Author Topic: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process  (Read 1027 times)

Offline AAR3406

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1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« on: May 02, 2008 - 12:32:29 AM »
I will begin my first restoration of my car later this month.  For those who have been down this road a time or two, what is the recommended dissasembly process, ie interior first, exterior second, drive drive train third?  I will be sending the car off to body and paint once I get it stripped.

Your experienced feedback is greatly appreciated...
Justin Cornett
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Offline 72hemi

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2008 - 01:08:01 AM »
That is about the order I usually disassemble a car for restoration. I highly reccomend you bag and tag every nut and bolt and piece and put them all together in one place where it won't get lost. It will make the restoration a lot smoother.
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Offline NoMope Greg

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2008 - 01:08:47 AM »
I went the other way - first engine, then exterior, then interior.

This may go without saying, but bag and tag EVERYTHING (be specific in tagging things, if possible) and try to keep fasteners with their respective parts.  Take LOTS of photos - not just to feed us relentless photo hounds following along on your restoration thread,  :dogpile:  but to document how stuff goes together.  You'll think you'll remember, but a year from now, you'll be holding a part in your hand, thinking "How the H E L L does this go together?"  :clueless: and asking for help on the board.
Greg
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2008 - 01:23:32 AM »
no real disassembly process but I agree , buy lots of zip lock bags of different sizes & take lots of pics , the reassembly is a lot more critical so that you do not have to do things twice

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Offline jeryst

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2008 - 02:04:27 AM »
Those are three seperate areas, so the order is up to your personal preference. I would suggest, however, that once you start on an area, you finish it, and then keep all of the stuff for that area together, but separate from the stuff for the other areas.  Nothing worse than searching through 200 bags of fasteners and small parts to find the specific one you are looking for.

When bagging and labelling the fasteners and small parts, be as descriptive as possible, not just a scap of paper that says "Seat" or "Dash". It will pay for itself when its time to put it all back together.

Digital video cameras using mini CD discs, are cheap. If you dont have one, factor one in as part of the cost of restoration. When you disassemble something, make a closeup video of it, showing first the part, then the entire disassembly process, the nuts, bolts, etc. Document everything with it. Visit the body shop often, and document the progress there. The nice thing about a digital video camera, is that it creates a dated index clip using the starting frame of the clip, so you will have a list of visual cues identifying the clips. When its time to put it back together, play the disassembly clips in reverse, and you will have your own custom assembly manual.

BTW, the videos not only document the disassembly, restoration, and assembly. They can also be invalueable if some type of problem occurs, or you need to file an insurance claim. Lets say that you visit the body shop every week, for ten weeks, and there is no progress on your car, then the body shop wants to charge you for 10 weeks of storage. Or the body shop charges you for something that did not need done, or parts wind up missing or damaged, and the body shop denies any knowledge. You now have undisputable evidence that you can use to keep them in line, or to use in court to uphold your case.

Offline Aussie Challenger

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2008 - 05:28:57 AM »
Those are three seperate areas, so the order is up to your personal preference. I would suggest, however, that once you start on an area, you finish it, and then keep all of the stuff for that area together, but separate from the stuff for the others.

BTW, the videos not only document the disassembly, restoration, and assembly. They can also be invalueable if some type of problem occurs, or you need to file an insurance claim. Lets say that you visit the body shop every week, for ten weeks, and there is no progress on your car, then the body shop wants to charge you for 10 weeks of storage. Or the body shop charges you for something that did not need done, or parts wind up missing or damaged, and the body shop denies any knowledge. You now have undisputable evidence that you can use to keep them in line, or to use in court to uphold your case.
  Great thought about a weekly video session at the body shop, has been a few threads on this board where that would have come in handy.   :2thumbs:
Dave

Offline 422STROKER

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2008 - 05:25:12 PM »
Pictures definately help smooth things along on the reassembly.   I found some mini zip lock bags and keep all the carboard boxes that are sturdy for holding parts/trash. 

Tom :2thumbs:

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Tom
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Offline 71340RT

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2008 - 11:01:05 PM »
I have taken my mopar cars apart different ways as far as engine, exterior, then interior. The biggest thing was 2 of the cars I was able to bag, tag, and box everthing together where the 3rd car was already apart in boxes with very little marked so it was like a big puzzle putting things together. I have taken digital pictures and video which is great as sometimes it is hard to get things back where they belong with out a picture. I can picture lots of simple things in my head but I would take lots of pictures and bag, tag, and box things that belong together and you will be glad you did later when it goes back together.


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Offline HemiOrange70

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Re: 1st restoration, recommended dissasembly process
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2008 - 11:19:27 PM »
I took lots of pics and then removed the engine and trans, then the interior and then the exterior stuff. Bag and tag liek everyone stated. You will run to the computer to ask many questions here as these guys are great. Don't foce things as replacemnt parts are $$. Good luck