So... some of you know that I'm restoring a Fiero with my daughter. The goal is to basically replace everything. I want her to, at the end of the year, leave the driveway with a brand new Fiero. Literally everything on it will have been completely rebuilt or renovated. We're only at the stage where she's dropped the engine cradle and will begin dismantling the engine to rebuild it. The only other thing she's done is remove and replace the fuel tank, with new pickup, fuel pump, fuel hoses, and sanded and painted the tank, with new bolts and straps. Other than that... we haven't done too much to it (but we have a couple of years, she's only 14).

But I added up the total for all of this, and it comes out to $2,646.07

While I'm paying for everything she does, I make her do all the work, but in going through the costs associated with the renovation, she'll learn how much things realistically cost. She's 14, so she's not totally ignorant to this, but so that she understands when she gets her own job, that things aren't simply free.

Big thing for me personally... I'll be able to accurately price what a reasonable restoration of a car will cost (for myself, and for the Fiero list), when you do almost all the work yourself (except some machining, transmission rebuilding, and suspension alignment). I plan to catalog everything onto my crappy personal website (haha) http://www.PontiacPerformance.net.





So, I paid $4,000 for the car, and my estimation is that I've only acquired maybe 1/4th of the number of parts (and cost) of what I'll have to spend. I still haven't actually done any machine work, rebuilt the transmission, or bought very much if anything of the suspension parts (no springs or shocks, ball joints, etc.), and I also haven't purchased any major brake parts (rotors, calipers, etc.). But this gives me at least a ball-par estimation now. I suspect that in total, the car + renovation will cost (without needing a paint job), $15,000 to $17,500. I'm giving myself a buffer there because I'm not accounting for spray paint (chassis parts, fluids, etc.).


Now, I know that seems horrible for a 1985 Pontiac Fiero 2m4 5-Speed, but in reality... my daughter will be getting more than a "brand new" Fiero. She'll have learned to do literally every single thing there is to do (to an extent) on a car. And while she won't come away with a degree from it, that's experience that will help her in everything else she does.

Most of the parts I've purchased have been from the Fiero Store, Rodney Dickman, and various online auto parts stores when they have clearance stuff. Unfortunately, I noticed in a few situations (which is one of the main reasons we did this accounting today) is because I discovered that I was buying duplicate parts. Almost everything that was duplicated though, I can use on my own Fiero, so I do not feel so bad about it.


Anyway, thought I'd share because I found the cost to be interesting. My daughter and I went through every single part and spread them out, and she called out all the part numbers so I could write them down into the spreadsheet (for another video she's going to make). But at least now I can put this stuff back, but into separate boxes by part type (brakes, coolant stuff, etc.).


This is the current list of parts we've purchased:

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 09-30-2023).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick:Scary to think that what you're doing would cost $20,000 to $24,000 in Canadian funds. I admire the fact that you are single-handedly attempting to jump-start the American economy ... but man oh man, I personally just couldn't justify doing what you're doing. Yes, I understand that your daughter is receiving an education... but IMO what she's learning to do is to throw money at a challenge (by simply buying new everything), and not learning how to determine what can be re-used/repaired and what needs to be replaced. I grew up with very few luxuries. It was drilled into my head to not waste anything. So now, even though I'm fairly well off, I still have the same mind-set. I realize not everyone has the same values as me, and that's not a criticism... but it might explain why you and I possibly tackle a situation in a completely different manner.

Hahah... I don't mind the judgement Patrick, but this is a 38 year old car. This isn't like taking a 2005 Toyota Corolla, and then learning how to fix a couple of things when they break. This car is basically a (pretty) pile of **** as it sits, and literally everything is worn out on it except the tires. When I was 18, I was broke, and I had a ~10 year old Fiero that I bought with my own money. It was a reasonably new car that I learned to fix things on when they broke.

She will be rebuilding the engine herself, along with everything else. What I don't want, is for my 14 year old daughter to drive a car that I have to worry about whether or not it's going to constantly break down on her.

quote what she's learning to do is to throw money at a challenge (by simply buying new everything)

Do you want her to rebuild her rubber bushings? Or should she be buying them new? Should she be re-welding metal onto the tri-pots of the CV axles, or learn how to replace the axles? Is there a way to rebuild an O2 sensor, or a temperature sensor?

quote So now, even though I'm fairly well off, I still have the same mind-set. I realize not everyone has the same values as me, and that's not a criticism... but it might explain why you and I possibly tackle a situation in a completely different manner.

Well... I was never homeless, but there were many times I had to check the pay phones for change so I could buy a box of Mac n' Cheese at the gas station so I could eat dinner. I mean, if you're comparing yourself to me... I had a good upbringing... but when I was 18, my parents kicked me out (in a loving way), and I had to get roommates, pay my way through college, etc... which I think is pretty standard / normal. I don't know that you can say I'm a conservative because I'm paying for the parts for my daughter to restore her car.

She's 14. In 4 years, she'll be out of the house and in college. This is something she really enjoys, and by 16-17, she'll have essentially learned how to do almost every repair you could ever think to do. It's something that as a dad, I can do to spend time with her. $17k for a lifetime memory, and a absurdly invaluable experience... it's a no brainer. If that makes me conservative, I suppose I'll take it.

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 09-30-2023).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Hey, if you've determined that everything you've listed is in need of replacement... go for it! The important thing is that you're spending quality time with your daughter, and that's priceless.

It's kind of the point of the project. It ran, isn't a rust bucket, and is complete. And that's what I was looking for. I introduce her to everything I can to see what sticks / interests her. She's proud of the work she's doing, and that's valuable in and of itself. But yeah, basically everything on this car SHOULD be replaced to make it a reliable car that I would feel safe for her to be in. It's not like she's not getting her hands dirty.

If she had shitty grades, I'd definitely not be doing this. She hasn't gotten a B since the 3rd grade. Literally, she's had straight As, every single class, every single report card, every single year... and not like basket weaving either, but AP classes. She's written two books, plays 3 instruments, speaks 2 languages, and taught herself how to computer program (and even to hack, which is a little unfortunate). When I was her age, I was getting Cs and Ds and knocking over Port-O-Potties at construction sites with my friends. So... I have to feed that brain, or someone else will.

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 09-30-2023).]