How much should we spend???

mikec4193

mikec4193

Precision Fit
Jan 18, 2010
922
Mechanicville ny
First Name
Mike
Willys Model
  1. Other
Willys Year:
  1. Other
Hi Everyone.

As go to my credit card statement again and see more Walcks purchases and my transferring of money from one account to another I often wonder...How much should I really spend on this old truck. I purchased her/him for $1650.00 back in 2007 (it ran too). I think I have spent another $850.00 this summer on the new springs for it and countless other little parts too.....So how much do you guys and gals spend on your old Willys trucks and wagons????
Just wondering thats all...(kinda wanna see how far out I am)

Mike C
 
mikec4193 said:
.....So how much do you guys and gals spend...
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I think you should spend whatever makes you happy... with the understanding that it's not an investment, and you will likely never see a return on the money you put in.

I had about 20k into my Plymouth over a ten year period of time. When I decided to sell it, which I never thought I would, I knew that I would be lucky to get even close to that. You can buy four door '50 Plymouths in very nice condition on ebay all day long for 3-5k. I sold it for about 5k less than what I had into it, which felt like winning the lottery. That 5k loss worked out to about 40 bucks a month over the time I had the car. :p Where else could I have that much fun for that price?

So far I have about 5k more into my wagon that I can't drive than you have into your truck... :cheers:

Pete
 
Hee heee heeeeeee!!! :lol: Yer crackin' me up ova heer. :D As per our last conversations you know I'm waiting to sink a few more K in to my engine. I bought this wagon back in 1995. It's my third Willys vehicle. I regretted selling the other two (at different times) so when I found this one I knew i'd keep it. Yeh, I've put it up for sale a couple of times because I get so disgruntled when I can't pour money in to it, but I always end up remotivating. I probably have somewhere between 6 or 8K into it as it sits, which really isn't so bad considering it's been 10 yrs. I know I'll never see it back in my wallet. The truth of the matter is...if you're looking for a $$ amount as a boundry line, you might as well sell it now. Just plan on being bummed out 6 months later.
Steve
 
being the nice guy I am, I volunteer to save you from your eventual financial ruin, and will accept your Willys without charge to you. I dont do this for everyone, you know. I just hate to see a grown adult crying over money. I'll let you know where to ship it. :D
 
You just have to try and set a budget for your self and go from there, if that works for you but most times it does not. I'm over 12k so far (lost count) a lot can happen and change during a build. Decied on what you realy want out of your Willys and go from there
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New power plant
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Hey Guys and Gals

You make me feel better all the time. I have never had a new car or a car payment either so I guess this is my car payment. I just wonder at times where I stand in the wallet area. I was just tryin to have some fun with a smelly old truck and save it from becoming a tuna can or a brandy new Toyota (yucky thought there huh?) Corolla. Still hoping to get it road driveable soon. This picture was taken on a hot August morning, just admiring the spider web and the jeep. Spider must have worked the night shift, I didnt see him anywhere.
 

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I have approximately $4,500 in my '62 Wagon, including the shipping from Colorado to Georgia, the purchase price, engine, tranny and transfer case, plus 2 new rear quarters and the Dana 44 axles. I have never counted my time into a project, it's therapy. I still have sand blasting, tires, wiring, brake lines, gas tank, new glass & rubber, seat covered, seat-belts, radiator, painting....you get the idea... I'm trying to be CHEAP, but safe and reliable....I never put small misc. purchase into my total....things bought for less than $30.00. My budget or goal, has been no more than $7,500 into this Wagon....I might make it and might not. In the final analysis...did I enjoy myself and have fun? YES Will I ever get my money out of her? I hope not, because I plan on giving it to my 28 yr. old son someday. I don't fish, hunt or play golf, but do drink a cold :beer:
I would love to have a total stock, un-molested Willys Wagon, but my small budget will not allow that to happen anytime soon. I drive a golf cart instead of a four-wheeler, if that says anything about me. Have FUN, ENJOY...the hobby!
 
