Black Gold 380R's 65 Mustang Build Thread

[CobraBob]

Have you counted the hours you have in the build? My guess is your time is deeply discounted to value on this one. Of course, we all do things for free when we enjoy it vs you couldn't pay me enough to do the job if you don't enjoy the job. This one is like a marriage; it shows you really love it.

He posted this a few pages back.

Hello Bob. Yes, it would be cool to see my car roll across the block LOL. Then again, I've seen Richard Rawlings lose his @$$ at some of those auctions too. Not sure I could deal with that. Guess I would have to do a reserve auction LOL.

I have not kept an official record of my hours, but I do keep an average of the hours I've worked.

As of today I believe I have 960 hours invested. This is my formula:

- 20 months (May 2020 to Jan 2022) x 4 weekends per month = 80 weekends.
- 80 Weekends x 2 days per weekend = 160 days spent working on the car.
- 160 days x 6 hours a day (average) = 960 hours.

Now I have worked on the car longer and shorter hours depending on how I feel and if there are any family issues I need to deal with. So, 6 is my average. I believe I have also spent a few more days working on the car due to time off on holidays and some vacation time I took. I'm not sure how many more days, so those days are not listed or factored in.

I have been averaging $75 an hour for labor. So, if you multiply $75 an hour by 960 hours that's $72,000 in labor.

I don't think this is a fair value comparison now. The reason being is I only do this on the weekends. A shop has M-F to work on the car. Also, I'm doing this by myself and a shop, with a team, could complete the project in a shorter amount of time. Thus the labor charge would be less because the hourly rate is the same regardless if 1 guy is working or 5 guys are working on the car.

So, I'm not sure I would have to spend that amount on labor to get the same quality I have put in to the car thus far.

That's my thought process anyway LOL.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Have you counted the hours you have in the build? My guess is your time is deeply discounted to value on this one. Of course, we all do things for free when we enjoy it vs you couldn't pay me enough to do the job if you don't enjoy the job. This one is like a marriage; it shows you really love it.

Hello 598. I have not kept an official count of hours, but have done an average. My formula has always been:

2 days a weekend x 4 weeks per month = 8 Days a month
8 days a month x 22 months (as of February 2022) = 176 Days worked on the car
Average of 6 hours a day x 176 days = 1,056 hours worked on the car
I average a labor rate of $75 an hour x 1,056 hours = $79,200 saved by doing this myself.

So, if you take the labor rate and then add all the parts and supplies this has become a 6 figure build. I will never sell this car, but if I did I'm not sure I could get 6 figures for it. I seen a badass Ford Falcon sell for 95K on Mecum. I thought that car was a little nicer than mine. Besides, people like the fastbacks over the coupes.

I'm not worried about it. As you mention this has been a labor of love for me. I could never "purchase" this car. I had to build it or have it built (which I couldn't afford).

I have learned a lot, made some mistakes along the way, but once this car is finished it will truly be "MY" car. It will be based on my design, vision and concepts. And that is what I'm proud of most, even if I may have invested more time and money than it may be worth in the end. However, to me, it's priceless.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

He posted this a few pages back.

LOL, you and I must have been typing at the same time Bob! Thanks for the assist my friend. It's nice to do an update every now and then .

 

[598]

Sorry I missed the earlier post. I actually figured with the quality of work you have done the hours would have been higher. BTW, to the right guy this is a 6 figure car

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Sorry I missed the earlier post. I actually figured with the quality of work you have done the hours would have been higher. BTW, to the right guy this is a 6 figure car

No problem 598. As mentioned it's good to do an update once in a while.

You know I watch YouTube videos and I hear guys say they have like 3000 hours invested and they got the car done in 6 months. All I can do is laugh when I do the math. It's like really, you spent 16 hours a day working on this car?

Then another member here explained to me that if 3 guys spent 1 hour working on the car, that is 3 hours of labor charged and 3 man hours spent building the car. So, in essence 3 hours of work was accomplished in 1 hour.

When I view it like that then I can understand the astronomical amount of hours invested in the car.

In my case it's just me, so I have to count the hours as I work them LOL.

Yes 598, I think that guy is me LOL..... Not sure there is another one out there willing to pay that price.

 

[CobraBob]

LOL, you and I must have been typing at the same time Bob! Thanks for the assist my friend. It's nice to do an update every now and then .

No worries. I should have waited a bit longer to see if you'd jump in. LOL.

 

[ToddW702]

Don’t sell your car short. That front end suspension and work involved to put it on is a big deal. You have the recipe for 100k. Fuel injection, 4 wheel discs, manual transmission, big nasty motor, custom interior, and let’s not forget that $25,000 paint. At least that’s what I was quoted twice now for my paint. No rust repair just one minor spot on the front edge of the roof needs a little body work. I also think the sum of parts is bringing more money than 10 years ago. Meaning you can get your money back on parts when upgrading certain classics. But I’m just some guy so who knows. Have a good night y’all


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[Black Gold 380R]

Don’t sell your car short. That front end suspension and work involved to put it on is a big deal. You have the recipe for 100k. Fuel injection, 4 wheel discs, manual transmission, big nasty motor, custom interior, and let’s not forget that $25,000 paint. At least that’s what I was quoted twice now for my paint. No rust repair just one minor spot on the front edge of the roof needs a little body work. I also think the sum of parts is bringing more money than 10 years ago. Meaning you can get your money back on parts when upgrading certain classics. But I’m just some guy so who knows. Have a good night y’all


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Hello Todd! No sir, not trying to sell my build short. I just try to be realistic about what the car would bring based on some of the sales I see at Mecum and Barret Jackson.

