Doing it yourself - something of the past?

[Joe C.]

Re: Granted some can, and some can't

Mike:

When I restored my '65, I completely rebuilt everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. Cluster, heater box, engine, trans, horns, bucket motors, wiper/washer, posi unit/diff, trailing arms, seat tracks and frames/springs, upholstery, soft top, radio, speedo, dist., window regulators, gauges, etc, etc, etc. I even re-wound an "open" windshield washer solenoid myself. There were a few thing that I sent out:

1. Engine components to the machine shop for refurb/balance before reassembly.
2. Instrument faces for silk screening.
3. Holley carb for dichromate coloring.
4. Miscellanouus parts/nuts/bolts, etc for zinc plating.
5. Diff (excluding posi unit, which I rebuilt) for ring/pinion setup.
6. A Corvette restoration shop for body paint.

[Roy B.]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Rob
That's a great pic.

[Craig S.]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Mike - not for me, I do all my own work, from engines down to rear end setup to body and paint. Only drawback is time time time....IBM eats 11-12 hours a day, and my weekends are short Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Scott - a man after my own thinking. Personally, I respect an owner far more who has rebuilt the car and done the work himself. He cares, more, he didn't switch parts between cars, it was a labor of love, and there is a pride far beyond anything done by a restoration service. This is not to say going that route is bad or wrong, but my personal respect factor for that person is way beyond a car owner who farmed it out and doesn't have a clue about many of the nuances of the parts and details. I have never learned more than by restoration and working with the car hands on. A few weeks ago, for my very first time after joining the SW chapter of the NCRS, I participated in flight juding a 67 BB roadster, L71. I judged mechanical, and turns out I was a big asset and knew many more details on the parts and correctness due to my labor of love on my own 67 and 66 BB....I am not really into the judging thing, but felt it was a good way to learn and see other cars......another reason I am going to the summit in February in Dallas.....Craig

[Patrick H.]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

I've worked on almost everything on a Corvette, with the exception of an auto trans and a rear differential. If I could find a great video on rear differential rebuilding, the list would get knocked down to just the trans.

Having said that, I also know my own limitations, and other than dissassembly and stripping, I'll always leave the paint to a pro. Too much $ and visible results at stake. Way too may people value the car based on the paint, so I'll get it done right by someone I trust.

Most of the parts I've worked on I've had to teach myself how to rebuild. As time goes on and more "experienced" guys retire, there are less locals to give advice. Thanks to this board at least I can ask them as they bask in the hurricanes of Florida.

My easiest car, though, was my 72. How much can I do to a Bowtie car? Clean, clean, clean.

Patrick

[Donald O.]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Rob,
THAT is one nice looking Vette. You should be proud of your work. My 67 that I do all myself, except for engine machining, should look so sweet. I'm jealous.

Don

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Patrick,

Don't stop now. The differential isn't all that complicated. Knock out the old bearings, put in the new. Always use a new crush sleeve on the pinion. Make sure the ring and pinion are spotless, mark them with white grease or use some of the setup marking paint, and check that the gears mess in the center of each tooth. If not, shim until it does.

Don't weld the spider gears together.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

I think today's restorer should think of himself in terms of the primary contractor. He should plan on most of the work himself, after all it is his hobby, but be prepared to farm out what he can't do, is financially a nightmare to do, or has become too much of a time-crunch to do.

While many put in "the pro can do it much better", I think that often for many that is true in most of the project. But that isn't the point. The point is to restore a car yourself, enjoy the working on the car, and take pride in the accomplishment.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Pretty much all about time, experience and $$$

If all I had to do was work on my car, it would probably have been finished a year ago.

If I had all the time AND experience necessary to perform ALL aspects of restoration on my car, it may have been done two years ago.

If I had all the time, experience and $$$ I needed, it would have been done three years ago!

I can't tell you how many times I've kept from going bonkers because I was able to stumble out to the garage and de-compress while getting dirty working on my sick ole shark.

When you see me in my mis-firing, oil belching, wheel wobbling red Corvette with the bugs in the paint job, humor me and throw me a thumbs up anyway Ok?

Chuck

[Mike Cobine]

Thumbs Up

Chuck,

the only time I wouldn't give one is if I didn't see you. And when in one of those other types of cars.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Any recommended books? I mean, ones that I can understand? Since I don't own or recognize tool J-1234 the service manual can at times have its limits.

Patrick

[Chuck R.]

Re: Amen Brother Mike *NM*

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Doing it yourself - something of the past?

Usually there is a picture of tool J-1234 in that section at the rear. Then you compare it to a known tool, as most tool J-123x are really just a number to help the mechanics find the 3-inch gear puller or tie rod fork or the harmonic balancer puller.

In a lot of tasks, manuals like Motors Manual, Chiltons, and others have essentially copied the Service Manual and eliminated the J-1234 references to use real world names and often have a Note: to tell how to do this easier or something to watch out for that the SM doesn't.

I always like Motors better than Chiltons, but Chiltons are usually available in any Pep Boys, AutoZone, library, and so on.

They all seem to have the B&W pictures that look like they were taken in 1938.