From TexAgs Sponsor Classic Collision and Restoration:
Even though an auto restoration goes through hundreds of steps, here's a very quick overview of the process.
What is a rotisserie for a car? Well, when you start with a hunk of metal parts, you need a way to build those parts into a classic automobile. Hence the rotisserie…
Before
The first step after disassembly is stripping the body to bare metal, sealing the bare metal with epoxy primer, and doing any needed metalwork. This means cutting, grinding, welding, etc. to remove rust, repair damaged panels, making perfect door/fender/hood gaps, etc. This step can involve many hours of work if you start with a body that's not so good.
After
After the metalwork is done and all of the panels fit together correctly, sometimes hundreds of hours are spent on bodywork block sanding, priming, and using body filler to make every part of the exterior straight. Lot of times we prime and block sand the exterior three or more times to get every wave or imperfection out. We spend many hours in the jambs, engine compartment, and interior metal surfaces doing the same thing.
The next step is exciting because we finally get to see some shiny paint! We paint all of the jambs and interior metal parts, final sand the undercarriage and paint or undercoat as needed. Then we install the drivetrain and suspension, and reassemble the major body panels to get ready for final block sanding, body prep, and paint.
For final sanding, we start with 320 grit sandpaper and block sand the complete exterior. Then we do it again with 400 grit and 600 grit to get the primer smooth and ready for paint. We clean the car good and then mask it up and paint the exterior! After three coats of sealer, three or more coats of color, and then three coats of polyurethane clear, we sand the exterior again with 1500 grit, 2000 grit, 3000 grit, and then buff and polish the clear to a show quality finish.
Once that is all done, we can start reassembly. Lights, trim, chrome, bumpers, wiring, glass, A/C, fuel injection, fuel system, cooling system, insulation, carpet, headliner, interior, exhaust system, and everything else gets installed so we have a car that we can start and drive! This step can be hundreds of hours too, but is the most satisfying part.
My wife and I love to enter our classics in car shows around Texas. In the Fall, we always head to Luckenbach for the Lucky Rod Fest car show. Every Spring we support our local classic car club, the Bluebonnet Street Rodders at their annual charity car competition in Bryan.
Gig 'Em!
Doug Leopold
Classic Collision and Restoration
3220 Hwy 21 West
Bryan, Tx 77803
979-779-8399
Even though an auto restoration goes through hundreds of steps, here's a very quick overview of the process.
What is a rotisserie for a car? Well, when you start with a hunk of metal parts, you need a way to build those parts into a classic automobile. Hence the rotisserie…
Before
The first step after disassembly is stripping the body to bare metal, sealing the bare metal with epoxy primer, and doing any needed metalwork. This means cutting, grinding, welding, etc. to remove rust, repair damaged panels, making perfect door/fender/hood gaps, etc. This step can involve many hours of work if you start with a body that's not so good.
After
After the metalwork is done and all of the panels fit together correctly, sometimes hundreds of hours are spent on bodywork block sanding, priming, and using body filler to make every part of the exterior straight. Lot of times we prime and block sand the exterior three or more times to get every wave or imperfection out. We spend many hours in the jambs, engine compartment, and interior metal surfaces doing the same thing.
The next step is exciting because we finally get to see some shiny paint! We paint all of the jambs and interior metal parts, final sand the undercarriage and paint or undercoat as needed. Then we install the drivetrain and suspension, and reassemble the major body panels to get ready for final block sanding, body prep, and paint.
For final sanding, we start with 320 grit sandpaper and block sand the complete exterior. Then we do it again with 400 grit and 600 grit to get the primer smooth and ready for paint. We clean the car good and then mask it up and paint the exterior! After three coats of sealer, three or more coats of color, and then three coats of polyurethane clear, we sand the exterior again with 1500 grit, 2000 grit, 3000 grit, and then buff and polish the clear to a show quality finish.
Once that is all done, we can start reassembly. Lights, trim, chrome, bumpers, wiring, glass, A/C, fuel injection, fuel system, cooling system, insulation, carpet, headliner, interior, exhaust system, and everything else gets installed so we have a car that we can start and drive! This step can be hundreds of hours too, but is the most satisfying part.
My wife and I love to enter our classics in car shows around Texas. In the Fall, we always head to Luckenbach for the Lucky Rod Fest car show. Every Spring we support our local classic car club, the Bluebonnet Street Rodders at their annual charity car competition in Bryan.
Gig 'Em!
Doug Leopold
Classic Collision and Restoration
3220 Hwy 21 West
Bryan, Tx 77803
979-779-8399