Restoration
for
Original Lovers
Restoring a vehicle may suddenly become a centre of your attention under several circumstances - typically triggered by one single part failure. Everybody knows that a patchwork will not fix the underlying fundamental issue. It is like an iceberg. One failure is a sign of a series of forthcoming failures.
However, your question may be which area should be restored, what you need, how to prioritise, where to place orders, who to ask for services, and when it should be started.
Scenarios
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As vehicles age, components may deteriorate due to wear and tear. This is particularly true for classic or vintage models, where parts may no longer function as intended. Typically, it happens if the component is made from rubber or plastic materials.
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Vehicles exposed to harsh environmental conditions are often susceptible to rust and corrosion, particularly in areas where the protective coatings have failed. Restoration is vital for structural integrity and aesthetics. Typically, the remaining dirt on the suspension structure components causes corrosion and rust.
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This is similar to the ‘Age and Wear’ category but particularly focuses on machine failures. If critical systems such as the fuel system, the engine cooling system, the clutch system, the braking system, and the transmission system reach the end of their life, restoration may be necessary before failure to ensure the vehicle is reliable and drives safely.
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Even if none of the above applies, the relevant stock parts may be discontinued at the manufacturer. If you would like to keep your vehicle for a longer period, it may be a clever approach that you buy 2 quantities rather than 1.
Health Checks
To begin a restoration project, assessing your vehicle's current state is essential, referred to as 'Health Checks.' This process helps establish a baseline for modifications and restorations. Let’s go through some of the recommended health checks down here.
ECU Health Checks
An ECU health check is vital for diagnosing issues and understanding your vehicle. Parameters assessed include error codes, sensor inputs, and outputs. Understanding data will help you save time and costs for restoration projects. Furthermore, you will love your vehicle much more than before.
Oils, Fluids, and Coolant Health Checks
The next step is to check all lubricants, fluids, and coolants, and take photos of their colour, level, and any leakage marks. These checks may include engine oil, transmission oil, differential oil, brake fluids, clutch fluid, power steering fluid, radiator coolants, and washer tank. Recording feelings and noises from the brake pedal and clutch pedal may also be important.
Wheel Alignment Health Checks
Shock absorbers, coil springs, and suspension bushes play critical roles in the suspension system. Over years and miles of driving, these components can deteriorate which may cause wheel alignment and ride height to be beyond the service limits. This deterioration can manifest in various ways, with one of the most noticeable being uneven tyre wear.
Engine Compression Health Checks
Engine compression testing is vital for assessing engine health, especially with extensive mileage. This test measures cylinder pressure during the compression stroke, revealing the engine's internal condition. Sludge, wear, and leakage may affect performance. Testing helps identify problems early, enabling timely repairs.
Spark Plugs Health Checks
Reading spark plugs reveals crucial insights into engine performance. While acceptable wear and light brown/grey deposits indicate proper combustion, wet and oily residue indicates oil leakage into the combustion chamber, and black and sooty residue suggests the engine runs too rich, leading to poor fuel economy and higher emissions. Therefore, the first step of health checks should include a spark plug reading.
Fuses Health Checks
Regularly checking fuse boxes and each fuse is crucial, especially after years of driving. Fuses can fail due to wear, corrosion, or electrical surges. Inspection helps identify blown fuses before they cause larger electrical problems. Start by locating the fuse box, usually under the dashboard or in the engine compartment. Remove the cover and inspect each fuse for damage or broken filaments.
Chassis Dyno Power Run Testing
Before replacing worn parts, conduct a chassis dyno power run test. This provides vital insights into your vehicle's performance, allowing you to benchmark power output and torque before refresh. Establishing this baseline helps evaluate improvements from new components. The dyno data highlights overall power increases and contributions of specific parts, enabling informed decisions.
Rust and Corrosion
Hidden rust and corrosion can threaten even the most immaculate cars, developing in areas like behind bumpers and fender liners. Inspections of these spots are crucial to plan your restoration projects. Neglect can lead to severe structural damage and costly repairs. Let’s go through some of the recommended health checks down here.
Inside and behind the Rear Bumper
The condition behind your vehicle's rear bumper can be concerning. Over time, rust, mud, and grime can build up, especially in damp areas. Poor parking or frequent wet exposure can worsen this. Moisture and debris create a perfect environment for rust, which can compromise structural integrity. Severe corrosion may damage the brackets that secure the bumper, risking costly repairs if they fail.
