I just purchased a 66 Coupe/v6. It needs A LOT of work starting with floor pan replacement, quarter panels, radiator, electrical, Bucket seats, carburetor, amongst other things(I have yet to find)...With a restore, where should I start? I've read articles that say start with the body and work your way in, but that seems crazy to me. All the sheet metal work makes sense, but why would I get it ready to paint if it doesn't even run? what would you do first? Second and third? Where do I start? Where do I finish?

Thanks!

 

I guess it would all depends on how you want the car to be. If you are going to do a proper restore then I would strip it, have it media blasted, then start all you metal work, prep engine compartment, paint body, put in engine,electrical, and finally finish interior.

Thats just me though. I'm sure others have different steps they follow.

 

Yep, that's the short version, but it about sums it up.

A proper restoration starts with the car being completely disassembled. It makes no sense to get the engine running only to remove it and then sit it aside for a year or ten while you fix and ready the body.

Dave

 

With a unibody car, the sheet metal, frame rails and suspension form the "foundation" if you have floor pan "issues" you very likely have issues with frame and suspension mounting points. Like building a house you have to start with a solid foundation or everything else is pointless. Takes time, patience and$$$. Ain't like those shows on tv where they seem to restore a car in two or three thirty minute episodes. But if your a true "car guy", it's worth it , you'll have something you can't buy in any showroom. By the way, unless someone did a radical swap what you have is an I(inline)six, not a v-six,these are great torquey, old engines and can deliver mileage in the mid twenties if that's an issue for you, if you have money to burn and a yen for horsepower, go for a big block. Good luck!

 

Is it really restorable? With enough money anything can be done, but.... will it cost more than the car would be worth?

I suggest you get a few estimates from some restoration shops. Understand the total scope of this project. How much work can you do yourself? What is your total budget?

Nothing is worse than the money pit. '$12K invested, for sale for $6K - plenty of parts to be assembled....'

Not to discourage you - just to help you make a good decision.

 

Classics don't come with V6s. They did come with I6s.

 

Pat attention to Davesanborn's comment. "a year or Ten"

for real, i have all the money to complete my car the way i want. it is time that i dont have. Also being single really helps to get these projects finished. you may wanna sacrifice your wife if you have one. It will speed up the project.

 

Not only will it speed it up time wise, it would help you with the budget for the project as well, provided she doesn't take you to the cleaners in divorce court.

 

LOL!

Definitely start with the sheetmetal. A house is only as good as the foundation. I half-a**ed the body on mine about 7 years ago and guess what I'm doing right now? It worked out in that I got to work out a lot of the suspension/mechanical changes I wanted to make, but it would have been more cost effective if I had done it right the first time. Just my$.02.

 

Unless its a "A" or "K" code car, We have better cars out there than what your starting with, structurally. I would scrap it and get a better unit before I'd throw all that money at it.