I have a 1973 F100 that has not been driven in 25 years and I would like to hire a service to do a full frame-off restoration to (almost) factory standards. I do want to do a few small changes, such as retrofitting factory AC and changing it from a 3 on the tree to something like an AOD. But otherwise going for a full factory original look. The truck has always been stored inside and has no rust or other major damage. It just needs a good top to bottom refresh to get it back on the road.

I know ZERO about doing something like a full restoration of a vehicle, so looking for someone that does. I live in the Raleigh NC area, so that would be ideal, but willing to take it elsewhere to get it in the right hands.

Any suggestions for a good shop that has done this type of restoration before?

 

engF100,

You may want to look into community colleges or other vocational schools in your area, to see if they would want to take this on as a project. Granted, you would really want to sleuth out the joint and only go with a school that has very satisfied customers. Hopefully, the cost would be significantly below a full-blown professional shop.

 

You probably can't even fathom what it would cost to do what you're asking. even a cut rate hack shop will run you a minimum of 50k, because parts and materials will be 30k. as far as a good shop I have a friend that does amazing work, and he would be well over 100k I'm sure. My high boy is pretty nice and I have around 55k in it and I did all the work myself ,except for the final paint prep and paint.

You have 2 options if you don't want to spend an oh my god amount of money. ask for help here, watch videos and get some books and IF you have a decent shop and the desire you can do most of it yourself. paint is another matter if you're fussy, hire that and figure at least 20k for something nice.

You best option most likely is to buy what you want finished or nearly done. even 10 years ago the cost was half what it is now so take advantage of it. watch BAT, Ebay or better yet facebook and craigslist. you will find what you want if you're patient. but buy nothing until you get advice on it there are a lot of pigs with lipstick out there.

 

440 is correct. I’m not trying to scare you off, but if you want to do a true frame off restoration I would suggest you gird your loins and make sure your wallet is fortified. I did everything that I could do without help from professionals (farmed out body work, machine shop for the engine, transmission rebuild, rear axle resto) and I was in for 60k by the time it was done, and that’s a conservative estimate without accounting for the stuff that’s going to nickel and dime you to death. This economic environment is brutal my friend, and the most frustrating part is having to overpay for low quality chinese garbage because you just can’t find quality American made parts.

 

It is pretty easy to spend a customers $$$$$$$$$.

If just to get road worthy, might pay you to look at local mechanic shops to get it road worthy ..... then deal with the looks as you live with it.

There's a lot of space between "take it to the cruise in and sip cool drinks in lounge chairs under umbrella with hood open and mirrors on the ground" quality... and ... "just to have a dependable driver that looks presentable that is useful for work too" quality. No way I go to the cruise in except to look at other rides, see old friends, catch up on the latest, .... and I do not invite looks under the '77's skirt. If I go, I might drive my '77 to and from, but I'll park outside the usual "show & shine" area like I would any other vehicle. Nothing wrong with showing, and I enjoy looking. My '77's OEM bed floor is >95% there, under a sheet of steel, under paint, under near a gallon of brushed in bed liner, under a drop in bed liner, and it'll outlast me, is easy to clean, easy to use too. My '77's engine is fresh on it's third set of bearings, but it's sound. I might show a picture, but my hood stays shut.

One of my step brothers bought a nice restored '66 Corvette Roadster, beautiful red, and they got into cruise ins .... then one day as they were sitting beside it, hood up, and group of guys from a local Corvette club drifted by. One loudly said "Oh, it's just a small block" and that was it. It was originally a BB car, but in the restoration, a built SB ended up in it. My SB didn't know the tach differed. The guy explained that it had a BB tach, but since it was obviously a SB, it was not a cool car. He called me that night, I traded him a wore out 140K mile 396 out of my Chevelle for a fresher LT-1 350 (which ended up in a '72 C-10 step side pickup), he did a quick rebuild, cleaned it up, & put it in that same 'Vette, then sold the whole deal as the fun was just gone he said.