I've been looking into having a Bronco built and getting some quotes from the builders recommended on this forum. One builder suggested I do a frame-on resto instead of frame-off and save about 20K. Obviously I'd need to be more particular about the donor vehicle but what other concerns should I have? Once I'm spending that much does it make sense to stop short of the full frame-off?
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Frame on vs frame off resto?
- Thread starter ScottyP
- Start date
Justafordguy
Bronco Guru
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2009
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- 6,253
$20k to take the body off the frame and put it back on? You need to find out what else they are doing besides just taking the body off.
BluebroncoNC
Bronco Guru
I'm not a professional restorer, but I do play one on this forum. I'm not sure where the $20k savings comes from between the on and off frame price. What are we talking about? 6 screws and the ability to turn a body around on a jig and dip/powder coat a frame?
I am not a professional builder, but restored one Bronco.
I know that I am very happy that I did a total frame off restoration, but, all the money was parts and only labor I paid for was the painting. As others said, curious what that additional $20K actually gets you. With mine I have about $20K in parts, complete resto. So, I guess their $20K must be including labor and additional parts that would be used if the body is off the frame.
And really, what the heck does that mean saving to do frame on, because you can basically get to everything whether the body is on or off the frame. I did not remove my body until I had it ready to go to paint. I restored the body while it remained on the frame. Then I took it off the frame and while it was at paint I did the frame. Body took me several years, with breaks (burn out). The frame took just a few months. Strip it to bare frame, then clean it however (I sand blasted), then prime, paint and put all the suspension back. Then the engine and drive train. Brakes, exhaust, fuel tank, lines, etc. If you know what you are doing you can just move from job to job and get it done. If you are motivated the frame can be done if a few months, working evenings and weekends.
Then body goes back on the frame and you install the wiring harness, dash. Hook up whatever connects after the body is back (clutch linkage, steering column, brake lines, lights, etc).
Do lots of research (as it appears you are doing) so you know how you are spending your money and get the most bang for the buck from a builder.
Remember you are paying these builders for their knowledge that you could gain if you did the resto yourself. But, you won't have it now and they wouldn't have a business.
I know that I am very happy that I did a total frame off restoration, but, all the money was parts and only labor I paid for was the painting. As others said, curious what that additional $20K actually gets you. With mine I have about $20K in parts, complete resto. So, I guess their $20K must be including labor and additional parts that would be used if the body is off the frame.
And really, what the heck does that mean saving to do frame on, because you can basically get to everything whether the body is on or off the frame. I did not remove my body until I had it ready to go to paint. I restored the body while it remained on the frame. Then I took it off the frame and while it was at paint I did the frame. Body took me several years, with breaks (burn out). The frame took just a few months. Strip it to bare frame, then clean it however (I sand blasted), then prime, paint and put all the suspension back. Then the engine and drive train. Brakes, exhaust, fuel tank, lines, etc. If you know what you are doing you can just move from job to job and get it done. If you are motivated the frame can be done if a few months, working evenings and weekends.
Then body goes back on the frame and you install the wiring harness, dash. Hook up whatever connects after the body is back (clutch linkage, steering column, brake lines, lights, etc).
Do lots of research (as it appears you are doing) so you know how you are spending your money and get the most bang for the buck from a builder.
Remember you are paying these builders for their knowledge that you could gain if you did the resto yourself. But, you won't have it now and they wouldn't have a business.
To be honest I don't know much about Broncos or car restoration. I've wanted a Bronco for 10 years or more and ended up buying a Jeep Unlimited which was my daily driver for 5 years. Now I'm looking for a Bronco again. I'm not completely unhandy but I don't have a huge amount of spare time or any knowledge of things like welding or body work. I'd like to find a truck that can be a nearly daily driver, get me to some tough to access fishing spots here in North Florida, and show off at the local weekend car shows. So restoring an old truck myself would probably take me forever with marginal results. Buying a restoration with a few years on it makes the most sense but I'm not sure how to tell if someone did a decent job, especially online. So I might bite the 80-90K bullet and go with a basically new truck. My dad who was a mechanic his whole life and never spent that much on a house thinks I'm nuts. On top of that there's a two year wait with Nick's Trix, Bronco Connection, etc. I'm more than capable of making a questionable decision that costs me a lot of money but I'm not sure I'm prepared to watch it play out in slow motion over TWO YEARS. So, still weighing my options.
Last edited:
needabronco
Bronco Guru
Frame on, I assume they don't paint the frame or chassis/suspension, OR paint the bottom of the tub. I'm not sure how that's an extra $20K, and I've professionally built several cars.
Frame off refers to putting the body on a rotissorie, painting and detailing the whole body and chassis. Mostly your talking about 8 bolts and more labor, for a much better and more valuable build.
Some half ass'd builders I suppose would consider a frame off to include rebuilding the drivetrain, chassis, and painting everything, and a frame on to just be a nice paint job, lift kit and tires?
First lets back up. Do you know your budget(you don't need to post it)? Do you already have a Bronco? What end result do you want, show car, crusier, wheeler, or all of the above? While there are several Bronco builders on this forum that build fantastic rigs, 'quotes' that are firm in the custom car business are generally something to stay away from. A builder that has seen a particular Bronco and knows what he's starting with and knows what you want can generally get you a fairly loose number however.
