Vehicle Restoration:
A Complete 5-Step Guide on How to Restore Your Car

Restoring your vehicle to its former glory can be challenging, but that’s what makes it so rewarding. The amount of restoration required will vary based on your vision, the condition of your car and your budget. Though, one thing you can be absolutely certain of is that it will be a time-consuming process. But, starting with a detailed, well-thought-out plan can help you work through the process in the easiest and most organized way possible. So, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you restore your vehicle. 

Step 1: Plan

Set Your Budget

The first thing you need to do is set a budget. Doing this ahead of time can help keep you from making rash decisions and spending more than you’d like. In this step, you can also think about which parts of your vehicle are most important to you. This can help determine what areas you’re willing to spend a little more money on.

Prep Your Work Area

Now, you’re going to need to choose your workspace. You’ll need a good amount of extra space to keep old and new vehicle parts throughout the process. Make sure to choose a location that is easy to send or transport parts to. Once you’ve chosen your location, it is important to make sure your tools, equipment and parts are organized and easily accessible, which will make the restoration process that much easier.

Research Parts

In any vehicle rehabilitation, you’re going to need to order some new parts. You’ll want to do prior research to find out where you’ll get your parts from. This can help you stay on budget and receive parts faster.

Create a Timeline

Following a timeline is necessary to stay on track with a project of this size. Set realistic timelines while leaving some room for mishaps, or even just time to relax and enjoy the work!

Step 2: Strip the Vehicle

Disassemble

Now it’s time to get to work and take everything out of the vehicle. As you begin disassembling, be sure to photograph and document everything. Keeping track of your progress through photos will make your restoration process much easier. You can reflect on the condition of parts and even go back and see how something was installed when working on reinstallation.

Assess Parts

You will also want to assess the condition of each part as you remove it from the body. Take note of what needs to be replaced and order replacement parts as soon as you can. You’ll also need to assess the condition of your engine as your remove it. At this point you can decide whether you will be working on it yourself, sending it out to a shop or replacing it with an entirely new one. This can be a difficult decision to make, so we suggest conducting research as to whether or not you should replace or rebuild your engine.

Step 3: Bodywork

Strip the Paint

Now, you’ll need to strip the paint from the vehicle. This can be done in a few different ways so you’ll want to do some research before deciding which is best for you. You can use paint stripper and sand the entire body or pay to have this done by a professional.

Rust, Dents, and Repainting

Once the paint has been stripped, it’s time to work on any rust and dents. Replacing panels is the best way to ensure rust and dents are gone, and will not eventually begin to rot. That’s when you’ll be ready to move on to filling, priming, sanding, painting and polishing the body of your vehicle. These are fun steps as you really begin to see your vehicle’s rehabilitation, and all the hard work you’ve put in.

Step 4: Engine Restoration

Now it’s time to restore your vehicle’s power. If you’ve sent your engine out for repair, or decided to purchase a new one, you can skip this step and move on to the reassembly and detailing stage! If you’ve chosen to repair it on your own, you’ll first need to disassemble the engine and assess each area. This will include the pistons, cylinders, camshaft, rods and more. If your engine is looking pretty good, or you’re on a tight budget, you’ll want to at least replace all the external gaskets and seals, so you won’t need to worry about leakage.

Step 5: Rebuild

Reassembly

It’s finally time to grab the photos from earlier. As you work on rebuilding the vehicle, your notes and photos will serve as a reminder of how things were installed prior, and how far you’ve come since then. Here are some steps to follow as you reassemble your vehicle:

1. Assemble the drivetrain
2. Assemble brakes
3. Install the suspension and steering
4. Assemble your wiring harness
5. Install carpet, interior and glass
6. Install engine, transmission and exhaust
7. Add lights

Once you’re sure everything has been installed correctly, you’ll want to ensure all fluids are topped off.

Detailing

It’s time to put the finishing touches on your vehicle with some aesthetic upgrades. Finishing touches like car seat re-upholstery, decorations to your dash or even a new stereo can go a long way. You may also want to look into some interior and exterior auto protection to safeguard all the hard work you’ve put into your newly restored vehicle.

The Drive

All that’s left to do now is take it for a spin! Fill (or charge) ‘er up, start the engine and head out for a test drive. Make sure you’re listening and paying attention in case there are any issues. After your first drive, make any necessary adjustments and enjoy your newly restored vehicle!