Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[George]

Hi all

My 1958 Standard 10 has been dry garaged for the last 20 years - it appears that the previous owner did a partial restoration on it, but ran out of steam halfway through

I would like to ask all forum members:-

How would you go about beginning a restoration?

Would you attempt to get the car to a running condition first, then go for a rolling restoration, or would you just strip everything off the car and restore as you go - only to find out right at the end that the engine is kaput?

The engine has not ran for 20 years, the clutch is non operable ( but I believe that the master cylinder and slave cylinder seals are shot which is the main problem ), the brake master cylinder had the piston seized in the bore - there was NO fluid in either the brake or clutch master cylinders - these are now free and this weekend I am planning on doing a bleed operation to assess the situation.

The bodywork has a myriad of rust spots - it is everywhere and on every panel - it looks like it has at some point been parked under a cherry tree and the falling fruit has etched through the paint - none of the rust marks are more than surface damage, but it means that a full body respray is needed. I will post pictures when the rain stops

There is NO body/chassis corrosion - the previous owner appears to have sorted out sills and structural bits.

It appears that all the car needs is lots of TLC, but I would appreciate some guidance on how I should begin the Resto?

Do I get it road legal ( brakes, lights etc ) first, then go for the bodywork, or what?

Thanks in anticipation

George

[Rick]

For starters, getting it to a roadworthy condition will give you a great opportunity to put some mileage on it, and assess everything properly. How annoying would it be to take everything apart, then re-assemble it all after painting, only to find the diff was on its way out, or the engine as you say. The engine is a tricky thing to remove too, as it has to be dropped down from underneath while still sat in the subframe.

An outside chance I know, but you might try driving and not actually like it very much!!? best to find out now, rather than after shelling out £££ on a resto for a car that doesn't appeal

Rick
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[George]

Rick - that's good advice - one point I had never considered as I have never driven a Standard before - I am 61 so I have driven most of the vehicles available from the early 1960's onwards - but never a Standard.

My thoughts were exactly as you pointed out - get it mobile then assess, but maybe someone else has a better idea?

George

[Greeney in France]

I do agree with Rick but I have different ways too, I would recommend to someone whom isn't entirely sure about the work involved to do the essentials, to get it safe and MOTd then that will give you a rolling chassis to work on as and when you wish, all too often we see half done restorations for sale as people have lost heart or momentum or worse still have kid themselves that they will do it one day and it stays in a garage or worse still sits under a tree slowly getting worse.
Depending on your disposition though, when doing a "get it up and running job" it isnt easy to stop, as one thing leads to another.

I personally would, if I knew I loved the car and wanted it right, strip it once and do it properly first time but you would have to wait until it was done to drive it as it was meant to drive
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[Rick]

yup there's definitely more than one way to skin a cat, although whatever approach is taken (full stripdown, or getting it on the road and using it a bit first) the key thing is to gen up as much as possible on the subject before pulling anything off the car.

Other things to plan before starting work:-

- space. A stripped car takes at least twice as much space as a complete one, plus you need room to work too. Working outside is ok, but not much fun and probably a major reason why so many restos stall part-way through.

- funds. Is it going to cost a mint to do, and are there any particular components that are pricey and/or difficult to source? if there are tricky parts to find, make a list right at the beginning, so that in 12 months time when you get to work on that section of the car, you've already sourced the part and its waiting on the shelf to be used.

- time. If you have lots of free time then this isn't an issue, but if you still have to keep a day job down, it may be worth considering farming out key parts of the resto as you go along.

- skills. Are you up to it? it may be worth outsourcing key parts of the rebuild, for example trim, if you don't have the skills or time to learn them.

- clubs. Is there a good make-specific club around that caters for your motor? if so, it may be worth joining if only to pick the brains of long-term owners and have access to their stocks of spares, remanufactured parts, and sometimes cheaper insurance policies.

Rick
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[George]

Greeny - thanks for your input - that really confirms my thoughts - get it rolling and that will whet the appetite to do it properly

Rick
to address your points ( all of them really good ones! )

Space
I have a lockup garage just 30 feet from my house - it is 17 ft x 8 ft - no electricity but I string a cable from my workshop and have a power board and fluorescent lighting in there!

