So I finally bit the bullet and started on that old V8 Capri project gathering dust in my garage. Told the wife, “Gonna do it cheap or die trying.” Spoiler alert: didn’t die, but my knuckles sure bled enough. Here’s the dirty details.
The Hunt Begins
First rule: never buy “ready to restore” junk. Found mine behind old man Dave’s barn near Dayton. Rusty as hell, hood missing, interior smelled like dead raccoon. Paid $800 cash flat out. Towed it myself with cousin Jeff’s pickup. Saved $2k right there avoiding those scammer “classic car dealers”.
Rust Battle Royale
Pulled up carpet – floor looked like Swiss cheese. My cheapo tactics:
- Scavenged replacement floor pans from a junkyard Mercury for $50
- Used beer boxes as cutting templates (free + recycling points)
- Borrowed Jeff’s welder instead of buying – cost me six IPAs
Grinded for two weekends straight. Dust made me cough like a chain smoker. Cheap harbor freight respirator was useless.
Engine Nightmares
Original V8 seized solid. Found remanufactured one on some sketchy truck forum. Seller said “ran when parked.” Classic lie. Thing was toast. So I:
- Bartered mechanic skills for rebuild parts – fixed neighbor’s Kawasaki for gaskets/pistons
- Used coffee cans for parts storage (free-ish, drank the coffee anyway)
- Made engine hoist from old fence posts and a come-along. Looked dangerous. Was dangerous. Didn’t die.
Interior Circus
Seats were moldy foam soup. Got creative:
- Stripped fabric from wrecked Chrysler at scrap yard ($20)
- Replaced foam with garden kneeling pads ($7 at home depot)
- Reeked of gasoline for weeks from cleaning vinyl with old rags. Wife made me sleep in garage.
Where Savings Went
Total spend? $2,100 over 18 months. Breakdown:
- Rust repair materials: $120
- Craigslist tires: $240
- Brake lines/hoses: $90
- Electrical tape (miles of it): $35
- Cheap “Ford Blue” spray paint: $150
- Beer bribes: infinite
Yeah it runs like a tractor and rattles. But when I stomp that patched-up gas pedal? Grin costs zero dollars.