Time and budget estimate for project

I just read though (the first few pages) the Big Red build thread. Great read. I like how the goals were set out early. I also really enjoyed the step by step details about the build and how every system was gone through. I got me thinking of my project and what I'd like to do.

1986 F350 (6.9) 4x4 project goals:
Reliable and mechanically sound enough to be daily driver.
MPG target of 17MPG.
Rust abatement throughout the truck so it lasts another 30 years.
Able to pull 10K trailer up hill at 50MPH (is the possible?).
If that's not possible, it needs to be able to do 60 up hill unloaded (currently does 45) If this isn't possible, I"m starting with another truck.
Able to accelerate to highway speeds on the on ramp.
Solid and last for years (don't want to do it twice).
Drive well, and interior clean and comfortable (so that my wife can drive it and not complain).

Are these realistic?

My plan was to do frame off and fix as I go similar to Big Red build.

Although not a professional mechanic, I am a fairly competent mechanic (just slow) and have a small home shop where I can do the work. My questions are:

If I spend one day a week working on this, with some running errands during the week, what is a reasonable completion goal?

How much money do you think it will take all told? I"m currently just spending few hundred here and there - but don't really have a handle on how much it's going to be long term.

Based on the Big Red build, it looks like you start with the frame and build up from there. This sound right? Any advice on the order would be appreciated (I've never done a large scale project like this before).

Oh man that’s a big question. Money is really up to you with what all you want to restore, mike can probaly give you an idea of his build cost. As far as your performance goals that is totally doable. Actually pretty easily doable.

onetonjohn said:

1986 F350 (6.9) 4x4 project goals:
Reliable and mechanically sound enough to be daily driver.
MPG target of 17MPG.

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A 4x4 getting 17MPG.... hmmm. That's pretty tough for a 4.10 axle and/or auto tranny. Your sig mentions a 4speed, so maybe you are talking about that. Then you should be able to get 17MPG, unless you have some odd gear ratio. If you have an auto, then you'd have to invest in some ecomods (like a gearvendor or something else) if you wanted to push that up to 17MPG.

onetonjohn said:

Able to pull 10K trailer up hill at 50MPH (is the possible?).
If that's not possible, it needs to be able to do 60 up hill unloaded (currently does 45) If this isn't possible, I"m starting with another truck.
Able to accelerate to highway speeds on the on ramp.

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This all really achievable with a turbo kit. Used, you can find one for about $200-400 for a truck, but they will likely need a rebuild kit. New... I think they are a few grand.

onetonjohn said:

Solid and last for years (don't want to do it twice).

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The only way to confidently assert that is to rebuild the engine from scratch. These IDI's do last forever, but you can't trust the PO. Your IDI might be on its last leg, or it might be good for another 200K. It all depended on how the PO maintained it.

onetonjohn said:

Drive well, and interior clean and comfortable (so that my wife can drive it and not complain).

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Pffff. Women will always complain, so that's probably the only thing on your list that is not achievable.

onetonjohn said:

If I spend one day a week working on this, with some running errands during the week, what is a reasonable completion goal?

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I just spend a few weeks rebuilding my block, cuz I wanted to meticulously take care with the rebuild. one week is not a lot of time to do much of anything. If you want a reliable, family-friendly, powerful IDI truck, you will need to think of this project as a long term goal, cuz rushing it all in a week is asking for mistakes. Mistakes = breakdowns. Breakdowns = pissed wife. pissed wife = even less *** than you are barely getting.

onetonjohn said:

How much money do you think it will take all told? I"m currently just spending few hundred here and there - but don't really have a handle on how much it's going to be long term.

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When I look at these projects, I look at the cost differently. instead of expecting a certain price for the whole project, I just pick a number that I save my money up to. Then I break down all the parts and tools that I'd need to do it all. I then eliminate the things that are overly out of my price range, eliminate luxury items, and eliminate anything that would require extraordinary tools or time. That cuts the list down to things that I know I can do and afford.

