Restoration Tip From Forum Members

[chargervert]

Buy the best most complete and solid car you can within your budget. If you are not finding this within your budget,wait and save up more money and buy a better car. Rare missing parts and extensive rust repairs can have you upside down in a project car in no time flat!

 

[1967coronet]

When you DYI the body and paint remember you can not get things to clean.
Wipe down with a good grease and wax remover each step of the way.

 

[chargervert]

Not every car needs a date coded OEM restoration. Some rare examples may warrant this,but a decent driver Mopar can be a lot more fun,and less stressful to enjoy!

 

[Moparfiend]

If you run into a problem sometimes it’s better to stop and walk away and think it through. Plowing ahead hastily to get it done quickly often leads to wasted time and regret. If the FSM doesn’t help ASK FOR HELP HERE. The members here and FABO are very knowledgeable and the majority want to help and see you succeed in your vision.

 

[themechanic]

And don't put an ignition coil in the same box with bags labeled with a sharpie. It could leak oil an erase all the labeling.

I use a Sharpie on the outside of the bag and a paper list written in pencil on the inside of the bag. Don't forget to include quantities of each part/pieces.

Example: Oil pan bolts (20 each)

 

[XS22J8R]

When buying a carpet, unbox it and roll it out on the floor somewhere right after it’s delivered. Repro carpets more often than not are made to order, so when you receive it, it’s only been rolled up and folded up in its shipping box for a few days. If you get it laid out flat, or install it right away after getting it, there’s little time for creases or lumps to set in the carpet.
ECS used to sell carpets laid flat for a premium price and higher shipping costs, but that extra cost could be saved by buying them direct from ACC and doing what I describe.
They don’t sell those laid flat carpets anymore anyway.

 

[themechanic]

When buying a carpet, unbox it and roll it out on the floor somewhere right after it’s delivered. Repro carpets more often than not are made to order, so when you receive it, it’s only been rolled up and folded up in its shipping box for a few days. If you get it laid out flat, or install it right away after getting it, there’s little time for creases or lumps to set in the carpet.
ECS used to sell carpets laid flat for a premium price and higher shipping costs, but that extra cost could be saved by buying them direct from ACC and doing what I describe.
They don’t sell those laid flat carpets anymore anyway.

Don't buy carpet sets direct from ACC unless you need a custom order or like paying more than you will spend at RockAuto.com for the same thing.

In addition, you can buy from RockAuto.com and call ACC to have them ship the carpet without gluing the insulation to it. It is easier to install that way and has less wrinkles. The insulation gets bunched up in odd places when it's glued on in the steam press when it's molded to fit your car.

 

[icetech]

You guys are killing me with the labeling stuff... i know all these tips and never follow them.. this is why most of my stuff is "In a safe place" that i can't find cause it's soo safe

 

[WileE]

And don't put an ignition coil in the same box with bags labeled with a sharpie. It could leak oil an erase all the labeling.

That's why you put the note inside the bag.

 

[Runcharger]

Stop blowing apart a decent car on a weekend and thinking you have started the restoration process. Take an assembly off, restore it and store it for reassembly. Then take another assembly off and repeat. By the time you get the car torn down you have it 1/3 of the way and you're still excited to start the next process.
Most guys that tear a car totally apart will not complete it and then the process of selling it to a number of same minded newbies will happen, it will be apart for years, parts will get lost and the project will never get put back together let alone correctly.
Oh, and don't look for the cheapest body and paint guy and tell him to put it on the backburner as you aren't in a hurry. Give him a timeline, keep up your end on the money and hold him to the timeline, you know like your employer does with you or you get fired. Same principle.

 

[Moparfiend]

Keep all the parts in one place. Scatting parts all over your garage is a recipe for disappointment.

 

[themechanic]

Have a good system for tracking parts ordered; cost, date ordered, received date, on backorder, etc. A spreadsheet, computer or hand written, comes in handy.

I thought I was doing pretty good until I ended up with 2 trunk seals somehow.

 

[Moparfiend]

^^^^ Also there is nothing that will stop your project cold more than waiting for a part.
Planning your job is really important. After COVID order processing manufacturing/procurement and shipping has gotten really long. Know your lead times and order appropriately ahead so that you’re not waiting on parts.

 

[CoronetDarter]

These are all great tips. My contribution: learn the search function on this site and use it extensively. I couldn't have restored the Coronet without reading and re-reading other member's posts.

 

[hanks73340]

very important for when you need to take a brake and think things over.....

and if you have any questions on something, log on to FBBO. These folks are the B-body of encyclopedias

 

[RJ Squirrel]

Christmas is here
Start whispering in her ear
While she sleeps, hints for your gift
I neeeed a liiiffftt I NEEEED A LIIIFFT

 

[eldubb440]

don't waste media blasting on metal you know is junk anyway........ cut it away first, and blast the stuff that is behind it

I cringe every time the TV guys send a car out to get media blasted, it comes back swiss cheese; and the parts that actually need to be blasted eventually get covered with por15 , maybe

I use the "blast as I go" method, so nothing gets missed

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Don’t buy restoration parts or anything for that matter using PayPal friends and family or Venmo where you have no recourse of getting your payment back.

 

[Moparfiend]

Your NOT done with your bodywork until you use your trim to test fitment after body work. This is especially true for any collision damage repair or major bodywork.
This is really important because if you don’t and you shoot the car only then to realize the bodywork is “off” just a little and you can’t get the chrome or other trim to fit! Your done for!

 

[Hey-O]

The best tip I can give anyone is to be realistic about the cost of your venture. My wife has a standing joke with me about anything I build. If I say it'll be around a couple thousand bucks, she's well aware it will be double. Don't get involved in something that ends up squeezing you death. Parts and budgets don't always line up. It's not fun anymore if you can afford to finish it and it turns into a lifelong dream spread out everywhere forever.