| Once you've decided what car you want to | | | | frustrating part of the entire job, it's also the part |
| restore, it's time to locate one of them and buy | | | | that will make, or break the entire project for |
| it, you ask, so what do I look for in a car to | | | | you, during this stage of the work, if your |
| restore, I'm going to try to help you with that | | | | prepared, you'll have a lot of fun, and you'll enjoy |
| question, the best rule is to start with a car that | | | | it, but if your not prepared, you'll hate it horribly |
| is in good condition, and it's true, you'll pay more | | | | bad. |
| for a good car then a turd. | | | | What I mean by be prepared, is make sure that |
| But you'll spend a lot less on the restoration of | | | | as your tearing the car down, that you take a |
| the car, just imagine a car with almost no rust, | | | | close look at the parts that you remove, and |
| and a very small amount of body work, with a | | | | make a list of what you can re-use, and what has |
| little searching you can find it, you can have the | | | | to be replaced, this is where you can save a |
| perfect car to start with, obviously you'll be doing | | | | boatload of cash, remember it's a restoration, |
| some work on it, well that is if your looking for a | | | | don't try to re-use things that should be trashed. |
| car to restore. | | | | Another hint is to take a lot of pictures, I mean |
| There are a lot of processes involved in the | | | | over do it, take pictures of every part that you |
| restoration of a classic car, you'll quickly discover | | | | remove from the car, before you remove it, and |
| that a thirty year old, or older car needs some | | | | after you remove it, put them in an envelope and |
| help, they all do, unless you buy one that has | | | | keep the in a box with the parts they belong |
| already been restored, believe me you'll pay a lot | | | | with, this will help a lot, the tear down, and |
| more to buy a restored car, so now that we | | | | inventory is one of the most important parts of |
| know that we'll be doing some work on the car, | | | | the restoration work, it's very easy to lose, or |
| let's talk a little about that work. | | | | misplace parts of the car if this is done wrong, so |
| Let me explain this way, before you were thirty | | | | pay very close attention to this part of the |
| years old, did you go to the doctor for some | | | | process. |
| work on your systems, it's the same with a car, | | | | I know that the tear down and inventory can p |
| but most cars don't see a doctor nearly as much | | | | be a pain, but believe me, it will be much worse if |
| as they should, most people neglect their cars, | | | | you don't take your time during this process, I |
| and put it off to save some cash flow, but you'll | | | | know that it's a pain to box and label all of the |
| pay in the end. | | | | parts to the car, but it's an absolute must, and |
| It doesn't matter if you like German cars, | | | | you'll be glad you did when it comes time to |
| American cars, or British car, they all need to visit | | | | re-assemble the car. |
| a mechanic, and a body shop on occasion, the | | | | Remember as I said earlier, take a lot of pictures, |
| mechanic a bit more, but you get the idea, this is | | | | snap a shot of every part that you remove form |
| why car rot and turn to rust over the years, if | | | | the car so you'll know where they all go when |
| you maintain your car it will be a great condition | | | | you re-assemble the car, keep the pictures with |
| for years to come. | | | | their respectable parts, and you won't have any |
| Now on to the meat of this article, a classic car | | | | problems when it come time to put it all together. |
| restoration can be a lot of fun, for you and your | | | | It will make a huge difference if you have a love |
| entire family, you can have everybody help with | | | | for the car that your restoring, maybe it reminds |
| the work, you can even invite your friends, and | | | | you of a good time in your past, maybe you just |
| you families friends to help, it's feels really good to | | | | like that body style, it doesn't matter much why |
| the people who are involved in the process. | | | | you like it, as long as you do like it, what matters |
| Everybody likes to brag a bit about their | | | | the most is that it's your babe, don't let anybody |
| accomplishments, and a classic car restoration is a | | | | knock it, or rip in to you for building that particular |
| huge accomplishment with out a doubt, it involves | | | | car, it doesn't matter what they think. |
| a lot of different processes in order to finish the | | | | When it's all said and done you'll have something |
| job, you'll do body work, paint work, mechanical | | | | that you can be proud of, something that you |
| work, interior work, suspension work and drive | | | | built yourself, and believe me all those people who |
| train work, and last but not least you do electrical | | | | were giving you agony will be asking you for a |
| work. | | | | ride in your beautifully restored classic car, and |
| It will take a lot of patience, and a huge desire to | | | | you can remind them of the crap that they |
| finish the project, oh yeah and let's not leave out | | | | spewed at you. |
| the most important part, it will take money, and a | | | | Enjoy your feeling of accomplishment, savor it, |
| lot of it, do not go in to this ordeal thinking that | | | | and remind the nay Sayers that they have never |
| you'll get through it for $5,000 or $10,000 | | | | undertaken a project of this magnitude and |
| because you won't, did you spend more then that | | | | completed it with the precision that you just did, |
| on your new car. | | | | remind them of all the fun you had, and then give |
| You'll be looking for parts, this is possibly the most | | | | them that ride. |