I will list a few mistakes and link them back to the blog post. Hopefully, my stupidity will save you guys some money.
Money Saver – Grab a membership to AAA.
I opted for the Premium, but the Premier is not much more and gives you a longer haul of 200 miles if that makes.
Overview of Towing and Emergency Services
- 4 service calls, tows up to 100 miles each
- $100 toward vehicle lockout services
- Free emergency fuel and delivery
More Benefits
Free international AAA maps
Discount on passport photos
Discount on notary services
Mistake #1 – Never forget to check the wiring…. – Cost $240
Mistake #2 – Make sure that you understand SOAxle or SUAxle and what is needed… – Cost $200
Mistake #3 – Against my better judgment, I decided to take the Scout out to train the Sniper 2 EFI…That tow-ride cost me $200.
Mistake #4 – It’s not the most idiotic thing I have ever done, but with prior planning, I could have saved $300 round-trip towing by leaving the Scout up the mountain until all the SkyJacker equipment came in.
Mistake #5 – Get a solid quote on each part of the process. I shall explain. Find out what each part of the build costs. If it is a frame-off restoration with or without sand-blasting, get a breakdown. Does the frame and repaint cost include removing all parts and putting them back on? This way, you don’t overpay. It shouldn’t be part of the paint job and the sandblast… You are double-paying if you pay to remove all the parts for both. Get a price breakdown up front.
Mistake #6 – This fits into having the end product in electronic and mechanical forms. I did not plan on a V-Belt to Serpentine Belt engine conversion. This is not a super costly mistake, but it cost me a few hundred dollars because I had to replace my radiator, A/C compressor, and a few hoses. The total cost was probably $4-$500 for the mistake.
Mistake #7 – I allowed work on my electrical system to start WITHOUT an endpoint. I talked to a few people online about how much it should cost to put a Scout II wiring kit into the ’72 Scout. All I am saying, and I know you will. Get an estimate to stick to when it comes to your work. If someone says it will cost $1200, tell them to call you as soon as it costs one penny more. Especially if they don’t know precisely what they are getting into. The total cost could go up to $800.
Mistake #8 – Always wrap your electric fuel pump during painting….. So, apparently, the Fuel Pump must be removed or covered very well during the paint booth process. It gets particles of paint in it…blocks it up…and burns it up. Learn from me. Make sure the in-line fuel pump. Cost $300
Mistake #9 – Consider adding on a protection plan and even a mechanical warranty(if available) for work that is being done with new parts. In cases where there are short warranties, it is more imperative. In this case, we bought a serpentine kit in May, it was installed in June, and then I had more work to do at the body shop. I was unable to test the unit, and the warranty had expired by the time we conducted the full system test. Cost $300 for AC Compressor replacement with shipping, and $479 install and recharge. This was a total kick in the nuts.
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