Making a Car Road worthy before resto

mopar_4life

mopar_4life

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Hello,

It's been a while since I have been active on here but I know the collective knowledge is great here. I have convinced my wife to allow me to put some money into my 65 Polara. My current idea is to get it road worthy, so that we may enjoy it while we save up the full amount required to restore it.

Is it worth doing that before a restoration? Is it a waste of money? I know that I have the skills to do a bunch of the things that I know are required but in my current living situation I don't have a place that I can really do any major work. (In the military, living on post) I do have a garage that I can park it in. Is it worth paying some one to do the work? only to pay some one else to do the same work later?

Thanks

Eric
 
Do you have a "skills center" or "hobby shop" on base? I did a lot of stuff in the Navy's hobby shops while on active. The skills center at the AFB here is a lot less conducive to longer term projects, I think maybe they're not as used to routine deployments, but they can be useful.
 
We do have a hobby shop on post. Here they don't like major car projects but like minor jobs. I have used it to do brakes and stuff like that.
 
I am all in for getting it road worthy and enjoy it, I also think it keeps your interest in the car. I pretty much did that. Brakes, fuel lines/tank, and suspension. The only thing I did twice was when I decided to do my engine bay and I pull all my brake lines and master, but that was a lot easy the second go around.

As far as paying someone to do the work, I would only use a reparable old school shop. Ask for a quote if it is in the budget, I don't see why not.

A tip though if you go this route I would do your research here first and gather up everything you need to do the job. You may find out that some of those tasks you may take on yourself, instead of paying a shop.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, I have owned this car for a little over 12 years and it hasn't done much. I'm a little worried that if I don't do something soon it will never leave the garage.
 
Yes, get the car running and go have some fun with it.

Projects are just that... projects. It sounds good until you start spending a lot more time and money on them. Sticking to it is tough... It always takes longer than what you figured and it's always more expensive.

I bought a Chrysler 300 from a friend... He advised me "Don't take it apart.. drive it for a while first". He was 100% right. We drove the car "as is" for a year and had a ball with it. I fixed a few minor things here and there, but we still drove it. It went for paint the following year, but I really only lost a couple months. I got the car back together enough to drive it. The interior wasn't even finished, but I still had a ball with it. Working at it a little at a time, it got put back together while I was enjoying it.
 
I've used Auto Crafts shops on military bases for the last 40 years in Maryland, Texas, Kentucky and overseas. They will let you do any project that you want. Everyone that I used even had a body shop and a paint booth. I even see frame off restorations going on from time to time.
 
I would do the required maintenance to drive the car, enjoy it , get it close to you so you can do little things at the hobby shop. I got your PM by the way since it's here in MI I would want it with me to enjoy. Worry about a full resto later because lot's of things change
 
I have a 61 Plymouth fury that I maintain in running, driving condition until the day it comes apart for body and paint. I have address all the mechanical needs, removed and restored about 75% of the trim and have collected a whole bedroom full of NOS and replacement stuff. Even had the steering wheel restored. When the time comes to tear down for body, paint and detail, the interior will go into the shop and bumpers to the plater....etc. Everything should come together near the same time for reassembly.

I've used this method in the past and it will limit down time and maximize enjoyment time.
 
mopar_4life said:
Hello,

It's been a while since I have been active on here but I know the collective knowledge is great here. I have convinced my wife to allow me to put some money into my 65 Polara. My current idea is to get it road worthy, so that we may enjoy it while we save up the full amount required to restore it.

Is it worth doing that before a restoration? Is it a waste of money? I know that I have the skills to do a bunch of the things that I know are required but in my current living situation I don't have a place that I can really do any major work. (In the military, living on post) I do have a garage that I can park it in. Is it worth paying some one to do the work? only to pay some one else to do the same work later?

Thanks

Eric
Click to expand...

No Eric it is not a waste of money unless you plan to flip the car...

Get it road worthy and enjoy it while you collect parts and things that need restoring in the future.
Make sure it is safe to drive and have fun with it.
It will draw attention regardless of how picture perfect or un-perfect it is.
 
I always make them drivable and safe before any resto...

First, it helps you begin the enjoyment sooner.
Second,it helps me evaluate condition and begin sourcing parts I will need later. Third, at least when I was in college, it just damned needed to work to drive home. Fourth, you will understand how that particular car works. Fifth, once you get it started and safe, you can use it to get parts for those one day projects that only take it out of commission during the project.

And finally.....

It proves to the rest of the world you really are a bit off....
 
I think I will get the car road worthy, its been way too long sitting in the garage. I even have the wife on board!!! Just got to get all of the finer details work out.

Thanks for all of the replies.

Eric
 
mopar_4life said:
I think I will get the car road worthy, its been way too long sitting in the garage. I even have the wife on board!!! Just got to get all of the finer details work out.

Thanks for all of the replies.

Eric
Click to expand...
I want to add one more reason... seeing that car may bring others who have items you need to you... It is always a good thing to let the world see your baby once in a while.
 
Get her road worthy fast before your wife changes her mind and wants something else. Your window of opportunity maybe smaller than you think.
 
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