Deciding what to do first when building a car can be tough. The overall condition of the car will be a major factor. A complete car in good shape will need less basic work in order to be roadworthy. Everyone always wants to start with engine modifications, but safety really should be the first priority. There is no point in building a powerful engine if the vehicle brakes won’t stop it.
Look at the entire vehicle, starting with the brake, steering, and suspension systems. Note anything that needs to be addressed and make a complete list of what’s needed. This list is the blueprint for the build.
Now that the vehicle needs have been identified, determine your needs. Before getting too involved with the repairs and modifications, think hard about what you want the end result to be. Do you want a factory correct restoration, mild performance with stock appearance, or a more radically modified car? The answer to this question is important because it will allow you to make educated purchasing decisions and avoid spending more money than necessary.
Money is always a factor. Take care of the items that are most in need of repair first, again focusing on safety. If the brakes are OK, the suspension worn but serviceable, but the car steers like a cattlecar, make the steering repairs first.
Keep the performance goals of the vehicle in mind. If you are planning on installing a 400 HP engine, the rest of the car needs to be able to handle it. The brakes will need to be very good, and the suspension and steering will need to be tight. Don’t try to save money by taking shortcuts or making patch repairs when the goal is a big HP vehicle.
For example; Let’s assume the build is a 60’s musclecar. The suspension, steering, and brake systems are shot. You want the car to have a relatively stock appearance with the performance of a modern vehicle. Instead of rebuilding the systems with factory replacement parts, upgrade to more modern parts. Convert the drum brakes to disc brakes, change to better suspension bushings or modern suspension, etc. You will spend more money now, but will ultimately save money and time by making the repairs once instead of twice.
(In Part III, I’ll write about engine modifications.)
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