Spend what you need to, I'm looking at well over 5k, and that should get me seats, tires, gauges and maybe some axles. When I am done I will have a truly unique vehicle. I will not put junkyard stuff into this project, I am only doing it once this time :lol:
 
It doesn't matter how much you spend on your vehicles (or anything else for that matter) as long as you don't short change your family or future because of it!
We bought our '65 wagon for $1700 back in '96 and are about the $11k mark now. The vehicle is probably worth about $6-8k these days if I could find a buyer. I'll spend at least another $4k over the next few years adding the last upgrades (springs/shocks, sunroof, headlining, partial engine rebuild and maybe a T98/T18 or T19 4 spd).
IMO, at $2500, you have been very economical indeed!
Have fun.
 
I just see it as my hobby and also as a skill learning coarse. Never cared what the market value is on it when finished.
 
being the nice guy I am, I volunteer to save you from your eventual financial ruin, and will accept your Willys without charge to you. I dont do this for everyone, you know. I just hate to see a grown adult crying over money. I'll let you know where to ship it.
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Ok, that one was just plain funny. :lol: :lol: :lol: :cheers:
Steve
 
My tally keeps going and going, with the wife groaning and moaning till progress is made that she can see when she parks next to it. I figure ball park all said and done I will have 5-6 K in it with the purchase price of $500.00 included in that.
Bottom line is you have to spend till it's done or atleast done till something else falls off or breaks.
my 2 cents.

Eric
 
I have to say we Willys guys and gals are a great bunch for sure. We have a good mix in here too. I know one place where I wont spend any money and that is paint. I believe I bought this old truck as an old truck pile with great patina...gonna try to keep it that way...This attached photo is my swiss cheese rear fender we are in the middle of saving. I see lots of welding and grinding and then a couple thick coats of red Rustoleum to finish her off...(hoping to have her back on the truck next week....)..this is patina at its best.
 

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Mike I'm one that can appreciate patina....unless you are looking for restored original....as long as the Willys is safe and dependable.
 
1949 Jeepster, 4WD conversion, SB v8
$2000 for the vehicle (decent pick, smooth runner, great set of treads)
$300 replace brake system
$150 wireing & electrics
$1000 shocks, springs, shackels & shackle bolts (replaced everything)
$500 misc. crap, alternator, fuel line, fog lights

still want: interior work, seats, flooring, convertible top, bodywork & paint

My goal was to keep it below $5,ooo and I don't see any way to finish under budget. It's a great running truck so I'm slowing down some on the major stuff now, but it comes in flurrys and it's not free. I will argue all day long that these Willys are some of the least expensive car projects you can get into. Talk to the fancy dude down the block with the vette or Caddie and he's all in with the big bucks.
 
Figure if you want to do a factory original type rebuild the cost would be about the same as buying a new car. You can go cheaper in many areas, but for most of us we know it is not an investment, you will lose money in this hobby. But you can have a lot of fun fixing and driving these old trucks, and most hobbies cost something for the enjoyment you get.

I have about 5000 into the truck I have and it is half done, and about 3000 into the two wagons that will become one and it is less than half done.
I also have thousands of hours into each, most of it enjoyable. :D
 
Even if you get one for free or cheap you'll probably put "too much" into it. I traded a guy I work with for mine, Gave him a shotgun and pistol worth around $500 thinking I'd put a few bucks into it for a part time driver, well I really like it and it became a daily driver and almost obsession, ended up rebuilding the motor, trans/trans case and brakes, it needed seats, tires, overdive and miscellaneous stuff. I was keeping track of expenses out of curiosity and it was up around $5,000 when my CPU died and I lost the info. i still have most of the receipts but am not concerned about totalling them up to see what I have in it since I like it and it just doesn't really matter. It still needs paint and some body work to be what I'd like for a finished product but that might be a while, I'm to busy using it to get paint work done.
 
Your Willys, or whatever one is working on, is a sink hole for money. Once you realize that then it doesn't make a difference how much money you put into it. How much fun and satisfaction do you get out of it is the question. As long as it floats your boat spend all you can.
 
If you aren't in a hurry. A little each year really adds up, I've had my wagon 22 years now and my 3a, 20. All most done, :lol:
 
How much is too much? I don't know .We are semi retired,money isn't too tight but we do have to be careful,somewhat.I bought a 51 Willys Pu in Arizona for 2500 bucks,paid 1500 bucks to get it hauled on a rollback to NY state.Then an intense month of labor by me and my wife and about 2 grand to get it road ready.My wife has been driving the Willys every day for a month to her part time job.She just loves the damn thing so it's all worth it.
 
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