I got a preliminary estimate from the resto shop of about 8 to 9 thousand dollars for paint and bodywork. mind you, this is not a body shop that pulls dents, but an actual restoration shop. current projects are a 55 t-bird that just got a beautiful black paint job and a 59 chrysler wagon that had swiss cheese for floor and rear quarters. i need to find a donor car because my 86 k wagon needs new rockers (rotted all the way through) and some floorboard patches. figure i'll chop up a nice clean 4 door since the floor pan is identical. nobody makes good repair panels for these cars anymore. he's even going to use 2 part poly bed liner to coat the floors inside and out like he does on most jobs and will coat the insides of the other panels too to cut down on road noise. paint will be factory light cream like it came with from the factory, but sans sun fade!
today i put a request in for a personal loan from my c/u that will cover most of the body work and i'll cover the rest of the associated costs directly over the next few months. i am planning to run a 2.5 T1 w/ full factory T2 induction, 3" exhaust, TU 3" swing valve (+5hp/30tq over 1989+ 2.5" mopar unit), built auto w/ 2.60 FD (for better highway), custom lockup converter, and LSD. chassis will be the works: 91 k member w/ dual pivot arms, 89 shelby daytona big sway bar and rear axle, poly bushings, braided brake hoses, spirit r/t 11" vented 4 wheel disc, 16" 5 spokes with 205/50 rubber, cs racing adjustable track bar, strut brace, etc. resto-mod is the theme. car will look pretty stock going down the road but i'm hoping for sub 6 second 0-60 times. with the engine setup mods i have planned and an aftermarket cal, power should be around 250hp/300tq at the crank....not bad for an old 8 valve. it would be a better street racer if i could find the correct bucket seats and 87-89 5spd (shorty) console in almond (tan/beige). most bucket seat cars came with gray, blue or red interior. the 5spd console is much more attractive than that boxy piece of junk they used in floor auto cars but it is very rare and i have NEVER seen one in almond.
yes i will have to get some pics up before the reconstructive surgery begins (hopefully in the next couple weeks).