to do the work, you probably have most of the skills needed. Major steps such as rebuilding the engine or transmission may require you to send the engine block, heads, etc. to a machine shop for cleaning and/or necessary machining of parts. You will also need confidence in your ability to reassemble it and get it running.
Many cannot afford to have a professional restoration done and decide to carry out the task between themselves and their buddies. Many say it is not possible, while many others enthusiastically accept the challenge. In reality, it can be done in most home garages using home mechanic tools. Yes, some items will have to be farmed out, but then again, even most professional shops farm out at least some of their work. Every month I get dozens of calls and e-mails at the shop asking me for help in how to restore their car.
All you need is a little space, some fairly basic tools, a little know-how, and lots of money, and you too can be successful at restoring your car. The fruits of your labor will be enjoyed for many years to come.
Set a Budget
The most important item I can stress when undertaking a project like this is to have a budget set and stick to that budget. Have the funds already set aside before the project is started. Nothing can be more harmful to a project then getting underway and then running out of money. The car will sit for months while more funds are being raised. In the meantime, other important items come up such as repairing the bathroom or taking a family vacation, and before you know it, the project is on permanent hold, making all the work and money spent to date mostly a waste of time. Seldom are projects picked up and started moving again, and more often than not the interest is lost and the car will once again sit and be forgotten as the excitement has worn off.
Gather Documentation
Once you have determined you are serious about the project, you must go back to the very beginning to when the car was first acquired. By this, I mean gather as much information, documentation, history, and photos of the restoration candidate before a single bolt is loosened.
The type of restoration you will be doing will dictate what information you must gather. If all you intend to do is restore the car bearing no resemblance to what it once was and then drive the heck out of it, then its history and documents are likely unimportant. However, if you intend to restore it to a show or concours level and duplicate exactly what it was coming off the assembly line, then items such as color, interior type, options, etc. will be very important, especially in preserving your investment.
Knowing its history will also help in explaining any hidden battle scars encountered during the tear down, as well as make it a little more interesting. It will also help in locating issues that may be there but until now have remained unseen. The more valuable the car, the more important the car’s history, documentation, old photos, owner history, and many other items will come into play.
Reference Sources
I strongly recommend purchasing as many books and reference materials as you can afford. Items such as assembly manuals, chassis service manuals, and model-specific books are priceless when doing a complete restoration. Wiring schematics for your year can be invaluable. While these are fairly generic and will not cover many options, they are still worth obtaining in color if possible.
Buy any manuals and reference material you can get your hands on. Chevrolet printed any number of manuals for a given model year, and there are good reference books that break down information such as paint codes, interior trim codes, engine codes, rear end codes, etc. to help you with your search for, and restoration of, that dream Chevelle of yours.
Road Test the Car
If the car is drivable, I have always found it very beneficial to take the car out on a road test. Check out every system, such as brakes, heater, radio, shifting, engine, etc., and make note of any issues no matter how small. This will help during the restoration process so that things like a non-functioning fuel gauge will be checked out and repaired before the dash is restored and set back in the car only to find out you forgot to fix it.
Engine, transmission, and rear end issues will also be helpful for the rebuilder to be aware of so that they can look for internal issues during the rebuild. Telling the rebuilder that the rear end made a clunking noise while going around a corner will alert them to make sure to find the cause.
Thoroughly Examine the Condition
Give the car a good going over, noting what can be saved and what needs to be repaired or replaced. If you find electrical items that do not work, such as the wipers, gas gauge, horn, turn signals, etc., it is best to fix them now if possible rather than to face the same issue when you are putting the car back together. If it is a wiring issue, fix it and make note of the fix so when you install that new wiring harness you can be assured the component worked before installing the wiring harness. If it is something like wipers not working, turn signals not working, etc., hunting gremlins after installing new wiring may not be the best way to go only to find out your wiper motor is bad or you have a bad ground in the light wiring. If the issue is the part itself, such as the fuel gauge or the tank sending unit, now is the time to note that and get replacement parts ordered or at least on the list of parts to find or order. Any engine, transmission, brake, or suspension issues can be addressed when it comes time to rebuild/replace those components.
An item such as this battery tray can be purchased later in the restoration if you deem it beyond saving, so we will be sure to add it to the list of things to thoroughly inspect. (Photo Courtesy Steve Lubkey)
Keep a list with the item needing repair/replacement. This will help you prioritize and keep track of what you still need to buy and do. Some things you will need pretty quickly; some can easily wait. Components that are relatively easy to find but will not be installed until late in the restoration can probably wait. If you need new brake components, those can probably wait until you begin work on the chassis and suspension.
Appendix A has a checklist sample of some things to look for. Many items on the checklist you will want to replace as a matter of safety, such as brake pads/shoes, front suspension pieces, tires, engine belts, hoses, etc. But, do not throw those old parts away just yet. You may need them to compare the replacement items you will be buying in the future to ensure those replacement parts are correct.
Note details of the car and write them down or photograph them. Details such as the paint lines on the clutch and brake pedals, how much of the pedal is painted, and how much is left natural will be helpful as you reassemble your restoration.
You may need to send the body or frame to a specialty shop for cleaning, stripping, and in many cases straightening. If you are confident enough to do the bodywork and chassis assembly, then by all means use that to save for potential cost to other areas of your restoration. You may even be fortunate enough to have paint skills and a safe place to paint your car. Even if you do not have painting skills, you can do the bodywork and prep the car to have it painted by an outside source and then reassemble the car yourself, often with the help and advice of good friends. Just remember, everything you have to farm out to an outside source adds time and money to your project.
