After decades of it standing in the yard, many have lofty ambitions of restoring grandpa s old Caddie before it falls to total disrepair. But the reality of following through on their desires could be a lot more pricey than even their most calculated estimates predict. Street rod chassis kits, one of the owners of a the expert in the subject, says he s typically required to put forth a minimum of one thousand hours per vehicle he restores. So, a beginner shouldn t become disheartened on hearing the job of refurbish vintage car, from beginning to completion, might last them no less than two thousand hours.
Which is why so many restoration jobs never reach completion. They re either stopped midway, or even at the very outset, once those involved become aware of the true burden it places on one s time and resources. Even with an enormous mound of cash set aside specifically for the task, it s impossible to predict the cost of finding all the vintage parts needed for the vehicle to become even a shadow of what it once was.
For example, the cost of restoring a six cylinder 65 Mustang is comparable to doing up a GT 350. In strictly monetary terms, that s like exchanging a hundred grand for twenty five. Because the price of acquiring the brake kits, gaskets, and weatherstripping, etc., will always be exorbitant in comparison to simply remodelling a newer model. So, unless the vehicle has some other inherent, perhaps sentimental, value, it s highly unlikely one will ever actually profit from its restoration.
But if time s on your side and money s no issue, it s good practice keeping both the inside and outside aspects of the project going at any given time. What that means is determining which parts of the project need to be left at the garage, and which could be hauled off to your workshop at home. So, if one s region endures particularly inhospitable winter months, for example, there s still the option of working on one s inside project from home.
For now, start on the trimmings. That would include components like the bumpers, side trims, panel trims, and any lettering. Care should be taken in verifying how the trims are held in place, whether with screws or clips, and that they re pried off in one piece. Having to replace antique trim can be an expensive endeavor, one best not undertaken unnecessarily.
Special attention should be paid when bundling and tagging the various trims. Most of them are almost identical in appearance and can be easily mistaken for each other, so taking pictures also aids in this endeavor. Remove the window trims can be amongst the most challenging to do. Naturally, one should start by removing the overlapping sections first. Also check for trim occasionally found under the door s weatherstrip.
Removing all the glass is what comes next. The fragile nature of glass makes it the most breakable aspect of vehicle disassembly. And while the windshields are usually easily replaceable, it s the side and vent windows that are more vehicle specific and harder to come by. Side windows are typically held in place by channel strips inside the doors that get lowered and raised by the window s opening mechanism.
The process detailed so far should give you a rough idea on how to get started with your planned refurbishment. The rear window is removed similar to the windshield. After that there s the side windows, vent windows, vehicle interior trimmings, the dash, and the drivetrain which would require some specialized tools especially for lifting out the engine, and so forth. Hopefully by now you realize your vintage car refurbishment won t get done overnight, so while its good to focus on the end result, for the time being, learn to enjoy the ride and it ll be a smoother and more enjoyable one for years to come.
Which is why so many restoration jobs never reach completion. They re either stopped midway, or even at the very outset, once those involved become aware of the true burden it places on one s time and resources. Even with an enormous mound of cash set aside specifically for the task, it s impossible to predict the cost of finding all the vintage parts needed for the vehicle to become even a shadow of what it once was.
For example, the cost of restoring a six cylinder 65 Mustang is comparable to doing up a GT 350. In strictly monetary terms, that s like exchanging a hundred grand for twenty five. Because the price of acquiring the brake kits, gaskets, and weatherstripping, etc., will always be exorbitant in comparison to simply remodelling a newer model. So, unless the vehicle has some other inherent, perhaps sentimental, value, it s highly unlikely one will ever actually profit from its restoration.
But if time s on your side and money s no issue, it s good practice keeping both the inside and outside aspects of the project going at any given time. What that means is determining which parts of the project need to be left at the garage, and which could be hauled off to your workshop at home. So, if one s region endures particularly inhospitable winter months, for example, there s still the option of working on one s inside project from home.
For now, start on the trimmings. That would include components like the bumpers, side trims, panel trims, and any lettering. Care should be taken in verifying how the trims are held in place, whether with screws or clips, and that they re pried off in one piece. Having to replace antique trim can be an expensive endeavor, one best not undertaken unnecessarily.
Special attention should be paid when bundling and tagging the various trims. Most of them are almost identical in appearance and can be easily mistaken for each other, so taking pictures also aids in this endeavor. Remove the window trims can be amongst the most challenging to do. Naturally, one should start by removing the overlapping sections first. Also check for trim occasionally found under the door s weatherstrip.
Removing all the glass is what comes next. The fragile nature of glass makes it the most breakable aspect of vehicle disassembly. And while the windshields are usually easily replaceable, it s the side and vent windows that are more vehicle specific and harder to come by. Side windows are typically held in place by channel strips inside the doors that get lowered and raised by the window s opening mechanism.
The process detailed so far should give you a rough idea on how to get started with your planned refurbishment. The rear window is removed similar to the windshield. After that there s the side windows, vent windows, vehicle interior trimmings, the dash, and the drivetrain which would require some specialized tools especially for lifting out the engine, and so forth. Hopefully by now you realize your vintage car refurbishment won t get done overnight, so while its good to focus on the end result, for the time being, learn to enjoy the ride and it ll be a smoother and more enjoyable one for years to come.
About the Author:
When you are searching for information about street rod chassis kits, come to our web pages today. More details are available at http://www.hotshoehotrods.com/chassis-parts.html now.
No comments:
Post a Comment