Car Restoration

by Dan Farrell

Car restoration is one activity that will leave you with a high sense of accomplishment. It is a hobby that requires dedication, time and money. Fords and Chevy's are the two models that are the easiest to start with as there are always parts available as the need arises.

Before any car restoration you will need to organize your shop for the project. Gather the supplies needed such as a camera, a few cardboard boxes, a sharpie and some tags for labels. It is important to keep track of the parts that are taken off sooner rather than later. When it is time to take the car apart you need to determine what needs to be replaced and what needs to be repaired. With this type of organization you will ensure you are not wasting parts during the car restoration process.

Take inventory of the parts as you remove them by dividing them into two individual boxes labeled replace and repair. Take pictures of them as you do this so you know what the car will look like, before and after. This process will also assist you in determining how much the cost will be and how long it will take you to complete the car restoration.

After you have your parts removed you can start the cleaning process. The cleaning process of the car restoration requires the car be reduced to bare metal. There are several ways to do this but you need to find the one you are most comfortable with. The easiest way is to have the car dipped in acid. This removes dust, rust, and other foreign materials.

You will be able to view the damage the car has been through once it is stripped. You could find rust holes, damaged floorboards, and dents. Do not despair! Even if the car didn't look bad when you bought it you must realize that this car has had a full eventful life. You want to extend it's life right? So get busy and take that Sharpie to mark all the things that either require replacing or repairing.

Now it's time to patch up all those dents, holes, and other areas in order to get ready for sanding. You will use several grades of sandpaper throughout the sanding process starting with 36 to 80. Once you have finished this step you are now ready to apply the glazing. Begin with 220 wet grit sandpaper and advance to 800 wet grit sandpaper. This will leave your car with a hazy mirror image and also provide a preventative measure against scratches.

Your car restoration is finished! You are now ready to show off your beautiful car to the neighborhood with well earned pride.

For All The Essential Information On Car Restoration go to: car restoration stories

Published March 30th, 2008

Filed in Hobby