Question for Home Restorers
Discussion
Serious question for those of you who do restorations and resto mods at home.
How on earth do you manage?
I do a lot of resto mod and restoration. I have a full machine shop. Much time is taken up with making spacers, brackets, etc. All in a days work. But it takes up a huge ammount of time.
So how do all you people in lock ups manage? I am genuinely interested - not here to take the piss or patronise you. Far from that - I admire you!
So please explain how you get around all those poxy problems of the brackets, spacers, alterations that are all part and parcel of doing this sort of work.
Thank you!
How on earth do you manage?
I do a lot of resto mod and restoration. I have a full machine shop. Much time is taken up with making spacers, brackets, etc. All in a days work. But it takes up a huge ammount of time.
So how do all you people in lock ups manage? I am genuinely interested - not here to take the piss or patronise you. Far from that - I admire you!
So please explain how you get around all those poxy problems of the brackets, spacers, alterations that are all part and parcel of doing this sort of work.
Thank you!
Ive seen some of your stuff. I particularly liked your Kougar.
For me its just Time.
My resto has so far taken me almost 8 years
I am not modding so no odd bracketry. Anything machine shoppy, I have to pay a machine shop for. So far, with a couple of honourable exceptions, my hit rate has been rather poor from a quality point of view.
I'd love to know where people find these marvellous legendary old guys who can work marvels with bits of old metal, in a couple of weeks, and don't charge half a house.
It keeps me off the streets!
For me its just Time.
My resto has so far taken me almost 8 years
I am not modding so no odd bracketry. Anything machine shoppy, I have to pay a machine shop for. So far, with a couple of honourable exceptions, my hit rate has been rather poor from a quality point of view.
I'd love to know where people find these marvellous legendary old guys who can work marvels with bits of old metal, in a couple of weeks, and don't charge half a house.
It keeps me off the streets!
Edited by Astacus on Wednesday 22 August 21:25
It's surprising what you can do with some basic tools, ingenuity and time.
I do have a metal lathe, pillar drill, bandsaw etc so it's not to basic.
Just finished rebuilding the back axle on an Austin 7, also keeping a Morris Minor on the road with an ongoing list of improvements being made to it.
For me I guess the key is to work on simple cars, (and welding I get someone else to do).
I do have a metal lathe, pillar drill, bandsaw etc so it's not to basic.
Just finished rebuilding the back axle on an Austin 7, also keeping a Morris Minor on the road with an ongoing list of improvements being made to it.
For me I guess the key is to work on simple cars, (and welding I get someone else to do).
Same here I have, lathe, pillar drill, compressor, press etc.
I use a mig welder all the time although I bought a very expensive tig for alloy etc. but never use as not given myself enough time to master it - hence expensive! Lathe has a miller attachment which again I rarely use as its bit of a chew to set-up. I keep loads of scrap for brackets etc but every now and again I make a decent purchase at the local steel stockist.
I use a mig welder all the time although I bought a very expensive tig for alloy etc. but never use as not given myself enough time to master it - hence expensive! Lathe has a miller attachment which again I rarely use as its bit of a chew to set-up. I keep loads of scrap for brackets etc but every now and again I make a decent purchase at the local steel stockist.
I try to put 2-3 days a week into it working with an old friend from schooldays, we have been doing this since most of today's classics were current models.
We have welding and spraying facilities plus a good range of hand tools and there's little that we can't manage - Given time! We also have some long established relationships with other 'old blokes in sheds' who are better at the specialist jobs than ourselves.
My question of the commercial restorers is:- How do you manage to work quickly enough to earn any money and still enjoy what you do?
I regard myself as semi-retired and if I charged for my time I'd barely cover NMW.
We have welding and spraying facilities plus a good range of hand tools and there's little that we can't manage - Given time! We also have some long established relationships with other 'old blokes in sheds' who are better at the specialist jobs than ourselves.
My question of the commercial restorers is:- How do you manage to work quickly enough to earn any money and still enjoy what you do?
I regard myself as semi-retired and if I charged for my time I'd barely cover NMW.
