Category Archives: Auto Body Work

Unrestored Originals? Survivors? Most (Almost) Original Cars

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This ties in very well with the discussion of  restoration or restromods…almost.  I reading one of Hemmings Classic Cars mags (March 2010)…..erk…how the heck can it be a March 2010 and I got it two weeks ago ..that would be January…never mind.  The theme running through the edition was cars that are unrestored originals, basically cars that are old and haven’t been….well … restored.

First the main kick-off article (that’s one that explains the “theme” of the issue) was written by one of my favorite Hemming’s editors, Rich Lentinello- hopefully he won’t mind me call him Rich. He touches on the idea of preservation and not restoration.  A repeated phrase used in the other articles is “it’s only original once” and of course you can’t argue with that. (Oh..that is also the name of Rich’s book…I haven’t picked it up yet, but I intent do.)

As I read the articles covering 1932 Ford, 1937 Packard, 1971 Cuda, 1930 Oakland, 1948 Chrysler, ’60 Corvette (needs paint…really), ’67 Eldorado and a few more, I enjoyed the stories..all car guys love “the story”.  But each car had something changed about it. There was the 1954 Hudson the car had dents repaired, gas tank dropped and boiled(common practice when a car has sat for years), window cylinders replaces and brakes all redone.  The ’60 vette had the engine rebuild and all the upholstery replaced. The fact that the paint is  pealing off makes it more original?  I don’t know.

Now does that hold up against replacing the control arms on the Mustang or the upholstery being redone (using original materials..I might add.)  Restromod? Restored? Original?  How about drivable, race- able (yes the Mustang makes it to the drags at least twice a year) and fun…yup that’s the ticket.

I guess I’m still not comfortable with the “restromod” moniker that guy stuck on my car. (I bet you could tell, could ya?)  More therapy coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Old Part “To Keep or Not To Keep” That is the Question

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I’m always reading where a guy had replace every part on his car and saved all the old parts.  As with all things there is line of demarcation.  What made me think of this was the new front end of the Mustang and a previous conversation when I was needed to rebuild the transmission for the 2nd time in the Corvette.

I was pretty fed up with the T400R (I’ll share the story when I talk about the mods for the Vette in another post).  I had trouble with it when I first got it —only 32K miles,  and then a horrible rebuild and on the second rebuild I was considering just replacing with another level 2.  A fee of the guys from the Corvette club (ACE) that I belong to encouraged me to keep the old trans because it would be important at some point to have the matching number trans.

I’ve read were some have even kept old sheet metal because of the part number and the new after market ones don’t have that.  But there can’t be much value in having an old front valance for my Mustang laying around..ya think?  (Ok..fine I do still have it and it does have the original part number on it..but I wouldn’t put it on again.)

So saw no reason to keep the old control arms no value in that.

BTW I had the Corvette transmission rebuilt.  This really leads me to another topic I read about in a car magazine.  The topic was survivor cars or the most original.  That one later.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Missed Car Show – Mustang Front End – Closure.

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We all love closure and especially when it ends well.

Mustang is back from the shop. Buying the control arms ahead time saved a few dollars.  HINT:  If you know you need a part, but not right away, but you have the funds (too many buts???) look for a sale.  I’m continually sent emails with discounts from Mustang parts places.  I purchased these on an email and got free shipping.  What I didn’t have was the spring perches.  Luckily I found them at a local place that specializes in muscle cars and in particular Mustangs.  They ran about $80 for the pair. 

 While they had  a part I splurged for a set of shocks…no labor because they had it apart already. (Hint:  More savings!!)

So I drove over to pick it up and drive it around the corner to the tire place and got two new tires tossed on.  I can’t believe the difference the new front end makes.  Took it out for a drive.  This car is nearly done. 

Side note:  I’m enjoying this Blogging thing.  Although we are light on the comments..Mr. Sears is always helping out there, it’s good fun.

Got to give a shout out to a loyal reader…HEY PDAWG!!!  Get me that pic of your garage!!!!

Restoration vs. Restromod

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There has never been a clear understanding between these two ways keeping a car alive.  Perhaps is not so much an understanding issue as to a delineation of the fine line between the two.

I do agree that there is a difference.  Clearly if one were to take a 1970 Camaro and put 1989 front end on it, or a Ford 8 bolt rear end and 351 Cleveland that’s a restro-mod.  A couple of car shows ago I saw a 1967 Ford Mustang with a Corvette engine (LS1) shoved under the hood.  Oh..hey..I have pics…here’s one and there on at the bottom of this post.


