[skd81shark]

Stupid CLOUDS!

My 81's paint job just got put off until NEXT saturday. STUPID RAIN!

Thought this might be helpful for anyone restoring/improving a later shark.

I bought my 81 in feb 2004, running, drivable smoggable for 5K in Los Angeles.

So far here is the list...

Front Suspension: $1600 (Guldstrand) Includes shocks beaings bushings &labor
Rear Suspension: $2200 (Guldstrand) (all inclusive. Full rebuild does not include Diff)
Alignment: $200
New Tires :$500
New Center Caps $62.00 (Ebay)
Polish & Dremel thingies $125 (a few years and different polishes. Best I have found is Wenol)


Body...be wary there are some wacko's out there look at the pics of my car...we had no idea the body was hammered! Prices are rough and include shipping

New Nose: $500
New Tail: $400
New Quarter Panel $250
New Air Dam:$300 Including spoiler pieces
New Weather Strip $350 (with Clips)
New Windshiled trim: $400 (with clips)
Body work 5000. Complete strip did at home, myself(4 paintjobs) repair, install new parts prep for paint. Includes primer, booth rental, materials, etc. Car Primed, and sealed with DP90
New Paint $1000 Includes paint, and Clear (House of Kolor)

Headlamp Rebuild
New hoses, connectors, actuators, bucket rebuild kit, and control valves
$500 Did this myself. PITA!
Mechanical:
Brakes: 1000 New Calipers, Rotors, master Cyl, and Booster. New Rear lines.
Includes Labor.

Diff Rebuild
New Gears and rebuild kit :$500
New horseshoes that hold positrac in $100
Trans.
THM 700R4 built to 600hp, 1600rpm stall converter: $1200
Install Kit: $500, Includes Bowtie Overdrives wire kit, X member and TV Cable
Speedo Gear, housing, clip, and Bolt: $100
Driveshaft chop & balance $150

Engine
Full rebuild, new pumps, gaskets hoses, timing chain+ gears, new cam, decked and rebuilt heads, roller rockers, urethane mounts, new cam, 10.0:1 comp, belts $5000 including labor, and parts. Steering included in here, new pump, rams and control valve,gearbox and lines.

Carb Rebuild:$100 (Don't buy replacement carbs from auto parts stores! Go GM or a corvette specialist!!!)

Interior
New Dash $100
Paint for trim pieces:$65.00 includes prep cleaner, primer, tape and color.
New consoles: $400.00 (Center gauge cluster, shifter and ebrake)
Door wiskers for windows:$100

Lamps/Lenses
New Stop Lamps $62.00 (includes fedex shipping)
Polish for other lamps and lenses $15.00
Dremel polishing thingies:$15.00
Polished and rehabbed the lenses and lamps myself.
New Front marker bezels $50.00 (L&R)
Still need
Carpet, rear compartment doors, seat skins on foam, door panels new center gauge cluster (I broke the W$&%@$& taking it out:thud: !!!!)

Air conditioning: full system. Its there but does not work.
Cruise control Its there, but does not work.

New Engine top harness....some of the wires are junk!

T-tops- Want smoke grey ones. Xpensive, lol

Thought I would post the progress so far....so people can see what they are in for, and to make some basic estimates on restoring a shark. Probably left some things out, but hopefully can be used for a good starting point. This is a budget resto for a DRIVER that you wouldn't have to make excuses for. Easily double this for a concours resto, or hot rodding.

Also, being Active Duty Military, I got some great discounts on Labor! (Thanks Rick and Ken!

 

[rjent]

Nice post bro!

I have done a couple of these. I keep telling myself that it is REALLY cheaper in the long run over paying +- $600.00 per month for a new one. You have a shark, you have a car that is increasing in value, and you know it inside and out. Doesn't get any better that that.


Good info, thanks for the post! :thumbsup:

 

[Double_Take]

Great post...it helps soften the blow for when I get started on mine in a few years.

:cheers:

 

[curtis74]

Hmmm, this all looks very familiar. I can relate with you as most of what you listed here, I had done the same thing. It certainly isn’t easy to restore these cars especially if you are going to it right and not cut any corners. I can’t wait to see the paint!

 

[Cetrov]

mines in body and paint now - $5100.00,

have not even touched the suspension yet -
seats done, door panels, carpet - trans is going together -

i don't even want to start adding up the bucks -

 

[skd81shark]

I misposted price of Dash....Dash was $585 with shipping.

Posted all this just to give some sort of an estimate for people to work with, while planning their cars' resto.

Looking at all the $$$ going in, it can get a bit depressing, however, there is not a car around that looks as good as a C3 for the actual small amount we spend! I'd rather drive a $20000 Corvette....than a $30000 Camry!

It will take years for most of us to recoup the investment (some of us will never get back what we pour in L88's, 89's Tri powers, and other coffee tables excluded) but the looks at the stoplight are SO worth it! Add that to the fact that you can look at it...and say I DID THAT makes for a great experience, and wonderful memories. Plus...We don't have to drive Toyotas or Minivans! (Even worse...a Toyota Minivan!) :cheers:

 

[Art Jett]

mines in body and paint now - $5100.00,

have not even touched the suspension yet -
seats done, door panels, carpet - trans is going together -

i don't even want to start adding up the bucks -

Only $5100 for paint? You're lucky, mine was $9300.00 and the only extras were fixing one place of birdcage rot and a new windshield. The only consolation is they did an outstanding job! I've got close to #30,000.00 in mine and have yet to hear it run.

 

[sfallison]

That's some rebuild!! Mine's still "under construction" I'm into it for about 5-6 grand, and still going! :laughing: