Restoring a classic car can be a difficult but extremely rewarding experience. If you're attempting your first restoration project with the help of some mechanically-minded friends, there are three tips you'll want to follow.
Only Repair What You Need To
Not all restored classic cars are created equal. Before you start any restoration project, sit down and decide exactly what you hope to accomplish by the end. If your goal is simply to restore the vehicle to a driving state, you may not need to do much more than fix a few mechanical issues and apply a new coat of paint. For instance, if you are just repairing the car for driving purposes, one of the most important aspects you'll have to address is the addition of power steering. If you are just planning on showing the car at shows, you can leave that manual steering in place.
If you're hoping to have your car judged at a street or formal car show, you'll have to commit to addressing all of the car's cosmetic issues first and foremost; and, you'll need to prepare to order more expensive parts that are in like-new condition. You may want to talk with a place like Ray Donch Body Werks Inc for more restoration tips.
Choose The Right Paint
For serious classic car restorers, there are few things more important than a quality coat of paint. But it's not just that the paint needs to be long-lasting; classic cars that are sold off to collectors fetch top dollar bids only if they have the right type of paint. That's because older cars - especially ones manufactured before the 1950s - were painted using a nitrocellulose lacquer, rather than the shiny multi-stage urethane paints applied today. Sure, it's expensive and often a hassle to locate vendors that supply nitrocellulose paint, but for those that are looking to delve head-on into classic car restoration, the end results are worth it.
Pay Attention To Details
Many people who restore classic cars as a hobby are detail oriented in everything that they do. But keep in mind that even if you obtain all the right parts, you can just as easily ruin them by not detailing them properly. For example, if you use a pressure washer to clean parts under the hood, make sure that the washer's pressure is set to "low." Forgetting to do so could ruin good parts in a blink of the eye. Also make sure to avoid silicone spray under the hood altogether, as it is often responsible for damaging basic electronic components in older cars.
Share14 August 2015
When I graduated from college, I was able to purchase my first car. After much searching for the perfect vehicle, I selected a white sedan. This car has always been special to me because I earned the money to pay for it by myself. I even still own it. However, because it’s 13 years old now, it really needs to be painted. Instead of hiring someone to repaint it white, I’m considering trying something different. I would like to have a professional paint it either black or silver. On this blog, you will discover how to give an older vehicle a new look by hiring someone to paint it a different color.
