Restoration Order

[dm289]

What is the best order to do a restoration?

As most of my bodywork is near completion, I am planning to do the following:
1) Blast / Paint undercarriage, engine compartment
2) Reinstall suspension
3) Reinstall body panels to start block sanding
4) Paint car

I guess my question is... should I blocksand the car after detailing the undercarriage or is it best to do that.. then pull the car apart again to blast and paint the undercarriage?

 

[Horseplay]

I would do the sanding before I installed the suspension. Otherwise you would need to a whole lot of cleaning and likely some dis-assembly to get it looking good after all that sanding dust.
In my case, I am just about ready to apply the final paint to the engine compartment and spray a bedliner (Raptor) to the underside. This is after I have already painted the color/clear on the car. Then I will finally install the suspension and everything else.

 

[stangg]

If you are concerned with filler/ primer dust, just mask off everything you want to keep clean. Unless your car is going to be a trailer queen a little sanding dust won't be too difficult to clean off after the car is painted.

 

[Horseplay]

If you are concerned with filler/ primer dust, just mask off everything you want to keep clean. Unless your car is going to be a trailer queen a little sanding dust won't be too difficult to clean off after the car is painted.

Why do all the extra work? If the stuff is off now why bolt it on just to have to mask it all and then clean it? That sanding dust is not going to just spray off. It will need to be wiped clean. He mentions "detailing" the undercarriage so I assume he's going for a good under the car appearance as well which is why it only makes sense to sand now and assemble later.

 

[Midlife]

Only install suspension parts after all block sanding so that it can be a roller car that you can take to the painter. If you are the painter, leave all suspension off until after paint. This presumes you have a lift, rotisserie, or enough clearance to paint the underside.

 

[dm289]

Why do all the extra work? If the stuff is off now why bolt it on just to have to mask it all and then clean it? That sanding dust is not going to just spray off. It will need to be wiped clean. He mentions "detailing" the undercarriage so I assume he's going for a good under the car appearance as well which is why it only makes sense to sand now and assemble later.

I am making a driver, I want to preserve it along with making it look nice... it will not be a trailer queen...

 

[dm289]

Only install suspension parts after all block sanding so that it can be a roller car that you can take to the painter. If you are the painter, leave all suspension off until after paint. This presumes you have a lift, rotisserie, or enough clearance to paint the underside.

I have access to a rotisserie which is why I am asking... I could use it for a few weeks this fall or next spring but not during the winter... which is why I am wondering whether I should concentrate on block sanding the body now and save the undercarriage for later... of course that would mean protecting the outside from overspray from the undercarriage... : ) a vicious circle...

 

[Midlife]

I had Mid on a rotisserie and wrapped the body in plastic when I sprayed the undercarriage. Seemed to work out OK except I didn't have adequate ventilation in the garage and the overspray went everywhere!!!