Classic car restoration is a huge ordeal, but if it's tackled in the right way 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 project. You will require a camera, a place for the parts, and a labeling system. It is best 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 placed. When taking the parts of the auto you will need to situate them in an orderly fashion so you can locate them again if you need them. Plastic cartons come in very usefully at this point. Cateloging the parts is a great method of remembering where they go, what they do, and what they are named in case you need to 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 2nd step 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 will need to take pictures on a continual basis. The pictures will consist 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 determine what parts can be reused and what parts will need to be replaced. This is the best time to determine your budget for your classic car restoration project. 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 to buy. This part of the classic car restoration procedure may seem repetitive but it very well could return a 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 method is known as acid dipping but you will need to see if it's available 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

During the assessment period, you will calculate what needs to be completed. 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 repaired or replaced. This process will determine if your vehicle is a keeper or if it is a pile of metal when finished. Take your time to ensure you have identified all the problem areas. Of course, once the car is painted you can not go back.

Body Work & Final Paint

Start with the hardest job of removing the dents out and removing or repairing the rust spots. Once this is complete you can move on to the lighter jobs. Once your vintage car is finished to 36 or 40 grit paper, it is time to spread the final body coat until it is just above level. Before it is completely dry you will take 80 grit paper to along those spots. Once this is complete you can glaze the car. When the glazing has dried the first coat of primer can be applied. The priming process will resolve how smooth your vintage car looks after all else so it is critical to do it correct the first time .

Prep & Sand

You will need to prep the car for paint and sealer after the dust has been removed from the car. Even though it is an extra step, 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 complete before moving on. Applying 600 grit wet paper will help you achieve that hazy mirror effect. Your prep work is now complete and now you can apply the sealer.

Now that your vintage 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