View Full Version : Restoration advice/help
Right my Nova Swing is coming off the road at the end of the month and I hope when it goes back on the road she will be like a new car.
Now my 'car' knowledge in general is very limited so it's a hellva learning curve I have in front of me. So any advice hints tips would be greatly appreciated.
Also any good literature that can be recommended?
Cheers
Andy
Welsh Dan
18-09-07, 01:24 PM
Are you intending for her to be a show car, a daily drive, or a track car?
Dan 130
18-09-07, 01:25 PM
dont cut any corners, take as much time as you need, and if your not happy with something then try again get a haynes manual if you dont have one already aswell
Are you intending for her to be a show car, a daily drive, or a track car?
A daily driver
craig green
18-09-07, 01:33 PM
Andy give us an idea of what you will be doing/needs doing.
All sundries & supplies, buy in advance. Better to have a shelf full of paints, brushes, sandpaper & gaskets etc ready for when you need it rather than have to keep walking/cycling to the shops or worse having to wait until the next day.
Plan in advance. Also same goes for tools, trolley jack, axle stands & socket set etc.
Dan 130
18-09-07, 01:33 PM
it depends how in depth you want to go if its a daily driver if you just want it to drive like new then obviously all your bushes and stuff if you wanted all your bodywork spangly then get your wallet out lol all depends on how much you want to spend and how mint you want it
Welsh Dan
18-09-07, 01:40 PM
Are you intending to strip it down to its bare shell, then have any welding and painting done, then rebuilt it bit by bit?
Andy give us an idea of what you will be doing/needs doing.
All sundries & supplies, buy in advance. Better to have a shelf full of paints, brushes, sandpaper & gaskets etc ready for when you need it rather than have to keep walking/cycling to the shops or worse having to wait until the next day.
Plan in advance. Also same goes for tools, trolley jack, axle stands & socket set etc.
I knew Uncle Craig would help. ;)
Basically the car has been my daily driver for the last 2 years and hers for 4 years before. The paintwork is shot so needs respraying, bodywork wise she's had a fair bit of welding (boot floor, both rear arches, offside rear suspension mount, offside front suspension turret and a patch put on the nearside door) What I don't know is whether any of this will need redoing. I'd like to replace as many panels as I can to get as best finish as I can.
I have no idea what sort of condition the chassis legs etc are in but fingers crossed.
It's a 5 door hatch and I'm not after any trick bodywork modifications I'd like it to look as OE as possible, the same for the engine yes it's only a 1.2 but it's gonna stay as that's what came with the car.
Are you intending to strip it down to its bare shell, then have any welding and painting done, then rebuilt it bit by bit?
That is what I would like to do, but with funds being very low at the moment that will have to wait and I will concentrate on other bits e.g cleaning the interior and finding out how many clips etc I need to replace and purchase bits I know I want to replace (badges, brake lines, exterior trim etc)
Welsh Dan
18-09-07, 02:01 PM
Haynes and the projects section of this forum will be your best friends. If you read enough of everybody elses projects you'll pick up almost everything you need to know, the rest you can look up in Haynes or ask on here.
My advice would be to strip the car down slowly, cleaning and labelling everything as you go, replacing or reconditioning if needed. That way when you get to a bare shell, and have any body work done, the rest is just re-assembly.
EDIT: When you strip the transmission off, make sure the car is located where you won't need to move it, or make yourself a trolley for it to sit on to move it about the garage/driveway/yard.
craig green
18-09-07, 02:33 PM
You must be fond of the car Andy?
You must be fond of the car Andy?
Very much so I know it would cost less money and be less time consuming to find a decent base project BUT I can't get rid of her so fixing her up is the only choice.
If you read enough of everybody elses projects you'll pick up almost everything you need to know
Good call. There's some excellent WIP threads which have fully stripped down cars - especially some of the saloon threads.
Taking it apart is easy, its putting it back together properly thats the hard bit IMO lol
my advice, dont bother! waste of time and effort and you will loose ?????? lol
Dan 130
18-09-07, 06:32 PM
my advice, dont bother! waste of time and effort and you will loose ?????? lol
think that includes everyone on this site then lol :p
Good call. There's some excellent WIP threads which have fully stripped down cars - especially some of the saloon threads.
Taking it apart is easy, its putting it back together properly thats the hard bit IMO lol
Pfft 5 doors are where it's at anyways.
You may laugh but that's the bit I'm dreading putting it back together, all the potential for damaging new bits, forgetting things etc etc
I'm putting myself off it now lol
P.S Thanks Xen0phobiak some good advice on here
as above - haynes manual for the car, haynes also do a good bodywork and restoration manual. You can also source several boody on amazon (as I have).
You will also need plenty of room to work on the car (minimum double garage if you can get one) - especially if you are stripping it down = keeps it dry (and allows you to store all the bits you remove).
My advice (I'm working on a rebuild/modified nova just now) is if you remove something, take a pic(s) of it in its location prior to removing and and notes for refitting - make sure you stick it in a box or container clearly labelled. Include all screws and other fixings with it - this way you wont have the big box of left overe bits at the end.
Label and box everything, take photos as you pull it apart (God, I wish i'd done that) It's all good fun pulling apart, but don't get carried away. I'm looking forward to putting mine together, but everyone tells me its the worst bit lol
Also give your self a rough deadline, I didn't/haven't and just keep adding to the list of things i want to do.
If you have a budget for things, double it.
If you have a budget for things, double it.
lol oh you're serious. :thumb:
Thanks for the hints and tips much appreciated. Any more's always welcome though.
Yep im serious.
Anything ive ever budgeted for has ended up costing twice as much,Lol.
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