I started with the brakes, drums all new all around, new lines, new master cylinder, new fuel lines... Parking cables also new and now installed.
I also have brand new coils front and back, not yet installed...
So now the car stops. But cant get it going, talking with Carl, I think we figured out it was issues with the carb, so I will be getting the rebuild kit this week.. Which is fine to work with.
My concerns is the wiring, if there would be any issues.. and the surface rust (underneath and engine bay) thats bugging me.
Some one did come to see the car as well that has a resto shop and said the car is solid for what it is, most of its surface rust and not much holes/if any.. none underneath, just surf rust... and 1 quarter panel bad.
Do I attempt to do a resto? Or get it road worthy, and wait. My biggest fear is the rust gets through quicker? Is there away to postpone the rust underneath? And what would you recommend for the engine bay?
the person that quoted the resto, said he only does frame of Restos. Blasts and powder coats the frame and starts from there. 15k approx in body work and paint, 10k interior, 10-25k on engine, trans and driveline. But he said its basically a brand new car After that...
Any advice, greatly appreciated.
-- Edited by mike667 on Sunday 16th of February 2020 09:28:34 PM
1. A resto- what does your wallet tell you? The money and the time and finding a reliable resto shop,do they say its a year and it ends up 5 years? And still not done? Get recent references from anyone you hire.
2. Do as much resto as you can yourself- takes more time, a lot of space, but if you enjoy it, it may be good for you in many ways. You could start by cleaning up the engine bay, pull the motor, paint firewall and inner fenders, rad support, under side of hood, new gaskets on the engine, paint it and everything attached to it.
3. Id drive it as is for as long as you want- this will gets the bugs out of things and allow you to enjoy the car for a while before you decide when and what you want to do about the cosmetics.
4. Rust- clean out all the mud and dust you can find in the bottom of the doors, fenders, etc and any drains so the dirt cant trap moisture. Are there any water leaks- fix them if at all possible. Surface rust wont cause holes as long as things stay dry. Store it indoors to keep it dry and off damp ground. If you decide to drive it for a while, consider Rust Check, its messy but it works. But you have to clean it off before painting it.
Keep smiling and having fun, hard to beat just driving it. Ive done a full resto, frame off. I decided not to do another one and found my 63. Its a good 20 footer and has a solid body and frame. Ill keep picking away at mechanical things.
To each his own.
Don
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Good job on the brakes, fuel lines, etc.! Does it need springs right away?
Wait until warmer weather then power wash the under the hood, under the car (frame, fender wells, and all the tight spaces). Let it dry out in sun for a day or 2, then get it Rust-Checked, that will postpone any rust in the near future. That will give you more time to think about and save for any rust repairs etc. The rust repairs would be next on my list ... stabilize the car (just my preference). Then you can think about the really high dollar things (frame-off, paint, interior, engine/drive line rebuild/replace).
Just chip away at it ... small bites. Like eating an elephant.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Thank you for the advice. I will pick away at it as you have mentioned.
Pull engine in spring, clean the engine bay, and inside fenders.
I dont even mind sanding the body, priming and sanding, etc.
It doesnt need springs right away. I only bought them because they were brand new and amazon messed up on the pricing so I ended up saving 80% off. (Moog springs). The day after I placed order, the bumped up he pricing...
So just bought them in case plus cant go wrong 60 bucks for 4 new moog springs...
He looked for water leaks, and said so far he couldnt find any. So it was pretty dry.
What about interior? The front needs replaced and dash is cracked. If front needs to be replaced, do you might as well buy both front and back kits?
Good chance the rear is dried out and rotten and or faded. Putting new material next to old or a mismatch of the new to the old will make you want to change out the back.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
I agree with all the advice you've been getting. I would get the vehicle height specs and measure the car where indicated to determine if the current springs have sagged below spec. If they are out of spec I would definitely replace them as they will impact tire wear, handling and your overall enjoyment of driving it. If they are within spec, then I wouldn't replace them until you do the frame off restoration.