Funds
I would not say that price is no object, but I want to do the job right, and I am prepared to spend what is necessary on the safety side of things, then gradually get it up to a good 'standard'! lol

Time
This is the clincher - I am now in my 60th year but still in full time employ - I am prepared to devote at least 2 weekends a month during the summer and 1 during the winter to the project.

Skills
I was brought up during the 50's ( born in 1948 ) and when I got my first car I did ALL my own servicing, even replacing clutches, gearbox, brakes and doing de cokes etc, so I think I have the mechanical skills.

Clubs
A very important point - I have joined the standardmotorclub and have access to the spares list so unless it is something really obscure I think I will be ok there

I think that it will be mainly a project management task to be honest - more time management than anything, and I really haven't set myself a deadline - do you think I should?

George

[hampshire]

Not easy to set a deadline ,as jobs often take longer and get more involved than is first thought, such as trying to find certain parts and trying to undo nuts and bolts which have not been touched for 50 years

Anyway hope the restoration goes well.

Pete

[Rick]

Try and always have a digital camera to hand, and photograph things before removing or dismantling them

Being methodical with labeling things as they come apart is a good plan too, see ukdave's thread about his Morris 8 rebuild!

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5790



Rick
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[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Having attempted both approaches I would definitely go with Rick etal and say do NOT take it all to pieces. At the same time plan methodically. You can use a car with rust spots. You can't use one with a knackered engine.
Spend wisely to get it mechanically sorted before you invest your kids inheritance on a respray. Also do not go buying tyres etc until the day before its MOT. You can roll it around on ancient bald tyres, but new ones do have a finite life so leave them to deteriorate at Kwikfit until you need some. I know of many restorations where tyres are bought at day 1 and replaced, all cracked, before the vehicle is actually used.
I was at a show recently where there was a beautifully finished Vitesse. I commented to the owner on the paint job and it turns out he'd one it himself with about 40 aerosols - 6 years ago. it can be done!!!

[52classic]

Here's another vote for NOT taking it to pieces. Good news that you have a garage George because storing the car outside is often a case of 3 steps forward and 2 back!

Get it running and make an MOT your first target - That's a great morale booster and you can start attending local shows where you will find rolling restorations always attract a lot of interest.

Think very carefully before you put any work out to so called specialists and restorers - you will often wish that you had done the job yourself!

With my limited facilities I bank on doing the car one corner at a time - gives you more room and a much smaller pile of bits whilst work is in progress.

Best of luck with it mate!

[MONTBREHAIN]

God I wish I had seen this thread YEARS ago. I have done nearly all of the wrong things above. I had a perfectly good Bedford that I was actually driving around . I saw another of the same model that had been restored to new. Like a fool (and not realizing exactly what it entailed) I took my truck apart. And there it sits ......... and I have my "do it one day" head on. If I knew then what I know now "MO"

[Nic Jarman]

Thanks Rick, I have been struggling with this question about the Morris. I have now decided to do a rolling resto although one day the body will have to come off but this may be years down the line. I have already got the car on the road and I love the looks one gets and the kids pointing at the car ( always give a wave back ). The little jobs that I have done has taught me so much about the car and getting into that different mind set. I did not think I would have to learn woodwork!!

Nic

[Dirty Habit]

I am a similar age and I would ask myself several questions.

Am I looking forward to using it or showing it?

If funds are tight, will a full rebuild be too expensive and the budget slow it down, further delaying using it?

I wanted to do a full rebuild on my truck, but now I wished I had just gone for refurbishing the main items and at least I would be using it by now. Even though I have a reasonable sized garage with light and power, I struggle to get out there sometimes. I am 63 next year and I wonder how long will I want or be able to crawl around under it.
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[Rich5ltr]

I would agree that getting it roadworthy is a good start but without going over all the previous points I would say that basic single garage won't really provide the space and comfort required for a body off rebuild. If that's your only facility you'll be bettr off farming the major work out to specialists and just doing basic stuff on it at home. Sorry...