I want to know how you can run a business when you have to deal with customers who want to talk about their cars for hours on end when all you want to do is crack on! Tonight I needed a hand to lift an engine so rang 3 mates and had to leave messages to all! Two turned up within minutes - great except we all had a chin wag when all I wanted to do was spray some bits then turn to engine between coats. Got rid of them sprayed the first coat - started on the engine only to have the 3rd helper turn who wanted a chin wag! Felt very rude telling him to go as I now need to paint the second coat! Then got grief of the other half as we were supposed to be going out!
sheepdip said:
I want to know how you can run a business when you have to deal with customers who want to talk about their cars for hours on end when all you want to do is crack on! Tonight I needed a hand to lift an engine so rang 3 mates and had to leave messages to all! Two turned up within minutes - great except we all had a chin wag when all I wanted to do was spray some bits then turn to engine between coats. Got rid of them sprayed the first coat - started on the engine only to have the 3rd helper turn who wanted a chin wag! Felt very rude telling him to go as I now need to paint the second coat! Then got grief of the other half as we were supposed to be going out!
This is how it goes. I'll talk to people for a while - but if they go on too long I tell them the clock is ticking...... You can carry on talking, but it is going to cost you. Usually works!Interesting stuff anyway from you folks. Keep the stuff coming as I am very interested!
Had to pull the gearbox from the Europa today as it had lost a spring clip and was sticking in neutral. All in a days toil.....
I think time is the key. It took me 2 years to restore my Lancer turbo until now and it is still not finished. I split my project into 3 parts (drivetrain / brakes body) , and tackled the drivetrain first, up on axle stands stripping off the axle, prop and gearbox and sending them off to be rebuilt as money and time allowed.
It was done with a normal "garage" set of tools, anything specialised I asked a sympathetic mechanic friend and paid him in beers. I became first name and drinking buddies with the local sand and shot blasting guy and also friends with the local powder coaters (actually it was a sign manufacturing company who did powder coating as part of their production process) - By speaking nicely to one of the blokes and agreeing a "deal" I was able to send through parts for cash.
I seeked out another local business specialising in nuts and bolts (Suffolk Fasteners http://www.suffolkfasteners.com/ ) who sell nuts and bolts individually , will try and source anything they can for you and always return an enquiry, they do metric and imperial. Family run business and always helpful.
For the brakes and suspension I did my own sleuthing, used GAZ in Basildon to fully test, rate and replace my springs and shocks and Big Redd on Ebay for my repair and piston kits.
Numerous cross referencing for parts with a helpful Mitsubishi guy (Kevin and Brighton Mitsubishi) and help from the MLR forum.
I looked at it as a true labour of love. Finishing that last job when it's 01:20 and I've got to be up for work at 6, lying under the car listening to blues on Radio 2 working out how to remove a steering box, or feeding new and replaced fuel lines through brand new clips in the middle of a dark winters night and only the occasional waft of warmth coming from the halogen light I'm using.
Then, when a bloke a few years older than me shakes my hand in a garage forecourt and tells me "he had one of them years ago - they're awesome, do you want to sell it?" - makes the whole journey worthwhile.
It was done with a normal "garage" set of tools, anything specialised I asked a sympathetic mechanic friend and paid him in beers. I became first name and drinking buddies with the local sand and shot blasting guy and also friends with the local powder coaters (actually it was a sign manufacturing company who did powder coating as part of their production process) - By speaking nicely to one of the blokes and agreeing a "deal" I was able to send through parts for cash.
I seeked out another local business specialising in nuts and bolts (Suffolk Fasteners http://www.suffolkfasteners.com/ ) who sell nuts and bolts individually , will try and source anything they can for you and always return an enquiry, they do metric and imperial. Family run business and always helpful.
For the brakes and suspension I did my own sleuthing, used GAZ in Basildon to fully test, rate and replace my springs and shocks and Big Redd on Ebay for my repair and piston kits.
Numerous cross referencing for parts with a helpful Mitsubishi guy (Kevin and Brighton Mitsubishi) and help from the MLR forum.
