Restoration - Best Plan Of Attack?

[Carlwalski]

Hey guys,


Dad and I will be starting his 73 Cuda restoration soon. We have the garage space to do it. We're having the body work and paint done professionally and the engine/trans dropped in place (we don't have the hoist and jacks to do it in the garage easily). My question is kind of simple, I could ask my resto team (I may) but we'd like to do as much as possible on our own. What is the "time line" or way to attack a restoration, the order of proceedings, if you please.

If you could perhaps list how you do yours and in what order after the paint has been done and it's "installation" time. I will be doing a list of items the shop will be doing as although we'd love to do 100%, for the quality we want it to be, we'll put ego to the side in favour or a higher quality of work. The shop will be doing glass install, headliner and in the end double checking everything, WOF and tune up. Everything else will be on Dad and I.

This is how I thought we'd do it:

Suspension and diff & brakes
Brake lines (including park brake) and wheels on
Fuel tank and fuel lines
Headers & exhaust + rear valance and tips
Radiator, booster and other engine misc
Wiring from rear tail lights to spot lights
Pedals, Dynamat and insulation
Dash accessories, gauges, heater, etc
Headliner, carpet, parcel tray, rear seats
Console, pedals, lights and misc
Front seats and rear panels
Trunk lid and trunk area carpeting
Engine accessories including manifold/carb set up + shaker set up
Lights including rear, park, indicator and headlights
Front valance, fenders and doors then alignment
Odds & ends, emblems, triple check everything etc


I know it's hard to say but is there anything we can do to make it easier? Like, in terms of how we approach it and which steps come first. Any help for first time restorers is appreciated. I have learnt heaps here and feel we can definitely do it, no problems. Taking it from my head and putting that knowledge to use is what I am looking forward to, I can't wait!! Hopefully in time I will get a 68 Charger R/T project to do by myself.


Thanks guys,
Carl & Jim

[HemiOrange70]

I would do brakelines, brakes, suspension, lights and wiring before the motor and stuff is in the way, then the motor and trans and rad, and engine accessories. I then would do the interior and have the glass installed (after dash)

[gkring]

Based on my own experience
Save up three times what you think your budget will be.
Plan on installing everything at least twice, so it does not matter what order you do it in.
Quadruple whatever time you think it will take, but that can be reduced if you are willing to multiply your budget.

Seriously
1- get it rolling first, then steering, then stopping (suspension, steering, then brakes)
2-get it running- motor trans install, start electrical, fuel lines, gas tank
3-exhaust, cooling system/radiator
4-finish body panels like doors, hood, decklid, valance, etc
5-lights, rest of electrical
6-all outside trim, door glass, marker lenses, mirror, etc
7-interior--carpet, headliner, trim, dash, seats
8-windshield

as far as paint you can have them paint engine bay, underside, door jams, etc then get the car running and moving, then paint the exterior
you can also paint the complete car, but then you have to keep the hood, doors, fenders, etc in a safe place while you build the car
On my current resto I plan on building the whole car in primer, then blowing it back apart for a full paint job and reassembling. all I have to do is get everything where it goes enough to see what holes I need to fill, where I need to add new ones, things that need to move, etc. Alot easier on a straight resto as nothing is changing, but mine will be alot of custom stuff. personal preference thing.

Most of your decisions will be based on time, quality, and money as their is no right or best way to build a car. For example the better the quality the more time or money you will also spend. Hopefully as you spend more money you will also save time or get better quality as well!

[Carlwalski]

Thanks guys, exactly the tips I am looking for. I will leave the windsheild until the dash is in place, makes perfect sense for ease of installation. As for time, we have plenty of it. My job as of today is my own boss and Dad retired a while ago so it's basically a 24/7 job, I feel lucky that this is the case and know some guys (for which I feel for) get a few hours a weekend if they're lucky. So time is no concern.

Money isn't either, not a "we're rich" thing, far from it but as usual Dad (like me) doesn't skimp on anything, especially when it come to cars. I will be having the whole car painted an storing the doors, trunk, hood etc until it's time to install. We'll have to be careful but I feel it's the best way to do it.

Thanks guys, feel free anyone else to pitch in, if not for me, others later on (searches etc).

[craigsmytcudas]

ok here goes
tlc time and lotsa cas
head liner
vinyl top
pedals
assemble dash complete install
fuel and brake lines
rearend as complete unit
engine to k member with steering box and lower controle arms with headers
hood before fenders but after doors
decklid harness
all glass
i forgot the stripes with headliner and top
header and lights after all engine compartment parts never lean over your work
small details tank d shaft then valances leave the 10 front fender bolts loose enough to install front vallance
seats carpet and other small parts
i hope this helps                             

[torredcuda]

Get your fuel and brake lines in before the engine/trans and rear end.

[Carlwalski]

Thanks guys, good input again. Whats best for fuel/brake lines? Braided hose, copper?
I have the bending tool that doesn't leave marks, I know it's just a lot of trial and era getting it to fit nicely.

[Swedefish]

On my current resto I plan on building the whole car in primer, then blowing it back apart for a full paint job and reassembling. all I have to do is get everything where it goes enough to see what holes I need to fill, where I need to add new ones, things that need to move, etc. Alot easier on a straight resto as nothing is changing, but mine will be alot of custom stuff. personal preference thing.

This is probably the way I would have done it with the experience I`ve got today. Time consuming but I guess it would be worth it at the end.
Thats the way to build a hotrod. Have it driveable for test and trial and do the finish later.

[craigsmytcudas]

swedefish good call ,i did my restomod your way except in the order of atack i posted earlier. try clicking on this little guy instead of his base 

[sadil340]

I too had the body done professionally. I mounted the car on a rotisserie, blasted it and sent it to the body shop. They did all the metal work and painted the undercarriage, interior and engine bay. Exterior was finish primed. I then installed a loaner motor and trans so the body could sit on the wheels for the body panel fitment. Then finish paint. Got the car home, dropped the motor/trans out the bottom, installed the new motor/trans on the K-frame (after I replaced and detailed all of the suspension parts) and mounted them like the factory - from the bottom up. This way you don't have to worry about scratching that nice new paint.

I have a lift at home but it wasn't all that hard to install the powertrain from the bottom. I put some plywood on a rolling support frame, assembled everything and then rolled it under the car. Then I lowered the car onto the K frame and trans mount. It could also be done with a few floor jacks.

Email me if you would like pics of any part of the project. Good luck and have fun!

[Carlwalski]

Thanks everyone for the input and thanks Sadil340 for the kind gesture which I just may take up!