3: Before you start out

Do you know how to take a classic car apart and put it back together? What about an engine? Do you know where the interior parts of the car belong? Do you have a good understanding about how they work? What about the body of a car? Do you know how to strip off the previous paint work and repaint it? Can you explain how to fix car seats? 

These and many more are some of what should be known if you intent restoring your classic car. It may feel overwhelming; you need to take it bit by bit. Good enough all the information you need can be found on the internet or in books. Just show enthusiasm. An old riddle asks” how do you eat an elephant” the answer is not hard “one bite at a time.” That is the best way to tackle issues like classic car restoration. The genuine love for classic cars and the zest to learn are all that you need. 

A vital point to keep in mind before embarking on this project is where the classic car will be stored. More often than not, it will be your garage, because that is where the whole process will take place. If you do not have a garage and you intend making use if he driveway in your home, make sure you verify with the building code administrator to know whether this is allowed. In some residential areas, cars are not permitted to be displayed on blocks which is where you will park your car most of the time.

You will make use of basic mechanic tools as well as power stripper. As you progress, other tools might be needed to work the chasis. You can rent some tools such as power sander from auto stores: they might be expensive to purchase. It might also be good to rub minds with people who have restored cars before, asides picking their brains, you can also borrow tools. 

The moment you decide on the kind of classic car you want to fix, learn everything that can be learnt about it. You’ll get manuals easily on e bay or online auction sites . You might have the classic car, but not the manual. You might just be lucky to la your hand son what you need to rebuild an engine. This is a chore in itself but can be aced if you go online. 

If you have not taken any course in he workings of classic cars, this might just b the time to do hat, prior to when you embark on your project. There is the chance that if you intent doing the thing on your own, you would already be an authority when it come s to cars!

What kind of classic car do you want to restore? Restoring an old model and a 1960 muscles car are two different things. You ll find out that parts are easier to find for later model cars than the old ones. Your first project should be on a cr that ll not cost you so much as you get a hang of the craft, you ll progress to bigger projects. Below are some of the things you must know before starting a car renovation project of your own. 

The coat of the car. If the car is a family heirloom and you want to fix it out of sentiment that is a good way to begin. 

Since majority believe classic cars are just classic cars that have done their time over the years, for instance the 1950 Chews, people are still interested in reinstating classic cars; not for their value, but for the memories the cars give them. 

If you intend restoring a classic car of your own, below are some other things that might be of help: 

The state of the car; some cars have floors that need replacement. At times, the car can  go to pieces if the floor has disintegrated, you would not like to expend much time and money on a project that is not worth it. Have the car inspected by a professional and let them identify what is really wrong before you start at  all. It might be expensive, but it is definitely worth it especially if you are purchasing the car for restoration.  

If you make up your mind to purchase a classic car for restoration purposes, be careful of “deals”. Some cars have so much disintegrated that nobody wants to touch them. As a starter in the classic car restoration business, do something very easy, just to get a hang of the whole thing. As you progress, in the classic car renovation business, you can embark on  larger and more sophisticated   projects 

Itemize all the things that need to be replaced and repaired. Examine the chassis. The floor of a car might cost an arm and a leg to replace. Check if he floor is still in good shape, due to rust. An old joke says “The only thing holding this car together is rust” This is a fallacy, rust ll only cause the car to disintegrate. Small areas of rust can be managed, but if the whole floor has been affected, the projects will cost a lot of money. 

Find out the places where you ll get he parts for the restoration. Begin to surf the internet for components of classic cars. Thanks to the internet, you can get almost anything, if you look well. 

Draw a reasonable budget to finance your project. It will likely be  continuous one so a monthly allocation might suffice o curb excesses. Above all, remember that this is your first project, it might not turn out as perfect  you would want it. Give yourself a break and understand that not many people turn out masterpieces on their first attempts. who knows Picasso did bad on his first attempt too . Bottom line, keep at it, you ll get better.   

In conclusion, by having a good hold on what you want to achieve an idea of the cost and how the final product will be, you should be ready to tart out on your classic car restoration.