| During my last restoration job I done, the owner of | | | | compartment, and your going to be looking for the |
| the cat said to me, you just keep finding things to | | | | same things here, of course with a few additions, |
| repair, this car wasn't that bad when it came to you. | | | | look first at the overall condition of the engine |
| Most people seem to think that their car is in pretty | | | | compartment, look for rust, dents, and all the same |
| good shape, when in most cases a car that is 30 | | | | things that you looked for during the inspection of |
| years, or older usually has quite a bit of problem | | | | the body on the car, also you'll need to look at the |
| areas, and things that needs to be fixed. | | | | engine, do a basic inspection for leaks, fire up the car |
| Usually these cars have had a lot of miles put on | | | | if possible, and listen for knocks, rattles, clanks, clicks, |
| them, and been driven in bad weather, snow with | | | | and any sound other then the sound of a smooth |
| salted roads, rock chips that turn to rust, bad repair | | | | running engine, be sure to note these noises on your |
| work that has compromised the integrity of the car's | | | | note pad, or make a recording of the sounds that |
| body and frame, a collision that has been repaired | | | | you hear, now we'll talk about the wiring in the |
| with short cuts to save money, and number of | | | | engine compartment, here you want to look for |
| things can contribute to the demise of a 30+ year | | | | wires that are just hanging, and not hooked to |
| old car, just think of the things that you went | | | | anything, you want to look for added wires, and |
| through during the first 30 years of your life, you car | | | | redneck wiring jobs, look for things that don't belong, |
| has had at least the same if not more. | | | | missing insulation, wires pulled for the harness, or just |
| A restoration is all about locating all the problem areas | | | | general wear on the harness, document this with |
| of a car and fixing them, to bring the car back to | | | | pictures, and take notes on the problems. |
| factory, if not better specs, most people restore a | | | | 4.More on the engine compartment, you'll need to |
| car for nostalgia, for a memory of the past, and just | | | | look at the engine mounts to see if their broken, or |
| want their car to be like they remember it as it was | | | | damaged in any way, also look for redneck work |
| when they first got it, they want it restored to it's | | | | here to, like mounts that have been welded to repair |
| original glory, of course some people want to take it | | | | them, instead of replacing them, look for quick and |
| a step farther and do some custom work to their | | | | dirty work, look for things that just don't belong, |
| prize possession. | | | | inspect the rubber in the engine mounts to make |
| Before the customizing can begin, the restoration | | | | sure that it's not rotted out. |
| needs to be finished, there are a lot of things to | | | | 5.Look at the carburetor, check it for leaks and |
| consider when restoring your car, and all of them | | | | proper operation, if it's a four barrel make sure that |
| should be looked at, I'm going to provide you with a | | | | when the throttle is all the way opened that the two |
| short list of the top things that need to be looked at | | | | back barrels are opening, make sure that the |
| when you decide to restore your car, rather you | | | | butterfly doesn't stick, check the carburetor for |
| have a shop do the work, or you do it yourself | | | | general cleanliness, and take a picture of it to |
| doesn't matter. | | | | document the problems with it, so you know what |
| 1.First look at the overall condition of the car, or just | | | | needs to be done. |
| a good eyeball scan, get some paper and a pen and | | | | 6. Look at the radiator support, check it for rust, |
| write down the things that stand out, the things that | | | | dents, and holes that don't belong, document what |
| are highly noticeable right from the start. | | | | you find. |
| 2.After you do your eyeball scan, it's time to go a bit | | | | This is just a short list a a few things that you need |
| deeper, if you noticed any rust spots, or dents of | | | | to look at, I could not in an entire day write the |
| the car take note of the locations of these areas | | | | whole list of things that you need to inspect, but you |
| with pictures, if your ready to start the restoration | | | | get the idea here, the job is not a small one, and if |
| of the car, you can circle the problem areas with a | | | | your planning to restore a car, make sure that you |
| sharpie before you take the pictures. | | | | learn all you can about that particular car, it'll make |
| 3.Now that you have completed a basic inspection of | | | | that work a lot more enjoyable and fun. |
| the body of the car, it's time to look at the engine | | | | |