This will be my first restore and just not sure where the best place to start is. I do know i want to modify the suspension and engine the interior will pretty much stay original. I do have the original engine but not sure what kind of power i can get out of it. The body is the main challenge and am looking for a shop that can do the best work in the Houston area, I have found 1 that looks promising. So where do i start body, engine, suspension.


Plans are to get the body right
rebuild and modify 289 (would like to supercharge it) open to suggestions I would like to get 350hp or more (or should i just buy a crate or build one) either way im keeping the original
maier suspension (open to suggestions)
upgrade brakes (not sure who has the best product)
Upgrade steering
Add A/C

this was my fathers first car and was his baby for many years but he let it sit up for so long its in bad shape but it means alot to me and my father So all info is appreciated. I will post updates
Thanks

 

here are some pics It,s not pretty!

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff92/janthonyrod/

 

My opinion:

1. body work with out paint
2. suspension mods and brake mods at least test fit
3. body paint
3,5 . do engine
4. bolt all new/rebuilt parts in the rolling body and enjoy

 

ktm is right fix the rust get the body straight. keep a list of what you want to do and a realisct budget.

 

If it were me I would strip everything, chrome, drivetrain, interior, windows, everthing, and get the whole car sandblasted. I did this to the outside and inside of my car (didnt' remove drivetrain though) and the results are great, and not tooo expensive either. It will expose all the problems at once, and remove rust, paint, bondo and all that. Great alternative to sandint it with a D/A sander.

After sandblasting put on a nice coat of EPOXY primer and go fromt here. The epoxy primer is expensive, depending, but it seals itself (doesn't absorb moisture), can be used with any other primer, and will help prevent rust. Then from there you can work at the body at your own pace.

While you do the body work what I would do is get the engine and rest of the drivetrain in order. Rebuild whatever necessary, whatever mods necessary for your needs/wants. Then paint the engine bay and undercarrage a nice semi-flat black and plop it all in when ready. Some people do other stuff with the undercarrage like undercoating, however I havn't done anything yet lol. Get the outside painted, possibly before u put in the drivetrain, then work on brake upgrades, getting it running, etc. I would do the interior last.

Everyone does things differently, and I did not do mine like this but wish I had. First I got my car running (engine rebuild), then tranny needed a rebuild, then I drove it around a little. But then summer came along so I tore out the inside and outside of the car and sent it to a sandblaster, now its in the bodyshop being worked on. While its there I am idealy getting/restoring as many parts as I can so I have them ready when I get my car back from the bodyshop.

just my 2 cents

good luck,
David

 

The first thing to do is to take the drivetrain out of the car. Then, if you are going to have a body shop do the work on the body, take it to them. While the body shop is working on the body, overhaul the engine, tranny and rear. If you are going to do the body work yourself, make sure the drivetrain is out of the dust.

 

I did suspension, brakes, suspension, transmission, light engine, rewire,A/Cand the interior is next. I still have body work/paint and major engine work. If I had it to do over, and the space, I would strip the car and do body work first. I thought it would be a rolling resto, but has turned in to the never ending, and almost never driving project. Next one, I strip and start from there.

 

I bought mine and put it on a trailer home. Got the motor running that night drove it down the block and back then stripped it bare and sand blasted. working on all the swiss cheese and will undercoat. Will put new suspension under it to get it off the rotisserie. Once on the ground do all my body work that is left then paint and am putting the motor off till last. I figure if the motor is last I wont be tempted to drive it while it is half done.