Yes, baby steps are the key to not getting discouraged. I would bet the percentage of guys who undertake a full restoration and actually complete it is on the low side, especially if it's a first project and a major one where the car needs everything, engine overhaul, rust repair, interior, chassis restoration etc.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Thinking about it. I think the biggest thing right now is getting the car driveable and certified for this spring and summer.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Yep, a little bit at a time. I have had my Impala 40 years.
Welded 4 inch channel iron on both sides of the frame for the safety certificate.
Put a bumper hitch on the Impala got married and took off to the east coast with a camping trailer for a honeymoon.
A few years later switched the frame from a 68 Impala Station Wagon. Dipped and coated frame with epoxy enamel. Sand blasted the underbody then laid on the Por 15. Have Rust Check done every 2 years... stored indoors.
It seems I do a little something drive it and enjoy it, then I read somewhere about suspension upgrade, later it is a steering box upgrade.
Oh, oh I forgot about changing the transmission from a two speed to a three speed.
Then there was the upholstery upgrade many years ago.
Shucks the 283 is burning oil, drop in a 350 with a new rad,
Wife complained the car was too hot, easy..... put in an AC upgrade.
Well you get the idea.
Get the most enjoyment out of your classic.
The Impala was 12 years old and rusty when I got it.
Looking forward to another summer of cruising if the budget will allow.
Cliff
-- Edited by oshawacliff on Wednesday 19th of February 2020 08:59:45 PM
-- Edited by oshawacliff on Thursday 20th of February 2020 08:20:21 AM
-- Edited by oshawacliff on Friday 21st of February 2020 03:52:00 PM
-- Edited by oshawacliff on Friday 21st of February 2020 03:53:55 PM
Thinking about it. I think the biggest thing right now is getting the car driveable and certified for this spring and summer.
Yup, drive it a bit, tinker with it, fix a little at a time and most important of all, enjoy. I guarantee if you rip it all apart you'll end up hating the car. Small bites.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Alright. Listening to all of you. Slow and steady will do it.
I really want to drive it this summer!
Brakes are done.
And this weekend, I aim to pull the carb off, and rebuild it. Received the rebuild kit last week. And very last minute I noticed it didnt come with the float!! So Shout out to Carl for sending me the link! Last night sent me the link! I was able to pick up a float at a Napa auto parts 4 minutes away from where I was working today!
So this weekend, fingers crossed! Working on the carb and all goes well!
Mike listen to the guys, drive it and just make it look as good as possible without spending a ton. I know many guys that did a full resto, then had to pull an engine or trans because they didn't do "shake down"& ended up ruining a costly paint job with scrapes and chips from working on it!!!!!
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
I am in the camp of "keep it together and running as long as possible";
most of the cost in getting a car worked on is straight up labor, so the more you can do, the more you save.
Some of the rust might come off with a little sweat equity, then you can lather on the likes of POR-15, and seal it up... I really feel these rust inhibiting coatings are marvelous...
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red on black (std) interior "no drivetrain option" car (same base drivetrain as GTO) 1:411 1970 Firebird Formulas originally sold in Canada
Back to your question about what to do, and whether to do a full restoration. I have 3 questions:
1. How much money do you want to spend?
2. How much time do you want it to take?
3. What is your skill level?
Back to your question about what to do, and whether to do a full restoration. I have 3 questions: 1. How much money do you want to spend? 2. How much time do you want it to take? 3. What is your skill level?
1. I think its tied with 2. I would like to get it driving this summer. I dont really want to wait 2 years for the car
3. Skill level is good in paint and sanding,etc. My dad usually helps out with mechanics.
I can work on the car. But problem is that it's at my dads so I can only work kn it the 1 day I'm off work
-- Edited by mike667 on Friday 21st of February 2020 08:08:12 PM
