I acquired my first restoration project while attending college in Kansas back in the late sixties. I was a sophomore, working part-time at a nearby truck stop and had amassed a whopping $500. Back in those days that was enough to go car shopping. I saw a 1959 Triumph TR3 advertised in the Topeka newspaper and got a friend to go with me to check it out. It got the typical 19-year-old”s “Driveway Inspection” and a deal was struck!
Armed with a Floyd Clymer repair manual, a single-tray Craftsman toolbox and a rented garage (dirt floor / no electricity) I began my TR3 “restoration” process. Those were the days before YouTube, online support forums and the ability to order parts and tools online and receive them in just a day or two. On the plus side, we had full-service gas stations and parts stores still had complete machine shops and knowledgeable technicians.
Owning and working on that TR3 for three and a half years formed the basis of my mechanical knowledge and life-long love of British cars.
Over the past ten years, three vintage British cars joined our family. Of the three, only the 1973 Mini was an intentional purchase. They say: “Don’t visit a pet shelter unless you’re prepared to bring home a dog because they’re so darn cute!” Well, the same thing is true of classic British iron. Don’t tag along with a friend to check out a car if there’s still room in your garage. Of course, I didn’t follow that advice and two Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprites edged our daily drivers out of the garage.
Our most recent acquisition, Ms. Scarlet, a 1959 bright red Bugeye, was previously owned by a mechanically-challenged gentleman in a small rural town in northern Illinois. Over his 11 years of ownership, he had driven it sparingly and repaired only the most minor maintenance items. That said, the Bugeye has remained a rust-free and very original example. The car had not run in three years and the Seller was very upfront on the hydraulic issues that were present. As usual with me . . . It got the typical “Driveway Inspection” and a deal was struck!
Currently, I’m deeply involved with Scarlet’s renovation and that got me thinking about all of the day-to-day lessons that I’ve learned from past and current projects. Here’s my partial list of Car Restoration Lessons.
Budgeting – Know where you want to be in the end. Estimating how much an auto restoration project will cost and what the projected market value will be at the end is a perfect opportunity to learn about creating and sticking to a budget.
Tip: Every project will take more time and cost more money than you planned for.
Patience - My original plan for this project was to get the engine running, replace the rear brake cylinders and take it for a test drive. That was eight weeks ago and I just keep getting deeper and deeper into the restoration. I could have stuck with my original plans but the more I delved into the “get the engine running” process, the more I began to realize that this car deserved a lot more “love”.
Patience and delayed rewards are virtues that should come with all automotive restorations. Good things come to those who wait and are willing to work for it.
Anyone who’s ever gotten involved with car repair knows that sooner or later a trip to the auto parts store or to your favorite online specialty parts vendor is in your future. Here, both patience and planning come into play.
Admit it, who’s never encountered an issue and immediately placed an order with Moss only to discover that you should have ordered an “upper bushing” or the “kit” instead of just the worn-out part? Save yourself time and money in extra shipping by patiently inspecting all of the repair areas and only then make your shopping list.
Tip: It might even be a good idea to leave those items in your shopping cart and “sleep on it” overnight before checking out.
Project to-Do Lists and Parts Shopping Lists are your friends. Woodworkers are credited with the saying “Measure twice and cut once”. That saying translates into “Plan Twice and Order Once” as it relates to car restoration
Problem-Solving / Planning - I find that one of the key elements of planning and the related problem-solving process is remembering “What-Went-Where?”.
Pictures, Pictures, Pictures! An amazing amount of problem-solving time can be saved by having a collection of images that are taken at each step of disassembly. Which washer went first? How was that line run?
Tip: Use zip ties to help identify where parts go. Is this the L. or R. brake drum? Is this the L. or R. float bowl? Run a zip tie through a hole in the part on the L. part or use the larger white ones to actually label it.
The Value of Persistence - I learned to not make decisions when I'm aggravated. If you're working on a screw that won't go in right away and you start busting your knuckles, you'll strip the screw. Calm down and come back with a better mindset, and that screw will go right in.
Technical Skills – My project could have been completed much faster than I’ve taken, but it wouldn’t have resulted in something I was proud of. Could I have rebuilt the Bugeye’s SU carburetors and test started the engine in a day? Sure, but I decided to remove all of the engine components, hydraulics cables and electronics so that I could strip and repaint the engine bay.
Is that time consuming and difficult? Yes! Way more difficult, but in the long run it will be so worth it! A good job is much harder than an okay job. A great job is exponentially more difficult than “good”.
Tip: Work within your limitations. For some repairs, you might find it better to get professional auto mechanics to complete the task. Identifying your strengths and limits is important for everyone, as is knowing when to hire a professional when you are out of your depth. Right when you think you’re a “YouTube Certified Mechanic” and know everything there is to know, there's always something around the corner that's ready to obliterate everything you thought you understood.
Teamwork / Ask For Help - When I first started working on cars, it was easy for me to ask for help…I didn’t know anything. Now that I’ve got some knowledge under my belt, I sometimes like to think that I’ve got it figured out…but I’m far from it. I have the luxury of belonging to the active IL. Flat Land British Car Club and a close-knit group of gearheads so usually an answer or helping hand is just a holler away. It’s seldom the case that I can walk away from one of our Motoring Monday gatherings that I don’t learn a new way of doing something.
Confidence / Experience - Tearing into one’s beloved classic car can feel a bit scary. You’ll probably fear you’ll screw something up or it will never get back together. Right? If you take your time, ask for help and work within your skill limitations the results will far outweigh the risks. With each new success I build confidence that I can tackle the next more involved repair. As I work through more and more repairs on the Bugeye I’m excited to experience the improvements!
Work Ethic / Do it right the first time - The more I do in the garage, the further this gets pounded into my brain. Each time I think of cutting corners, I realize the effect it will have on the end result…and put the work in to do it right. Modern spade connectors or the correct bullet-style? Should I use Lucas color coded wire or just NAPA red-spooled wire? Remember, we’re only the caretakers of our cars for a short period of time. You’re doing repairs not only to make your car more reliable but also to preserve it for the next owner. Do them a favor and complete your repairs to the best of your budget and ability.
Put things back where you found them / Clean up your own mess – I’ve observed that professional mechanics and repair shops are meticulous in keeping their tools and work area clean and organized. I know that it can sometimes seem easier to leave things “right where they are” because I’m going to work on it again tomorrow or on the weekend. The problem is that “tomorrow” becomes “next week” and your tools and parts get jostled, mixed or worse . . .LOST!
Take that small amount of time at the end of each work session to return your tools to their proper location and bag or tag parts so that they are easily identified when you return to them.
Share everything – I want to give a major shout-out to all of the invaluable YouTube videos and online forums. If you’ve ever tried to video your own repair project you know how much time these individuals spend just to share their knowledge.
For my specific project, the YouTube channel Econobox Garage has been a blessing. If you plan on tackling a restoration project, be sure to research the YouTube playlists for your specific marque and model. I will often save or email myself the link to favorite videos so that I can quickly reference them while working of a related repair.
Tip: Pay it forward - If YOU have the time and talent to give back to our hobby by creating videos and responding positively on forums please do so. You probably have used other’s posts and videos more than you care to remember.
Find Satisfaction in Taking a Project from Start to Finish - Anybody who has restored a classic car will tell you it takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears and beers. But in the end, I will know Ms. Scarlet like the back of my hand, because I have touched every part of her.
When I finally get into Ms. Scarlet and step on the gas the first time, I’m sure that all the frustrations of the renovation process will disappear. I’ll put her in gear, let out the clutch and nothing else will matter. I’ll be transported back in time to my youth and “Life is Good”!
