First Roadster - Want to do a full restore - Where to start?

[CarlW]

I finally bought a 1969 2000. The former owner had it for 30 years. I have asked him on a regular basis over 30 years to sell it. He finally said ok. I want to take the car completely apart and put in the time and effort to make a nice car. I have learned a lot on the board, and as soon as the weather warms up, I will start the disassembly process. From what I have read, taking the interior apart, removing the body, and starting at the frame is the process. I would really appreciate some detailed information on a complete restoration so I reduce my problems. Is there a manual, book, link, cd, or anything I can use for detailed reference on the process? It looks like someone started working on the interior and made a mess, as parts are tossed all over. I am not too concerned about the mess.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated!

[jamesw]

Welcome to the fun!

First off, I recommend just trying to get the car running and stopping so that you can drive it this summer while the weather is nice. That way you'll have fond memories of the car as you're sitting in your garage mystified at how your pile of parts is EVER going to go back together and make a car.

I just got a car running that had been sitting since 1989 - you need to:

Drain/change fluids,
brake hoses,
rebuild or replace brake master cylinder,
calipers and rear brake pistons,
flush and bleed the brakes,
change spark plug wires and plugs, etc.

Cheers
James

[tjp]

Ditto on 'get it running first'.

For me, it is a matter of "keep it running" and do a little bit at a time on the restoration because I know damn well that if I take it apart, it might very well never get back together--at least not in any sort of acceptable time frame. And the thought of not being able to drive it is a no starter for me. I have met way too many great people since I got Dad's Datto! and I don't want to lose touch with them.

tim

[FergO2k]

+2 on that one.
Consider this. If you get it running and partially assembled, you'll end up knowing what ya got, and none of the parts you put into it will go to waste, you'll just know how to get them off easier when you pop them off and package them when you do the big teardown.
You'll also get a feeling for "do I just dress up them leaf springs, or are they trashed and I need ot get them re-arced or replaced", "does the rear end have a whine at 70+", or can I just drain and refill and am good to go for years".
I have taken "that period" to an extreme length, but the major teardown is coming soon for me, although she is going to grow some primer spots on the outside first while I do the dent/rust repair while she is still rolling (one more backroads rally/tour season... then bite the bullet, buy a hoist,a nd jump in)
Good luck, keep us posted, and welcome.

[68DSU]

KEEP ALL THE PARTS! Who knows what you may need to recycle. I agree with everyone about getting it running. Driving it around a little will motivate you to get it back on the road when you do take it off line. I would suggest getting it running, drive it this spring and summer and make a list for things to do when the weather cools off.

[fj20spl311]

There is another way....lol....
Buy another driver and start the tare down.

Take lots of before and during pictures.....
Put things in labelled bags.
I would start with the interior, because you said it's a mess......It will be the last to go back on the car...so take pictures....

One you have all the interior out and cleaned up, coat the bare metal with POR or some rust preventive...then you can remove the rest of the wiring and outside trim. Decide about the body restoration.

[jamesw]

I am taking Phil's approach. I have a very nice '69 driver now and am doing a frame off on a 67 2000. Great way to go if you can afford to have 2 toy cars - and get the spousal acceptance factor

Regards,
James

[notoptoy]

I agree, get the car running and driving. Then you know what to look forward to if you take it out of service for a while.
Then do what you have started here - read, read and read. Go through the entire Tech Wiki, and then search on topics as you go.
Interior refurb, engine transmission, rear-end, removal of body etc. etc., are all topics here.

BTW, post your location in your profile, and WE NEED PICTURES!!! (or it doesn't exist!)
Welcome to the fourm- you found the best place to be!

[datsun1500]

I posted this on the Roadster list a few months ago, bears repeating.

I guess the main question is it depends on what the final goal is. If it is a
fully restored car that can get expensive, especially if paying someone else.
If you want a very, very nice car, a body on refresh can accomplish that. Can
you do any work yourself? Is it a good running, driving car now? How is the
body?

I am going to assume it is a good driving car that is a little tired and needs
a little body work and give you my suggestions from there. Also remember you
see all of the flaws of your own car, no one else does. Most people just see
a cool old car.

The main thing is to have a plan, and a budget before you start. Here is my
version of a budget "refresh"

Winter months:

One of the most important things is to keep it a running car as long as you
can while taking it apart, just to make it easy to move around.

I would strip all of the exterior trim, chrome and bits. I would also take
out most of the interior. This is so the car can be painted. Painting is
more in the prep, not the actual painting. There are plenty of body guys that
will do side work, try an ad on craigslist to find one. Hopefully they can do
it on the weekend, at your place, for cash. Leave the drivetrain in at this
point.

