What is the best order for restoring a vehicle?

[BrantDale]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the world of auto restoration. I bought a 69 Custom Cab F100 about a month ago. I bought it with the idea that my son and I would restore it. Because I am new to this whole notion of fixing up an older vehicle, I thought I would get some opinions on the order for restoring a vehicle. I am sure that there as many ways to restore a vehicle as there are people out there doing it. But is there a logical order to do it? I build houses and know that there is a sequence of events that need to happen to be efficient and the most cost effective, is it the same with a truck?

We are on a budget and would like to drive the vehicle during the restoration (at least some of the time). I rebuilt the transmission and carburetor, and it starts and runs now. The body is fairly straight and it is not an eyesore. There is a little rust in the floor boards but it seems structurally sound. We are not concerned about a original condition restoration but a vehicle that looks good and functions properly.

Thanks for your thoughts in advance!

[1971ford]

Define restoration.

Down to bare and stripped frame rails? Or the body stays on the truck...

[jzjames]

(runs and drives?)
1. brakes
2. linkage & running gear
3. any leaks letting in water that will turn to rust.

[fordman]

the only true restoration is a frame off restore. anything else is considered repairing the vehicle.

[guerra]

I think restoring a truck on a budget would be hard and may take too long. and you may end up losing interest. it would also be hard to drive while you are restoring. i say fix whats wrong and have your self a nice driver. when you come into some money you may restore then..

[cdeal28078]

I call what I did to my 71 a body on restoration. I did all of the mechanical rebuilding I needed to then turned to the body. Then later I decided I wanted disc brakes and an automatic with power steering so did that. When I started on the body I couldn't drive it for about 2 months as it was tore apart pretty good. I emptied the cab and doors of glass and about anything that could be removed except the wiring and heater box. Pulled the bed so I could clean and paint the under side of it and the frame. The cab stayed on but I got to all of the frame under it.
I pulled the front clip to make painting that easier for me. I also pulled the doors. Removed all the trim as well. I did what body work I could, including sand blasting the bed seams, primes and painted everything and put it all back together.
I had not built my shop yet so I did all of this under a tent I built out of 1/4"s and a huge tarp.
clint

[1971ford]

the only true restoration is a frame off restore. anything else is considered repairing the vehicle.

Agreed

[BrantDale]

Thanks for the responses. Based on your comments, I am not looking at a true restoration, but more like what Clint has done, or something between repairs and a "body on restoration". It will be something that would be done over an extended period of time. Clint, what do estimate that the cost to do what you have done is?

JzJames, I have drums on the vehicle now but would like to change to disc, the cab seems to stay dry but the weather stripping has shrunk and is due to be replaced, and I am not sure what you mean by linkage and running gear (my ingnorance is showing .

Thanks again.

[1971ford]

Thanks for the responses. Based on your comments, I am not looking at a true restoration, but more like what Clint has done, or something between repairs and a "body on restoration". It will be something that would be done over an extended period of time. Clint, what do estimate that the cost to do what you have done is?

JzJames, I have drums on the vehicle now but would like to change to disc, the cab seems to stay dry but the weather stripping has shrunk and is due to be replaced, and I am not sure what you mean by linkage and running gear (my ingnorance is showing .

Thanks again.

In that case, I'd go about it like this. As far as the mechanics part, and with a budget in mind...

Rear drum rebuild kits, new shocks all 4 corners, full engine tune-up, front disc brake junkyard swap, power brake swap if its manual, power steering swap if its manual, and depending how far you want to go... i-beam pivot bushings, radius arm bushings, leaf spring bushings, new coil springs.
In that order. That's how I'd do it anyways. Not like the order matters a whole lot.

Generally speaking I would do - drivetrain first, brakes/suspension second, body last.

[westernkansas]

i like this topic, I also am on a budget and my truck is my daily driver, i can check shocks on all four corners off, concusion in the progress. was going to do wheel bearings and brakes this weekend but this past week the bushings for the radius arm drivers side found a new home along the road somewhere. having them replaced by machanic for i don't believe i have the proper tools to do it and that coil spring scares the hell out of me. my plans are to keep the engine running smooth, then the brake system, next ujoints. my personal plans are to let my son work on the truck when he is older so it can be his headache and i can shop around for another bumb for my new headache.

[BrantDale]

Ryan, thanks for the comments, that is very helpful. Fortunately, the truck has power brakes and steering, so I will start with shocks, and rear drum kit, then move to the disc brakes. The engine has had a tune up but still needs a little tweaking, oil pan leak, etc.

Gives me some direction.

[Jarred Hodges]

It would very on what you and your son want. Personally myself if the truck ran good and looked ok I would do small things and try to keep the truck drivable. If you take it off the frame and so on so could loose interest easily. I guess the decision is yours to make. I would just decise a plan and go with it. I have changed ideas a lot and never got much done

[70_F100]

I like what Ryan said, but I'd change the order just a bit if you're going to be driving it while doing your upgrades/restoration.

Suspension/steering/brakes would be my first priority.

If you can't steer it and stop it, you've got BIG troubles, no matter how well it runs!!!

[Oren09]

I would save the body work until after your son graduates high school. New drivers almost always hit something at some point.

[Caseys71]

I agree with doing brakes/suspension first then getting it running, and finally doing body-work/paint and interior type stuff like most everyone else does.

I would save the body work until after your son graduates high school. New drivers almost always hit something at some point.

Or, do the bodywork now then he will have a good looking truck which he will appreciate and therefore take better care of/ be more cautious with . I know that nobody plans to get in wrecks but when I get my license and am in the bump I plan on being pretty careful. After all of the work/money that I've already put into it and the more work/money I have planned to put into it the very last thing I want to do is to let my bump get in any kind of accident.