Going to be starting my "mild" frame off on my truck in the next 2 months or so. When I say mild, I wont be making it show quality, it would be more like a late model car that has been taken care of. Was wondering what everyone else basically has in theirs from start to finish. I would like to see numbers so I know what I should be expecting to spend on mine and see if I should put it off longer and set aside some more money for it. I would hate to have to stop halfway through it. Also trying to do mine in only a month or two. Sounds impossible but I have already replaced almost everything mechanical wise on my truck, so all I really have left to do is take everything apart, do some welding on the frame and a 14 bolt sf I plan on putting in, body work, paint, then put it all back together.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
How much did your frame off restoration cost?
- Thread starter Morgan3
- Start date
One, MILLION, dollars. Lol
Take your budget then double it. I seriously have way to much money into my truck and it isn't even nearly restored or look like I have the 19K I think I have into it.
You have to decide what all you want in the end, how much you can do yourself and who you can trust to do jobs which you can't.
Then add a good amount, because you always find more that you want or need.
So double can be close!!!
Then add a good amount, because you always find more that you want or need.
So double can be close!!!
I have a customer's 79 k20 here at the shop. Drive in drive out rebuild and paint is going to be 80 grand.
View attachment 253246
View attachment 253246
Yah lots of different ideas about frame up restoration. Rusty bolts? Are you getting new ones or plating the old or just leaving em. Blasting the frame or wire wheeling. Reusing rubber bits or replacing them all.
You really need to decide on a budget. Then start looking into stuff.
And what exactly will you have to farm out.
The less you farm out the more cost effective.
I figured out one day to fix up one of my crew cabs to nicely restored status I would be 20k in parts alone.
You really need to decide on a budget. Then start looking into stuff.
And what exactly will you have to farm out.
The less you farm out the more cost effective.
I figured out one day to fix up one of my crew cabs to nicely restored status I would be 20k in parts alone.
H20 Toie
1/2 ton status
Well on my straight rust free 91 blazer that was not frame off and had great interior I've spent over $25k , full paint,dash, axles, lockers, sye, coilovers, cage, winch ,oba,wheels, tires, stereo, alarm, rubber all the way around
on the 89 crew cab again straight and rust free i'm under $15k, paint, dash, seats, tanks and sending units, rubber, windshield,
and neither one was done in a month or even close to it
all depends on how crazy you want to get
on the 89 crew cab again straight and rust free i'm under $15k, paint, dash, seats, tanks and sending units, rubber, windshield,
and neither one was done in a month or even close to it
all depends on how crazy you want to get
I have about 10k into mine so far. That's with me doing everything. Down to the frame rails, and even knocking off all the brackets/hangers for cleaning. Rebuilt and upgraded axles/brakes. All new sheetmetal (everything but firewall). Still have motor/trans/t-case to build, interior, paint and bodywork. Guessing I'll have close to 60-75k into it once it's actually "done".
Whatever you think it will cost, throw that number out the window. Realisticly, it'll be 4 or 5 times what you think.
Whatever you think it will cost, throw that number out the window. Realisticly, it'll be 4 or 5 times what you think.
Truth ^^
Mine is not a restoration, it's more of a destruction project that started as a $300 frame swap for a bent frame. Now almost 15 years and probably $20k+ later it's getting close but still hasn't reached my goal nor is it anything close to show condition. The natural domino effect plus the "might as well" mindset will overwhelm a project.
I do this stuff for people.
IF YOU HAVE TO ASK, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT.
IF YOU HAVE TO ASK, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT.
I never ask......Then why am I still broke?
That's not a spending money problem, that's a making money problem.
I spend more money on having a place to build my truck than I do on my truck. Including the purchase price of the truck in took a little over $20,000 just to get it to this point. If I included the price of my labor this would be a $70,000 truck. I have not done a frame-off, but this thing has been torn down to no drive train, no suspension, no fuel tanks, no fuel lines, no engine harness, no font clip, bed removed, and sitting on four jack stands. Then put all back together.
Last edited:
This is the latest on the 79.
We're at about 40 into it.
We're at about 40 into it.
I WANT THAT TRUCK! Do nothing to it, (Aesthetically anyway) besides maybe replacing the windshield.
Guy bought it new. I bet he'd rather drive it off a cliff and die in it than sell it.
Tried to keep the paint as is just a solid rebuild but they opted for a repaint.
Tried to keep the paint as is just a solid rebuild but they opted for a repaint.
Not to be a naysayer, but there is really no such thing as a "Mild" frame off. If the body is coming off, the MAW factor comes in hard and heavy. Media blasting, powder coating, sheetmetal repair/replacement all will factor in to some extent. Oh and the 2 month time frame for any kind of frame off is borderline crazy unless you have a crew like Overhaulin. Our 59 Apache project was originally intended to be a "filler" project between customer pay jobs. But somebody wanted at their wedding and ramped up the timetable big time. What we could have taken 2 years filling in got done in 6 months with the last 3 being full on 100% on the Apache. That was a full blown frame off nut/bolt resto. Depending on how I billed out the labor cost, retail would have been at $80k, our cost was closer to $50k parts and labor.
That is going to be real nice.
I have about $18,500 in mine right now and about 3/4 of the way done. I have done all the work myself except paint and body.
And you know you hear all the time take you budget and double it?? Well that saying is 200% true!!!
Otherwise I would be done
One thing I will say and I think most will agree
Take your time and do it the way you want. If you rush and throw it together because you didn’t have the cash at the time or just want to get it done you will not be happy with the results.
You will be happier saving the funds and doing it the way you want. It’s so much more rewarding when you put that high dollars part on and sit back and look at it then going the cheap route and saying “it will work”
And you know you hear all the time take you budget and double it?? Well that saying is 200% true!!!
Otherwise I would be done
One thing I will say and I think most will agree
Take your time and do it the way you want. If you rush and throw it together because you didn’t have the cash at the time or just want to get it done you will not be happy with the results.
You will be happier saving the funds and doing it the way you want. It’s so much more rewarding when you put that high dollars part on and sit back and look at it then going the cheap route and saying “it will work”
