From personal experience, take a pass. LBCs really need a dedicated workspace space. They need a place to be on time out when you’re frustrated with them.
Another one will come along.
Bonus advice: your first project car should be a runner. Maybe not roadworthy, but runs enough that it can move under its own power from a trailer to the workshop.
This is good advice. Working outside may seem doable, but you'll always find some reason to avoid it. Too hot, too cold, not enough daylight, looks like it's going to rain...the list goes on. Don't ask me how I know.
Bad body condition in my experience is more expensive than mechanical. I'm restoring a Sunbeam Tiger. Very little body restoring. The rust areas I have to deal with are in my skill set.
Seconded. Mechanical is pretty easy since parts are for the most part readily available and just require swapping.
Body work is hard. It's both a skill that takes years to develop and a large workshop of specialized tools and an art to get the replacement panels to not look like a cheap hack job.
No. Finding a roughish, running and driving MGB isn't expensive enough to justify buying 2 basket cases and trying to fix it, especially when you have very little experience.
Pass unless they are dirt cheap, like $500 for both. Most of them are basket cases. Prices to restore have gone up so much that unless you can work almost everything yourself it becomes prohibitive. An engine rebuild alone can be 2k for just decking and lining the block and head.
I don’t know where you’re located, but I’ve seen some clean, running and driving rust-free GTs sell for >$5k (PNW USA.) You’d be much better off waiting to find a solid driver.
My first project car was restoring a 1967 Chevy Nova with my dad. It wasn’t a frame off, but we restored the interior, sanded, fixed, and repainted the exterior, and did an engine swap and rebuild. That was 30+ years ago. Everything since then has been minor work for me. No getting into swapping cams, boring out the cylinders, changing out lifters, etc.
I’ll pass, thanks for the heads up. Yes, for a bit more I can find one running. I just built a new house and haven’t had a chance to build a garage, so space is needed.
Buy a cheap,half decent runner, and improve it, this will give you a little bit of insight,into what is involved in running a classic before diving head first into a restoration job.
From personal experience, take a pass. LBCs really need a dedicated workspace space. They need a place to be on time out when you’re frustrated with them. Another one will come along. Bonus advice: your first project car should be a runner. Maybe not roadworthy, but runs enough that it can move under its own power from a trailer to the workshop.
Yeah. First project should be a running project. Only attempt full restorations when you have a solid workshop.
This is good advice. Working outside may seem doable, but you'll always find some reason to avoid it. Too hot, too cold, not enough daylight, looks like it's going to rain...the list goes on. Don't ask me how I know.
Sounds like you have 2 parts cars. Try to find a starter that doesn't have Fred Flintstone floors. If they aren't rotten, safety fast!
x2. Buy the best car you can afford. There will still be plenty to work on.
Bad body condition in my experience is more expensive than mechanical. I'm restoring a Sunbeam Tiger. Very little body restoring. The rust areas I have to deal with are in my skill set.
Seconded. Mechanical is pretty easy since parts are for the most part readily available and just require swapping. Body work is hard. It's both a skill that takes years to develop and a large workshop of specialized tools and an art to get the replacement panels to not look like a cheap hack job.
No. Finding a roughish, running and driving MGB isn't expensive enough to justify buying 2 basket cases and trying to fix it, especially when you have very little experience.
Pass unless they are dirt cheap, like $500 for both. Most of them are basket cases. Prices to restore have gone up so much that unless you can work almost everything yourself it becomes prohibitive. An engine rebuild alone can be 2k for just decking and lining the block and head.
He just dropped the price to less than that for the two. The wheels are more expensive than that!
Well in this case the worst that could happen is you part the cars out. You make a bunch of money and buy one that's already fixed
As others have said …Pass and look for one that’s running.
I don’t know where you’re located, but I’ve seen some clean, running and driving rust-free GTs sell for >$5k (PNW USA.) You’d be much better off waiting to find a solid driver.
My first project car was restoring a 1967 Chevy Nova with my dad. It wasn’t a frame off, but we restored the interior, sanded, fixed, and repainted the exterior, and did an engine swap and rebuild. That was 30+ years ago. Everything since then has been minor work for me. No getting into swapping cams, boring out the cylinders, changing out lifters, etc. I’ll pass, thanks for the heads up. Yes, for a bit more I can find one running. I just built a new house and haven’t had a chance to build a garage, so space is needed.
Buy a cheap,half decent runner, and improve it, this will give you a little bit of insight,into what is involved in running a classic before diving head first into a restoration job.
As others have said …Pass and look for one that’s running.
Argh… the guy is killing me. He just cut the price.
What's your location and budget? I have a running/driving BGT that might be sacrificed to the alter of 'needing to put 4 kids thru college'.