Once that is done find a shop that does paint jobs, not just insurance work.
I am completely serious when I say a quickie paint place can do a good job of
painting a stripped car. I have seen cars with $200 paint jobs that look
great because there was nothing to mask around or prep, it was just shoot
paint. Have them do the car, trunk, door jambs, and back side of hood, not
the engine bay (remember the motor is in) Picking a common color helps when
you go to do the engine bay (a few steps from now)

One big issue is the chrome parts. The problem becomes when you chrome some
and not others. Either get a good grill, bumpers, headlight scoops and lights
and polish them so they are all the same caliber, or you need to get it all
chromed. New bumpers and old headlight scoops will look odd. New gaskets
(and lenses if needed) for the tail lights work wonders. A good set of tail
lights, polished with new gaskets, are usually close enough.

Buy a complete interior kit from one of the vendors. Easy way to get the
interior back to being nice.

After you get the car back from paint, put the interior kit in and assemble
the rest of the body bits (chrome, trim, grill, etc.)

It will probably be summer by now.

Drive the car for the season.

Next winter:

Pull the drivetrain from the car being careful not to mess up your new paint!

Strip down the engine bay, pull master cylinders, lines and wiring.

paint as much of the frame as you can with black frame paint, brushing it on
is fine. Get as close of a match of the cars paint in spray cans, ones from
auto parts stores work best. Close works, once all of the stuff is back in no
one will notice. Most people do not realize that cars usually do not have the
same paint under the hood. Don't believe it? go look under the hood of any
car in your driveway. Mask off the fenders and frame and spray the engine bay
to match.

Refresh the motor as much as you would like, usually paint and polish will be
enough.

Reassemble.

That's it. At that point you will have a very nice vintage car for a
reasonable cost. One that you can just enjoy for years.

I see the budget as follows:

Painting: Figure $2000 total for some body prep and paint, remember it's not a
show car. Seriously, the quick $300 jobs can look great with new interior, new
chrome, etc.
Interior: Dean has a kit for $1100 for everything except the dash. Dash is
$350, so lets say $1600 in case you need a few odds and ends.
Chrome: If your rear tail light chrome is good, you can get gaskets and lenses
for about $100. All new lights and reflectors for $375 or so. Bumpers,
headlight scoops and grill, figure $1000 in chrome so say $1500 if it needs it
all.

At this point you will have a car with new paint, interior, and chrome for
$5100 and some time. That is if it all needs to be replaced. I would do it
that way. New paint can make a worn interior look worse, so at the minimum I
would do paint and interior. New paint and interior with new taillight
lenses, door handle and tail light gaskets and polished up chrome can look
great also so it can be done for less.

Good luck.

[tjp]

There is another way....lol....Buy another driver and start the tear down.

This is what I wanted (and still want) to do. Unfortunately for me, the first one i bought to drive turned out to have a swiss cheese frame--never buy a car from ebay sight unseen (my fool born every minute, minute). So for now, I am building a fresh motor so I will have a reliable driver. Then I will start on the body of Dad's Roadster.

So, if you go this route, make sure you buy a solid car!!

tim

[68DSU]

There is another way....lol....
Buy another driver and start the tare down.

Take lots of before and during pictures.....
Put things in labelled bags.
I would start with the interior, because you said it's a mess......It will be the last to go back on the car...so take pictures....

One you have all the interior out and cleaned up, coat the bare metal with POR or some rust preventive...then you can remove the rest of the wiring and outside trim. Decide about the body restoration.

YES Pictures, pictures, pictures. I've already been saved more than once by referring back to photos. I wish I would have taken more so I could minimize the "where does this go" moments.

[pebbles]

Welcome Carl.
All of the above!
For me restoring a car is like working out. You must put in your daily time. Skip a day, skip another day, pretty soon, alot of time has gone by, and things get out of shape, and covered up with big fabric.
As far as a step by step, each system has its own phase. 99 percent of what is in the know, is here.
Lots of totes, baggies, masking tape, a bold felt tip pen, and pictures.
Frame /suspension.
Drivetrain
Body
electrical/lighting
Chrome, stainless, trim
upholstery/rubber
Glass
Its like building a house, but on a smaller scale.

Most of all be careful, safe, and have fun.

[zippy67roadster]

First off, welcome! Secondly check out the tech section in the area of restoration. There is a lot of information on how to remove the body, how to build a rack to put the body on ect. Then check out the build threads, there are a lot of them including my first 67 and my current project 67. Most of all make sure you have fun or it will get old fast!

[dbrick]

Mark and I were just staring at two and a half Roadsters Monday, trying to figure the best approach. Still no definitive answer.

Another thought, unless there is some attachment to this particular car, fix it, drive it, make sure you like it, then either:
A start the restoration
B Watch Craigslist/Ebay. Occasionally you can find a real deal on a finished car. Buy that, sell your now-running project. Money spent, same or less, but almost no downtime or labor.

[tjp]

Oh yea, if you put your location in your profile, you might find out that there are other owners near you who would most likely help for, say, beer (in my case) or BBQ, both or what not else.

tim