[Roadsters] restoration

[Mark Dent]

I guess the main question is it depends on what the final goal is.  If it is a
fully restored car that can get expensive, especially if paying someone else.
If you want a very, very nice car, a body on refresh can accomplish that.  Can
you do any work yourself? Is it a good running, driving car now? How is the
body?

I am going to assume it is a good driving car that is a little tired and needs
a little body work and give you my suggestions from there.  Also remember you
see all of the flaws of your own car, no one else does.  Most people just see
a cool old car.

The main thing is to have a plan, and a budget before you start.  Here is my
version of a budget "refresh"

Winter months:

One of the most important things is to keep it a running car as long as you
can while taking it apart, just to make it easy to move around.

I would strip all of the exterior trim, chrome and bits.  I would also take
out most of the interior.  This is so the car can be painted.  Painting is
more in the prep, not the actual painting.  There are plenty of body guys that
will do side work, try an ad on craigslist to find one.  Hopefully they can do
it on the weekend, at your place, for cash.  Leave the drivetrain in at this
point.

Once that is done find a shop that does paint jobs, not just insurance work.
I am completely serious when I say a quickie paint place can do a good job of
painting a stripped car.  I have seen cars with $200 paint jobs that look
great because there was nothing to mask around or prep, it was just shoot
paint.  Have them do the car, trunk, door jambs, and back side of hood, not
the engine bay (remember the motor is in)  Picking a common color helps when
you go to do the engine bay (a few steps from now)

One big issue is the chrome parts.  The problem becomes when you chrome some
and not others.  Either get a good grill, bumpers, headlight scoops and lights
and polish them so they are all the same caliber, or you need to get it all
chromed.  New bumpers and old headlight scoops will look odd.  New gaskets
(and lenses if needed) for the tail lights work wonders. A good set of tail
lights, polished with new gaskets, are usually close enough.

Buy a complete interior kit from one of the vendors.  Easy way to get the
interior back to being nice.

After you get the car back from paint, put the interior kit in and assemble
the rest of the body bits (chrome, trim, grill, etc.)

It will probably be summer by now.

Drive the car for the season.

Next winter:

Pull the drivetrain from the car being careful not to mess up your new paint!

Strip down the engine bay, pull master cylinders, lines and wiring.

paint as much of the frame as you can with black frame paint, brushing it on
is fine.  Get as close of a match of the cars paint in spray cans, ones from
auto parts stores work best.  Close works, once all of the stuff is back in no
one will notice.  Most people do not realize that cars usually do not have the
same paint under the hood.  Don't believe it? go look under the hood of any
car in your driveway.  Mask off the fenders and frame and spray the engine bay
to match.

Refresh the motor as much as you would like, usually paint and polish will be
enough.

Reassemble.

That's it.  At that point you will have a very nice vintage car for a
reasonable cost. One that you can just enjoy for years.

I see the budget as follows:

Painting: Figure $2000 total for some body prep and paint, remember it's not a
show car. Seriously, the quick $300 jobs can look great with new interior, new
chrome, etc.
Interior:  Dean has a kit for $1100 for everything except the dash. Dash is
$350, so lets say $1600 in case you need a few odds and ends.
Chrome: If your rear tail light chrome is good, you can get gaskets and lenses
for about $100.  All new lights and reflectors for $375 or so.  Bumpers,
headlight scoops and grill, figure $1000 in chrome so say $1500 if it needs it
all.

At this point you will have a car with new paint, interior, and chrome for
$5100 and some time.  That is if it all needs to be replaced.  I would do it
that way.  New paint can make a worn interior look worse, so at the minimum I
would do paint and interior.  New paint and interior with new taillight
lenses, door handle and tail light  gaskets and polished up chrome can look
great also so it can be done for less.

Good luck.

Mark













On Oct 15, 2011, at 8:08 PM, Gary wrote:

> I'm thinking about doing a body off restoration of my 1967 SPL311, but am
> afraid the costs will get out of hand after get in too deeply to quit.  Any
> suggestions? GaryG
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