Reserved! Turn Your Old Mustang Back Into A Classic
One of the most commonly restored cars today is the Ford Mustang. This is primarily because of the car’s popularity and the availability of replacement Mustang parts on the secondary market. Even coveted 1967 Mustang parts are readily available.
Mustangs are one of the easier types of cars to restore, but even this classic beauty can sometimes pose a challenge. Here are a few restoration tips that can minimize most of those challenging issues Mustang lovers might be facing:
Develop a Restoration Plan
One of the most important and overlooked steps in Mustang restoration is formulating a restoration plan. It can get easy to get overwhelmed when restoring one of these classic cars simply because of the many choices available.
There are classic replacement parts and reproduction parts, which do you choose? Additionally, the restoration process itself can be quite lengthy. Some car lovers give up out of frustration over the investment of time involved.
There are other questions that must be addressed:
– Should the car be re-painted before or after the interior is done?
– At what point in the process should the suspension be rebuilt?
There isn’t any right or wrong answers to these questions. The issues are simply a matter of opinion, and opinions differ.
However, by creating an organized restoration plan, the risks of ending up with with a pile of parts and no direction can be avoided. Other than the expenses involved, it is these risks that often result in an abandoned restoration project.
Document the Disassembly Process
Yes, the Mustang does have a relatively simple design. However, like any car, Mustangs are much easier to take apart than they are to put back together. The key to putting all the pieces back in the right place is to make sure you document the disassembly.
This can be done by filming the process, taking pictures, or writing down notes. Choose whatever option works for you. You’ll be thankful you did this once you start attempting to put the vehicle back together.
Assess Your Limitations Realistically
Very people realize the rime, resources, and knowledge that it requires to completely restore a Mustang. Most enthusiasts make the mistake of believing that they can do everything on their own. Unfortunately these stories rarely have a happy ending. In fact, the resulting mess can end up creating a bigger problem than the one that was originally there.
You’ve got to be realistic about your own limitations when restoring a car. You might not be able to handle certain things like welding, painting, interior work, or other components of the restoration process. If you’re unfamiliar with working with engines, transmissions, the suspension, or any of these aspects, obtain professional help.
The Mustang is a popular car and there are restoration shops that specialize in restoring Mustangs. There are also Mustang clubs that have members who will most likely be willing to share their valuable information with you. It doesn’t mean that only professionals should handle the restoration process. It just means you need to realize when you should be asking for assistance.
Always Use Quality Parts
No other car has as many reproduction or classic parts available than the Mustang. However, not every aftermarket part is of the same quality. When the car was produced, it was created to be relatively inexpensive. As a result, not all parts fit together as well as they should.
Cheaply made parts can make your problems much worse. You could get parts that don’t fit or work. This is a big problem with car body parts such as doors and fenders. This is one reason why you should always buy your restoration parts from a reputable parts dealer.
