April 15, 2008

Classic Car Restoration

Classic car restoration is a huge 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 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 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 take them off so you know where they were at and where the new parts should be positioned. When taking the parts of the auto you will need to situate them in a neat mode so you can find them again if and when need them. Plastic cartons come in real handy at this point. Labeling the parts is a wonderful method of keeping track of where they go, what they do, and what they are labeled 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. Start at one end and work your way down the car until you reach the end. This process will take some time as you should take pictures on a continual basis. The pictures will be what the auto 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 ideal time to finalize your budget for your classic car restoration task. This is much easier than it sounds. Sort your parts into 2 categories: Replace & Repair. Go through the replace box and mark down every part in it on any notes under the replace column. Now do the same thing for the repair parts and put them on your any notes under the repair column. By now you should have a picture of what you need and what you don't need. This part of the classic car restoration process may seem boring 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 identified as acid dipping but you will need to check to see if it's offered in your area. This form of stripping doesn't leave sand in every cranny of your car like sand blasting. Acid dipping removes a lot of foreign substances, such as paint and rust.

Evaluation

During the evaluation period, you will evaluate what needs to be accomplished. 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 identify all the spots that need to be replaced or repaired. In this way you will find out whether your classic car is a beauty or whether it is a pile of metal when finished. Take your time to make certain you have identified all the trouble spots. 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 removing or repairing the rust spots. Once this is finished you can move on to the smaller jobs. Once your classic car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to spread the last body coat until it is just above level. Before it is completely dry you will take 80 grit paper to along these problem areas. Once this is complete you can glaze the car. When the glazing has dried the first layer of primer paint can be applied. The prime coat will resolve how smooth your car looks finished so it is crucial to do it right the first time around.

Prep & Sand

Now you will need to prep the car for paint and sealer once the dust has been removed off the car. Although it is an extra step, it is best 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 now complete and you can apply the sealer.

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

Classic Car Restoration