Hi all.

Just curious. What order do people recommend to do things in?

For example. I'd like to do my interior first and get that pretty much done (carpet, new door panels, wiring, trim etc) and then start on the outside. The outside will just be a new paint job over the old and not a complete back to metal job. Being in Australia, rust is not a big issue.

My head tells me do the outside first, but the interior is something I can work on myself.

Thoughts?

Jonno

 

Please, please, please, please do your paint job correctly, my car was just painted over the factory paint and it is absolutely horrible, it's cracking and peeling and it just looks god awful. Do it right the first time and be happy with it. As far as which to do first, you can do either first, you cover up what you don't want painted anyway.

 

Fair. I should clarify though. The body will be properly prepared to take the new paint, not just straight over the top. It will be rubbed back, primered where needed etc. Not just a straight spray over the top.

As for the order, yeah that makes sense and like I say I can do the interior myself.

 

I would do it the opposite. Take out as much interior as you can now and then paint car. When painting is done you can put back interior with new pieces. Less likely to damage any interior pieces and will cut down on dust from sanding and painting.

 

If you have not done it all ready than changing these items should be first.
This is what I use ,
MSD cap and rotor
AC-Delco R45TS plugs
I used Summit brand street/strip spiro wound plug wires made in USA
after that a free flowing intake with a better flowing exhaust.

 

Strip out the interior, and all weatherstrip, door handles, lights, etc. and have it painted. Then put all new weatherstrip, and freshen up the interior.

 

First step is to make a repair plan. You need to know what you want restored/modified and take it from there. What is the budget, timeline, will it be done all at once or in installments? You mentioned paint, do you want jams done, engine bay? How much and what type of work you want done will all have bearing on the order.

 

Mechanical (wouldn't want to ruin a paint job doing an engine install), body, then interior. At least that's what I'm trying to do on my projects.

 

I would start with things to maintain the condition of the car. Like weather stripping or painting the car if the clear coat is gone and it is starting to rust. Then I would move on to things that are broken. After that things that are worn. Lastly aesthetic things.

 

Do the outside first, I started with the inside (new carpet etc.).
With all the sanding the dust got everywhere, and it was hard getting it out of everything.

If the interior was out, or if it was the old stuff I didn't care about. That would have been a lot easier.

 

I just got my hands on a 1990 IROC this last weekend and I was wondering the same questions.

The interior isnt so shitty that its the first thing that needs to be fixed. And the body is a little rough, faded in quite a few places, dings, and a number of chipped spots.

Eventually both will be redone, but i didnt want the work on the body to ruin the interior, and I didnt want work on the mechanical to ruin the paint.... so was trying to find the right balance.

[HERE] is what I'm working with. More pictures to come as I'm able.

 

One word of advice man. If you already know this sorry. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE I REPEAT DO NOT DO NOT TRY TO TAKE THOSE LOUVERS OFF OF THAT HOOD IT WILL END IN SADNESS that is all. Nice looking car tho, it's not bad at all imo. Look forward to seeing your work.

 

Care to elaborate?

I've started on minor things on the car already, but as I've not even had a weekend to work on it yet I dont have anything worthy of starting a "build thread" yet.

I might be able to get some work worthy of note done on Sunday after the Nor Cal Cruise is done.

 

If you try to take those off, they will explode into a thousand fragments of self loathing. Mine were in good shape and felt sturdy. I was going to take them off to repaint them. The posts that hold the screws in, half of them broke. It cracked down the side. Short story, they are VERY brittle even if the look fine. You can chance it if you want, but from experience, I wouldn't. Best of luck if you plan on trying though.

 

Ah, word. Thanks for the input.

The things are already a little shoddy, and a few of the playoff posts broken... I'm just leaving the bad ones on there til paint time comes then put new ones on.

 

We always start with the outside, I would take out the interior to help prevent the dust, even if you tape it off and bag it the dust gets in. Is this a do one now then the other later for money reasons? if so do your interior but at least plan to remove it again for the paint. If at all possible I would get a new weatherstrip kit for the car so you can get the new paint in all those spots as well, looks much cleaner that way, good luck.

 

Yeah Droptop, thats sort of the reason. Paint jobs are not that cheap down under and it's not something I can do myself. The prep work I can do (with guidance from this forum) and other info, but the paint I can't. The interior and seats and stereo, electrics etc I'm happier to do. Right now I have all the plastics out and have resprayed them Black with vinyl die and ripped the crappy carpet off the trim and replaced it.

It's winter here and a bit chilli to be working in the garage.

Jonno

 

This is my order

1. Make it run
2. Make it stop
3. Make it move
4. Make it pretty
5. Make it comfortable

 

what im doing is im waiting for my knight rider nose still so im bringing the car to the body shop thats painting my car. there going to paint my door jambs. this way i can work on my interior and not have to worry about overspray. then im working on my interior while i wait for my nose and making sure things are mechanically good

 

1. It runs, but I'd like it to run better
2. It stops, but I'd like it to stop better
3. It moves, but the dash wont read it correctly
4. It looks pretty from afar, but its far from pretty
5. Its tolerable, but its not comfortable

 

Im going to try your recommendation it sounds good