Taking on a restoration project for a classic car or truck is a big undertaking. Careful planning is suggested so that you don’t find yourself out of money, out of time or out of patience. Here are the major questions you should have answered before you ever begin a restoration.
We are outlining some questions you can ask yourself so you can determine your plan:
What are your restoration goals?
Before you start your restoration plan, it is important to think about where you want to end up.
What is you plan for your car or truck? Do you want it for cruising, or for cars shows and community events?
The answer to this question will help you prioritize your restoration tasks. If you plan on driving the car, you need to make sure the vehicle is sound and structurally stable first. You’ll want to work on the mechanics before you take care of the cosmetic exterior and interior details.
What type of restoration do you want to do?
Are you a traditionalist who wants your car to have original factory parts or are you more of a resto-mod kind of enthusiast who wants your car to be unique to you? Purists recommend taking your car back to the condition she was in when she rolled off the assembly line. Others believe that you should restore the car to meet your own personality quirks.
The answer to this question will help you determine where to best spend your budget.
Do you have the right car?
One of the most difficult parts of car renovation is finding the right car. We recommend starting with local classified ads. Online sites may have more options, but you’ll also find more scams. It’s important to actually look at the car before you agree to buy it.
Do plenty of research to find a car that can be restored while keeping your costs down. This is a major purchase. You may spend over a year restoring the car; then, you’ll want to love the car once it’s restored. Look for a car that is solid and free of major damage and rust.
What is wrong with the vehicle?
You’ll need to evaluate and determine just what you will need to fix so you can prioritize issues when making your plan.
Evaluate the vehicle. Will your vehicle require you to complete a full frame off restoration? Could you get away and be happy with a partial restoration? The answer to these questions will determine the amount of necessary work and the scope of time and money you will need. When evaluating your vehicle, be sure to evaluate the frame, engine and drive train, the bodywork, the paint job and all trim and moldings you will need to get the job done.
What Is Your Plan for Tackling the Required Tasks?
Take time to plan out your tasks that are required for restoration. Which tasks do you want to actually perform, and which ones will you take to your mechanic? Having a plan will help you know which tools you want to purchase and when. It will help you keep to your budget. If you’re serious about Do-It-Yourself, then you may want to invest in a class that teaches you welding or metalwork to get the best results.
In What Order Will You Tackle Tasks?
The first task you should complete for your restoration project includes fixing mechanical issues. Cosmetic fixes may seem more exciting, but the basis of most restoration projects is typically making the vehicle operational. That’s not to say that cosmetic features aren’t important, but you could easily mar the interior surfaces by scratching them or getting oil on them while you’re taking care of the mechanical issues.
Experts disagree on what order to complete the cosmetic touches. Some believe that paint and the exterior should be last, because you want to avoid scratches and scuffs to a paint job while you’re completing the interior. On the other hand, the interior upholstery and equipment can be damaged by paint drops and splatter.
We believe that the interior should be the last step on your classic car renovation because you will spend more time in the interior of the car while using it than you will simply looking at it. By waiting until the exterior of the car is finished, you protect the interior from dirt and grime.
Create a timetable. Make yourself a schedule of time slots when you will be able to work on the project. Do your best to stick to that schedule. Even if you need to deviate from the schedule at least you will have a good idea of the time frame it will take to restore your ride. Nothing is set in stone and this schedule may very well be revised during the restoration, but it is a good way to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Create short term goals as you go along to help break up the long restoration task.
Plan your workflow. Is this a frame off restoration? Will you need to dismantle the car before the restoration can begin? Be sure you have a good system in place to catalogue the parts and the hardware as the pieces come off. An organized system will not only save you time in the long run but can also help you to not have a box of “extra” parts when the restoration is complete.
How Will You Watch Your Budget?
The one thing that you do need to control during your classic car restoration is your budget. You don’t want to get to the final details and not be able to finish your car to your standards due to budgetary issues. Do yourself a favor before you start and set a budget for each part of your restoration. Also be sure to budget out some money for issues that you don’t foresee.
Create a budget. Once you have determined all the parts you are going to need and the professional services you will need to hire out, calculate a total cost for the entire project. This will be a rough budget but add at least 25% extra to that number. We have never seen a project that didn’t include a few extra surprises. By padding your budget, you won’t have any financial issues when these “surprises” inevitably show up.
Original or aftermarket? Make a list of every part you will need in order to complete the restoration. During this step you will get a good idea of the initial cost of the project. At this point you will now know if you will want to invest the money to have all original or aftermarket parts. Make a list of all the parts that absolutely must be original, or aftermarket then decide whether or not you can compromise on certain parts that are available at a lower price.
Am I capable of doing a restoration of do I need some help?
Know your limits. It is a good idea to make a list of all the work that you can and cannot do during the restoration. Be honest with yourself when diagnosing your skills. It is admirable to want to take on a job yourself and it can save you a lot of money. However, hiring a professional to fix mistakes you have made can cost you more than if you just hired them in the first place. When creating your budget, be sure to include all the professional services you will need to acquire. Most places will be happy to give you a free estimate for their services.
Research helpful resources. This final step can really save you some time and frustration. There are always going to be hurdles you will have to overcome. Knowing who to turn to or where to find the answers can be priceless! That’s why we write this blog. It’s packed with “how to” tips to assist with classic vehicle restoration projects. There are plenty of online Internet forums that offer advice and tutorials for any phase of a restoration. Another great resource can be your friends, neighbors, local mechanics and other car enthusiasts. Compile a list of helpful resources before you begin. You will be glad that you did!
