1979 Ke55 Coupe Restoration

[Mike V]

Hey all, I'm thinking about buying a ke55 coupe and then doing a full restoration. I'm just wondering if anyone else on here has done this and how much it set them back.

The ke55 I'm looking at buying requires new paint, new interior and an engine rebuild or swap if its necessary

 

[corollaart]

Its a how long is a piece of string question .

 

1;How much can you do your self?

2;budget how much can you spend on it?

3; Have you a shed that you can do it in ,tools to do the work.

4 Remember that the coupes are getting harder to find ,there for demand more money.

5 the old saying to build a great car, first start with a good car.(pay the extra for a good one to start not a rust bucket bondo bus)

There a lot of helpful guys on this forum.

I d say if you have the money to do it go for it.

Sadly a lot of projects end half finished in the for sale section,thru lack of planning and funds.

 

As far as how much it would cost depends on what and how far you go 100-50000 the skys the limit!!!!(do a budget)and try stick to it.

 

Welcome to rolla club Rob

[altezzaclub]

What Rob says is dead right, you can make a pleasant daily much cheaper than a show car. Unless you're a panel-beater/welder/spray painter or have rally good mates who are, you will need a good body to start with.

 

Here's an overview of the project management side of it. A restoration would be just a bigger version of an engine swap.

 

http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/64432-how-to-tackle-that-engine-conversion/page__p__645057__hl__how%20that%20engine%20swap#entry645057

[parrot]

My 2 cents. Go for it with the caveats as above.

 

If you are thinking of keeping it long term, which presumably you are, I would hang out and find a standard KE55 XX coupe.

 

In years to come, it will be the most desirable one to have.

[Mike V]

Thanks for the advice guys, ill have to do some more research into ke55's.

also this is the ke55 i have been looking at

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/craigmore/cars-vans-utes/1979-ke55-2-door-coupe/1064513333

[parrot]

Why buy someones incomplete project. You have no accurate idea what the body is like and bits are missing.

 

They are not that uncommon. Wait for a complete car in good condition.

[lexsmaz]

Couldn't agree more with parrot ..

 

Also the seller talks about it being "Pretty straight" & is in primer ready to paint, firstly why paint a car that is pretty straight, surely you would get it straight first ?? & secondly you would need to strip it back to bare metal as primer is very porous & will absorb moisture from the air causing the underneath metal to start to rust & also what is the primer covering ?? Rust / poor repairs / etc etc ???..

Edited December 28, 2014 by lexsmaz