Restoring an old car

[USSEnterprise]

My father has an old 1962 Buick Electra 225 4 Door Sedan sitting in our garage. His father, who died in 1970, bought the car new. Its been there since we moved it over 10 years ago, and before that, it was in our old house's garage. He had to have it towed to the new house. My brother and I are thinking about trying to get the car running and driveable again. Its a standard carbourated V8 350Hp engine with a powerglide automatic transmission. The engine, transmission, braking, exhaust, and steering systems would have to be rebuilt. I know this would be an extremely involved job. Luckily, I at least have the service manual to help. Since my father doesn't have the time to restore it, We would like to do it, if he would pay for parts. He probably would. So, if anyone here has undertaken a similar task, how did it go? I assume that it is easier than a modern car.

[ChadTower]

People here do restore cars. 

However...

...go to a car restoration forum.  You'll get info there.  Here you'll get asked if it works and if it fits in the basement.

[Harry Potter]

And if the free shipping is free.

don't forget that one.

[erictrumpet]

Funny coincidence I just posted a pic of my old car in this board under subject "Please ignore - testing images" go check it out. It's a 1978 Triumph Spitfire, not a full restoration but since stuff is contantly breaking on it and needing repair I suppose you could say I am restoring it one part at a time

Eric.

[erictrumpet]

Oh yeah and to actually answer your question USSEnterprise, if you have a service manual and the right tools and enough skills to build a MAME cabinet you will be able to keep that car on the road no problem. Since it's a Buick parts will be cheap and just about any shadetree mechanic should be able to help you if you run into trouble with something. Don't be intimidated, once you do your first couple of mechanical projects on the car you will start to feel like a pro. Just be sure to get help when working with systems of the car upon which your life depends, for example, the brakes. Good luck! And post a pic so we can see the ol' heap. P.S. Isn't it going to cost $100/day to drive that thing with gas prices what they are these days?

Eric.

[NightGod]

Good old duece and a quarters, those things don't have a back seat, they have a couch.

Perfect car for a high schooler, honestly, especially if you rebuild it yourself. Once you get that intimate with the engine, you'll be able to do all your own repairs (and labor is where the big money comes in, parts are generally the cheap part of the equation).

Sure, it'll suck gas like a truck stop bandit, but a) you could have an orgy on that back seat and still have room to setup a poker table and b) you'll definately come out way ahead in an accident with anything smaller than a cement truck.

I'd say go for it, I've actually been thinking about buying another 225 (I had a 73 that was my grandpa's, but got rid of it because I didn't know enough about mechanics to do the upkeep and wasn't willing to learn back then) or maybe an old Nova or possibly even a GTO if I can find one in decent body condition. I love the late 50's to mid 70s era of American heavy metal and I'm starting to run out of projects now that my cab construction is winding down.

[USSEnterprise]

Oh no, not for me. I'd love to have the thing, but its my father's car. If something were to happen to it, he'd kill me.

[TOK]

Estimate the cost you think it will take and double it. Estimate the time you think it will take, and triple it.

I don't mean to sound negative, but I've been through this a couple of times and there are going to be at least 20 major things you're going to need to do that you didn't think of.

Tripling the time is actually a conservative estimate. The last project I was working on was a running, but near basket-case 67 Mustang Fastback. I got sick of working on it and sold it.

[NightGod]

Ah, either way, it will be a good experience that will give you alot of basic car knowledge that will serve you well in the future. The only time I've paid a mechanic in the past 8 years or so was when my tranny and engine had to be replaced in my truck, and the main reason I didn't do it myself was that it was the middle of winter and I needed my vehicle back up and running ASAP.

It always shocks me the number of people I meet who can't check their own fluid levels, let alone something simple like replace a distributor cap or change plug wires or swap out an alternator.

And I agree on the time estimates (though the cash is going to be up in the air anyway, since you're not going to know what's really wrong with it till you get into it, assume every seal in the engine is shot, however, and go from there), but if you and your brother are doing this as a learning experience type of thing, and the car is otherwise just rotting away in the garage anyway, that should be a non-issue.

[danny_galaga]

you had THAT all along and you wanted to buy that piece of poo jag?

[NightGod]

you had THAT all along and you wanted to buy that piece of poo jag?

[erictrumpet]

Wait a minute, are we talking about:
1. Getting the car on the road and driveable and reliable and cheaply maintainable? or,
2. Restoring it to a new-ish car for show and/or go?
If 1. go for it, it's cheap and easy, don't be intimidated, buy some tools and parts from a junkyard or NAPA and get dirty and have fun. But, if 2. then forget it, it will cost way more than you thought and it will take way more time than you thought, and since the car has to be off the road for a long time, you will eventually learn to hate the big ugly hunk of crap, wish for your garage space back, beg for someone to take it away for free, and curse it as you try to sleep at night. If you want a fully restored beautiful classic car, buy one. If you want a cheap and fun do-it-yourself older car, get one in reasonably good condition (sounds like you already have this), then do what it takes to make it safe and reliable and just enjoy it and leave it at that.

Eric.

