Curious about build time.

[Garyg]

Guys I'm about a week away from getting this thing legal. I think I may be able to drive the car around the neighborhood this weekend. I'm wondering how long it usually takes a guy alone to assemble a 33 and have it painted and on the street. I'm just amazed that any dude that has the capability to operate a medium size set of hand tools can assemble one of these cars in their garage in just a few months. I don't believe it before I purchased he kit. I took delivery on July 16.

[Tim Whittaker]

There are a lot of variables there. One can be built in a few months if going strictly by the manual and none of the problems with the basic kit are addressed. Do they need to be fixed ? Probably not.

What it comes down to is your vision for the completed project. Modifications are all over the map. I have 20 modifications in just the trunk alone, custom wood interior and the list goes on.

Also, people work at different speeds depending on their "vision" for the car and their skill levels.

I think it's possible to build the car in the hours stated by FFR ( I couldn't do it ) but most exceed those figures by a considerable margin.

[j33ptj]

48hrs to six years is probable a good guess ;-)

[1fastsedan]

When I took the tour at Factory Five, they mentioned the average is about 2 years for the average fully employed guy to complete one. I work on mine typically 1 day a week and its been almost 1 year. So I have about 55 days into it, and I have the wiring and body work left.

[dallas_]

Do you have kids?

[Tom Veale]

My grandson can take apart and assemble his kit in under 5 minutes.....

Mini Hot Rod 3-Pack - Automoblox Minis

[Garyg]

Originally Posted by dallas_

Do you have kids?

That's another variable. I'm a widower and have no kids. Plus I'm self employed. I'm also real impatient!!!

[ehansen007]

Let's see, 1 year

and

48hrs.

[Barrel]

For me, the more weeks/months it takes the more hours of enjoyment I get. Kinda like a long lunch! That said, about 2 years would be nice.

[geoffav]

I would think hours is a good way to measure this build. I remember hearing the number 600 being kicked around as "the figure". I think you can almost consider that as the minimum and then add to it based on modifications from the standard configuration. As of today, I'm at 240 hours of work invested and I'm about 1/3 done (minus final body and paint work). If you do redesign or decide to use a labor intensive combo, expect to spend more hours.

Then you have to be sure you have the "available hours" to complete the project. Some weeks I have NO time available and recently it's been 2-6 hours available per week. At that maximum rate it would take 2 years to complete. I also spent 1.5 years with my kit in storage while we attempted to sell our house. My progress is fine per hour but pathetic for duration of build. I think if I was retired this would be a 1 year project but I'm certainly not retired.

Much of what I do requires writing and reviewing. I do most of that work sitting in my garage next to my hot rod. My grand plan 4 years ago was to farm out this work to others who work with or for me. The reality is most of those folks are gone and I spend even more time in front of the keyboard. My backup plan is to just get it done slower.

[JVolok]

It took me 22 mos. from delivery of the kit to the finished product and first car show entered. I never built a car before this one. The first 12 mos. I was still employed. the last 10 mos. I was retired. I got more done in the evenings and on weekends while employed than I did after I retired. I wish it had taken longer, now I need another project.

[quicksand]

Originally Posted by j33ptj

48hrs to six years is probable a good guess ;-)

or 7

[MatthewP]

My estimate is 1000 hours. Some figure a little less, some a little more. A thousand hours is about half a man year. From my standpoint that means that if you work on it full time over a winter, you should have a car in the spring.

By the way, there are 168 hours in a week, so if you really make use of them you should be able to do it in 8 or 10 weeks. My philosophy is any day you go home from work and it's the same day you went to work, that's a short day.

-Matthew

[jmann]

1 year, without paint. Working on it full time during 4 - three week trips home. 500 hours hands on. If we had followed the instructions and used a standard motor etc. the time would be cut in half. But the cool feature of the Hot Rod is the ability to personalize the car and that is time consuming ( and fun).

[robboy]

I think that I'm at about 2 years on mine. I only get to work on it once a week and sometimes not even then. I also built an engine and a rear end for it so that took up a lot of time I could have saved by buying a crate drive train. Also, I have made a lot of mods to the car. Hydraulic clutch, many mods to the transmission tunnel for serviceability, different fuel system and tank, many mods to the trunk area, custom taillights, and more that don't come to mind right away. Moreover, my vision sometimes exceeds my ability and I have to spend a lot of time learning how to do something. All part of the fun.

[wormie]

Originally Posted by dallas_

Do you have kids?

Most important: do you have a wife? Or a job?

...have 4 kids (12 to 18) and they love the idea and don't mind the time I spend in the garage, whereas the wife bitches for every 5 minute in there or on the Forum.

Couldn't have gotten this far if I didn't have a job where I spend half my time working from home nor if the habs would have done the series last spring and without the current NHL lockout!!!!
(so much time lost in front of the tube)
-W

[Garyg]

Great posts guys! I guess I'm ahead of schedule then. Two and a half months is pretty quick then. A small block Chevy makes it real easy plus I built it as per the instructtions without to many mods. I did do the trunk lid mod and a few others but nothing to crazy. It ain't going to win any riddler awards but it's gonna tear up the track fo sho!!!! Thanks guys. G

[wormie]

Originally Posted by Garyg

That's another variable. I'm a widower and have no kids. Plus I'm self employed. I'm also real impatient!!!

Oops Gary, I hadn't seen this post, my apologies for my earlier comment.

I wouldn't trade the wife for the roadster of course.

[Garyg]

Originally Posted by wormie

Oops Gary, I hadn't seen this post, my apologies for my earlier comment.

I wouldn't trade the wife for the roadster of course.

No biggie buddy. Thanks again for your participation on he thread...