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 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 need 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 placed. When taking the parts of the auto you will need to situate them in a neat fashion so you can find them again when need them. Plastic cartons come in real handy at this point. Sorting the parts is a wonderful method of keeping track of where they go, what they do, and what they are labeled just in case buy 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 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 quite a bit of time as you should take pictures on a continuous basis. The pictures will remind you of what the vehicle looked like before the part was taken off and then after the part was removed.

Inventory

In the next 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. Sort your parts into 2 categories: Repair & Replace. 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. By now have a view of what you need and what you don't need to buy. This part of the classic car restoration job may seem monotonous but it most likely 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 see if it's offered in your area. This type 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

While during the assessment period, you will evaluate what needs to be accomplished. 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 situations there will also be holes and dents. Now take a sharpie marker and mark all the areas that need to be replaced or repaired. In this way you will identify whether your vintage car is a keeper or whether it is a pile of metal when completed. Take your time to make sure you have found all the problem areas. Of course, once the car is painted you can not undo the project.

Body Work & Final Prime Coat

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 lighter tasks. Once your vintage car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to spray the last 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 finished you can glaze the car. When the glazing has dried the first layer of primer can be applied. The prime coat will tell you how silky smooth your classic car looks as finished product so it is crucial to do it correct the first time around.

Prep & Sand

You will need to prepare the car for paint and sealer once the dust has been removed from 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 even 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 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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