The reason I ask, is because I was approached by a guy here to build a Mark for him. I said $6k, and he said how long before he could get it. I was at a loss for words at that point. What he wants us a 98 Mark, with a fresh rebuilt motor and tranny, 3.55 gears with trak lok, fresh interior and paint. I would do my usual on the interior depending on the car I find, but dang what do you think?
So wait, you know how to rebuild an engine? Install gears? Paint?? Pretty impressive.
Now lets be serious. So you buy a decient Mark that may have mechanical issues but is rust free and for the most part complete for .... oh hell, lets go cheap. $1000. Now you pull the motor and trans out. You send the trans for new clutches and filter and prolly needs a new solenoid and that runs $1000 (again on the cheap side). You bring the motor to a machine shop to have it rebuilt. Proper rebuild if all internals are good would be new bearings, rings, pistons, valve guides, valve lash adjusters and new springs. So there goes another $2000. You then take the car to a body shop and have them remove the 28 dings it has. That runs $3500 for a decient QUALITY job.
So now we are at $7500. But wait, theres more. It will also need brand new bags and compressor since the car is supposed to be like new. There goes another $1000. Also the new headlights. May get lucky and score a NOS pair on ebay for $600. But wait! What about all them bad ball joints and such. There goes another $800 for new inner and outer tie rods, sway bar end links, upper and lower control arms, sway bar bushings and toe link compensators. Cars pretty damn nice but not quite perfect yet cause there are some ripples on the rear glass. So there is another $450.
Now its done and you havent charged for your time to put this thing together. But its not quite done yet. There is still the cracks in the drivers side seat, the seat also is slow to move so the motors need a rebuild. Also there is that arm on the cup holder and the intermitant steering colum switch.
$6000 is WAY too cheap to build one.
Even if you found a Mark that was already with perfect paint and interior and window you will still have to pay $5000+ for that car. It will have near 100000 miles and still need something. Even if its just all UCA/LCA, tie rods and end links with maybe leakey rear bags you are still at $6000 and havent even touched the gears yet.
I would have to say I am in my 98 Mark about $4100 give or take. It still needs sway bar bushings, rear bags, front shocks are worn, needs a new rear window and about $900 worth of body work and paint work. Also the exhaust system sucks, bent wrong and rubs. So there is another $600 to make it right. So if all I did is fix that to make it stockish "perfect" then thats $6500 and that is not including my labor.
Sorry mang, $6000 is not enough. Dont sell yourself short.
No demand for that.