OT: Anybody ever restored a car before?
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OT: Anybody ever restored a car before?
I've been thinking about this for a while and have wanted to make this post and Bill's post below reminded me.
Ok, my friend and I with no car restoration experience want/are going to buy a 1965-66 or 1967-68 Ford Mustang Convertible 289 manual this summer to restore. Although we have no real car re-building experience we have 'shop' skills and feel this is such a restored car that there are many parts/books available on the subject. I think it will be very FUN and maybe in the end we will end up with one sweet ride. We plan to do everything to the car besides the body paint.
My questions are: Do any of you have experience with car restoration? Can you offer any tips? Is this something you would really advise against me attempting? Anything else?
Although its OT, you are a collection of some of the brightest and friendliest groups of people I can access and I thought I'd ask.
Thanks
Ok, my friend and I with no car restoration experience want/are going to buy a 1965-66 or 1967-68 Ford Mustang Convertible 289 manual this summer to restore. Although we have no real car re-building experience we have 'shop' skills and feel this is such a restored car that there are many parts/books available on the subject. I think it will be very FUN and maybe in the end we will end up with one sweet ride. We plan to do everything to the car besides the body paint.
My questions are: Do any of you have experience with car restoration? Can you offer any tips? Is this something you would really advise against me attempting? Anything else?
Although its OT, you are a collection of some of the brightest and friendliest groups of people I can access and I thought I'd ask.
Thanks
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I haven't performed a frame up restoration before but I have rebuilt a car before.
Depending on how much work you and your friend are envisioning to do with this project, I would go for it. It's great to see your baby come together. E-mail me if you have any other questions about car restoration. I'm interested in knowing what your plans are.
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Restored a 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GTB in 1979.
This is the only car I've restored. It was actually a lot of fun. I was lucky to have a room mate at the time who was really good at that sort of thing. So I learned a lot during the process. The hardest part was dealing with the difficulty of getting parts, something you shouldn't have a problem with.
Can't give you any tips other than this: do it. You'll enjoy it and you'll be really proud of your work when you are done, as I was.
Can't give you any tips other than this: do it. You'll enjoy it and you'll be really proud of your work when you are done, as I was.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Spent 3+ years restoring a 58 Ghia cabriolet.
My recommendations.
Commit yourself to a long and sometimes endless tasks and keep yourself focused on small goals or you will become overwhelmed, don't try to do too much at once. Also decide in advance exactly where you want to take the car, custom, stock etc.
Keep notes on dissasembly bag/label everything.
Don't throw ANYTHING away even if it looks like crap.
You will need a lot of tools I probably spent over $1,000 on tools alone.
If welding is involved take a class.
I paid a pro to do the paint as it was more important to get it right than for me to learn on a car I really cared about.
It always going to cost more than you think if you do a ground up restore you will likely fix everything and that gets expensive.
Lastly enjoy the process and don't sweat it if it takes many years.
Commit yourself to a long and sometimes endless tasks and keep yourself focused on small goals or you will become overwhelmed, don't try to do too much at once. Also decide in advance exactly where you want to take the car, custom, stock etc.
Keep notes on dissasembly bag/label everything.
Don't throw ANYTHING away even if it looks like crap.
You will need a lot of tools I probably spent over $1,000 on tools alone.
If welding is involved take a class.
I paid a pro to do the paint as it was more important to get it right than for me to learn on a car I really cared about.
It always going to cost more than you think if you do a ground up restore you will likely fix everything and that gets expensive.
Lastly enjoy the process and don't sweat it if it takes many years.
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Here are the prelim plans..
Buy the mustang specified. We don't car if it runs or not and body panel rust isn't a problem. We are looking for a complete car with matching numbers and a solid chassis.
We plan to first rebuild all things mechanical. At this point we won't focus on making the mechanical parts look good just work GREAT. Then we'll start of the body; firm up the chassis and replace any rusted body panel with new reproduction pieces. After the body is true we will take out all the mechanical parts (engine, trans, driveline ***. etc) and haul it over to the body shop to get it painted professionaly.
When it comes back the mechanical parts will be polished/grinded and painted. Then they go back in the car and the interior is started and finished...
What do you think? Should we start with a car that is in better/worse condition that the one I described?
We plan to first rebuild all things mechanical. At this point we won't focus on making the mechanical parts look good just work GREAT. Then we'll start of the body; firm up the chassis and replace any rusted body panel with new reproduction pieces. After the body is true we will take out all the mechanical parts (engine, trans, driveline ***. etc) and haul it over to the body shop to get it painted professionaly.
When it comes back the mechanical parts will be polished/grinded and painted. Then they go back in the car and the interior is started and finished...
What do you think? Should we start with a car that is in better/worse condition that the one I described?
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I'm in the process (never ending) or restoring a......
1964 Chevy Impala Convertible - it's an absolutely great way to spend rainy weekend afternoons here in the Pacific Northwest.
However, I must warn you that this 'hobby' can become a very serious drain on one's pocketbook. The amount of money you spend is relative to the condition of the car you purchase and how far you want to go with the restoration. Obviously, if you are going for showroom - Cha-Ching!!!, if you want a nice car to cruise in it is not too bad.
I was fortunate since the hooptie (my cars name)has been in my family - purchased new by my grandparents - and was in relatively good condition. I've sunk several thousand into interior work (parts only, I do the work) and at this point and have yet to touch the minor body (cosmetic) work that is needed.
As far as difficulty, so long as you purchase a good repair manual - there are lots available for older collector cars - it is not technically challenging. Compared to today's cars it's childs play and I'm definately not a mechanic.
Good luck on your restoration - it's addictive!!!
2001 TTCQ Denim/Ebony - on a train/truck somewhere coming to me within a week!!!!
However, I must warn you that this 'hobby' can become a very serious drain on one's pocketbook. The amount of money you spend is relative to the condition of the car you purchase and how far you want to go with the restoration. Obviously, if you are going for showroom - Cha-Ching!!!, if you want a nice car to cruise in it is not too bad.
I was fortunate since the hooptie (my cars name)has been in my family - purchased new by my grandparents - and was in relatively good condition. I've sunk several thousand into interior work (parts only, I do the work) and at this point and have yet to touch the minor body (cosmetic) work that is needed.
As far as difficulty, so long as you purchase a good repair manual - there are lots available for older collector cars - it is not technically challenging. Compared to today's cars it's childs play and I'm definately not a mechanic.
Good luck on your restoration - it's addictive!!!
2001 TTCQ Denim/Ebony - on a train/truck somewhere coming to me within a week!!!!
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Butt welding -- definitely involved. Where can I learn more about that?
Oh, the objective: To restore the car to stock/better but nothing custom. We don't plan on showing the car, just driving the hell out of it!
And, thanks for all those hints. Will follow!
And, thanks for all those hints. Will follow!
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Thread Starter
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Nice car!
I love that body on your the 64 Impala and convertivle none-the-less.
I hope you right in that it won't be mechanicaly challenging. That's what I was thinking but we'll see. The cars nowadays would be impossible IMO.
I hope you right in that it won't be mechanicaly challenging. That's what I was thinking but we'll see. The cars nowadays would be impossible IMO.