What would you do different on your restoration?

[shoooter]

I would have bought a more complete car. Someone else took it apart so im missing alot of parts.  All the little one's add up quick. Plus I dont know where a lot of them go.i was thinking I should have bought a complete car. But I I couldn't afford a show car 71 cuda.

[joelson6]

without getting into specifics,

i would have more closely watched what i hired others to do, that i couldn't.

i don't care who it is, somebody else will do things differently than you to cut a couple corners and make more money.

when someone else is working on your car, be very specific on what you want and don't want done,

plus, how you want it done is just as important too.

[TinCuda]

Where do I start?  I would have done a bunch of things different.  Getting better quality billboard decals for one.  They are made from good quality stuff.  It's just that the running light and door lever pre-cut holes made it almost impossible to line up correctly.  The driver side is about a quarter inch off.  I should have bought them from someone like Phoenix graphics.  I tried to save a few bucks and now I am paying for it.

I will tell you guys this though.  If it hadn't been for all the great input that I got from this forum, it would have been way, way worse!

Thanks all


.,

[dodj]

If doing it now, I would spend more time and $ on chassis stiffening. I did the through the floor pan frame connectors, but now there are more products out there to improve these flexi-flyers. (borrowing a term I read in another thread - from JHChrysler maybe?)
Rad brace, inner fender brace, torque boxes,and I would weld up the k-frame.
And if this site and fast internet access had been available in 1985, it would have helped me do a MUCH better job!! Now it makes me want to REDO a job I thought I did a pretty good job at before. There is just so much talent on this site.
Thanks CC.Com!!
 

[RusTy/SE]

Had a garage built.

Nuthin' fancy, just enough space for a workbench, stand-up buffing/grinding station, compressor, blasting cabinet, disassembly, and reassembly.

[shoooter]

Where do I start?  I would have done a bunch of things different.  Getting better quality billboard decals for one.  They are made from good quality stuff.  It's just that the running light and door lever pre-cut holes made it almost impossible to line up correctly.  The driver side is about a quarter inch off.  I should have bought them from someone like Phoenix graphics.  I tried to save a few bucks and now I am paying for it.

I will tell you guys this though.  If it hadn't been for all the great input that I got from this forum, it would have been way, way worse!

Thanks all

Where did you get them from? Are the ones that arnt cut for the opening better?. How are stock ones? No gap around the light bezel and handle? I will need some in the future.
.,

[1970GranCoupeConvert]

In 1991 when I did a FRAME OFF (K frame that is) restoration having online tech support from guys like you would have been helpful!!!  Now that I am reading what everybody is doing to their cars I have had to redo a great deal of stuff.  Here are my suggestions:

Install new window sliders and guides.

Install lots of sound dead-ner (read my post on how I redid my complete car car to make it super new car quiet).

Purchase from reliable vendors

Use as many frame stiffeners as possible

Have the engine dyno tuned prior to installation

Baby sit the exhaust guy to make sure he did not @#&^ up the install the first time

[Jamiez]

I bought a few things I didn't need, bought some things I upgraded shortly after buying (shocks come to mind).  Also when I started, I thought that the big suppliers (Year One, etc) were the best places to get parts.  I've since discovered buying from individuals usually gets me the right part.

I probably should have started on the engine sooner (rebuilding the carb, adding an electric choke, setting the timing, carb tuning, etc) as having the car run better makes it a lot more enjoyable to own

[grimmey71]

I would've drove mine while upgrading it, then once I was completely happy with it then take it apart for paint.