[USSEnterprise]

I just want to get it running and somewhat reliable. It will never really be safe. It needs an engine overhaul, transmission overhaul, power steering pump, water pump, brake overhaul, and a muffler. However, the interior is still pretty nice. No tears or staining. The power front bench is stuck in one position, and one of the front power windows doesn't work right, there's no radio, and the clock is broken. I calculated out most of the parts, and came up with around $2000, not including the rear bumper it despretly needs.

[Ken Layton]

Yes you should restore/rebuild it. But as others have mentioned, it's best to go to a car restoration forum for the best advise and answers to your questions.

Be sure to get one of "Impala Bob's" car parts catalogs. He prints several catalogs for different makes/models.

[NightGod]

Trust me, that car will be alot safer on the road than 90% of the vehicles out there today. Those things are TANKS. I ran into a moving truck with mine, just a small dent.

Power windows are pretty easy to fix, you can get a motor at a junkyard for $25 and swap it out yourself in a few hours. Besides having the manual for the car, there are instructions for doing it easily available on the net.

Junkyard parts are your friend on a project like that.

[sez]

Oh no, not for me. I'd love to have the thing, but its my father's car. If something were to happen to it, he'd kill me.

Is your name Cameron?

[pointdablame]

Oh no, not for me. I'd love to have the thing, but its my father's car. If something were to happen to it, he'd kill me.

Is your name Cameron?

Does it need a back bumper because you kicked the bumper repeatedly and then rolled the car off a cliff?

[TOK]

Trust me, that car will be alot safer on the road than 90% of the vehicles out there today. Those things are TANKS. I ran into a moving truck with mine, just a small dent.

Power windows are pretty easy to fix, you can get a motor at a junkyard for $25 and swap it out yourself in a few hours. Besides having the manual for the car, there are instructions for doing it easily available on the net.

Junkyard parts are your friend on a project like that.

I have a mixed opinion on this comment... While there is no doubt a 4600 pound car can inflict a world of hurt on a 2100 pound car, the old cars designs didn't give much thought to absorbing energy, and therefore have a lot of potential to transfer it right to the driver. Not sure when collapsible steering columns became common, but I'm thinking it was well after this tank was built.

New stuff is built to absorb energy right to the point where it gets to the passenger compartment, which is now way more rigid than on an old car. Its at that point that the airbag helps to absorb the remaining energy. The car may be a write off, but the driver is much more likely to walk away.

I'm still much in agreement with you on the tonnage theory. My family car is a 4 wheel drive 4 door crew cab pickup. Riding in a small car feels like riding in a bucket. When the schumck in the riced out Eclipse nails me, I definitley want to make sure he's the one that feels it. 

[NightGod]

Hmmm 1962...had they gone to safety glass by that point? If not, definately something you want to replace, make sure to check and be ready to factor that cost in. Those damn windshields aren't at all cheap, either, they're massive.

And yeah, in a serious accident, I'd probably rather be in a newer car, but in the fender benders that make up 95% of most people's experience (especially 16 yr olds, if his dad ever lets him use it), that 225 is going to be the ride to have. I'm more about planning for the 95% than the 5%, anyway

I hear ya on the bigger cars, too-I have a 1994 C1500 and even my ex's 99 Intrepid or my backup 98 Bonneville 4 doors feel small after being in a full sized pickup.

[NiN^_^NiN]

One Question...........Does it run mame? 

[nostrebor]

It needs an engine overhaul, transmission overhaul, power steering pump, water pump, brake overhaul, and a muffler.

If this list of mechanical needs is factual, you would be far ahead to pick up a modern $2000 car. I have been restoring cars for over 20 years, and based upon my experience... unless you have a mentor that has experience, or a deep wallet, you will not complete this project sucessfully. Based on discussion history on this forum you have not yet demonstrated the resolve needed to see a project of this magnitude through on your own.

I suggest that you spend the dollars on something semi-reliable, and take classes in auto repair or restoration. In my area they offer these at the local comm. college and in vo-tech environments. Several programs are available to HS students free of charge. Learn the basics, own and maintain a car for a while, get some experience, and *then* take on your Dad's project car.

I only say this to try and prevent a rocky road of frustration. Trying to get a car on the road in the condition you described, while having no mode of working transportation, is a not-fun experience.

[NightGod]

He's already said he's not restoring it for him to use.

[Stingray]

A car restoration requires a huge amount of dedication and the ability to focus on a task for more than a few days at a time. I'm not insinuating anything here, I'm just sayin'.

-S

[ChadTower]

One Question...........Does it run mame? 

I don't think it will fit through my bulkhead.

[thebrownshow]

At least it's already at his house so he doesn't need to worry about how much free shipping costs.

[shardian]

Good thing you took my advice and stopped posting about old cars here on the arcade foroums...

[thebrownshow]

Good thing you took my advice and stopped posting about old cars here on the arcade foroums...

Why would he take unsolicited advice if he doesn't even take advice he requests?! 

[DrewKaree]

Good thing you took my advice and stopped posting about old cars here on the arcade foroums...

Why would he take unsolicited advice if he doesn't even take advice he requests?! 

It's a good thing I learned my lesson long ago about reading these boards and drinking liquids at the same time!