Restoration Organization and Plan

[55 Fargo]

Now here is a loaded question, I have been working on my car since I brought it home in June of 2005, I had the car sitting since 1988 at my uncles way out in the boondocks.

To date I have done the following, Brakes complete,exhaust,shocks,floor patch repairs, rocker and floor support repairs, clean engine and painted it, complete ignition including overhaul of the dist, water pump, pull water dist tube, flush block, install decent rad, get electrical charging system working, get all lighting working, allthough it could still be re-wired, change lube in diff and trans, paint and undercoat all the inner parts of car under headliner, inside of door and trunk etc.

I still need to do the following, all body work, some patching, and paint, complete interior, all new rubber in front, rear and vent windows, re-chrome bumpers, front end and steering work, install gas tank, lines, and sending unit and a lot of other things.

My question is I find I am not focused on one area, what is a good plan to complete this job. I do find things are getting done but I really don't think I have it organized all that well, what have some of you others done, with these more indepth restoration/fixups.

This is my first old car fix-up, possibly I should have started with an easier project, but it's a little too late for that and I love the car.

Any advice or opinions welcomed..........Fred

[JIPJOBXX]

In my case I just kept on trudging along and doing what I thought needed to be done at that time. I had my car in my garage for probably eight years and I kept going by it and telling her I would get her back together. I would continue with the mechanical parts and then get into the finishing stuff. It just takes allot of time and patient if your doing the whole job yourself. Get the car running and brakes working and then maybe lights. Then at least you can drive it and enjoy it even if it doesn't look that pretty.Jon

[JIPJOBXX]

And the finished product. It may not be a show stopper but I did all the work myself and I'm quit proud of the results. Jon

[JIPJOBXX]

And here is my present restoration project. This old T-bird is another 10 footer (lots of work but not nearly as much as the 42). Just finished with rewiring the rear lights because the previous owner decided to install some seat belts and shorted out the main wire loom leading to the rear end. All wires were toasted and quit a job to fix right. Anyway have fun with your car and when your done you will have a peice of history.

[Guest Nile Limbaugh]

One restores a car the same way one eats an elephant; one bite at a time!!

[blueskies]

For me, I found that focusing on the trees, one at a time, instead of the forest, kept me going. I did one component or area at a time for the most part.

The first thing I did was completely disassemble the car down to a bare body, bagging everything in labled ziplocks. I then sent the body (still on the rolling frame) to the painter.

With the body/frame out of my way, I focused on the engine until it was done. Then the tranny. By then, the body/frame was back, and ready for re-assembly.

Before you know it, it will come together just the way you want it. I made a concerted effort to do something on my every day, even if it was just turning a bolt as I walked through the garage on my way to work.

It only took me 6 years to put it all back together! If I'd thought about that possibility on day one (the forest part of the equation) I probably would not have bought the car... it's come a long way.

Pete

[Young Ed]

One restores a car the same way one eats an elephant; one bite at a time!!

Just hope you get the same elephant back at the end!

[JIPJOBXX]

Well one thing I can say about the restoration process is that it great just to have people on this site that can give you advice on about anything that hast to do with old cars. I only wish I would have know about this site about five years ago. I know I would it would have saved me allot of trail and errors getting my old 42 to up and running correctly. Thanks everybody-Jon

[40phil41]

The mistake I made 33 years ago was in purchasing my '41 to drive while I restored the '40. We had so much fun with the '41 that the '40 became neglected. To the point that it was over 30 years before the '40 got on the road :-). However, it did get on the road and the only problem now is which car to drive. This past summer it was the newly resurrected '40. Next summer I am trying to comnvince the wife to drive the '41 while I drive the '40. This is a hard sell since I have been reluctant to have her drive it over the decades :-)

Phil