I spoke to the owner and asked him “why” to which he responded “Because I could.”

 

Sometimes it’s pretty easy to know when to call it a restoration or a restromod.  But what about finer changes, cosmetic, or safety changes.

I mentioned, in a previous posting, that a judge called my Mustang a restromod. Which I was take back a bit by.   I started thinking about after I posted that and  I’m going to have to agree with him and here is why.

I believe the swapping of the 250 for a 302 wasn’t the problem (unless your definition includes a requirement for a matching year block …I’m sure mine isn’t from 1970 at least not the short block)  or the dual exhaust.  The Center Line wheels…. maybe.  Now the rear spoiler and the Mach I mirrors might be where I crossed the line.  You couldn’t have purchased a coupe with those items, as far as I can tell with the research I’ve done.  But aren’t we now just talking about accessories, like dice hanging from the mirror or a locking gas cap?

Now what if there was just a brake change (drum to disk) for upgrade for safety, or seat belts added or something as simple as steel belted tires.

Where would you draw the line?  Drop me a comment and let me know.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Dream Car, What’s yours?

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Yeah…I know it’s tough to pick…but what if you could pick two cars and the criteria was..1 old and 1 new (last two years)?

What you choose?  Drop a comment and to this post and let me know.

Mustang Front End – Why I missed the Car Show

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Well the news was pretty good.  Since I had the control arms already, I was only missing the spring seats (sometimes called perches) and a new set of shocks and I’m good to go – Labor $300.00 I was thinking much worse.

Tim Sisk asked when I was going to sell the car to him.  I laughed..he laughed and I said..HOW MUCH???  He laughed some more.

Need to pick up the parts Monday and get some new tires.  Good to go.

Missing Car Show “The rest of the story”

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The joys of owning a classic muscle car are numberous.  Restoring one takes some planning and forethought. errkkk……….having said that..it doesn’t take a genus to know that a 40-year-old car with nearly 200k miles on the body/frame and suspension might need stuff.

Well the tire problem I discovered was the direct cause of defective tire and serious wear (they aren’t that old).  The wear is a bit disturbing because of the limited miles I’ve driven it.

About 10 months ago I started feeling the typical sloppiness that a front gives you when it needs some attention. So I ordered upper and lower control arms, which wasn’t a budget buster, mainly because I’d planned on install them myself (labor is will kill the budget).  I stuck them away until I had time.  Well doing a little research I realized that for this Mustang I didn’t have the tools get the job done so I delayed it a bit longer.

I drive the Mustang to work a couple times a week (maybe) and on the weekend run errands.  So the front had to be much worse to do that much wear in those miles. I took it over a fellow Mustang owners shop (actually we recently sold it Mustang so he’s Stangless right now).

eeeeerrrrrrrrrrrkkk…………ok I have to say that this guy is partner/manager for a “chain” auto repair company.  I won’t say which one because, I normally won’t take my cars to such establishments. But I met Tim Sisk 3 years ago when I needed a quick oil change on the Mustang and I stopped in. We talked about Mustangs and I found him to be extremely knowledgable. So I had them to a few things for me.  It worked out great and now when I can’t do something on my own with Mustang and even a few on the Corvette I’ll take it there. Another benefit is that the place is two miles up the road.

I tossed the upper and lower control arms in the trunk and took the Mustang there this morning.  We put it up on the lift and sure enough the control arms needed to be replaced.  I’m sure there will be a few more things I’ll need and most likely they’ll have to be ordered and if I can swing a good deal on the labor I’ll have some shocks put on as well. 

So standby for the $$$$.  I’ll post it when I get the news.

Oh..there are lots places to get Mustang parts.  I happened to pick up the control arms from WSD. Worldwide Suspension Distribution LLC.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Restore or Mod it all cost money

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Money, cash, coin, bucks, what ever you call it’s the 900 lbs monkey sitting in the passenger seat right next to you!!!!

This can be tough.  Us average guys, have to “pinch pennies until Lincoln calls the cops”. Even then there is a lot of …free time..between mod or new parts.  Am I right?  You betcha.

You’ve heard the stories, that start out…”Yeah..and to sell her.” or “Got a family started.” or “Had to move and no place for the car.”

I wonder about the guys that say…”I have too many projects.” I’m thinking 40% of them ran out of money and then ‘honey’ said that it has got to go.