With a turbo and headstuds(on a 6.9), 10K up hill at 60 is reasonable.
With nothing but a fuel system in good shape, 70+ unloaded up a hill is possible.

where do I begin.....
are you goals realistic? somewhat.
they do need some fine tuning.
my question to you is "do you have $8k ready to spend?"
if you do, your goals are achievable.
my 2wd CC dually with a ATS 093 aftermarket kit and a ATS intercooler will help my truck head up I-80 to Truckee pulling a gross combined weight of just over 18k/lbs @ 55mph in 4th gear. The truck is optimized for towing and not going off-road. 4.10 gears and 215/85/16 tires round out the package.
your results will vary. but it's a good idea to start with a complete turbo kit like a ATS 093 aftermarket from Typ4/Russ would be a good hassle-free start.

All projects like this are subject to the 90/90 Rule:

• The first 90% of the project takes 90% of the time and money; and
• The remaining 10% of the project takes the other 90% of the time and money.

onetonjohn said:

I just read though (the first few pages) the Big Red build thread.....
Are these realistic?
....
My plan was to do frame off and fix as I go similar to Big Red build.
.....
If I spend one day a week working on this, with some running errands during the week, what is a reasonable completion goal?

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It'll take a week just to read through the entire Big Red thread.

laserjock did an excellent job on his build.
expect to spend the same amount of time on said project.
money? well Towcat mentioned 8k,
if youre doing a frame off, I would double that, at least!

I did a complete custom job took me about 2 years.
but lots of fabrication involved, and ive done several of builds before.
if youre curious check it out
https://www.oilburners.net/threads/87-crew-cab-w-6-doors.71291/

how you buy your materials is the key to keeping the costs down. here's an example.....
https://www.oilburners.net/threads/project-ugly-stepchild.82406/
mind you, I have no intention of painting the assembled truck. that keeps the costs down. My focus is on the powertrain, suspension and braking.

onetonjohn said:

...
If I spend one day a week working on this, with some running errands during the week, what is a reasonable completion goal?

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This is the only part of your plan that concerns me. So many times you set out to do something and "get stuck", due to lack of parts, or lack of a tool, or lack of info. IMHO to be successful on one of these builds you need to dedicate about 3 hours a day, and take one day a week off. (And on that day you end up sourcing parts more often than not.)

It could just be the way I work and others may disagree, but doing many small sessions, several days a week, seems to keep the project rolling and on track.

All that being said, I hope you pull the trigger, following builds is one of my favorite ways to spend the evening!

Thanks for all the input. I'm thinking around 500 a month for 2 years puts me at 12K. That's a lot compared to what the trucks worth, but a fraction of a new truck. I"m going to check out some of these builds you're pointing out, and then I'll take another pass at what I'd like to do.

yea I spent every available minute I had on my truck. and a 3-4 month break while driving it.
one thing is for certain, you cannot plan for time on complete rebuilds.
and you MUST have love for the build, and have fun.

make sure you read this thread.
https://www.oilburners.net/threads/project-red-cent.69405/

And I would build a 7.3 instead of the 6.9. They just handle boost so much better and are more readily available in these parts.

From this to this in about one year & approximately $10,000.00. This does not include parts from donor truck which included engine, wheels & tires, dana 60 front axle and bushwacker flares. I'll bet the price tag on Big Red build would give most of us "Sticker Shock"! He went through everything and it shows...... My advice, aim your initial investment at engine and drivetrain, the rest of it is lipstick and make-up. If it runs and drives awesome, you'll be more likely to follow through with paint & eye candy stuff......

catbird7 said:

My advice, aim your initial investment at engine and drivetrain, the rest of it is lipstick and make-up. If it runs and drives awesome, you'll be more likely to follow through with paint & eye candy stuff......

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THIS is the best advice.

My only criticism of the Big Red Project (I don't have many, it's an outstanding thread), is you have to be something like 60 pages in before he gets to the IDI stuff. And for the most part, his mods are superficial. He didn't do any of the rebuild himself and the engine just arrived on a crate one day. I know lots of guys have the bank to drop in a new engine, but it would have been nice to see his meticulousness on an IDI rebuild, instead of the photo after photo of him painting bracket after bracket.

But this shouldn't be construed as a criticism of his overall thread, it truly is one of the best things on Oilburners.