Planning A full-blown Restoration/Restomod | Where should I start?

[John_parkeriv]

So I'm finally ready to completely redo my '66. I was originally going to do a frame off restoration, until I realized I had no where to put the body %)

I plan on doing just about everything from the suspension to the drivetrain and I don't know where to start. Anybody have any opinions or advice on where to start?

 

[Mikesimp70]

I'd say start by building a cart for that body.

 

[Mikesimp70]

As you pull parts, bag them and tag them. Lots of pictures and Video will help you later.

 

[MarsChariot]

I would consider leaving the body at a auto restoration/customizing shop, bring the frame and drive train back and do your thing on that while they deal with the body stuff. Would solve your space problem and focus your attention on the frame and drive train to your satisfaction. That is assuming your skills, like most of us, are in the mechanical end and less on the body end of things.

 

[JeepGuy]

So I'm finally ready to completely redo my '66. I was originally going to do a frame off restoration, until I realized I had no where to put the body %)

I plan on doing just about everything from the suspension to the drivetrain and I don't know where to start. Anybody have any opinions or advice on where to start?

If at all possible, do it in sections and in a manner that you can still drive it in between projects. Think one or two week sections. That all depends on how bad everything is obviously, but if you can drive it between repairs it will help keep you motivated...... this coming from a guy who decided to start simple about 7 years ago and it's still in pieces in the garage;D

 

[chuckyb]

I would consider leaving the body at a auto restoration/customizing shop, bring the frame and drive train back and do your thing on that while they deal with the body stuff. Would solve your space problem and focus your attention on the frame and drive train to your satisfaction. That is assuming your skills, like most of us, are in the mechanical end and less on the body end of things.

^^^This. It's not full blown unless the body is separated from the frame. Pictures and labeled parts bags are a good ideas. Also get some of those rubber totes so you can keep your parts and bags organized.

 

[fordguy]

Or store it in a rental place if you hav no room, build a cart.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I would start with a plan of what you want the final product to be.
Will this be a show car?
Weekend coffee runner?
Road trip?
Camping?
light trails?
Hard core trails?
High HP?

Put together a plan of what you really want it to be. What is going to have to go into to it to make the plan happen?

Just the body shop and paint can be a hard core discussion. I have an old fiberglass boat that came painted. I was restoring it (with a few updates) and had to have a serious discussion with the painter about how nice the paint was going to be when done. Look great at the dock, see flaws on the trailer was the level I was after. Clearly told them I plan to use the boat. I will be stepping on the paint at times getting it on/off the trailer, etc. That cut a LOT out of the paint job. It was fairly good when I dropped it off. They did a single high build primer and block sand before paint. Paint was sprayed, runs and nibs corrected. No cut and buff. To me this is a usable paint job. Looks great. Not afraid to use it. Cost probably a quarter of what it would have if I had a full show job done to it (still not cheap, but a 4-figure paint job and not a 5-figure paint job).

 

[PickleJar]

From my own experience...

I made mine road safe and enjoyed it for about 5 years. I did some suspesnion, exhaust, brake, and electrical clean up. Rebuilt the stock carb and cleaned out the fuel system.

Then I had to put it in storage for a while after that. I was continuing school, starting my career, getting married, buying a home, etc.

I started the offical resto in 2017. I'm hoping to be finished in another 18 months. It all depends on time, money, and space. How much you want to tackle vs. what you want to pay someone to do.

I like everyone's advice that was posted but I think the best advice is patience. Come up with a plan after doing plenty of research. Have a decent picture in your head of your final product. In the meantime, have some fun, stock up on some parts and when your ready, dig in.

My 2 cents...

 

[Madgyver]

If at all possible, do it in sections and in a manner that you can still drive it in between projects. Think one or two week sections. That all depends on how bad everything is obviously, but if you can drive it between repairs it will help keep you motivated...... this coming from a guy who decided to start simple about 7 years ago and it's still in pieces in the garage;D

This here.... Keep it running and enjoy it...

 

[ngsd]

Plan on twice as long and twice as much as expected. At least you will b closer to reality. There are a lot of build threads on here. Read them all. The experience this group has in invaluable. You will learn a lot with some investment in reading them start to finish. Watch the timelines and capabilities that each posses and that will get you pretty far down the road.

 

[Jax302]

If I were going to work on one for years I'd really want another one to enjoy while I did it. I eventually bought one completed. Now I'm thinking about getting a project Bronco to work on with my sons.

 

[John_parkeriv]

I would start with a plan of what you want the final product to be.
Will this be a show car?
Weekend coffee runner?
Road trip?
Camping?
light trails?
Hard core trails?
High HP?

Put together a plan of what you really want it to be. What is going to have to go into to it to make the plan happen?

Just the body shop and paint can be a hard core discussion. I have an old fiberglass boat that came painted. I was restoring it (with a few updates) and had to have a serious discussion with the painter about how nice the paint was going to be when done. Look great at the dock, see flaws on the trailer was the level I was after. Clearly told them I plan to use the boat. I will be stepping on the paint at times getting it on/off the trailer, etc. That cut a LOT out of the paint job. It was fairly good when I dropped it off. They did a single high build primer and block sand before paint. Paint was sprayed, runs and nibs corrected. No cut and buff. To me this is a usable paint job. Looks great. Not afraid to use it. Cost probably a quarter of what it would have if I had a full show job done to it (still not cheap, but a 4-figure paint job and not a 5-figure paint job).

Yeah, figuring out the end result is currently my biggest hurdle. One day I want a rig I can use as a daily driver, the next day I want more of a weekend cruiser, then a mild overlanding build! The basics revolve around lower horsepower but plenty of low end torque since anyway I'd use it, it'd live at low RPM's.

In terms of paint, I see that being the easy part. I work in a body shop, so paint and body work was a bit lower on the priority list. The rest is what I really need to figure out. I also need to know which order to do it in. I'd hate to order brake lines for a disk conversion, then need new lines for a lift kit or so on.

 

[chrlsful]

id what is there now (50 yrs PO);
research what the vehicle is capable of;
compare to what u want (id application & how to get there);
plan sequence of operations, budget (time/$) and acquire what's needed (prts);
Make a plan, stick 2 it till end (if not doing so = not enuff research in #2).
All pretty important esp w/a multipurpose (can go sideways easier than others)...