Anyone have a project list for their full restoration?

7173Mustangs.com

Help Support 7173Mustangs.com:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Jan 12, 2017
Messages
269
Reaction score
0
Location
USA - Florida
My Car
1972 Mustang Mach 1
2011 Mustang GT
Hello All,

I'm trying to keep my '72 project moving but I just wanted to see if anyone had made/shared a project list?  There are so many aspects to a restoration so I feel like I need to get everything written out so I can have some order to this huge task I see in front of me. I'm sure there are others on here who have created a list so please share.

 
Best thing to do is break it up into different compartments. Interior, body, engine/drive-train, brakes, trim etc. No matter how organized you are, little things will come up that you will have to wait for or re-do. I don't know how many times I ordered a part, just for it to not fit correctly, not work like it should, or just figure out how it has to go in!!! Or just about get done with something, just to realize something else had to be done first!! Good luck!! It's quite a ride but it is fun!!

 
It depends also on what you will do and what you will let do. If you restore, replace or buy new parts. Body needs be done first no matter what to put it back together in a logical order.

Personally I will restore most myself but I would turn mad doing days of welding/de-rust/priming/sanding only. Plus I don't have the space to work by the book. As everything needs be done on a 50yo car, I like to alternate activities. One day an alternator, another a deck lid...

If space is no issue, I would focus on trying do the dust/sanding/dirty first and get asap a "clinic clean" room with a naked body with a fresh paint in the middle. So you can assemble it back with white gloves. :)

 
It depends also on what you will do and what you will let do. If you restore, replace or buy new parts. Body needs be done first no matter what to put it back together in a logical order.

Personally I will restore most myself but I would turn mad doing days of welding/de-rust/priming/sanding only. Plus I don't have the space to work by the book. As everything needs be done on a 50yo car, I like to alternate activities. One day an alternator, another a deck lid...

If space is no issue, I would focus on trying do the dust/sanding/dirty first and get asap a "clinic clean" room with a naked body with a fresh paint in the middle. So you can assemble it back with white gloves. :)

::thumb::

 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you put together a spreadsheet and put all the tasks and costs down you will not want to do the project. They are a money pit for sure. Seems like the snow ball gets bigger every time you do something.

One mistake I see lots of people make is to do the engine first and it sit there for a year or two or ten until the project is done. Get all your engine stuff to build but do not build it until last thing. Either run it in on a dyno or engine run in stand so you can make sure no leaks.

It is amazing how much room you need to take a car completely apart. Keep things organized and maybe come up with a locating system in the garage and keep on computer.

I was a project / program manager in automotive. I always found that a project goes best if you do the most difficult and tasks you hate first. Then it is all down hill from there.

I break up the never ending task of doing the body by getting off and doing say the console, heater box, small tasks to break the every day weld, grind, sand. You can have the dash complete and wrapped in plastic also to give you a break.

 
If I were to start a list on my own I would be guessing at some items as far as the order goes. I have a rotisserie that I just purchased so I'm assuming there are certain things I should do prior to even using the rotisserie.  The start of my list would go a little something like this:

Before Rotisserie:

- Remove gas and other fluids (done)

- Remove fenders and hood (done) decklid still needs to come off

- Interior tear down (in progress) Seats removed, carpet, door panels, folding seat hardware, interior panels, headliner, seat belts, etc.  Dash, steering wheel, and interior AC parts  still need to come out.

- Remove all windows and trim

- Remove fuel tank

- Remove rear bumper and lower valance

- Remove front bumper, grille, headlights, etc.  (done)

- Remove all engine bay accessories while taking lots of pics (in progress)

- Remove radiator (in progress)

- Pull engine/trans

- Sand or have exterior/interior dustless blasted

- seam sealer and primer

- Body work (should body work be done prior to removing engine/trans??) rear qtr skins, trunk floor, inner/outer wheelhouses, rear taillight panel replacement, cowl repair/replacement, some fender aprons and obviously the battery area.

- sanding and body work

- more seam sealer and primer where needed

- Remove wheels, suspension components, rear axle, driveshaft, steering components, etc.

Put car on Rotisserie:

- have underside dustless blasted

- seam sealer, primer, under coating

- paint

Meanwhile I'm sure somewhere in here my engine would be broken down as much as I'm able to do on my own and would go off to a reputable engine builder in my area.  Maybe www.big-machine.com

Also refurb/rebuild of transmission and rear axle/differential and replacement of brake components.

Probably also electrical harness off to midlife

Some upholstery work, interior replacement panels, refurb little parts and pieces removed during the process which I think can be saved.

I'm sure there is a bunch of stuff that I haven't even mentioned yet...  But basically you get the idea.  What do you guys think...good start to a long list?

 
Looks like a good overview list. I would break some of those sections down and put down what you want from the rebuild on those sections such as suspension (stock, upgraded, tubular, coil over, subframe connectors etc.), Rear end (gear ratio, locker, etc) engine (cam, etc.) On the link you posted for the engine builder I would be nervous sending my Cleveland to an engine builder that states he is a GM specialist on the front of his webpage. You really do need to find someone familiar with Clevelands.

 
Looks like a good overview list. I would break some of those sections down and put down what you want from the rebuild on those sections such as suspension (stock, upgraded, tubular, coil over, subframe connectors etc.), Rear end (gear ratio, locker, etc) engine (cam, etc.) On the link you posted for the engine builder I would be nervous sending my Cleveland to an engine builder that states he is a GM specialist on the front of his webpage. You really do need to find someone familiar with Clevelands.
Yeah good observation on the engine builder.  I noticed the same thing even though they told me directly that they have rebuilt Clevelands before.  I guess I'll need to keep looking for other options in my area.  I haven't found much so far...  I'm in Sarasota, Florida

 
The building of an engine should be the least of your worries. I will haul your engine here and back if there is nobody there that is competent. building an engine is the most simple thing in the rebuild of a car. It is just numbers that are measured. There is no skill no art in building an engine. Body work is an art. Metal work is an art. When you machine something it is not an art.

I will always stand behind anything to do with an engine is easy body work it not......

 
Can I take my engine out before doing the body work, quarter panel skins, wheelhouses and taillight panel? I think I had read another post somewhere that suggested it was better to have the car on wheels and weight of the engine to make sure panels line up correctly. True??

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top