Under the Boot Floor Liner
Remove the boot liners and check for dampness and signs of water ingress. Look for small gaps where water can penetrate, as addressing these early helps prevent further damage. Invest in a high-quality weatherproof body cover to protect against moisture and safeguard your restoration efforts. Focusing on these details enhances your vehicle's longevity and preserves its aesthetic and functional integrity.
Inside and behind the Front Bumper
The mechanical components behind and inside the front bumper face water, dirt, and debris exposure, risking corrosion and degradation. Accessing them for cleaning or restoration is challenging without removing the front bumper. This removal allows a thorough inspection for wear, damage, or rust. Restoration may include cleaning, replacing parts, or applying protective coatings.
Behind the Fender Liners and Wheel Arches
Moisture threatens your vehicle's body panels, particularly in wheel arches. Regular washing reveals potential issues to address early. After a jet wash or rain, dry the wheel arches promptly with an air gun or by parking in a warm garage. Driving in dry air for 20 minutes can help reduce moisture. Preserve your vehicle post-restoration, but avoid covering rust with sealers, as this may worsen deterioration.
Suspension Components and Brake Calipers
Suspension components and brake calipers represent the most exposed areas of your vehicle, subject to constant assault from surface water and dirt. It is highly recommended to restore these components as a complete set when embarking on enhancement projects. Comprehensive restoration should include processes such as blasting and powder coating, especially when the budget permits.
Side Sill and behind Strake Panels
Moisture threatens your vehicle's body panels, also across the side sill area and behind strake panels. Regular washing reveals potential issues to address early. After a jet wash or rain, dry the side sill area promptly with an air gun or by parking in a warm garage. Driving in dry air for 20 minutes can help reduce moisture. Preserve your vehicle post-restoration, but avoid covering rust with sealers, as this may worsen deterioration.
Rubber Bushes
Your vehicle has many rubber bushes installed, absorbing vibrations and shocks. However, after years and miles of driving, those rubbers deteriorate and result in uncomfortable riding experiences. It’s time to examine all the rubbers and make restoration plans.
Engine, Transmission, and Differential Mounts
The engine, transmission case, and differential case are sitting on and hanging from only a few rubber mounts. Vibrations and shocks continuously offend these mounts and result in splits in the worst case. Replacing these mounts should be carried out at the same time with the same quality mounts. Otherwise, vibration will be worthen. Fasteners should also be replaced.
Power Steering Gearbox Mounts
The power steering gearbox is a heavy component fixed against the front subframe via some rubber bushings. Also, the steering wheel shaft is fixed against the bulkhead via rubber damper parts. Driver’s hands directly give inputs to the steering and receive feedback from the front tires. Fresher rubber bushes can transmit information quickly and correctly increasing drivability and fan to drive.
Stabiliser Bushes and Drop Links
The rubber bushes and brackets holding stabiliser bars against the chassis frame or sub-frames deteriorate relatively quickly. The drop-links or sandwich bushes attaching the stabiliser bars against the suspension arms or struts also broke or shortened under certain driving conditions. In some cases, annual service and MOT at dealer garages were not able to detect these issues.
Suspension Arm Bushes and BJ Boots
Other common places where rubber bushes are used are suspension arms and trailing arms. Those rubber bushes connect the arms against the chassis frame. When the car goes over an undulation, suspension bushes rotate. Until now your vehicle traveled miles and so suspension bushes rotated as such. Another rubber part in suspension arms is ball joint boots. You can imagine how hard those rubber parts have been working for you.
Rubber Seats for Coil Spirings
Rubber seats for coil springs are essential to your vehicle's suspension, absorbing vibrations and reducing noise. Over time, the rubber wears down, decreasing effectiveness. This issue also applies to coilover dampers; deteriorating rubber affects handling and ride quality. Replacing worn rubber seats requires disassembling the suspension, but the benefits are significant.
Mechanical Issues
Here are some examples — mechanical issues that may be typical to everyone but are not an exhaustive list. Some are not critical, and some are sudden deaths that will cause a standstill of your vehicle. It’s time to address if you have similar symptoms and make restoration plans.
Over-running Starter Motor
The typical symptom is a squeaking noise when you start the engine. The noise should be very noticeable to anyone. However, if it was already there when you bought the vehicle, you may think it’s normal. There are a few options to remedy this issue - buy a brand-new motor or a refurbished motor, or rebuild the motor. It will be depending on your budget.
Noisy Door Checkers
The typical symptom is a clicking noise when you open/close the doors. The noise should be very noticeable to anyone. However, if it was already there when you bought the vehicle, you may think it’s normal. Typically, you hear the noise from the driver's side much larger than the passenger side. So it is worth checking both sides and comparing them. The solution is always to replace them with brand-new door checkers.
