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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 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 at and where the new parts should be positioned. When taking the parts of the car you will need to situate them in an orderly manner so you can locate them again if you need them. Plastic boxesCardboard containers come in very usefully at this point. Labeling the parts is a great way of remembering where they go, what they do, and what they are called in case you need to purchase a newer part. Never throw away the parts until the car is completed as you might need them again at some point.

Tear Down

The second 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 a lot of 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

During this step you will find out what parts can be reused and what parts will need to be replaced. This is the ideal time to determine your budget for your classic car restoration task. This is much easier than it might sound. 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 place them on your any notes under the repair column. Now you have an idea of what you might need and what you don't need. This part of the classic car restoration task 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 known as acid dipping but you will need to determine if it's available in your area. This form of stripping doesn't leave sand in every crevice of your car like sand blasting. Acid dipping removes a lot of foreign substances, such as paint and rust.

Evaluation

While during the evaluation 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 most situations there will also be rust holes and dents. Take a sharpie marker and mark all the areas that should to be replaced or repaired. In this way you will determine whether your classic car is a beauty or whether it is a pile of metal when completed. Take your time to make certain you have identified all the problem areas. Of course, once the car is painted you can not undo the project.

Body Work & Final Prime Coat

Start with the hardest tasks of getting the dents out and removing or repairing the rust spots. Once this is done you can move on to the less arduous tasks. Once your classic car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to spray the final body coat until it is just above level. Before 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 coat of primer paint can be applied. The prime coat will tell you how silky smooth your vintage car looks as finished product so it is very important to do it correct the first time around.

Prep & Sand

Now you will need to prep the car for paint and sealer once the dust has been removed from the car. Although it is an extra process, 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 help you 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 complete after this and now 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