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 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 restoration. 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 positioned. When taking the parts of the vehicle you will need to put them in a neat fashion so you can locate them again if and when need them. Cartons come in real handy at this point. Labeling the parts is a great way of remembering where they go, what they do, and what the parts are called in case you need to buy a new part. Never throw away the parts until the car is finished as you might need them again at some point.

Tear Down

The 2nd step to classic car restoration is to tear down the car in sections. Start 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 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 best time to determine your budget for your classic car restoration task. This is much easier than it sounds. Sort your parts into two categories: Replace & Repair. Go through the replace box and mark down every part in it on any notepad under the replace column. Now do the same thing for the repair parts and put them on your any notepad under the repair column. Now you have an idea of what you need and what you don't need to buy. This part of the classic car restoration process might seem tedious but it very well could 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 way is identified 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 assessment period, you will calculate 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 changed out, and in many cases there will also be holes and dents. Now take a sharpie marker and identify all the spots that should to be replaced or repaired. In this way you will find out if your vintage car is a beauty or if it is a pile of metal when completed. Take your time to ensure you have found all the problem spots. Of course, once the car is painted you can not go back.

Body Work & Final Paint

Begin with the hardest job of removing the dents out and filling the rust spots. Once this is complete you can move on to the easier jobs. Once your vintage car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to spread 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 problem areas. Once this is complete you can glaze the car. When the glazing has dried the first layer of paint can be applied. The priming process will resolve how silky smooth your classic car looks as finished product so it is critical to do it right the first time around.

Prep & Sand

You will need to prepare the car for paint and sealer once the dust has been removed off the car. Although 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 complete after this 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