Where To Begin?
04-18-2004, 03:04 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Posts: 6
In 98 I bought my 88 T II from my uncle who originally purchased it from the first owner who lived in Canada. My uncle did not treat the car very well and let the turbo blow. After that, all he did was keep adding oil for several months before parking it. :P When I purchased it, I had the turbo rebuilt and had everything else checked and was told the engine looked ok. I also had the ECU replaced as the horn and wipers didn't work. After 11 months, it died on me for the last time. That was in 99.
Now I want to restore the vehicle from the ground up. I know I need to get a shop manual, and that will be my first purchase. My question is, where should I begin. Should I strip the interior or the exterior first. This will be a unibody up restoration. I will be having it painted a different color as well as changing out the interior and tail lamps. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
L8r
Now I want to restore the vehicle from the ground up. I know I need to get a shop manual, and that will be my first purchase. My question is, where should I begin. Should I strip the interior or the exterior first. This will be a unibody up restoration. I will be having it painted a different color as well as changing out the interior and tail lamps. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
L8r
04-18-2004, 10:46 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: California
Posts: 22,465
its a huge job. basically pull everything out and have the body repainted. replace/replate/powder coat as needed
plan to spend a couple years, and about $12,000-$25,000 to do it right (concours, back to stock)
take a lot of pictures so you can put it back together correctly.
plan to spend a couple years, and about $12,000-$25,000 to do it right (concours, back to stock)
take a lot of pictures so you can put it back together correctly.
04-18-2004, 04:21 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bahama(Durham), NC
Posts: 218
i'd get the motor running right and everything functioning properly b4 you start strippin it down. that way you dont have to worry about it puttin it back together and it not workin. that way, all you have to do is rewire it. if i keep my T2 and get a base to swap the motor n trans into(T2 body shot), im gonna get it all running right first so i know if somethin f's up when i get ready to start it, i just check my wiring, not my motor n ****.
04-19-2004, 12:10 AM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Posts: 6
Currently the vehicle has about 60,000 km which I believe is around 40,000 m. It is a low milage car. It just wasn't treated like it was supposed to. Most everything is in good shape except the paint and the door and window seals are gone from sitting in a San Antonio storage lot for 3 years. The engine and transmission are definately gone and there is some very minor body damage. This was my "bachelor" car. By the time I get this thing rebuilt, I'll be ready for my RX - 7 year itch. 
Appreciate the input gentleman.
L8r
L8r
04-19-2004, 10:57 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: California
Posts: 22,465
if you were able to work on it 8 hours a day 5 days a week without ever having to wait for parts, or plating or paint then it could prolly be done in a few weeks.
it takes so long because real life intervienes, you will be waiting for parts, paint and plating, you cant work on it full time either its hard to stay motivated stuff like that
it takes so long because real life intervienes, you will be waiting for parts, paint and plating, you cant work on it full time either its hard to stay motivated stuff like that
