Transforming an “old car” back into a classic vehicle in all its glory is nothing less than art. In Part II of this series lets discuss the some of the classic car restoration tips you will need if you are doing your own restoration (DIY) vs. retaining a restoration shop to complete your classic car.
For Projects You Are Doing Yourself (DIY)
- Plan your project in stages. Break the work into manageable sections and do not take the car completely apart at once if you can avoid it. Work to completion on specific areas such as the drivetrain, body, interior and suspension. Determine a daily or weekly completion schedule. Meeting intermediate goals will give you a sense of accomplishment and prompt you to continue.
- Make sure your garage has ample space, lighting, and ventilation. You will be amazed how much more space a car takes up when it is apart than when its together. You will need enough room to remove the seats, dash, and engine and set them aside for many months. You will want to be able to have both driver and passenger doors open at the same time and still be able to walk around the car.
- When doing upholstery with a kit, save old pieces for reference, take pictures, and make notes or sketches so details, such as the exact location of seams, are correct when redone.
- Hone your skills by taking a class at a local community or technical college in engine repair, body, and paint work. Learn to weld.
- When dismantling your vehicle, take video and still pictures of each part, both on and off the car. Bag and label each item as it is removed. Have specific cabinets for all your parts and make a list of what parts are in which cabinets. Pay attention to the order in which each part comes off and make notes about how it should be reinstalled.
- Pick your battles – work around your strengths and farm out work in your weak areas. Do not be afraid to ask for help.
- Consider the purchase of at least one “parts” car so you will be sure to have the necessary components.
- Make sure you have the appropriate tools. Tools can be extremely expensive, so consider purchasing only the ones you will use often and borrowing or renting the rest.
- Measure at least twice, cut once.
For Projects Involving Restoration Shops
- To save money, do a lot of the grunt work – removing and cleaning parts, sanding, and simple mechanical repairs, like brakes – yourself. If it is grunt work for you then it is grunt work for a shop and they still charge a heavy labor rate. Be prepared to invest sweat equity in cleaning parts and prep work, and leave the more technical jobs to the pros.
- Consider finding and supplying your own parts. This way you will know for sure you are getting what you pay for. This should help you save some money, too, since many shops charge a premium for the parts they provide.
- Attend car events and look for well-restored cars. Check out the paint, body work, and ask the owners who they used. Solicit recommendations from fellow club members and friends. Ask about quality of work and timeliness.
- Look into every shop in detail. Ask for recommendations. Ask to see finished projects and work in progress. Examine the state of the shop – is it clean and organized? Do the vehicles look like they are being well-cared for as they are being worked on?
- Get everything in writing from price to start and completion dates. Detail the scope of the work so there is no confusion or miscommunication. Set intermediate goals and put those in writing also. Ask the shop owner to commit his signature to your plan. If the shop has its own contract, seek legal advice before signing.
- Make sure your shop has the appropriate insurance coverage, so that you will be reimbursed if your car should be in an accident while under the shop’s care. The shop’s insurance will also protect you in the event of fire, natural disaster, or theft.
- Be involved in all aspects of the project. Visit the shop regularly and observe the work in progress. This will ensure you will not be unpleasantly surprised by any work and your constant presence will pressure the shop to adhere to schedule. If the shop is out of your area, ask the restorer to e-mail you photos and progress reports on a regular basis.
- Beware of shops that say they will get to your project in their spare time. Often this means that you might find yourself waiting years for completion.
- Always plan on the highest bid being too low.
- Do not pay too much up front. Consensus is that any more than one quarter is too much at the start. And do not let the shop continue to demand payments if you are not seeing progress made on your car.
Finally
We have provided the basic steps to take in your process to restore your classic car; but there is more to it for a successful outcome. Most people never get to the finish line in restoring a classic car, but you do not have to be one of those people if you follow our blog and be patient, and thorough in following the plan you set at the beginning of the process. You will find plenty of support to help so do not let your ego get in the way for a rewarding experience.