I don’t have a direct solution for your money problems and I won’t tell you anything you don’t know or haven’t already read about. What I will say is take your time. Work on it as often as possible, even if you are just wiping it down or cleaning a part. That way you don’t “loose” touch so to speak.

What is important is to keep track of what you spend, keep receipts, and spreadsheets are good for that. Why is it important?  For a couple reason:

1.  Most of us average guys are on a budget.  Keep one for your car.  Get prices ahead of time and match that up with your “real world budget” the one you keep to eat/pay the mortgage/utilities.

2. Investment purposes. It’s good to know how much you’ve spent.  That’s a big deal if you were to…go head winch now…you know what’s coming resell.

3.  Insurance – especially if it’s collector car insurance. Most will let set a value.  I have this for my Mustang.

errk…..story time!!!!!  When I first got the Mustang, I called my regular insurance company, told them I purchased a collectable car and I wanted to insure it.  They asked me how much it cost when it was new. I said $2,984.20. The gal on the other end of the line said “Then that’s how much we’ll insure it for.” as if it were a done deal.  So be careful.  I use Hagerty..they are great.  Remember my story about the kid that hit my Mustang….the paid for it all and kept sending checks when ever the amount went up.

Ok..more tomorrow.

Don’t forget about the Clean and Disaster Garage contest.  $25.00 gift card…..hey..it’s extra money!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Car Shows Judging

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There are basically two categories professional and average guy judging.

Now I must confess here I don’t understand the professional, there is just too much to know.  I frankly don’t know how some the of the larger shows can finish the judging – especially the contours judging.   Whether there are the proper pre-assembly marks and  is there the proper over-spray in the right places.  I suppose thats great in some respects and I guess is can see the necessity.

But I’m the average guy muscle car owner.  I like what I like and being judged by average peeps is ok by me.  I’d like them to have some car knowledge but it’s still not that necessary.

I found it interesting that at one of the medium size shows one guy called the Mustang a Restro-mod.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.  It’s period – meaning it could have been ordered that way at the time. Only real change is the larger tires and Center Line wheels.

The latest Hemming’s Classic Car issue has interesting reading on the subject of “original/survivor cars” vs “everything else”  I’ll do another post on that topic later on.

Couple of admin notes:

1.  If I mention a product or a publication it’s because I have an opinion or an “experience” with it.  This is a non-commercial blog. As of write now I don’t have plans to have ads embedded, click throughs or sell “stuff” .

2.  Send me comments. Post them up here or email them to me timsweet@cox.net.

3.  I don’t sell contact info either or send spam email.  If you email me that’s as far as your info goes.  I’ll even ask you if you mind having me post email contents before I do.

DON’T FOR GET THE CLEAN GARAGE/DISASTER GARAGE CONTEST.  $25.00 GIFT CARD IN THE BALANCE. GET ME THE PICS.

Self Inflicted – The Worst

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If you recall in a previous post I mentioned the psychological hurdles that some (at least I) have to over come when working on our own cars.   The one of them was the “fear” of breaking it yourself.  Remember?  Well ..here ya go….

It’s the end of January and I still had my x-mas lights up….so yesterday  (1/24)  I decided they had to come down.  I didn’t want to be the guy taking them down in June (like my neighbor).

So, I pull the Vette into the lower part of the drive and then proceeded to back the Mustang down.  The Mustang takes a while to warm up so instead I just release the e-brake, pushed the clutch in and coasted down the driveway.

Had a neighborhood kid in the driveway so I was keeping an eye on him (he’s 5 yrs old) and I left the door of the Stang open.

Yeah…you guessed it….I heard a crunch and I looked over to the left and there was my Mustang door (good old American steel) stuck in my Vette’s fender!!!!!

All I can say is plastic bumpers saved the day….not so much for the fiber glass fender and  belt molding on the vette.

Oh..adding insult to injury the 5 yrs old said..”That’s why you need to close the door..that’s what my Dad says!”

If it ain’t one thing it’s another!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Get a classic car restoration scholarship

Hagerty recently announced it has teamed-up with LeMay–America’s Car Museum to help develop a new program focusing on education on vehicle restoration. This hands-on learning program has been dubbed the “Hagerty Education Program at America’s …
You could own Paul Walker’s Nissan Skyline GT-R for $1.35 million

The German luxury and classic car restoration website GT-A is asking EUR 1,000,000 – around $1.35 million – for the world-famous car. Before you balk, consider that 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale will be going to Paul Walker’s charity Reach …