Ive now striped the datto of everything except the wiring and dash and Im now faced with the choice of two options

1) de-rust the body clean and hammerite the underneath, do as much body work as I can do my self and then take it to the shop to finish and paint.

2) tow it to Rotorua (3 hours away) and get it striped and diped for $800 (call it $1000 for petrol and other sh*t) and then get it totally panneled and painted from bare metal.

the first is the easist and least expencive and quickest. The second is more expencive longer and more of a mission. The second option of a bare metal resprey is obviously the 'best' yet Im worried that if it takes 2-3 months and costs $1000s then I'll not have the time or $$ to finish it and I could get unmotivated. Ive also got my coupe to run and upgrade. If I got for the first option I could always get a bare metal respray in a few years.
HELP!!
cheers
Quinn

Quinn
My suggestion is to do it right the first time. You know that you want to, despite the cost.
If you are like me, & if you settle for second best, you will regret it every time you open the garage door.

Grrrrrr
dam you Dodgeman I know your right but I dont want to comprimize everything else i need to pay for by going mental on the Datto.
so difficult!!

If you can't afford it..then don't do it.

Hold onto the car and do it later. If you don't have the space for it, then how were you going to have the space for it after spending thousands of dollars on it?

The solution is simple really.

Sometimes "right now" is not the right time.

Cheers,
Chris

Yep, put it in storage and sit on it dude!
The 240 shell was dipped, primed, caged, and sat in a lockup for 4 years before I had the resources to put it together the way I wanted it.
You'd also be amazed how your priorities change over time, if i'd dived straight in and done it when I first got it, I'd hate the thing now!!
And you just never know the parts that you'll collect over time!

If you work on restoring a car a couple of hours every night 4-5 nights a week it usaully takes 2 or 3 years. If you love the car sit on it. I recently started cleaning up my 1200 becuase of a switch to Vinatge racing. It has been down for 6 months and all that was done was install all aluminim panels to the interior , change cylinder heads clean up the body work. The end of the month the car will get a respray and finally be re-done.
So be patient , you will likely own a 1200 in some form or other for the next ten years or more so what does it matter if the car is apart for a few years.

Tom

Quinn,
What I can tell you from experience is this:
When the SSS came home I looked at it for several days, tried cutting and polishing the engine bay, then slowly realised that the only way to do it was to pull the thing apart, down to the last nut and bolt,sandblast it and start afresh.
I'll prewarn you when you get the shell back you'll probably cry but it gives you a clean canvas to start with. All those inner door frames and awkward places that you can't get the wet and dry into - the dipping/ blasting gets it as new and the end result is worth it.
One peice of advice though, if you are going to shoehorn something other than an A series into it get all the mods/ cutting and welding done first.
The other thing is befriend someone with a bead blaster- absolutley fantastic on suspension components, brings rubber up like new without eating it up.
And if you know anyone who can do Zinc plating then you're well on the way.
Looking back you get 85% through the project then start to completely freak as the cheques just keep rolling out and you think when is this going to end?
The reality is it does, you end up with a superb vehicle that you get a real kick out of every time you look at it.
I've been through this 3 times now, first the SSS, then building a jet boat, and last year a new house and I can tell you that the same rules apply- do it once and do it right. Short term cash flow crisis for long term gain.
Don't take your eye off the ball.
B110SSS

wow i needed the same thing i think but i will endeavour to get this one on it's way now, i have the help i just need the motivation and the initial outlay

dammit, will you guys stop being so damn inspiring!

I'm just afraid that having my car off the road for too long will be too much of a hassle...

What are you woried about. I bought my '33 coupe in 1967. I should have it on the road [again] by 2007, but i waited untill i knew EXACTLY what i wanted, & i have spent many years & a truckload of cash gathering up only the rarest of parts. Just finding & bringing my hemi home was a 2-1/2 year project, but it is the RIGHT engine for this car & i'm glad i waited.
Chris