Classic Car Restoration

by DAN FARRELL

Classic car restoration is a big ordeal, but if it's done right it can also be a lot of fun, especially if you do it with your family and make a family fun time out of it. Classic cars are meant to be one thing, and that is fun, if it's not fun for you, then you might want do yourself a favor and sell it.

Shop Preparation

The first step during a classic car restoration is to get your shop ready for the restoration. You will require a camera, a place for the parts, and a labeling system. It is better to take pictures of the parts as you take them off so you know where they were came from and where the new parts should be positioned. When taking the parts of the vehicle you will need to place them in a neat manner so you can find them again when need them. Plastic cartons come in handy at this stage. Labeling the parts is a great way of remembering where they go, what they do, and what they are called in case you need to purchase a newer part. Never throw away the parts until the car is completed as you may need them again at some point.

Tear Down

The second phase to classic car restoration is to tear down the car in sections. Start at one end and work your way down the car until you reach the end. This process will take quite a bit of time as you will need to take pictures on a continual basis. The pictures will remind you of what the car looked like before the part was taken off and then after the part was removed.

Inventory

In the next step you will find out what parts can be reused and what parts will need to be replaced. This is the best time to look at your budget for your classic car restoration project. This is a lot easier than it sounds. Sort your parts into 2 categories: Replace & Repair. Go through the replace box and mark down every part in it on your notes under the replace column. Now do the same thing for the repair parts and place them on your your notes under the repair column. Now you have a picture of what you need and what you don't need to buy. This part of the classic car restoration job may seem dull but it will return a handsome profit in the end.

Cleaning Process

Once all the parts are removed you can begin to strip your car down to bare metal. There are several methods to get your car in this state, including sand blasting, glass beading, garnet blasting, and sodium bicarbonate blasting. The better way is identified as acid dipping but you will need to determine if it's available in your area. This type of stripping doesn't leave sand in every crevice of your car like sand blasting. Acid dipping removes many of foreign substances, such as paint and rust.

Evaluation

During the appraisal period, you will calculate what needs to be completed. Most classic cars will need the floorboards and the trunk floors, including trunk extensions that attach to the trunk floors changed out, and in many cases there will also be holes and dents. Now take a sharpie marker and mark all the areas that need to be replaced or repaired. In this way you will discover whether your classic car is a keeper or whether it is a pile of metal when finished. Take your time to make certain you have found all the trouble areas. Of course, once the car is painted you can not go back.

Body Work & Final Prime Coat

Start with the hardest job of removing the dents out and filling the rust spots. Once this is done you can move on to the less arduous jobs. Once your classic car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to spread the last and final body coat until it is just above level. Before it is completely dry you will take 80 grit paper to along those spots. Once this is complete you can glaze the car. After glazing has dried the first coat of paint can be applied. The prime coat will resolve how even your car looks as finished product so it is vital to do it correct the first time .

Prep & Sand

Now you will need to prepare the car for paint and sealer after the dust has been removed from the car. Although it is an extra process, it is better to seal the car at this point. Begin with 220 grit wet sandpaper to even the surface of the primer. Apply 320 grit wet paper will help you get that dull shine that you want to see before moving on. Applying 600 grit wet paper will help you get that hazy mirror effect. Your prep work is now complete and you can apply the sealer.

Now that your classic car restoration is complete you can cruise around to show off all your hard work and have a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

Classic Car Restoration

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