I looked at it as a true labour of love. Finishing that last job when it's 01:20 and I've got to be up for work at 6, lying under the car listening to blues on Radio 2 working out how to remove a steering box, or feeding new and replaced fuel lines through brand new clips in the middle of a dark winters night and only the occasional waft of warmth coming from the halogen light I'm using.
Then, when a bloke a few years older than me shakes my hand in a garage forecourt and tells me "he had one of them years ago - they're awesome, do you want to sell it?" - makes the whole journey worthwhile.
Like anything, if you WANT to do something it is amazing what people are capable of.
Biggest job we did (with my son as the leading hand). No garage, no cover proper back yard build.
Everything mechanical out of a 16v MK 2 Golf, everything mechanical out of a base spec MK2 Jetta, everything transplanted into the Jetta including the 2.0 16v lump from a MK4 Golf.
It was up and running in a couple of months including as many performance upgrades as money would allow. It was quite a quick car and had a proper touring car noise to it.
I sent a write up to Practical Performance car magazines readers rides section and they did a full page on it.
Biggest job we did (with my son as the leading hand). No garage, no cover proper back yard build.
Everything mechanical out of a 16v MK 2 Golf, everything mechanical out of a base spec MK2 Jetta, everything transplanted into the Jetta including the 2.0 16v lump from a MK4 Golf.
It was up and running in a couple of months including as many performance upgrades as money would allow. It was quite a quick car and had a proper touring car noise to it.
I sent a write up to Practical Performance car magazines readers rides section and they did a full page on it.
randomeddy said:
Like anything, if you WANT to do something it is amazing what people are capable of.
Biggest job we did (with my son as the leading hand). No garage, no cover proper back yard build.
Everything mechanical out of a 16v MK 2 Golf, everything mechanical out of a base spec MK2 Jetta, everything transplanted into the Jetta including the 2.0 16v lump from a MK4 Golf.
It was up and running in a couple of months including as many performance upgrades as money would allow. It was quite a quick car and had a proper touring car noise to it.
I sent a write up to Practical Performance car magazines readers rides section and they did a full page on it.
Excellent! I salute you! I cut my automtive teeth working outside in the rain. Why did it alwas rain... cue the song!Biggest job we did (with my son as the leading hand). No garage, no cover proper back yard build.
Everything mechanical out of a 16v MK 2 Golf, everything mechanical out of a base spec MK2 Jetta, everything transplanted into the Jetta including the 2.0 16v lump from a MK4 Golf.
It was up and running in a couple of months including as many performance upgrades as money would allow. It was quite a quick car and had a proper touring car noise to it.
I sent a write up to Practical Performance car magazines readers rides section and they did a full page on it.
Like hearing these stories. Keep 'em coming........
My old system used to be...
1 - Temp' job for a bit to raise some cash.
2 - Stockpile as many good condition spares as you can - servicing a part is easier and cheaper than repairing seriously rusted/worn out rubbish.
3 - Leave job.
4 - Carry on getting out of bed early and starting work just as I'd become accustomed; difference being I would now spend all day in the garage/alleyway - sometimes working all through the night. If it gets cold out there, retire with parts of project to either the kitchen or living room.
5 - Never take on something that required an unrealistic amount of specialist knowledge.
One example... Built my old 2.5l Vitesse convertible in six weeks. Started with a 1600 Saloon, took it down to a bare chassis (which was strengthened, bare metalled and painted), rebuilt with uprated brakes and suspension, diff' and a rebuilt TR6 engine, body was cut at the wing joint and a convertible top half grafted on etc.
Another... Fully rebuilt my Suzuki GT550 two stroke in about a fortnight, included an engine rebuild and a full rewire and respray etc.
Point 6...
6 - Might not work if you are not still single...
On the other hand, more recently I spent four years working on my Jaguar 4.2 powered '36 Austin. There was so much specialist machining and the like that I couldn't do with my angle grinder, files and pillar drill that I finally sold it as an unfinished project... See point 5!
1 - Temp' job for a bit to raise some cash.
2 - Stockpile as many good condition spares as you can - servicing a part is easier and cheaper than repairing seriously rusted/worn out rubbish.
3 - Leave job.
