Ok, my brother-in-law bought a '68 Camaro SS, red with black racing stripes. The thing is in damn near mint condition. It's freakin' sweet! The problem is, I must have a better classic than he does.

I have a '68 mustang ...pics below. It needs LOTS of work.

So, here is your challenge. Help me restore this thing.

Budget: $15k
Time Frame: 1 to 2 years

I'm willing to spend a third of that budget on paint alone.

Here's what you have to work with.









The engine is good. It has a 350 in it, and it runs great. I'm more after the "cruising on Sunday" kinda restore, rather than "run the quarter in less than 9" kinda restore.

It has the factory AC controls, but the actual AC unit under the hood is missing. Front bench seats will need to re-upholstered, maybe upgrade to bucket seats in the process. Vinyl on the dash is not cracked, but the entire dash is warped a bit and will most likely need to be replaced. New carpet for sure. I'm not real concerned with keeping gauges and such stock, I don't mind putting in digital. And of course, a good stereo system and such.

Hit me!

 

Do you mean it has a 351 in it? What about rust? I take it you know how much work you are going to have to put into this resto project?

 

Yes, 351, sorry about the typo.

Yes, I'm completely aware of the amount of time, money, sweat and tears I'm about to throw at this thing. I need something else to do on the weekends other than keeping my truck shiny.

Help me, don't criticize me!

 

My only restoration tip is get familiar with the POR15 line. Awesome for stopping rust on everything metal. Awesome starter car man! That thing looks to be a great start for such a project, sorry I have no expereince in this area to help. Just wanted to say nice ride

 

First you need to go over the car and determine if it’s the candidate you want to restore. This includes how much it’s going to take to bring it to the condition you want and what the car will be worth after it’s done.

Rust is a real concern as the only way to stop it is to cut it out. I can tell you right now that your ‘68 Stang coupe probably will not be worth as much as his Camaro assuming they were both in the same condition. A fastback would have been a better choice.

You can start with the mechanicals and interior first if you like. I generally save the paint until last that way you’re not dinging it up while working on the car all the time. I would not waste the time and money on a digital dash unless you are building a ’32 deuce or something.

How much experience do you have on working on cars? Because its going to get fairly involved. There are a lot more restorations started than there are completed. My last one took almost 3 years and that was the end of it for me. Spending all your time slaving on a vehicle getting cut and burned is not all its cracked up to be. That and making maybe 500 trips to the parts store.

 

It will slow it but nothing stops rust. Also the rust is nearly always much worse than what you initially can see unless it is just light surface rust.

 

Dr. Franko, I appreciate completely what you are saying. This is going to be quite the project. I do know what I'm getting into, though.

I'm fairly experienced in working on cars. I have a very good friend who is extremely experienced in this type of work who has signed on to supervise. Only one (qty 1) of his completely rebuilt Camaro's has wound up wrapped around a tree. That was a fun day, and deserves a different thread altogether.

I agree, I would like to do the paint as one of, if not the last, stages of the project. I'm going to have to fight my wife on that one, though.

Yes, a fastback would've been a better choice. However, I'm not interested in the ROI of this project. I want to remake this particular vehicle into something pretty interesting, and I currently have no intentions of selling it.

Let me rephrase the challenge. If you had 15k+ to blow on rebuilding/restoring THIS particular vehicle, what would you like to see?

 

I’d yank the motor and tranny and do a rebuild and probably warm it up a little. Auto trannies are fairly easy to rebuild but if it's a 4sp I’d do it as well as the clutch. That way it does not have to come out again. Might as well add new accessories like a alternator, starter, water pump ect. This way everything is set and you are mostly done messing with it.

Would be nice to have a locker rear but if you're just going to cruise it’s not necessary. Go through the suspension front and rear and of course the brakes and maybe the lines as well.

Redo as much as needed on the interior as a fresh interior looks great. Add a decent stereo system.

Depending on the current condition of the body have all the dings taken out and maybe block sand the car for a better finish. If the body is decent probably would not spend over $3,000 on the work and paint. Hey this is not going to be show car. Car is Red now which is good it’s an easy color to care for and looks great. Slap on some nice wheels like maybe some 17’’ torque thrust IIs and call it good.

 

In no particular order:

Fix any rust.

Repaint the same color minus the white decal, white racing stripes are a maybe.

Get different wheels (16's max, I don't like big wheels)

Interior as needed.

Maybe freshen up the 351 if it needs it, along with anything else mechanical that may need attention.


I like old cars pretty much in their stock form or kind of close to it. The ones that look like they might have came that way, they might not have but nobody but an expert would know any different.

 

Hmm interesting... have you did a burnout with it yet?

But on the lighter side of things... looks like a good car to rebuild. I am currently trying to keep my Dakota looking fresh for years to come. I plan on keeping it for a VERY long time. Cause I know in 50 some odd years from now when the oil reserves run dry, it will be work some $$$... I'm sure not as much as this Mustang... but good enough for me. But who knows... I might get lucky.

People think I'm crazy now... but if you owned this car back then, you would have thought the same. Now look... people are paying top dollar for restored and well-kept ones. So yeah, it seems crazy... who the heck wants a Dodge... Dakota especially... but give it time... and some TLC, and one day it will be a relic of it's time.

 

Hmmm....Give up, send the car to me. Looks to be in very good condition as is. Id say new paint, upholstery, freshen the engine and trans as needed. Find all the rust and remove. But it looks nice as is.

 

Here's a clean coupe, maybe a tad plain could use a Shelby hood.


And a sweet 68 fastback.

Man I am bumming now missing my '69 Mach 1

 

Now we're getting somewhere

She already has a freshly rebuilt trans, brand new radiator, and power steering. Minor things like battery, antenna, and door handles already replaced. Aside from the AC, the mechanical stuff is in better than expected condition.

No, it won't be a show car. This is going to be something for my wife and I to drive around on the rare Sunday and turn more than a few heads. We have been discussing rebuilding this car for about 2 years now, and actually got serious about it in the last 3 or 4 months. Then the brother-in-law had to go buy the Camaro. That was more than enough inspiration for me!

What are y'alls thoughts on raising the *** end of this thing a little bit?

And Dr. Franko, the pic of that red coupe you posted is what I'm talking about That fastback is a damn good looking ride as well, but... I have a coupe

 

well here is my 65 definatly learn to do fiberglass and make a deck lid with a little spoiler on it makes it look 1000x's better

 

the camaro will be nicer.