Heavy Clucth Pedal
The typical symptom is a heavy clutch pedal. The heaviness should be very noticeable to anyone. However, if it was already there when you bought the vehicle, you may think it’s normal. The core issue causing the heaviness is a worn clutch release bearing. Because the labour hours and costs for replacing the bearing can cover the labour hours and costs for replacing the entire clutch components, it is common practice to replace all.
Idle Hunting or Engine Surging
The typical symptom is while idling that the engine revolution is going up and down, never staying at a certain rev. The core issue causing the idle hunting is typically the secondary air leakage within the air intake system. It could be a loose jubilee band, a gap inside of the throttle body, or a rotary air control valve failure. You have to test these various possibilities one by one until it’s fixed.
Water Pump Failure
The typical symptom is noticeable because it’s a weird screaming noise from the water pump. It’s a different noise from the rattling noise from the serpentine belt guides and pulleys. The pump issue can cause further problems with coolant circulation, aircon compressor, and alternator performance. It’s recommended to conduct refreshing jobs together with pulley bearings and serpentine belts.
Fuel System Failures
A few different issues are reported in one or more parts of the fuelling system. The fuel pump failure is the most significant issue that occurs suddenly ending up standstill. It is highly recommended to consider a proactive replacement. Another issue may be improper conditions of fuel injectors that affect engine performance. Injectors would be tested and cleaned, or replaced if the symptom cannot be resolved. And more issues were reported.
Dash Illumination Lighting Bulbs
This does not have to be a mechanical failure but just a light bulb issue. Usually, manufacturer’s service manuals show a lengthy process to replace a single tiny light bulb and there is no shortcut. It involves removing the steering wheel, airbag, steering boss, speed meter units, ventilation panels, etc. Therefore, all illumination lighting bulbs should be replaced at the same time to save labour.
Cosmetic Improvements
Cosmetic improvements are probably the most popular area of restoration projects. Even owners who love to keep the vehicle original may not mind installing non-genuine stock parts for cosmetic improvements. Let’s go through some of typical examples.
Leather Seat Re-colouring
Driver’s side leather seats in particular might deteriorate after years of ownership. Especially in the lumbar side support and knee side support area, there may be splits on the leather surface. Re-colouring the exposed leather surface and treating the entire leather surface will improve the seat's cosmetics when you display the vehicle at the show events.
Convertible Roof Top
Convertible top vehicles need extra care around the roof material and control systems. The worn or cut roof material may cause rainwater invasion, and discoloured roof material may disappoint you and onlookers. Slow-speed operation system may also discourage you from loving the vehicle. Distorted and uneven mounting of the rooftop and boot may allow rainwater to sneak inside the vehicle.
Headlights Refurbishment and UV Protection
Brownised and UV-affected headlight covers can be repaired and retreated with new UV protection. Internal cracks caused by UV lights also can be removed if they are not too deep inside the headlight lenses. Although genuine stock headlight units are not cheap, they may be discontinued soon. So it may be worth purchasing a set and keeping them in your garage. Either way, beautiful and shiny headlights may make you very happy.
Engine Room Detailing
Cleaning the engine room is crucial for assessing the health of your vehicle. It should be cleaned more frequently than the exterior panels. Any dirt, oil stains, paint flakes, surface rust, or contaminated grease should be identified, documented, and removed. Deteriorated rubber hoses and grounding wires need to be replaced. Additionally, rusty nuts and bolts can be de-rusted, coated, or replaced as necessary. A thorough deep-cleaning process should be conducted once a year.
Shifter Gaiter
A worn shifter gaiter can diminish the look of your car's interior and may even affect your driving enjoyment. Fortunately, you have many options to choose from, ranging from genuine stock gaiters to stylish Alcantara leather gaiters in your preferred stitch colors. Regularly cleaning and maintaining new gaiters can also enhance your driving experience. Additionally, replacing the shifter knob can add an extra touch of joy to your vehicle.
Alloy Wheel Refurbishment
After years of driving or possibly being left outside without shelter, the paint on alloy wheels can become flaked, bubbled, or develop white rust. The center caps often suffer damage from stones and other debris. Generally, the cost of refurbishing alloy wheels ranges from £300 to £500. You might find a brand-new, low-cost set of rims from non-major manufacturers at similar prices. However, it’s important to consider safety when evaluating such options.
License Plate Holder Deletion
When a non-painted black plastic holder is used, it may deteriorate, discolor, or become contaminated with wax over years and miles of ownership. Additionally, the holder’s design can impact the vehicle's sleek appearance. Removing unnecessary parts can completely change the look of the vehicle and simplify the cleaning process.