Overhaul Your Clunker: A Guide to Making Your Dream Car

Do you have an old clunker taking up space in your garage or backyard? Perhaps it’s taken you months or even years to muster up enough energy to finish the project. It may seem daunting and nearly impossible to complete a task like overhauling a vehicle. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it completely alone! If you follow the right steps you can end up with the car of your dreams.

Frame Restoration

Begin at the very bottom of the vehicle and work your way out when starting your overhaul project. If your vehicle is a frame and chassis then you will want to remove all interference’s so you can separate them. Once they are separated you will have the option to bead blast the metal chassis or hand sand it. Apply a nice base coat usually black or gray to protect the metal once it is cleaned and repaired if there was rust.

Body Work

Once you have the chassis repaired to your liking it will be time to move on to the body. Bodywork takes time in order to be done correctly. Some people choose to take their vehicles to a body shop for proper body filler, sanding and painting. You can shop around to ensure you find a body shop that meets your requirements and price range.

Engine /Transmission / Brakes

What better way to get your old clunker running than with a new or refurbished crate engine and transmission. Crate engines and transmissions come in different sizes and horsepower ratings. You will want to choose the one that best suits your overhaul needs. Will you be creating a high horsepower weekend drag car or one you can drive daily? Give all four brake calipers and pads a good check to make sure that they operating correctly. It can be fairly inexpensive to change the rotors and pads. Do your research when it comes to finding reasonable pricing for parts. If you’re worried your vehicle might be a little old for the latest auto gear, shops like Reggie’s Garage specialize in classic car parts.

Affordable Options for Repair

When starting an overhaul project the list of things to repair can be very long. You have to ask yourself if you’re capable of DIY work on the vehicle. Doing the repair work by yourself can save you a lot of money, but not everyone can do welding and bodywork. Your best option may be to shop around and see who has the cheapest rates to perform the work you need.

DIY overhaul projects can save you money and give a certain sense of ownership. The downside to repairing the vehicle yourself is the time it will take you to complete the overhaul. With a packed schedule, you may opt for hiring a professional. One thing is for sure, you won’t ever look at that old clunker the same way once you’re finished overhauling it!