I have recently increased my level of retirement, meaning I have more free time to get into trouble. At this time the only T I have is the '18 TT. I'm thinking of adding a touring car, say a '17-'23. If I do go ahead with it, I want to end up with a car that is mechanically "perfect" so I can drive it regularly without too much worry or problem. I don't care much about the paintwork, the "barn fresh" look is OK with me. I'm good with a wrench, but lack machine shop and welding skills/equipment.

I was able to take the TT down to the chassis, clean-paint-repair-replace parts and do rings, valves, etc. myself. It's been on the road for several years now and runs fne, but this time I want to have a completely "fresh" engine/transmission. so whatever I do it will include a machine shop. I would also like to end up with a car equiped with aux. brakes, an aux. transmission, and a speedometer.

Having said all that, would it be better ("better" means the least costly path to the planned results) to get a car to fix up or to find a chassis, then an engine, then all the rest of the parts and build a car? (For this purpose, assume my time is free.)

Just looking for opinions, experiences, etc.

As always, THANKS!!

Our time is always free. Personally I can't see the chassis/engine route being cheaper.Even though you sound quite handy I don't get the impression you want to live under the thing for afew years before a run.(I didn't)You may not find a car with all the "options you're looking for but a good long look on the net might turn something up more on the complete side. Check my profile photo. It's a years work with nothing major done. about $1500 in "bling".

Henry,
I have done both and there is no question it will cost more to build one from parts. Big things are easy to find, front and rear axles, engines, wheels, etc, but those small parts like seat springs, switches, door latches, brackets, fittings, bolts, etc., can be harder to find and the cost adds up quickly. Differences in body manuactures means some body parts will not fit with other parts. Then there is the occasional request for help on the forum where someone has no idea what connects point A to point B since they got thier T in boxes rather than a fully assembled and somewhat complete car. Hard to keep motivated and maintian pride of ownership for a heap of parts. Acquiring a title is more difficult as you have little to no documentation for the individual parts vs a complete car with a bill of sale and often with a existing title. Forget about selling the heap of parts if your life changes and you need to get rid or it, but a complete car has value and can be resold. You can always move the car around even if you have to push it, but try to move a pile of parts and it is a tough job dragging around an engine or rear axle all by yourself. Been there, done that.

Jeff is right about the small parts adding up. I bought an engine block with new babbit, which included the crankshaft and rods fitted. I was amazed at how many little parts I need to find to complete that engine! And that was just the engine; imagine how it would be for a whole car.

Henry, I recommend buying a complete car and going through it to suit your taste. You'll be way ahead of the game starting with a whole car.

Purchase a car that is good body wise. The repairs to the mechanical part of a post brass era car are relatively quickly and easily done. Repair parts are readily available.

Buying a car piece by piece is like buying it on the installment plan. The initial and incremental costs will be smaller than one lump sum payment for a complete car, but the total amount for the piece by piece car will be more.

I think you should at least look for a complete car, or nearly complete car even if it is disassembled or needs a lot of work done. Otherwise, you might find parts for many different cars, but no combination of parts which will make a complete car of one year and model.

The least expensive, overall, car would be one that is complete and in running condition. It would also be the most expensive first cost, but the overall cost would be less.

Of course, it might bore you to have one complete and nothing you can do with it is to drive it!

These are all decisions you will have to make. I have bought 2 complete cars and one pile of parts. All 3 of the cars needed complete mechanical overhaul, even the one that I thought was in the best condition when I bought it, had some problems not apparent at first sight. The pile of parts took me about 12 years to complete and now looks the best of the three. I did as much of the work as I could do by myself. Such parts as welding and machine work can be outsourced. You will get a better job, having someone very competent to do those jobs than to experiment yourself.
Norm

Thanks for all the input! You have helped me a lot. I don't mind a project, but I think you guys are right. Piece by piece may be a bigger and more costly job than I thought, not to mention the time it would take.

I appreciate all you thoughts and commets!!