It is more than worth 6 figures to me, but that might not mean someone else would pay 6 figures for it. It's a mute point as I never plan on selling it, but it is a fun discussion .

Really appreciate your point of view and the reminder of all I have done. Pretty cool to see that list you provided.

I agree with you on the price of the paint job. $25K is not far off in my opinion. I believe another member mentioned their friend was also quoted $25K for their paint job. I'm not sure if it was @geoffmt or @tones_RS3.

I did a lot of body work in the engine bay and some body work on the body itself. I painted the entire car (to include the engine bay, door and trunk jams and under the hood). Added some graphics. Sanded the car using a 5 step process (hand sanded it with 1000 and 2000 grit wet. Then I sanded it with a DA using 2000 and 3000 grit dry and finished it off with a DA using 8000 grit wet). Then I polished it using a 3 step polishing process. So, I can see how a paint job like the one I did could go for $25K at a body shop.

I do not believe you're just some guy. You have a classic Mustang and know what it is costing you to put together. So, I believe your point of view is valid.

 

[CobraBob]

Glenn, when you finish your build, would you consider getting a valuation from a pro? Might be good (A) to better know its value today, and (B) ensure that your insurance coverage is adequate. Just a thought.

 

[geoffmt]

You actually did better work than that $25k paint job my buddy had done! Plus his separated from the primer (it bubbled all over)and it all had to go back down to bare metal for another try. It was even PPG paint products.
I second what Bob mentioned, get an appraisal done or insure to your acceptable value in case the unmentionable happens to help cover your investment. It’s only supposed to happen to other people…


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[CobraBob]

So true! Protecting his investment of time and money makes big sense.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Glenn, when you finish your build, would you consider getting a valuation from a pro? Might be good (A) to better know its value today, and (B) ensure that your insurance coverage is adequate. Just a thought.

Hello Bob. Yes sir I would definitely consider getting the car appraised. Believe me, I do not want to risk losing everything I have invested in this car. If I ever lose this car I might take the money and "BUY" something I like, but I do not think I would ever build something to this level again. This is a ton of work LOL. I enjoy it, but not sure I would want to do this again LOL.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

You actually did better work than that $25k paint job my buddy had done! Plus his separated from the primer (it bubbled all over)and it all had to go back down to bare metal for another try. It was even PPG paint products.
I second what Bob mentioned, get an appraisal done or insure to your acceptable value in case the unmentionable happens to help cover your investment. It’s only supposed to happen to other people…


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Thank you for saying I did better Geoff! Greatly appreciated my friend! Man, what a bummer with the paint bubbling. That would drive me crazy.

Yes, I agree with you and Bob whole heartedly. I have actually seen a video where a guy said he had his 66 Mustang at his buddies house to get some work done. He said he got a call and his buddy said there was an electrical fire and his car was destroyed. He said since it was in the build phase he had no insurance on it. So, he lost all his time and money invested to that point.

So, I've seen it happen to someone else. I am going to protect myself. You bet!

Here is the video. Stat it at 2:50...... This sucks.......

 

[98 svt]

With Option 1, would the width of the stripe align with the width of the grill opening?

 

[Black Gold 380R]

With Option 1, would the width of the stripe align with the width of the grill opening?

Hello 98. No sir. The body lines on the out side of the hood line up with the grill. I'm not going that wide. The intent is to outline the cowl, not align it with the grill. I felt if I was going that wide might as well keep the entire hood black. So, I decided on the cowl outline option.

 

[98 svt]

Full '91 Cobra swap?

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Okay everyone.

Today was a long day. Damn, I'm tired LMAO!!! The good news is I accomplished my goal for today.

So, lets get to it.....

First I laid out the tape outline on the underside edge. This will keep the line between the top and bottom crisp.

Then I used a wider tape to go around and give me a wide edge to work with when I add the plastic.

Then I got the plastic installed to keep all the overspray off the bottom.

Then I flipped the hood over to begin the next phase of the project.

I sprayed the cowl and part of the hood black and let it dry for an hour and a half to make sure I had no problems with the tape messing up the black.

Next I found the center line of the hood and used a 1/4 inch masking tape to mark it. Since the hood is at an angle from the front to the side I need to make sure my line was symmetrical. So, I used a seamstress measuring tape and marked off 2 1/4 inch from the front edge of the hood. The 1/4 inch will put my black pin stripe at 2 inches from the front edge of the hood.

I then laid out my 1/4 inch pin stripping tape and used my masking tape as my go by. Everything will now be based off this orange pin stripe tape.

Then it was time to verify my placement. The masking tape on the outside is put in place and I measured 7 inches back on each side and marked it. These will be used to take measurements from side to side and verify it is correct.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Next it was time to take the measurements.

From the 7 inch mark to the side is right at 11 inches on the passenger side.

From the 7 inch mark to the side is also just about 11 inches on the driver's side. Good to go at the front.

Checked the rear next. From the pin stripe tape to the edge is just under 11 inches on the driver's side.

Passenger side is the same. Good to go at the rear.

Then it was time to remove the 1/4 inch masking tape and use the orange pin stripe tape to finish off my graphic.

First I used my 3M 1/4 inch blue vinyl tape to make the black pin stripe line.

Then I used the same tape to create the edge of the cowl.

I then removed the orange pin striping tape. Next will be covering the cowl itself.

Man, this took a lot of time. Had to make sure those blue lines where perfectly placed next to the orange pin striping tape all the way around both top and bottom.

 

[C2tuck]

That’s gonna look sweet! Can’t wait to see it painted!

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Then it was time to mask off the cowl.

Then I sprayed the hood. Since it had some black it took several coats to cover the black.