4 - Carry on getting out of bed early and starting work just as I'd become accustomed; difference being I would now spend all day in the garage/alleyway - sometimes working all through the night. If it gets cold out there, retire with parts of project to either the kitchen or living room.
5 - Never take on something that required an unrealistic amount of specialist knowledge.
One example... Built my old 2.5l Vitesse convertible in six weeks. Started with a 1600 Saloon, took it down to a bare chassis (which was strengthened, bare metalled and painted), rebuilt with uprated brakes and suspension, diff' and a rebuilt TR6 engine, body was cut at the wing joint and a convertible top half grafted on etc.
Another... Fully rebuilt my Suzuki GT550 two stroke in about a fortnight, included an engine rebuild and a full rewire and respray etc.
Point 6...
6 - Might not work if you are not still single...
On the other hand, more recently I spent four years working on my Jaguar 4.2 powered '36 Austin. There was so much specialist machining and the like that I couldn't do with my angle grinder, files and pillar drill that I finally sold it as an unfinished project... See point 5!
Not a resto but I built my racecar at home on the drive, for many reasons it took me a couple of years to complete during which it rained, it snowed and I got sunburned on more than one occasion but I kept plugging at it even when I wanted to set fire to the damn thing, the wife bless her even got underneath it with me to help refit the gearbox! But the end result as I went off the line for the first time made it all worthwhile.
So I guess its a labour of love thing. I also now have a much larger tool set and feel far more capable/happy tinkering with it knowing I put it together and everything comes undone easily and has been put together properly
So I guess its a labour of love thing. I also now have a much larger tool set and feel far more capable/happy tinkering with it knowing I put it together and everything comes undone easily and has been put together properly
randomeddy said:
Like anything, if you WANT to do something it is amazing what people are capable of.
Biggest job we did (with my son as the leading hand). No garage, no cover proper back yard build.
Everything mechanical out of a 16v MK 2 Golf, everything mechanical out of a base spec MK2 Jetta, everything transplanted into the Jetta including the 2.0 16v lump from a MK4 Golf.
It was up and running in a couple of months including as many performance upgrades as money would allow. It was quite a quick car and had a proper touring car noise to it.
I sent a write up to Practical Performance car magazines readers rides section and they did a full page on it.
Biggest job we did (with my son as the leading hand). No garage, no cover proper back yard build.
Everything mechanical out of a 16v MK 2 Golf, everything mechanical out of a base spec MK2 Jetta, everything transplanted into the Jetta including the 2.0 16v lump from a MK4 Golf.
It was up and running in a couple of months including as many performance upgrades as money would allow. It was quite a quick car and had a proper touring car noise to it.
I sent a write up to Practical Performance car magazines readers rides section and they did a full page on it.
MK4?? what am I on about, it was an ABF out of a MK3. ( Had to correct it, OCD).Edited by randomeddy on Tuesday 28th August 21:15
texaxile said:
I think time is the key. It took me 2 years to restore my Lancer turbo until now and it is still not finished. I split my project into 3 parts (drivetrain / brakes body) , and tackled the drivetrain first, up on axle stands stripping off the axle, prop and gearbox and sending them off to be rebuilt as money and time allowed.
It was done with a normal "garage" set of tools, anything specialised I asked a sympathetic mechanic friend and paid him in beers. I became first name and drinking buddies with the local sand and shot blasting guy and also friends with the local powder coaters (actually it was a sign manufacturing company who did powder coating as part of their production process) - By speaking nicely to one of the blokes and agreeing a "deal" I was able to send through parts for cash.
I seeked out another local business specialising in nuts and bolts (Suffolk Fasteners http://www.suffolkfasteners.com/ ) who sell nuts and bolts individually , will try and source anything they can for you and always return an enquiry, they do metric and imperial. Family run business and always helpful.
For the brakes and suspension I did my own sleuthing, used GAZ in Basildon to fully test, rate and replace my springs and shocks and Big Redd on Ebay for my repair and piston kits.
Numerous cross referencing for parts with a helpful Mitsubishi guy (Kevin and Brighton Mitsubishi) and help from the MLR forum.
