Auto restoration is the process by which the diminished areas of a car are restored back to their original condition. Most cases of auto restoration occur when someone has purchased an older vehicle and want to restore it to its original condition to either increase its value to be resold, or just as a hobby.
Auto restoration usually consists of 5 major steps.
• Disassembly
• Interior
• Exterior
• Engine
• Reassembly
Disassembly
The disassembly process can include the entire body frame and engine being removed from the car. This part of the auto restoration process is typically the longest because every aspect of the vehicle has to be examined to determine if it needs to be removed or repaired.
Often, many parts of the older vehicles have rusted and need to be stripped of their original paint and have the rust removed.
Interior
The interior of a car that’s being restored needs to have the seats repaired before being re-upholstered. That includes replacing the batting and the springs in the seats. Also the gauges and dashboard needs to be refined so that the car can have that “original” appearance.
Exterior
The most critical part of the auto restoration process is when the frame of the car is examined and repaired.
Typical problems with the frame are
• Straightness
• Twisting
• Alignment
• Rust Damage
• Mounting Point Condition
• Suspension
It’s usually a better investment into your auto restoration project to replace the entire frame of a car than to repair it if the damages are too great. Also, the panels of the car must be thoroughly checked for damage as well. The panels, like the body frame, are subject to rust damage. In addition, any panels damaged in a collision need to be repaired. Panels can be repaired if there is only minor damage, but significant damage usually means replacement time. Another option for someone who doesn’t want to replace the panels if there is moderate damage is to cut out and replace a section of the panels.
After the frame and panels have been repaired or replaced and aligned properly, painting becomes the next step. It is customary to individually paint each panel of the car so that there is no overspray on other panels, and so that the entire panel can get painted, opposed to just the visible parts.
Engine
The entire engine, and everything else under the hood, is examined from top to bottom. That includes the transmission, clutch, overdrive, and driveshaft must be inspected to ensure there stability. The engine will ultimately be your longest task in the auto restoration process because of the amount of parts and workings that exist under the hood of a car.
Parts of the engine that are specifically looked at include
• Starter
• Alternator
• Radiator
• Distributor
• Carburetor
Reassembly
Once the engine has been repaired/replace, it’s time to mount it back into the frame along with the brakes, wheels, panels, and all the other parts. After being put back on the frame, all the parts have to be reexamined and tested for functionality.
So if you’re interested in auto restoration, go to bodyshops.com and find a local body shop near you.