What is the best way to restore an old car or truck to the original condition that it was in when it was new?

 

If you are on a limited budget, like I am, I've found that doing what you can without the aid of a mechanic or body shop help to save money. Simple things like gluing in weather striping and replacing the molding. Just do one thing at a time to try to keep from going broke because discontinued parts are going to be expensive.

Take your time and do everything right, and if you don't know how to do it find someone who does. Remember that it's your car! You don't wont something done wrong because it decreases the final value of it and then the part you tried to fix or replace might not work right. You'll spend even more money trying to get it fixed.

Take your time , do what you can, find a good mechanic, and take care of it, and I think that you'll be pleased with your results.

Questions or Comments:

Here are a few things that I have done to mine.

1) I put all new weather striping around the doors and and all of the windows and windshield.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will stop the doors from rattling and fix most of the leaks around the windows and doors.

2) I put new division bar channels and dew guards in the windows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is more important than it sounds because these things can keep your window from breaking and it stop them from rattling.

3) I put in a new dash pad and new arm rest pads for the doors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In most older cars and trucks the dash pads and arm rest pads are worn out and cracked.

I've had to pay someone else to work on my truck because I'm not a mechanic. I had to get the transmission rebuilt, get a new water pump put in, and a new thermostat and radiator hose.

Restoring a car of truck can be very costly. Parts might the hard to find and you are going to have to do your part even if you don't do the work. Anything lasts longer if you take care of it. My Home page and my Interest page have more information about my truck.