Classic car restoration is a huge project, 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 task at hand. You will require 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 positioned. When taking the parts of the car you will need to situate them in an orderly fashion so you can find them again if and when need them. Plastic boxesCardboard containers come in very usefully at this point. Sorting the parts is a wonderful method of keeping track of where they go, what they do, and what the parts are named just in case 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 quite a bit of time as you should take pictures on a continual basis. The pictures will consist of what the car looked like before the part was taken out and then after the part was removed.

Inventory

During this 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 a lot easier than it might sound. Arrange your parts into 2 categories: Replace & Repair. 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. Now you have a picture of what you might need and what you have. This part of the classic car restoration process may seem boring but it should pay off 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 acknowledged as acid dipping but you will need to check to see if it's available in your area. This form of stripping doesn't leave sand in every gap of your car like sand blasting. Acid dipping removes many of foreign substances, such as paint and rust.

Evaluation

While during the assessment period, you will estimate what needs to be completed. Many classic cars will need the floorboards and the trunk floors, including trunk extensions that attach to the trunk floors changed out, and in many cases there will also be rust holes and dents. Take a sharpie marker and mark all the spots that need to be repaired or replaced. In this way you will identify whether your car is a keeper or whether it is a pile of metal when completed. Take your time to ensure you have found all the problem spots. Once the car is painted you can not undo the project.

Body Work & Final Prime Coat

Begin with the hardest job of getting the dents out and filling the rust spots. Once this is finished you can move on to the easier tasks. Once your classic car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to paint the last body coat until it is just above level. Before completely dry you will take 80 grit paper to along those spots. Once this is complete you can glaze the car. After glazing has dried the initial coat of primer paint can be applied. The prime coat will resolve how even your classic car looks as finished product so it is crucial to do it right the first time .

Prep & Sand

You will need to prepare the car for paint and sealer after 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 smooth the surface of the primer. Apply 320 grit wet paper will assist to achieve that dull shine that you want to get before moving on. Applying 600 grit wet paper will help you achieve that hazy mirror effect. Your prep work is complete after this and you can apply the sealer.

Now that your classic 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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