This is where we're supposed to sit around with beers in our hands and talk me out of it, or into it.

I have a 2001 expedition, 236k miles but one owner. New trans, brakes, no leaks. I replaced it for daily use with a new chevy truck and the trade in value was crap so I kept it figuring I'd sell it....well, nobody wants it unless I give it away. And for the $1500 offers I've received I'd rather do something interesting with it.

But what? And should I?

I've done a wrangler V8 and before that a 79 lincoln - wanted this eng/trans in that car, but back then this expy would have been new and out of the budget. Both the wrangler and lincoln are long gone.

A t-bucket or track t have intersted me, but I want some practicality and I've never driven or ridden in one to know how bad they are to acutally use. (i hear they're not fun).

I'd love a convertible, perhaps a truck (since I've got 4x4 to work with). A T delivery truck would be cool (i'm a kid of the 70s and thought they were cool back then)

But I've never built a car from the ground up - always wanted to though. My son is 12 and not yet into cars but will be soon enough and this will likely be a multi year project anyway. Something we can build and he can use and we as a family can have some fun with.

Thoughts? Ideas?

For those that have built cars...what kind of time/money am I committing to?

BTW-
I worked as a mechanic for about 15 years on cars and motorycles, plus more as a hobby. There's nothing on a car or bike I've not done at one point or another.

I've not done much welding or fabricating but have a pretty full complement of tools. Getting older (51) means i wear progressive lenses and i've found they such for working on cars -everything is at the wrong distance!