Automotive Restoration for beginners
By Phil Storr

Putting it all back together:

When the body work is finished you can either take the doors, bonnet and boot lids off and paint them separately or you can remove them, paint the insides of these objects and the door shuts and then put them back on and paint all the outside of the car. The first method probably gives better results but it is so easy to damage the finished paint putting these panels back on and getting the clearances correct.

As you put the various fittings back on use flat washers and spring washers where required and seal holes that are used to hold trim on, so water will not leak into the inside of the vehicle. This can be done with a dab of mastic sealer or a fiber washer. If you use Silicon Sealer for any purpose, use only neutral cure, Roof and Gutter sealer, the other type creates acid as it cures and this will cause rust.

By the time a vehicle is ready for restoration the door rubbers, the window channel and the weather strips are worn and will not be doing the job they were intended to do. A wide range of these materials is available so visit you local rubber shop or restorer supply house with samples of what you require.

To do the job properly hard or damaged windscreen rubbers should be replaced and these are available as reproduction items for many vehicles. If the rubbers are not available, or are too expensive, you can soften up old rubbers with a rubber and vinyl treatment material and glue back damaged bits with super glue.

Add photos

Back to the opening page The Storrs home page Phils Photo and Project page

Written by Phil. Storr, last updated 8th September 2000