308 Compression/Leakdown Result - Help?

I would have thought the opposite. I ts much more money to change the colour ($12k +) compaired to engine work.

 

A complete rebuild for less then $12k? You sure about that? I really do not think so.

Besides, someone may end up liking the color after they take it home. I wanted red (who doesn't) but ended up with metallic black instead. I am still going to change it to red but I am fine with it now and have been for the past 8 years. I could never brag about how much I have enjoyed my car for the past 8 years with a blown motor. Either way, unlike an engine rebuild, the color never HAS to change. I still say look for the one with the strong engine first.

 

Tommy I see your point but I'm currently going through a engine rebuild my self including HC pistons,rings,valves,guides,springs,2nd gear syncro,belts and bearings,oil pump gears,and general service and I'm looking to come in around AUD$13-14K($US10-10.5K).My Fmech told me find a good GT4 that is complete and not rusty rather than one that has a strong engine but rusty/incomplete.A friend of mine is restoring a Fiat 500 and has stripped it down to bear metal.There is a bit of rust and he asked a panel shop to quote on a complete resprat.They quoted him AUD$6500(US$5000) and he has stripped the car himself

 

I respectfully dissagree. When I get all of my parts together for my 77 308, I am figuring I will spend somewhere north of $5000. As I am doing all my own work, there wont be very much labor charged. But if I were charging labor at $75 an hour, I am thinking that it would probably be well above $10000. Now burn off an exhaust valve and drop it into the cylinder. Let the piston smash it through the head. If your lucky thats the only major part it will destroy. If the rod folds up it can shove it through the side of the block, and or the gearbox. You will still have the $10K plus labor bill. But your parts will be well above $5K.

Many people spend $6K on a major service. Many people have spent $12k-$15K on just a valve job and good going over, and never even look at the bottom end. You should be able to get an awesome paint job for $5k-$7K and never touch the car yourself.

 

Paul I cant speak for what it's like in the US but here in Australia or at least in Sydney it would cost alot more than $5-$7 to do a good job.And I mean if you are going to restore then you want to baremetal and totally strip the car.Then you will more than likely find predamaged panels or rust so you will have to repair that.There are not many panel shops that like working on older vehicles.I know of many older vehicles that have done this and end up with a bill of AUD$15k(US$12k approx)A friend of mine has a 67 mercedes 280se coupe and is currently undergoing a total restoration.His up AUD$25k(US$19K)The car we only be worth 30K when finished but the end product is immaculate.He originally just wanted some rust cut out and a respray and engine rebuild.The engine rebuild is the cheapest thing he's done.There is also a Dino 246gts that is undergoing a major restoration and the engine is costing him about AUD$11k and the bodywork and respray is about AUD$18k