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Classic car restoration is a huge project, but if it's tackled in the right way it can also be loads of fun, especially if you do it with your family and make a big family fun time out of it. Classic cars are meant to be one thing, and that is fun, 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 require a camera, a place for the parts, and a labeling system. It is better to take pictures of the parts as you pull them off so you know where they were came from and where the new parts should be placed. When taking the parts of the vehicle you will need to place them in a neat mode so you can locate them again if you need them. Plastic boxesCardboard containers come in real handy at this point. Cateloging the parts is a wonderful method of remembering where they go, what they do, and what the parts are named in case you need to purchase a newer part. Never throw away the parts until the car is finished as you might need them again at some point.

Tear Down

The second step 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 will need to take pictures on a continuous basis. The pictures will remind you of what the vehicle looked like before the part was taken out and then after the part was removed.

Inventory

In the next step you will determine what parts can be reused and what parts will need to be replaced. This is the best time to look at your budget for your classic car restoration task. This is a lot easier than it looks. Sort your parts into two categories: Repair & Replace. Go through the replace box and mark down every part in it on any notes under the replace column. Do the same thing for the repair parts and place them on your any notes under the repair column. Now you have a view of what you need and what you have. This part of the classic car restoration task might seem dull but it should return a handsome 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 better method is known as acid dipping but you will need to check to see if it's available in your area. This type of stripping doesn't leave sand in every gap of your car like sand blasting. Acid dipping removes a lot of foreign substances, such as paint and rust.

Evaluation

During the appraisal 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. Now take a sharpie marker and mark all the spots that need to be repaired or replaced. In this way you will determine if your car is a keeper or if it is a pile of metal when completed. Take your time to ensure you have identified 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 done you can move on to the easier tasks. Once your vintage car is finished to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to spread 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 finished you can glaze the car. After glazing has dried the first layer of primer paint can be applied. The priming process will tell you how even your classic car looks finished so it is important to do it right the first time around.

Prep & Sand

Now you will need to prepare the car for paint and sealer after the dust has been removed off 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 see before moving on. Applying 600 grit wet paper will help you get that hazy mirror effect. Your prep work is now complete and now you can apply the sealer.

Now that your vintage car restoration is finished you can cruise around to display all your hard work and have a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

Classic Car Restoration

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