1st Time Restoring Need Help!!

[Fordhorsemen]

First of all i am no mechanic. So i was going to buy a 65-68 mustang, whichever deal is the best, already rebuilt. ive found a few for 7000-8000 range. But a friend of mine said i should buy a project car, and build it myself.

He said it is easy to work on older stangs, and would be cheaper also. but the thing is, im not a mechanic. He reccommended some 400+ restoration book, and said if i follow the book, i should be able to get the hang of it.

So basically, i was looking for one with no rust or dents, and take it from there. so my question is:

should I? even though im a newbie. id probably have help along the way, or should i just look for one already rebuilt? Where else can i learn to do things on my own? i was planning on taking a beginner automotive class next spring, but i really want to start now.

Im trying to get a 289 or a 302 btw,

Thanks for your help!

 

[TOM B]

Hmmm, I am a mechanic, since I was 2, born with it I guess. I know lots of people who think there mechanics but get into trouble and mess things up then call me. Im not cheep and do no work for free. That said, I think you should take the course, learn what you can to MAINTAIN the car then go out and buy one thats done. Why, because if you do one thing wrong like in the steering or suspension, well, your dead. dont like to scare people but you really have know what your doing and books only give you the words.
So go buy a done mustang and enjoy driving it, show off you new pride.

P.S. To many people buy project cars thinking its a easy job,then the car sits for years and you never get to drive it.

 

[Cobain03]

findin a old stang with no rust for that price, at least around here, is going to be nearly impossible. if you ever get into buying on and take it for a spin, pull over somewhere and look under the dash area..garaunteed rust. mine even has it.

 

[Hack]

It all depends on what you want. If you're interested in learning to work on your car, you should go for it in my opinion. I'm not a mechanic either, I've just figured things out as I had to. Some things I have a mechanic do for me.

I think you should look for a car with a really good body. Replacing rusted out panels is a lot of work and requires a lot of tools.

If the motor is weak, that's a little easier to overcome. Even if you just do some of it yourself, you can save quite a bit. I pulled my motor and had someone else rebuild it for me. I've also replaced the suspension front and rear, brakes, converted to discs from junkyard parts.. This is over 15 years of owning the car. I just have fixed things when I had to. I try to mostly enjoy driving the car.

Yes, you can get hurt or hurt others if you make a mistake. However, I think if you're careful and check your work, you'll be fine.

 

[Ozsum2]

NO. Start with a road worthy car and fix it up as you gain experience and confidence in your ability. They are not easy to work on. Some specialty tools are required as well as a knowledge of mechanics. On a DYI scale, I'd rate it as a 4.5 out of 5.

 

[dolfan87]

NO. Start with a road worthy car and fix it up as you gain experience and confidence in your ability. They are not easy to work on. Some specialty tools are required as well as a knowledge of mechanics. On a DYI scale, I'd rate it as a 4.5 out of 5.

I have to agree here. Spend your money on a car that is already nice, and then 'learn' about Mustangs by taking on small improvement jobs on a car that is already fun to play with.

These cars ARE easier to work on than most, however if you have little to no experience in mechanics, it's VERY easy to become overwhelmed, and lose interest.

There is nothing worse than getting into a project, spending 6 or 7 thousand dollars (more than that is easy to spend) and then wind up selling the whole heap for a grand, simply because it was too big a project.

I am on my fourth Mustang, it's been nearly 4 years, and my project is still in pieces.

Now if you go looking for a nice 67-68 coupe, PLEASE do as the others suggested, and check for rust. Take it to a good body shop if you have to, and have them look for rust.

Then if all that checks out, drop the car off at a mechanic you trust, and pay them to fully check out the car. When you are armed with the details of what is good, and what is bad, it helps with negotiating the price.

Good luck.

87

 

[Ozsum2]

Even if I had a calcutator, I couldn't count the number of guys who have been on here and have started a project, then got in over their heads, and sold the ride off for a huge loss. Pay it smartly. I'll rephrase..........................these cars are easier than most to work on, unless it's a VW Bug, but you have to have some basic understanding of automobiles and their physics.

 

[dolfan87]

Ozsum, not to hi-jack this thread, but why did you change your name?

 

[Ozsum2]

Ozsum, not to hi-jack this thread, but why did you change your name?

Kind of a long story, but we moved and got a new IP, new e-mail,and I lost/forgot my password so I just started over.

 

[dolfan87]

Well that sucks.

Ok, back to the regularly schedualed thread.

 

[Fordhorsemen]

Ok. so i was thinking of getting a dent and rust free body, and i can have a mechanic i know rebuild the engine and transmission for me. so the little, easier things i can fix on my own as i go along.

So my mechanic check it out and he would get it running for me, and i would maybe do the easier things.

how is the interior? is it one of those things you have a professional do?