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1966 budd body restoration

Pischkeethan

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Nov 4, 2024
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10
thinking about pulling the trigger on a 1966 Ford bronco Bud body. I will attach some pictures onto here, but I’m trying to get an estimate ballpark of what I’ll have restoring the bronco my plans are doing a frame off build powder coating the axles and frame adding power steering adding disc brakes adding new suspension rebuilding the 302 all new interior bodywork and paint work. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...h&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post
 

Speedrdr

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Do a spreadsheet of the $$$ of every piece of sheet metal, power steering and suspension parts, brakes, decide which kind of engine build is planned. How much of the work can/will you do versus farming the work out to a shop. Add in body prep and paint.
Total all this and then add up to 50% more.
This is how I figured the 77 I’m working on.
$6K for the original purchase. I’m now at $24K total and know that I still am looking at paint supplies and $2K in incidentals that will pop up.

Not to dissuade you from going forward with the project, but want you to have open eyes to what is needed.

Even though I knew what was going to be needed when I started this project, I would still do it…well, maybe without doing the 347 stroker. Lol

Randy
 

scoutingranch

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Earth
You got money to burn? I always times two with what ever estimate I invent. The one you are looking at has had the front floors done. That's just the start to your trip thru hell.
That price looks cheap now but be careful. Rant over.
 
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Pischkeethan

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You got money to burn? I always times two with what ever estimate I invent. The one you are looking at has had the front floors done. That's just the start to your trip thru hell.
That price looks cheap now but be careful. Rant over.
My estimate to fix it would be 15-20k
 

m_m70

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my plans are doing a frame off build powder coating the axles and frame adding power steering adding disc brakes adding new suspension rebuilding the 302 all new interior bodywork and paint work.
Are you going to be doing all the work yourself including body/paint?

My estimate to fix it would be 15-20k
I think you'll be a bit lite.

Do a spreadsheet of the $$$ of every piece of sheet metal, power steering and suspension parts, brakes, decide which kind of engine build is planned
Excellent advice.
 

bigmuddy

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My estimate to fix it would be 15-20k
Way way lite. Frankly, and I may be reading to much into this but is there a specific reason to want a Budd body?
If this is for a flip your likely wasting your money.
So with that said, you can be miles ahead by buying one already built or someone's project as opposed to starting from scratch with just a body and frame.
 

m_m70

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is there a specific reason to want a Budd body?
From what I understand all '66 through '77 Broncos were "Budd" bodies and there's nothing really special/rare about that.

Bronco prices have come way down as far as getting a running/driving street legal truck to start with. With that, the parts to restore keep going up so flipping isn't quite as lucrative as it was a couple years back.

You asked for advice so here's mine:
If you are buying this because you want a '66 that you can restore to YOUR needs/wants/taste and have the time and funds to do so without any intention of selling for a profit, than go for it. Love my Bronco and have no intention of ever selling it. 35 years now.......

If you're buying to flip and make some money, I think there better options to start with.

Keep in mind that your budget is pretty small. 10 years ago you could build a great rig for what you have to spend but those days are long gone.
 

bigmuddy

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From what I understand all '66 through '77 Broncos were "Budd" bodies and there's nothing really special/rare about that.

Bronco prices have come way down as far as getting a running/driving street legal truck to start with. With that, the parts to restore keep going up so flipping isn't quite as lucrative as it was a couple years back.

You asked for advice so here's mine:
If you are buying this because you want a '66 that you can restore to YOUR needs/wants/taste and have the time and funds to do so without any intention of selling for a profit, than go for it. Love my Bronco and have no intention of ever selling it. 35 years now.......

If you're buying to flip and make some money, I think there better options to start with.

Keep in mind that your budget is pretty small. 10 years ago you could build a great rig for what you have to spend but those days are long gone.
I am not sure I agree that all 66-77 broncos are budd bodies? Been around broncos since the 80's and first I have heard that.

The rest of your comments I mostly agree with but you intended those for the author anyway.
 

m_m70

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Pischkeethan

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Way way lite. Frankly, and I may be reading to much into this but is there a specific reason to want a Budd body?
If this is for a flip your likely wasting your money.
So with that said, you can be miles ahead by buying one already built or someone's project as opposed to starting from scratch with just a body and frame.
My plan was to fix it up drive it for a summer and flip it, are 1966 worth less?
 
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Pischkeethan

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Joined
Nov 4, 2024
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From what I understand all '66 through '77 Broncos were "Budd" bodies and there's nothing really special/rare about that.

Bronco prices have come way down as far as getting a running/driving street legal truck to start with. With that, the parts to restore keep going up so flipping isn't quite as lucrative as it was a couple years back.

You asked for advice so here's mine:
If you are buying this because you want a '66 that you can restore to YOUR needs/wants/taste and have the time and funds to do so without any intention of selling for a profit, than go for it. Love my Bronco and have no intention of ever selling it. 35 years now.......

If you're buying to flip and make some money, I think there better options to start with.