I looked at it as a true labour of love. Finishing that last job when it's 01:20 and I've got to be up for work at 6, lying under the car listening to blues on Radio 2 working out how to remove a steering box, or feeding new and replaced fuel lines through brand new clips in the middle of a dark winters night and only the occasional waft of warmth coming from the halogen light I'm using.
Then, when a bloke a few years older than me shakes my hand in a garage forecourt and tells me "he had one of them years ago - they're awesome, do you want to sell it?" - makes the whole journey worthwhile.
On my 308, I've spent the last few winters overhauling/improving the car. Your post has so many striking similarities to my experience!It was done with a normal "garage" set of tools, anything specialised I asked a sympathetic mechanic friend and paid him in beers. I became first name and drinking buddies with the local sand and shot blasting guy and also friends with the local powder coaters (actually it was a sign manufacturing company who did powder coating as part of their production process) - By speaking nicely to one of the blokes and agreeing a "deal" I was able to send through parts for cash.
I seeked out another local business specialising in nuts and bolts (Suffolk Fasteners http://www.suffolkfasteners.com/ ) who sell nuts and bolts individually , will try and source anything they can for you and always return an enquiry, they do metric and imperial. Family run business and always helpful.
For the brakes and suspension I did my own sleuthing, used GAZ in Basildon to fully test, rate and replace my springs and shocks and Big Redd on Ebay for my repair and piston kits.
Numerous cross referencing for parts with a helpful Mitsubishi guy (Kevin and Brighton Mitsubishi) and help from the MLR forum.
I looked at it as a true labour of love. Finishing that last job when it's 01:20 and I've got to be up for work at 6, lying under the car listening to blues on Radio 2 working out how to remove a steering box, or feeding new and replaced fuel lines through brand new clips in the middle of a dark winters night and only the occasional waft of warmth coming from the halogen light I'm using.
Then, when a bloke a few years older than me shakes my hand in a garage forecourt and tells me "he had one of them years ago - they're awesome, do you want to sell it?" - makes the whole journey worthwhile.
1. I would only work when the wife went to bed (i.e around 10pm) and finish anytime between 11pm and 1am - the alarm clock would go off at 6am....
2. I too would listen to the radio during this time - but Danny Baker podcasts of his 5 Live show.
3. There would sometimes be snow outside. The first few years I relied on the heat given off by 2 x 400W Halogen lights but last year I sneaked a 2kw electric fan out of the house and it does a great job.
4. GAZ shocks are only up the road from me. I took my shocks & springs to them and they built an adjustable set up for me (half the price of the alternatives available). They start real early, so I made numerous visits to them before work (i.e. at 6am).
5. Big Redd refurbished my rear calipers.
6. I used Spalding Fasteners (https://www.spaldingfasteners.co.uk/) for my nuts and bolts - they were really helpful.
7. I bought tools as and when I needed them. The biggest item being a 12 ton press - for pressing out/in suspension bushes. It was cheap as chips, delivered from Cardiff the next day and weighed a ton...
8. Forum help - FerrariChat 308 section and the Home Mechanics section of Pistonheads
Here's a picture from January 2016:
Edited by Andy 308GTB on Wednesday 29th August 21:23
right now a sand blasting cabinet. I don't have one and the nearest person who can do the job for me is a 45 min drive away, which means I have to save up several bits to do at once. Thats a bind when really all I want to do is get my part blasted, painted and back into its assembly.
A lift!
Axle stands are all well and good but when working on the underneath of a car, being able to have it at shoulder height would make it almost a pleasure. Also being able to raise and lower the car at the press of a button would be nice.
In fairness, if I was to knock out the central pillar in my (double) garage and install a single central door there would be room to fit a lift. The only obstacle is Mrs 308GTB...
Axle stands are all well and good but when working on the underneath of a car, being able to have it at shoulder height would make it almost a pleasure. Also being able to raise and lower the car at the press of a button would be nice.
In fairness, if I was to knock out the central pillar in my (double) garage and install a single central door there would be room to fit a lift. The only obstacle is Mrs 308GTB...
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