The Basics

Welcome to our Automotive Restoration Blog. If you are ready to get greasy, you have come to the right place.

In this initial blog post, I would like to go over some of the very basic knowledge regarding this topic.

After you have chosen your set of wheels regardless of it being an import or a domestic automobile, the primary step in car restoration is to make a list of what is required to be done and to plan out the project. You don't want to overlook something essential and risk damaging a new paint job, or find out that your car looks striking but won't run. Go around the entire car and make notes as to the repairs and other restoration processes. 

Here are some of the many things to include on your list:

·         Seats: If the seats are torn or worn, look for used seats from a junkyard. If you cannot find decent used seats, think about recovering the seats.

·         Headliner: Be sure that the headliner is not sagging or torn. You can order headliners and install them yourself. If you are not comfortable installing a headliner, some detail shops provide this service.

·         Carpet: Change any carpet that is worn or dirty.

·         Dash: If the dashboard is cracked, and it is a very common issue on aged cars and it must be replaced.

·         Rubbers: Check all of the rubber on the car, include the trunk rubber, the window rubbers and the rubber stops for the hood and trunk. If you find cracked or rotted rubber, start looking around for signs of rust in the floor pans and side panels.

·         Dents and Scratches: Make sure all dents and scratches are filled in or pounded out. Paint the car with black primer to make dents and scratches show up better. The black primer can be removed later.

·         Engine Compartment: Spray wash and clean the entire engine compartment. Add chrome accessories to the engine compartment to "shine it up."

·         Engine: Make sure everything is working. Park the car over some white poster board for a day or two to look for leaks. If it leaks, raise the car and find out where it is leaking from and how bad or worse are the leaks. If the car has been sitting idle for an extensive period of time, think about replacing all belts and rubber gaskets.

·         Wheels and tires: If the wheels are shabby, you can replace them. Some wheels can be cleaned up or polished so they look new again. You can also opt to paint or powder coat the wheels.

This is only a fractional list. As you look at your car, make a note of anything you want to replace and everything that needs to be repaired or freshened up. After you create the list, start calling local speed shops and auto parts stores to price out the items you need. You could also jump on the internet and save hundreds by buying the parts from wholesalers or from the source. Sometimes, even with shipping costs, the part is less expensive to order than to buy locally. Make three columns on a blank sheet. Call at least three places for each part needed; this helps you find the best deal on parts.

Planning the Project
With your list of repairs is in hand, you're ready to undertake the major chunk of restoration process. It's best to proceed in the following order:

·         Transmission: If there are problems with the gears or clutch, pull the transmission out first and get it running properly. Have it rebuilt if necessary. Drain the old fluid and replenish with new fluid. Replace the clutch and all gaskets if you need to pull the transmission.

·         Engine: Make any needed changes or repairs once the transmission is back in place. If you'll be driving the car while you restore it, don't worry about chrome accents at this point.

·         Electrical: You may need to rip apart pieces of the car to run replacement wires. Do this step once you're sure the engine and transmission are in perfect shape, so that you'll know any electrical problems are the result of wiring and not mechanical issues.

·         Suspension: Begin any major suspension changes before you get too far into bodywork. This will involve mainly replacing all rubber bushings, links, shocks, struts and springs.

·         Interior: While you can attempt the interior at any time, it's best to do this before you start work on the body, especially if you'll be removing seats or replacing the dashboard.

·         Body: Don't start priming and painting until all other elements of the car are sound. You can add chrome elements to the engine compartment at this point as well.

·         Wheels: Wheels and tires can be replaced at any time. These can be expensive parts, so wait to buy them until after you've dealt with any mechanical problems.

In the next coming blogs, we will discuss each component in detail. We will pick American classic car, European exotic and so on to use them as an exemplary. Stay tuned in for more dirty work that is worth the payoffs.

BEFORE RESTORATION:





AFTER RESTORATION: