3 Steps To Consider When Rebuilding Your Vintage Car
One way for you to teach someone, or yourself, about cars is to purchase a project car. These cars are usually vintage vehicles that need to be re-built in some way. There are several steps you need to take during these types of projects in order to preserve the work you have done on the car an increase the resale value, if selling the finished car is the goal. Here are a few steps you should consider when rebuilding your vintage project car.
Rust Inhibitor Spray
One of the key points you need to consider is how to prevent rust on the vehicle. There are several steps you can take, but simply spraying the vehicle with a rust inhibitor spray may be enough. These inhibitors help keep things that cause rust, like water, from coming in direct contact with any metal on the car. Think of them as a weatherproofing or water sealant for your car. You can spray this on, which is the most common method, or you can dip the individual components of the car into the solution. You can also do both applications to make sure the entire car is sealed properly.
Locate Original Parts
If you plan on having the car look like it did originally, then you should ideally be looking for original parts. You can go to junk yards, online auctions, and flea markets to find certain pieces. You may be able to use used part pulling yards as well. If you need several pieces to bring the car back to its original look, consider creating a list. Make sure the list has the original part number, an image of the part if possible, and the manufacturer. This will help with the search if you have to ask for help.
Learn Basic Welding
One way that you can save some money on your rebuild project is to learn some basic welding techniques and rent the welding equipment. This may cost you a bit, but it will save more money than having someone handle the welding for you that will charge you for parts and labor. You can learn some very basic techniques through online videos or local community courses and trade schools. These techniques will help you with repairing car grills, welding new seats, or fixing broken hinges and latches.
These are just three of the steps to consider when rebuilding your vintage car. Remember, if you want to resell the car at the end of the project you may need to hire someone for minor paint and body work to work out dings, dents, and complete a professional looking paint job.