Tell Me About Muscle Cars

So, I've inherited my dad's 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix. At first, I was reluctant to take it, because I don't know jack shit about restoring/preserving/maintaining cars. My dad was always the one that loved working on cars, but I never really caught on. Just wasn't my thing. But I'd really like to be able to restore this one, and get it in good shape, because I know how much he loved it.

This is what it looks like. He had thrown a coat of primer on there, but never ended up getting its new paint job. I'm thinking about doing it in black.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...5-12-20088.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...5-12-20087.jpg

The interior needs to be gutted:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...-12-200811.jpg

I didn't think to take any pictures of the engine, but it's awesome. He'd just put a lot of money into it, before he died, so it definitely runs strong. It really just needs some cosmetic work, and the whole car would be in great shape.

Here are pictures of others' GPs, to show what it looks like with a good paint job:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6..._136900915.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...and-prix-1.jpg



So...does anyone have any "car maintenance for complete retards" kind of information/tips/links/etc. to share? The cars I'm used to driving are very low-maintenance cruisers, but I've never even approached a car with the intent on keeping it looking and running like the high-performance car that this has the potential to be.

I can see you driving that car

Those are getting very hard to find. Most seem to have been scrapped before collector appeal came upon them.

Interiors are not hard to do if you take your time and make fun of it. Swapping parts is someting I have done quite a bit, but paintwork and upholstery is best left to the experienced.


One other piece of advice, dont fix it up so nice you get to be hesitant to drive it. I did that with a 77 Trans Am SE( Smokey & the Bandit). I didnt keep it very long. Never got that detailed, not atached again. Fix it, drive the wheels off it and have fun :goodjob:

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Originally Posted by NonDualistic

Swapping parts is someting I have done quite a bit, but paintwork and upholstery is best left to the experienced.

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Where do you usually get your parts? Do you go down to junk yards and see what they have, or buy yours otherwise new or used?

And yeah, I definitely wouldn't be touching the upholstery. Right now, I just wanna do what I can to get it somewhat presentable, then I will definitely leave the details to the professionals.

I used to know where every junkyard was within 50 miles. Going junkyarding was the best part of car building. Though I dont consider myself a "car builder" by any stretch of the imagination. Tinkerer, jack of al trades master of none would be more accurate.
Junk yards are a whole lot cheaper too, unless you figure in cost of fuel to get there nowadays.

Otherwise, I have bought all the additions to my new Mustang off Ebay, along with a lot of garden tractor parts over the years. I restore them, went to those rather than cars. Cars got to costing too much $$$ and take up too much space to store.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NonDualistic

jack of al trades master of none would be more accurate.

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Haha. I feel you. :chuckle:

I know of a couple of yards that are out in Daytona, which is a good 30mins or so from here, so I may check one out over next weekend. I'd never thought of eBay for car parts, but I will definitely check it out, now that you mention it.

Hi,

I don't play with muscle cars, I restore old British cars (as I live in the UK) but I imagine the processes are much the same.

If you are doing this on your own at home, don't try to see the project car as one big chunk, do it as several little ones. Try and prioritise what needs doing. Before it gets painted, is there any bodywork needs doing? Primer is usually put on a car as a base for painting, but also to keep the car free from surface corrosion if it is going to be a while before it is done.

You mention the interior needs gutting. If you are having the whole car painted (i.e round the door gaps, door frames, engine bay underneath) It will all have to come out before it gets done. Same goes for the glass. Beware though, interiors are hard to store without damaging them, and take up a lot more space when out of the car.

The last piece of real advice, and perhaps the most important: Get a digital camera and photograph everything as you go. The mind is a wondeful thing, but trying to remember how the "third clip from the right with the chrome screw fits behind the dash rail" can be a pain. Photos are invaluable.

Above all have fun. It's so satisfying to put an old car back on the road!

Ric