Where do you start a restoration?

[Enzo]

where do you start? engine is out, transmission is out....both on stands.....what would be your first move?

 

[9D9 MITSU RS]

You start by stripping the car.

Have all bodywork/paint done. Then have the motor and all the hoses etc. put back into the engine bay. All clean of course.

Reupholster or replace worn interior parts.

Strip it and just go in stages.

 

[TurboBlue]

Take out the interior....all of it, then remove all the lights and side markers, weather stripping, spoiler, hood, hatch, doors, anything and everything that would be in your way for when you paint it. Paint all the parts seperatly and then put the car back together...pretty simple really if you think about it. Obvioulsy rebuild the motor/trans, get some new carpet, seats re-upholstered, its all really up to you on how anal you want to get with it. good luck and have fun

 

[HighPsi92GST]

im planning a pretty big restore of a 1g and doing most of what is already listed. When the car is back together and running, it will look like the day it rolled off the assembly line, with a few aftermarket parts and other stuff added on though. its amazing how fast small things add up though. Good luck and post pics/progress as you go along!

 

[Enzo]

anyone have a general idea how much it would cost for new or semi new panels all the way around? more than 1k?

 

[pinknuggit]

that's what i'm doing to my '90 tsi right now. I have a completely new interior in it, and all I have left to do is put the motor in.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

anyone have a general idea how much it would cost for new or semi new panels all the way around? more than 1k?

you talking inside? if so, you can look around junkyards and the trader, there are cars out there that have near mint interiors yet. as far as brand new, not sure the dealer still has them and if they do, they are probably very pricey.

 

[Enzo]

you talking inside? if so, you can look around junkyards and the trader, there are cars out there that have near mint interiors yet. as far as brand new, not sure the dealer still has them and if they do, they are probably very pricey.

exterior body panels

 

[HighPsi92GST]

again, not sure if you can get them at a dealer, but you can get dentless and rust free parts from trader or ebay or even a junkyard. And whatever you cant get, good body work will cover up

 

[Enzo]

the biggest problem with the body is the at the bottom on the inside of the door frame, there is like a latch which is in the frame that looks like it is almost entirely rusted out, the rust flakes right off....and it looks horrendous on both sides. Im not sure what can be done

 

[HighPsi92GST]

you could take it to a good welder that could cut out the bad sections and re weld new metal in. I had our welder at work do my one car. not sure if it was the same spot rusting out as yours, but would be done about the same.

 

[drk mrk iv]

I have problems with rust as well. I am currently doing somewhat of a body restore too. Im just grinding/sanding the rust off right now, and will be painting the metal.

 

[wishihadatalon]

i am thinking about doing the same thing. how much did it cost to get the interior all redone. any idea about weather stripping and what not?

 

[bling5tatus]

There is no way to replace the rear quarter panels on a 1g without cutting tack welds correct? Mine has a dent by the gas cap from the previous owner and I was told you cannot change that one because it's tack welded to the frame of the car. Is this correct? I am not sure because I have not tried to disassemble it yet.

 

[onegeenewbie]

There is no way to replace the rear quarter panels on a 1g without cutting tack welds correct? Mine has a dent by the gas cap from the previous owner and I was told you cannot change that one because it's tack welded to the frame of the car. Is this correct? I am not sure because I have not tried to disassemble it yet.

On most modern cars, the rear quarter panels are not replaceable unless you do some serious metal/body work because like you said, it is a part of the frame. :\

 

[dirt_bro]

yes you have to drill or cut out all the spot welds. the back window has to be removed to get to some of the spot welds. im doing this right now to my talon and i got a brand new quarter panal $272 shipped from http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=214727

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[vaboys2ndgen]

i am also in the process of restoring if you wanna classify it as that y '96 eclipse gsx. along with a fully built 2.3l build clean and power is what i'm looking for.

so far for me being deployed i have the interior gutted except for dash and 1 door panel engine/trans removed. eventually in 6-7months when i return everything will be removed except to have a roll chassis.

 

[Defiant]

where do you start? engine is out, transmission is out....both on stands.....what would be your first move?

You start with a chassis worth restoring. If yours is rusted to the point of needing panels, it isn't. There are too many cheap, sound bodies out there to bother with that level of labor.