A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Restoring Classic Cars

Read up on everything you can read about your car. A decade ago, you would have a hard time finding which parts would fit a first-generation Charger. But since you now have the power of the Internet, you can easily research on which parts and options your classic car has.

You can also look for restoration stories. There are several classic car blogs and sites that feature restoration work on a certain car. Specific restoration acts are indispensable, so take the time to learn from these stories first.

Inspect your car thoroughly. Parts which are heavily rusted need to be replaced, as well as worn-down furniture. Check everything under the hood. Look for leaks, worn-out belts, and suspicious connections.

Another thing you need to do for inspection is to make a list of everything that needs to be replaced, repaired, or simply cleaned. By doing so, you will know what to buy and where to buy them.

Shop for non-mechanical parts like rear-view mirrors or seats at junkshops, or look for parts cars in online car auctions. For all the other parts, like the engine, brakes, carburetor, piston, and even the a/c system, you need to find unused stock parts. If you think your local shop does not have what you need, resort to online shops. Online car parts shops offer a wide variety, and would probably have what you are looking for.

Create a color scheme for your car. If you want to make your car really authentic, you simply need to find the original colors of the paint, not the brand of the paint itself. Find a shop that offers a variety of colors for your car.

Remember to do the paintjob last. You would not want to scratch your newly-painted car with a mishap while putting the engine in. Take care of the engine first. If you are not going to replace it, you still need to take it out in order to clean it and perform maintenance work.

If the seats need to be replaced, take them out. Since you will probably be hiring someone to re-upholster the seat, take care of all the other replacements and repairs. At this point, the car should be very light, since the seats and the engine would be taken out. Detach the tires too, and you'll get a car as light as air. In this way, you can start working on everything that's under the car without worrying too much about accidents.

Return everything that you have taken out or detached. Take the car for a test drive. Do this while the paint still stinks. This way, you can still take out the engine if it needs repairs. This will save you precious time in after-repairs and maintenance.

Now for the paintjob. Use old newspaper and cover everything that you don't want to have paint on--glass, mirrors, tires, and chrome parts. DO NOT just spray paint over the old one. Prep and prime it first, and spray the paint after. Use only one direction in spraying the paint, so you will have a completely even finish.

Your classic car is fully restored! Have a mechanic take a look, in case you missed some spots. Don't forget to enjoy your sweet ride.

If you don't have your own classic car, you are missing out on a lot of cool stuff. Better check out Classic Vehicle Auction for great listings of classic cars for sale.