Keep in mind that your budget is pretty small. 10 years ago you could build a great rig for what you have to spend but those days are long gone.
my plan is to restore it and sell it for profit, not a good idea?
 

1969

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Do a spreadsheet of the $$$ of every piece of sheet metal, power steering and suspension parts, brakes, decide which kind of engine build is planned.

I had a spreadsheet for my build tracking every nut and bolt purchase… I deleted it at $35k spent and I’m still no where close to being done.
 

DirtDonk

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my plan is to restore it and sell it for profit, not a good idea?
Can still be a good idea, but it's much harder than most think.
Sorry I did not follow the link you posted yet, but how much are they asking (and is it even still available?) and how much needs to be done?
Yes, certain '66 models can be worth more due to their simply being the first year. But these days, that really only equates to a very early production model. Or one with certain characteristics that make it worth more. But still to that, is the initial purchase price a good deal?
How much could you get for it restored?

I don't think as many people are really looking for the rarities as there used to be. Square cut bumpers, eyebrow grilles, forward leaning rear shocks, etc. Now, a real gem might have the ultra rare Pony interior option. Heck, that would be worth getting just to say you had one!
But again, how much does it cost, how much will you have to put into it, and how much will you gain.

To the how much will you need to spend to restore it point, are you doing 100% of the work yourself? Or do you have to farm out some of it?
Remember that these days a pretty good paint job might cost $30k to $40k all on it's own. How much of that do you get back? Not that much! At least not for the paint.
If you can paint it for under 10K you might not over-spend yourself.

And then it comes down to how will you sell it. The big auctions might see sales in the $40k to $150k range, while the big-name spec builders might demand $250k to $500k for one built just for you. But you won't be able to command that price unless you're one of those rare few.
Regarding auctions, the small auctions I see are not likely to see the big prices. I saw a couple recently that pretty nice EB's went for under 40k if I remember.
Personal sales? Very hit-or-miss. You might see a Bronco listed for a high price sit for a year or two online. Where a cheap one might be gone in a single day (or less!) if someone is trying to flip it.

Sometimes your best bet is literally to flip it. Just wash it, put air in the tires, clean underneath a bit, and re-advertise it.
But it's a gamble no matter what. Unless you guy super cheap, do all the work yourself, and get the right two buyers that just can't live without a '66.

Good luck either way.

Paul
 

okie4570

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Just going off the info on these threads. Got some pretty reliable Bronco history guys chiming in. I may be reading into it wrong though. Wouldn't be the first time!

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/budd-body-lets-end-this-term.322713/

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/the-budd-body-corporation-bomb-drop.312727/
That's correct. It was just always assumed that when the "66 body oddities" changed, that it was Budd turning over manufacturing to Ford, when it fact it was just Budd making subtle changes.
 

SeaVee

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Well- a frame off won’t be quick or cheap, especially if you have it done professionally. You’ll be at 50k before you know it. Trust me.
 

bigmuddy

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frame off restoration
I don't know you or your capabilities but I would go with SeaVee's comments.

By the way, I'm not trying to be a killjoy on your project. But a lot of us have seen people come onsite with the idea of I am going to build it and flip it later, flipping meaning for most: make a shitload of money.

With that said, maybe you can make it work but you need to understand the risks and the very high potential that you will not recoup all of your money. The high rollers have extremely high expectations of which most building out of their garage/shop cannot meet. Then you have to be very careful by not making it to overly specific for yourself and limit the amount of buyers.

They also seem to want these days, high end paint jobs, new truck like drivetrains (coyote/6R trans) AC and all other custom amenities. I have it on good authority from a small custom builder that a lot of the bronco projects are at 60-80K in parts alone before they start paint and assembly. Paint being in the 20-30K range!

My best advice is build it how you want, drive it for awhile and when you get tired of it trade or sell it off at a price that you can happy with, without expecting the moon.

Best of luck with the build and please post pics!
 
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Pischkeethan

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Nov 4, 2024
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I don't know you or your capabilities but I would go with SeaVee's comments.

By the way, I'm not trying to be a killjoy on your project. But a lot of us have seen people come onsite with the idea of I am going to build it and flip it later, flipping meaning for most: make a shitload of money.

With that said, maybe you can make it work but you need to understand the risks and the very high potential that you will not recoup all of your money. The high rollers have extremely high expectations of which most building out of their garage/shop cannot meet. Then you have to be very careful by not making it to overly specific for yourself and limit the amount of buyers.

They also seem to want these days, high end paint jobs, new truck like drivetrains (coyote/6R trans) AC and all other custom amenities. I have it on good authority from a small custom builder that a lot of the bronco projects are at 60-80K in parts alone before they start paint and assembly. Paint being in the 20-30K range!

My best advice is build it how you want, drive it for awhile and when you get tired of it trade or sell it off at a price that you can happy with, without expecting the moon.

Best of luck with the build and please post pics!
I found a different bronco project bronco with a Denis carpenter body that has already been painted with a 302,c4 and dana 20 with a bunch of new parts and all the original parts the guy wants $35,000 for it I attached pictures bronco pics
 
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