Vintage Car Restoration and Classic Mustang Restoration How To

Classic car restoration is a big 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 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 at and where the new parts should be positioned. When taking the parts of the auto you will need to situate them in an orderly mode so you can find them again when need them. Plastic boxes come in very usefully at this point. Sorting the parts is a wonderful way of remembering where they go, what they do, and what they are called just in case 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 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 some time as you will need to 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

During this 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. Arrange your parts into two categories: Replace & Repair. Go through the replace box and mark down every part in it on your notepad under the replace column. Do the same thing for the repair parts and put them on your your notepad under the repair column. By now have an idea of what you need and what you don't need. This part of the classic car restoration process might seem repetitive but it will 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 best way 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 many of foreign substances, such as paint and rust.

Evaluation

While during the evaluation period, you will evaluate what needs to be done. 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 holes and dents. Now take a sharpie marker and identify all the areas that should to be replaced or repaired. This process will find out whether your car is a beauty or whether it is a pile of metal when finished. Take your time to make certain you have found all the problem areas. Once the car is painted you can not undo the project.

Body Work & Final Paint

Start with the hardest job of removing the dents out and filling the rust spots. Once this is done you can move on to the easier jobs. Once your vintage car is done to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to paint the last and final body coat until it is just above level. Before completely dry you will take 80 grit paper to smooth these problem areas. Once this is complete you can glaze the car. After glazing has dried the initial layer of primer can be applied. The priming process will determine how even your classic car looks finished so it is critical to do it right the first time around.

Prep & Sand

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 process, 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 achieve that dull shine that you want to see 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 vintage car restoration is complete you can cruise around to display all your hard work and have a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

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