-link, or ladder bars, roll cages, dash boards , sheet metal parts, stuff like that gets me to thinking the question, Buy em or make em? If you make your parts, you will definitely spend more time than you would if you bought them, but in the end, how would you feel? Even if you buy all the components, and put it all together , you are still just an assembler. However, if you take a bundle of raw material and fabricate everything yourself, then I think that would put you in a different class. So, what class do I want to be in? I think even though it will take longer, I want to be the guy that has the 100% HOMEMADE RIDE !! ;D
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Aug 27, 2008 13:43:29 GMT -5
I'm the same way. I find quality parts for cheap and anything I can make I will if it's not more expensive than buying the part. One of the reasons I decided to build my bug using the S10 as the foundation. I wanted to build a tube frame but after getting quotes on steel it was less expensive to just buy a rolling chassis.
Cost of 2'x3' steel tubing for just the frame was about $350. That doesn't include. cost of a rear diff. and possibly a Mustang II front sus. Cost of a used rolling 94 S10 pick up chassis was $150. Parts to completely rebuild the chassis is about $250. $350 total for a freshly rebuilt chassis.
I'm by far no fabricator but if I can make something myself for cheaper than I do. If I can buy quality used parts or less expensive quality parts for less then I do. If the cost to make something is more than it cost to just buy the thing, then I just buy it.
But there is also the factor of time for me. My time is limited when it comes to my project, at this moment, and my free time is worth $$$ because of the fact that I get paid well working at home. So there's a factor for me of how much time is it going to take to actually make this part compared to how many hours of work would it take to earn the money to just buy the part.
Matt
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Aug 27, 2008 13:50:59 GMT -5
The response to that was " hey now that's really cool, that everything is homemade." It gave me a sense of pride that what I did in my garage with basic hand tools was appreciated by car junkies and other racers. I haven't ever built a car like this, but I can appreciate how it will and does feel to build something unique with your own hands in your garage with simple tools. People appreciating what you've built is pretty satisfying. Even if you don't fabricate every piece, like buying a pro street chassis ready to go, dropping an engine in and body on, building the floor and going, you've still created something that's unique and most everyone would appreciate. Now, if you just pay to have it built, well there's really nothing you can take pride in other than having funding and owning the thing.
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Post by Mock1racer on Aug 27, 2008 14:20:16 GMT -5
Yeah, that kinda what I meant. building yourself rather than payin somebody else to do it. I'd rather build it myself ( even if it's wrong!!_LOL!!)
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Roadrunna
Full Member
Pissin off the purists
Posts: 183
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Post by Roadrunna on Aug 27, 2008 16:34:14 GMT -5
I'd much rather build it myself than pay to have it done (even despite wanting to after a frustrating day with parts lol). I agree that there's no real admiration for the owner if it's just a chequebook project built by someone paid to do it.
Alas, I haven't got the space, knowledge or confidence to 'make' some of the parts I need. If I could then I would. Take mine for example, I've built the chassis from steel stock and plans. Cut all the sections & done all the welding. I'll fab up things like mounts, panel work & most of the brackets but wen it comes to stuff like the running gear/suspension then i've bought it.
It's going to be a meaty enough ride so i'd rather put my trust in some proven components.
Once that lot is done then all the bodywork, fettling, wiring etc. will be done myself probably from what I need to make to get it all to happen.
It sure is an expensive thing but so would be buying all the tools and renting a space where I could make these bits. All in I reckon i'm about £8,000 ($16,000 ish) in debt from the bug so far & it's little more than a stock bug & a new chassis next to it.
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Post by Mock1racer on Aug 28, 2008 9:04:37 GMT -5
I bet it's much harder for you to build there than us over here. My freind in U.K. told me most garages aren't much bigger than a 10 x 12 room. unless you got BIG bucks. My garage is about 28 x 22 and i have to move my tools around to make room to use other tools. it's gets to be a pain but when i first built the car i was in the back yard on dirt under a tree, so i'm not gonna complain much about havin to move stuff to be able to work!!
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Aug 28, 2008 13:45:44 GMT -5
I'm building mine in a one car garage, but that might change soon. Four of my friends and I are more than likely going to go in on a 4,000 sq. ft. shop / garage. If everything goes right I'll have my bug there and I could then have the body off and to the side if I want so I can finish up the chassis. Will cost me the same price I'm paying now, but it'll be about 30 miles away.
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Post by Mock1racer on Aug 28, 2008 13:59:47 GMT -5
Dude, that would be sweet! you would have access to more power, room and more people to help!! That and a lift too!!!!! maybe there's a parts store between the house and the shop!
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Aug 28, 2008 14:39:36 GMT -5
Yeah, the more I think about it the more I just want to go ahead and do it. Only thing is hauling everything will be a pain, but it should only take one trip. I will definitely have more space, people to help cause all 3 out of 4 of them have done their own hotrod projects at one point, more power which is cool cause then I could borrow my works 22Ov Lincoln arc welder and not have to worry about the duty cycle like I have to with my 110 arc welder which has 20% duty cycle at 75 Amps, I pretty much weld at 90-130 amps 100% of the time when doing frame work, and there are quite a bit of parts stores along the way, from NAPA to Bap-Geon (import store). The place doesn't have a lift though. It's more or less like a shop / garage / storage, no car lift. But I definitely could setup a temporary paint both at this place and do my own paint job.
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Roadrunna
Full Member
Pissin off the purists
Posts: 183
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Post by Roadrunna on Aug 28, 2008 18:21:21 GMT -5
lol well you've all seen my garage I'm stood inside the door to the house when I took that piccie.
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Post by Mock1racer on Aug 29, 2008 5:55:33 GMT -5
wow!! your'e gonna have to do a lot of rearanging to build a car in there!!
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Aug 29, 2008 11:35:14 GMT -5
I like the heavy duty frame behind the door! Someone would have to drive a car through that thing to get in.
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Post by Mock1racer on Aug 29, 2008 11:52:54 GMT -5
Maybe he could use that for his chassis!!!LOL!! I bet it's strong enough!! For sure ain't nobody gettin in there!!
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Roadrunna
Full Member
Pissin off the purists
Posts: 183
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Post by Roadrunna on Aug 29, 2008 11:56:40 GMT -5
I managed to build the frame in there but that's about it. The rest is gonna have to be done outside on the drive.
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Post by Mock1racer on Aug 29, 2008 12:12:15 GMT -5
Still looks like your'e makin progress though.Did your back half ever get there?
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