Classic car restoration is a big ordeal, but if it's done right it can also be loads of fun, especially if you do it with your family and make a big family pleasurable time out of it. Classic cars are meant to be one thing, and that is pleasurable, 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 project. You will need a camera, a place for the parts, and a labeling system. It is best 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 placed. When taking the parts of the car you will need to situate them in an orderly method so you can locate them again when need them. Plastic cartons come in handy at this point. Sorting the parts is a wonderful method of remembering where they go, what they do, and what they are called in case you need to purchase a new part. Never throw away the parts until the car is finished as you may need them again at some point.

Tear Down

The 2nd phase to classic car restoration is to tear down the car in sections. Begin at one end and work your way down the car until you reach the end. This process will take some 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 out 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 perfect time to finalize your budget for your classic car restoration job. This is much easier than it sounds. Arrange your parts into 2 categories: Repair & Replace. Go through the replace box and mark down every part in it on your notes under the replace column. Do the same thing for the repair parts and put them on your your notes under the repair column. By now have a picture of what you might need and what you don't need. This part of the classic car restoration procedure may seem boring but it very well could return a 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 best method is known as acid dipping but you will need to see if it's available in your area. This form of stripping doesn't leave sand in every cranny of your car like sand blasting. Acid dipping removes many of foreign substances, such as paint and rust.

Evaluation

During the evaluation period, you will evaluate what needs to be done. Most classic cars will need the floorboards and the trunk floors, including trunk extensions that attach to the trunk floors removed or repaired, and in many situations 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 determine whether your vintage car is a keeper or whether it is a pile of metal when finished. Take your time to ensure you have found all the problem areas. Once the car is painted you can not undo the project.

Body Work & Final Paint

Start with the hardest job of getting the dents out and removing or repairing the rust spots. Once this is finished you can move on to the lighter tasks. Once your vintage car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to paint 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. When the glazing has dried the initial layer of primer can be applied. The priming process will tell you how even your vintage car looks finished so it is vital to do it correct the first time .

Prep & Sand

You will need to prep the car for paint and sealer once the dust has been removed from the car. Even though it is an extra step, 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 assist to get that dull shine that you want to get 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 vintage 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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