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Restoration Secrets that Grizzled Veterans Usually Learn the Hard Way

Two schools of thought can come into play when looking for your classic ride, but a rust free vehicle is singly, the most important thing you need, no matter which school of thought you gravitate towards. One option is to find a car in great condition for cents on the dollar in some cases. Cars like this may occasionally still be found but may take a long time to locate the perfect unit. Another drawback to a finished car is it may not be as solid as it looks. A thorough vehicle specific search and inspection is called for. It is increasingly more important to research the vehicle, as the asking price rises. Qualify a vehicle before completing the purchase.

Hot Rod purple (1)

Doing the restoration yourself is the other idea and this is the cheapest way to go initially, with the advantage of a lower cash outlay. You can drive your future project and collect parts as you plan each stage of restoration. This way you can have some fun while you find the weaknesses and the strong points of the vehicle.. Keep it in mind that a near perfect restoration can cost hundreds of thousands, if seen to completion, although an innovative enthusiast can save a pile of cash by scouring auto swap meets and doing work at home The amount you save will increase proportionally to the amount of work you can do on your own. The lone wolf may not like to join a club, but other enthusiasts are the best resource for finding original parts and reasonably priced repairs, no matter if it is a ground up project car, one that is already restored or something in between the two. Pitfalls for the novice can be many and deep, but most are easily avoided by good planning, patience and a creative mind set..

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  • Not having proper storage in place before you have the vehicle is a poor idea..
  • Buying a project car with the intention of a quick restoration, followed by a pot of cash at the end is an unlikely outcome for a novice restorer.
  • Not checking the many on line car forums to get feedback from others who have been there is a resource that should not be overlooked. A project is just beginning or later on down the line, the right forum will give you results.
  • Do not stock up on tools-Buying only the tools you need, when you need them, will help keep a limited budget on track.
  • Do all the work you can on your own but, know your limitations , find the right classic enthusiast for each facet of your cars restoration.
  • Finances not in place may be asking for a headache you don’t need. Budget your cash so the project doesn’t stagnant- there is a lot of labor intensive prep work you can do with little cash outlay. Doing all the menial tasks on your car will ease the bottom line and keep things moving forward. Good planning is key to a smooth and easy restoration.
  • Use the original parts taken off the vehicle if at all possible, but do not discard any assembly, at least until you have another. The most mundane parts, like tires, filters, belts and hoses will not be needed, but don’t throw anything else out too quickly. Many re builders will demand a core part in return for a rebuilt one. An upholsterer can use any fabrics or vinyl including door panels, headliner and seat coverings.as a template for the replacement. Keeping all the old stuff makes good sense when it will save dollars.
  • Fiberglass or thick layers of bondo on metal car panels is a quick fix to hide damage.  will not last more than one year in most climates and is unacceptable for a classic or collector car. Any part needed, including body panels can be re manufactured, with the proper equipment and needed skill set in place. The cost involved for machining  castings or fabricating a panel can be extremely high and very time consuming as well
  • Original trim and chrome pieces may be hard to find but are worth looking for and will give an authentic look to your car. There is generic, fits all, substitute aftermarket trim is comparatively cheap and easy to find, but less desirable on the finished product. Replacement parts can be had that are precise copies of the originals right down to the factory markings will lend an authentic look to your project. Auto wreckers may also have original vintage used vehicle parts that can be searched on line.\
  • Reproduction body and floor panels are often available at different price points and a variety of standards from more than one manufacturer for the most popular models. Some of these may need some tinkering or even a few more intensive alterations to make it sit just right. The most important is as close to perfect spacing of panel meeting points, the trunk, hood and door-the gap should be identical.
  • It is a waste of time to bring back a rusted out vehicle-it will never again be in original condition; small bubbles in the paint are an indication of rust, although a few small ones may be,manageable but a vehicle with rusted through panels is not a candidate to restore.On a scale of one to five with a one being perfection and a five is a good candidate for the scrape dealer after removing any chrome and power train goodies. The most budget conscious may opt for a “four” which may or may not be running and could have some rust, but very little. This vehicle will need a lot of work and/or money to complete. but could easily be driven for a while.  A “three” would be one that is in fair to good driving condition and without any sign of rust penetrating the sheet metal. Bubbles are a sign of rust penetration and should be scrutinized closely.
  • Unneeded upgrades like replacing the still functional mild steel brake lines with stainless steel is an overkill and not worth the expense for most vehicles.
  • If a numbers matching car is your goal then make certain the VIN number matches the engine-the last 6 digits of VIN will be stamped on the block of most engines and is usually an easy check but the transmission and the rear end must also match; these are trickier and will most likely be stamped with a date code.

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A 454 is under this vintage hood

Avoid impulse buying and be ready to walk away-remember it is a buyers’ market if you are an informed person.  A close look at the owner of the vehicle can give a good indication of how well maintained a car has been while in their care. A low mileage vehicle is a plus-but not a sure thing, unless the car has been carefully maintained as well Thorough research of both the model and the vehicle you are buying will yield dividends at the end of the day. Prior to the 1980’s it is common to personalize a vehicle with showroom options, but vehicles increasingly rely on the aftermarket manufacturers if you take retrospective look at the car industry.

Cougar 1st Generation-1967 (9)..

Big power equals big money-gas guzzlers are coveted as are vehicles with low production numbers. The vehicle that has an odd factory color or uncommon option is also a magnet for enthusiasts whether it is a power, comfort or a convenience item. Remember that today’s used cars are tomorrows classics-think 1990 and later for the best value now.. The next collector generation are the people that will buy in the future and they will want the best examples of the cars they grew up with.

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