How long did your build take?

[vozproto]

So some of us new-bloods over in the 818 section of the forum are wondering what sort of time investment we are looking at for when we order up the new 818 once available.

A few things I know for certain...
- I don't know what I'm getting myself into
- I will likely be cussing my way through some steps
- I grossly underestimate the length it will take to complete my build
- Beer & Pizza will be a likely diet whilst working on my kit

[Mike N]

I had all the best intentions of building my roadster quickly from the donor with just general clean up and refurb with the intent of upgrading and rebuilding various pieces in the winter months between driving seasons. What actually happened is that I couldn't resist going through every single piece as it came off the donor and either completely rebuilding or upgrading. I blueprinted the engine and added a stroker kit as well as a supercharger, I rebuilt the trans and upgraded the clutch and flywheel, I tore the rear end apart and completely rebuilt it with 5 lug axles etc, I also upgraded the front end to 5 lug with a nice brake package. That along with doing all my own body work took just about exactly 2 years from the time I picked up the kit to the time it was on the road. I did all the work myself, if I had bought the engine, trans and rear end and had the bodywork done by someone else it would have been done in 6 or 8 months. These cars really are pretty easy to build the problem is that you see an opportunity for making things better at every step along the way and get constantly sidetracked which of course is all part of the fun of building your own car.

[vozproto]

I had all the best intentions ...

At least you have a killer ride on the road to hell. :p

[OCCPete]

One week! Your results man vary... ;)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psy-e1veYR0

Pete

[vozproto]

Hot damn.
I wonder how many friends I can bribe. :P

Although I feel like 1 week might be much too quick to actually appreciate my first build.
I'd be happy with 1 year and ecstatic w/ 6 months.

[John Card]

It all depends on your build. Stick to the kit plan and it can be done quickly. Take the "I must mod everything and make it mine" route and it adds a ton of time. Many fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, but extra mods add much more time, so it really just depends on how stock you can leave it. In my case, I spent more time trying to pay for it than I did wrenching on it - and I'm 4.5 years in. If I had all of the parts on day one I would have been done a long time ago.

[Ray]

Our actual build time, from donor tear down to finished was just over three years. There were two years were the car sat in the garage and I did absolutely nothing to it. I had gotten hurt at work and between the injury-surgery-rehab etc. it took me a while to get back to it. So, all that time added up is five years.

Ray

[CapeCoralCobra]

Mk 3.1. Just under 13 months, from donor teardown to engine rebuild, car assembly with several mods/add-ons, body work & paint, and final assembly. Bodywork & paint took about 3 of those months. Like a very fun full time job, about 1800 hrs, almost totally by myself. And I'd love to do another one.

[Gumball]

I'm taking the aforementioned "I must mod everything and make it mine" route, so I'm at two years and two months and counting on my MkIII build. I just installed the engine and trans last week, but still a long way to go with plumbing, wiring, dash completion, interior, etc... - not counting bodywork. I'm hoping to speed things up a bit, though, and have it on the road sometime next summer, just short of three years.

[Wayne Presley]

5 weeks is my best time :D

[riptide motorsport]

1 year.

[Jeff Kleiner]

A little over a year (which included building the engine) and a little under a year, both with self performed body and paint and neither at an "a$$es and elbows" pace. Lots of out of town time with no activity during both projects.

Jeff

[Mark Dougherty]

Wayne
you are wrong
your best time is 48 hrs.
And that is for a complete car ready to go No BS.
I know because I was there.
And that Is my best time also
LOL
Later Bud

[Wayne Presley]

Wayne
you are wrong
your best time is 48 hrs.
And that is for a complete car ready to go No BS.
I know because I was there.
And that Is my best time also
LOL
Later Bud


Ok, I'll give you that one. Best time was 48 hours with 5 great friends working along side me. And that included paint and custom stitched interior :D
I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO want to post pics of it. I am so proud out what we built it's just killing me to not be able to talk about it or show pics :(

[Mark Dougherty]

Stay tuff Wayne
you can do it.
At least you know its going to blow people away when they see it.
You should start a count down to march 1st on both sites just to stir things up a little.
Then adjust it when we know the actual date we can talk about it.
later
Mark d

[Wayne Presley]

Hijack in progress:

Mark D, Shoot me producer Jeff's email addy when you get a chance

[Cameron Autosports]

Hey you guys,
My best time was 49 hours. I also had some really great and talented friends to help. Also had the pleasure of watching another great build progressing within view. Looking forward to stirring up some interest on the forum about them. Take care you guys and have a Merry Christmas!