Hey! Im looking to restore my dad's 1979 Berlinetta. What do i do starting with the body?

 

I always start with the mechanicals and save all body work for last. How are the motor and drivetrain, steering, brakes, exhaust, etc.?

 

well the engines fine as well as the steering and brakes. Ive already accoubnted for a brand new stock cat-back system from NPD. Its just that the floor pan under the pedals on as well under the removable seats on both sides of the car is rusted through. The top of the roof over the passenger seatbelt is kinda rusted through. It has 144,000 miles. Really what I wanna do is remove as many parts as possible and store them a storage place down the street. It needs body work and I think taking the car apart myself would be very fulfiling and justified since i wanna put back all ther original parts back. I would love to prep the body myself and strip it so the body guys could charge me less time and labor into body filling the car and taking my money!

 

start by buying the floor pans and the roof panel and replace those first. They are deffinatly needed for structural reasons before its safe to drive depending on how rusted.

Good luck

 

Good way to think about it. Okay then, digital camera in hand, document pictorially as much of the parts removal as possible throughout the process. Start with a clean work area that is roomy and well lit, and try to keep the area relatively clean throughout the process. Also, organize the parts as you remove them and put them bags and containers and clearly mark them all. Too many guys get to thrashing and bolts and clips and stuff start flying all over, thinking you'll pick them all up later. Well, take it from me, you never seem to get all of them. Take your time and remove things with the intent to save as much as you can because you never know what weird little piece you might need later and/or cannot locate from another source easily. Keep everything until the car is back together, THEN you can toss what you don't need, sell it, or keep it as a backup. That's a general overview of the approach I take.

 

Ill try to post some pictures today of everythng that I think needs to be dealt with

 

Okie heres the damage!:

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/2be88faa.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/9fc56c56.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/c88931eb.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/d51b8bdb.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/8f3225ff.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/12004bf9.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/fe884a2c.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/75650045.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...7/9ae7a975.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lCamaro010.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lCamaro011.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lCamaro012.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lCamaro013.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...lCamaro014.jpg

 

First things first. Before you buy anything for it, the first thing you must buy is 500 Ziplock Baggies and a Few Sharpie Markers.


Anytime you take something off, put it in a zip lock and label exactly what it is, and exactly where it goes on the car. When your putting the car back together you will not regret the time you spent labeling everypart because you will have the car together in less time than it took you to take it apart.


car looks very bad shape, but if you get it all done then you'll be very happy when your cruising in it

 

I know but just to rant I went into a chat room and these duds were like "man trash that peice of crap... Blah Blah Blah" and the fact is my father bought this car off the lot in 79 and I see it everyday so What else better tostart out with. I will be maybe a little "dont touch this car" but not overzealous and pistol whip some one for touching it. It be funn but thatns for the list i needed a figure for that