Frame off refers to putting the body on a rotissorie, painting and detailing the whole body and chassis. Mostly your talking about 8 bolts and more labor, for a much better and more valuable build.
Some half ass'd builders I suppose would consider a frame off to include rebuilding the drivetrain, chassis, and painting everything, and a frame on to just be a nice paint job, lift kit and tires?
First lets back up. Do you know your budget(you don't need to post it)? Do you already have a Bronco? What end result do you want, show car, crusier, wheeler, or all of the above? While there are several Bronco builders on this forum that build fantastic rigs, 'quotes' that are firm in the custom car business are generally something to stay away from. A builder that has seen a particular Bronco and knows what he's starting with and knows what you want can generally get you a fairly loose number however.
Broncobowsher
Total hack
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2002
- Messages
- 35,713
I will also recommend to run from that builder.
Restorations come in all flavors. Starting with the condition of the vehicle to start with. And the level of the final build. I've seen countless "restorations" that involved thousands (tens, maybe hundreds of thousands) in parts thrown at it. And I really mean thrown. Here is a part, install it. If it is correct or not, it gets installed. Just pour money into it. Wrap it off with a shiny paint job (that will crack and blister in a few years). And you have a total piece of restored junk. About half of the affordable "just restored" vehicles at auctions are like this. Done so poorly that they will need another full restoration to fix what the first restorer butchered.
OK, back to a restoration. A true restoration, as in the day it rolled off the line? Perior correct restoration, something that had dealer and owner installed modifications that are period correct for when the vehicle was maybe a year old? Maybe a restomod, looks fairly stock but with modern upgrades to make it more functional? There are all levels of "restoration". Make it too nice and you will be scared to drive it further than a car show, that has happened countless times.
Find stuff the shop has done before. Not just a week or a month old stuff. Find something that dates back several years. See how well it has aged.
A couple years ago I was at a friends shop. Old school repair shop. Customer rolls in with a restored mustang fastback he just got at an auction across the country. The owner of the car wasn't around. I gave it a once over and pointed out a huge list of issues. Not counting the paint work that was already starting to crack and curl. Washers behind the lower crank pulley bolts to space it out. trying to make a 4-bolt crank damper work with the old pulleys. rubber falling out of suspension bushings (that have overspray on them). bent paperclip holding the throttle linkage together. Missing fan shroud. and a bunch of other little issues. Stuff that will fall apart sooner than later and leave you a car that will leave you with the fear it will break down again the next time you drive it. It was clearly a restoration done for a profit and a pricepoint. and the reason it was dumped at auction.
Restorations come in all flavors. Starting with the condition of the vehicle to start with. And the level of the final build. I've seen countless "restorations" that involved thousands (tens, maybe hundreds of thousands) in parts thrown at it. And I really mean thrown. Here is a part, install it. If it is correct or not, it gets installed. Just pour money into it. Wrap it off with a shiny paint job (that will crack and blister in a few years). And you have a total piece of restored junk. About half of the affordable "just restored" vehicles at auctions are like this. Done so poorly that they will need another full restoration to fix what the first restorer butchered.
OK, back to a restoration. A true restoration, as in the day it rolled off the line? Perior correct restoration, something that had dealer and owner installed modifications that are period correct for when the vehicle was maybe a year old? Maybe a restomod, looks fairly stock but with modern upgrades to make it more functional? There are all levels of "restoration". Make it too nice and you will be scared to drive it further than a car show, that has happened countless times.
Find stuff the shop has done before. Not just a week or a month old stuff. Find something that dates back several years. See how well it has aged.
A couple years ago I was at a friends shop. Old school repair shop. Customer rolls in with a restored mustang fastback he just got at an auction across the country. The owner of the car wasn't around. I gave it a once over and pointed out a huge list of issues. Not counting the paint work that was already starting to crack and curl. Washers behind the lower crank pulley bolts to space it out. trying to make a 4-bolt crank damper work with the old pulleys. rubber falling out of suspension bushings (that have overspray on them). bent paperclip holding the throttle linkage together. Missing fan shroud. and a bunch of other little issues. Stuff that will fall apart sooner than later and leave you a car that will leave you with the fear it will break down again the next time you drive it. It was clearly a restoration done for a profit and a pricepoint. and the reason it was dumped at auction.
I have to say is make sure you do your homework on who you are having it built by, there is a ton of garbage out there. Seems about every 2 weeks I hear about the world's best new Bronco Builder...
My money is here. As others have said, know your budget. I am betting you can get close to what you want in the used market for maybe 10k more than you frame on/ frame off difference.
broncobsession
Bronco Guru
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2001
- Messages
- 4,049
He says located in North Florida. And budget up to $80-90k.
I would suggest mailing "englewood cowboy" on here and becoming his first frame off! His build thread speaks for itself and you won't have to wait the 2 years!
I would suggest mailing "englewood cowboy" on here and becoming his first frame off! His build thread speaks for itself and you won't have to wait the 2 years!
For a split second I thought hmmm, $80 - $90k. No, not enough to part with mine.
I might be crazy, but I don't want to wait and not be driving it while I build another. I would build another if it would sell for that. But I'm probably too picky to end up making any money.
I might be crazy, but I don't want to wait and not be driving it while I build another. I would build another if it would sell for that. But I'm probably too picky to end up making any money.
KBUCK1
Sr. Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- Messages
- 979
I'd take less than that for mine. Lol
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