A couple of years behind you,and a couple of years behind you. The aim is a stock restoration .
It's a '54.
Holy Ape Shit! A '54 Chevy
RIGHT side drive! Very cool.
My advice for anyone that is attempting or taking on a restoration of their own ON their own.....1.
Money is not an issue. OK, obviously it is, but you have to make it so it's not. Basically, plan on spending a few years acquiring the necessary parts for the restoration. Utilize and restore what you can, but spend whatever it takes to do the job right and save your receipts. And do yourself a favor and don't add them up. You don't want your wife to find out anyways.
2.
Take Your Time! Chances are that whatever restoration you are taking on, the vehicle has sat in the weeds or a garage/shed for over a decade or 2. It's not going to happen overnight, but with a little work here and there, it will slowly come together before your eyes. Don't rush yourself! You have a diamond in the rough, so don't turn the vehicle into a small piece of quartz by cutting corners. Do it right.
3.
DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! There are 3 target areas of a restoration: Body & Paint, Mechanical, and Interior. Before you start on the project, evaluate what areas are important to you and where you want to put your money. Some people it's important to have a full restoration, others it's only important to go fast, some just want shiny paint while others want a nice interior and slamming stereo system. Decide what works best for you and what YOU want to see into the car. Also, part of doing your research is also making sure you are doing the job
right. There is an unlimited amount of information between google and youtube. Utilize your resources to make sure you are tackling your tasks correctly and efficiently.
4.
Make It You. Unless you plan on doing a 100% original resto, make your new ride reflect who you are as a rider/hot rodder. More than likely you are restoring this car for yourself and possibly plan to pass it down to your kids, so make the car reflect who you are, what you stand for and your passion and love for building the ride. Small things can really stick out, like adding fuzzy dice to the rear view mirror, adding a chrome badge/emblem OR removing some chrome and smoothing the car out, or even adding embroidered "Bowtie" or 2 to the interior. Be creative and keep your mind open. Listen to friends and family, sometimes someone else may
see something that you haven't.
5.
HAVE FUN!!! There
WILL be times and days where the project just frustrates the hell out of you. On these days, hang up the gloves and wait to fight another day. Working on the project frustrated not only takes the fun out of what you're doing, it also opens the door to mistakes. Keep calm and collected and only work on the project when you are in the right mind set. Remember, the vehicle isn't going anywhere, take your time and only work on it when you
want to. Also, it's great to get your family and friends involved if they are motivated to help out, especially your kids. Not only is it a great way to bond, but everyone feels a little involved and your making progress on the project.
So Remember: Be Informed, Be Patient, and Have Fun!
Scottie
Topic: The Beast Is Almost Done! (Read 4596 times)