We Love Fuel Forged Wheels and the Chevy Nova

American muscle cars need love too. While we are all about talking up trucks and truck wheels like Fuel Forged wheels, we also hold a whole lot of love for American muscle cars. We thought we would put muscle cars in the spotlight with this little article about muscle car restoration. Pay attention because we might just quiz you at the end.

There are many considerations when thinking about restoring that Chevy Nova, Ford Gran Torino or Plymouth Barracuda, but one of the biggest concerns is a budget. Restoring any car or truck is an expensive undertaking, so you will want to ensure you don’t aim too high and wind up spending more than you anticipated. The degree of a restoration varies greatly depending on several factors including the current shape of the muscle car and your vision of a restored muscle car.

Determine the Scope of the Restoration Project

If you purchased, say, a 1969 Chevy Nova in pretty good condition and just want to make it look a little better and run smooth, you can probably get away with a smaller budget. But if you bought a 1967 Camaro in really bad shape and expect to restore it to its glorious street racing days complete with a customized paint job, you might need a loan and a second mortgage. For most, their restoration project will likely fall in the middle. You will stand to save a lot of money if you do most of the restoration work yourself.

Set That Budget

The rule of thumb is to do your research and set a budget, then tack on another 30 percent because you really don't know what you are doing. Let’s put it this way; if something bad can happen, it will. You will run into problems once restoration has begun, it’s almost inevitable.

Tools

If you are planning on doing this restoration yourself, here are some of the tools you will need.

Engine Hoist- The easiest way to work on an engine is when it’s out of the car and on an engine stand and for this you will need an engine hoist.

Engine Stand- No use in buying an engine hoist if you don’t have a place to mount your engine.

Paint Booth- A great way to save money on a restoration is by having your very own painting booth. You can set up a booth in your garage or your wife’s sewing room, whatever works for you.

Jack Stands- You always need to take safety into consideration in any project you tackle. Jack stands will support your car in a much safer fashion than any jack.

Floor Jack- This is the type of jack the professionals use. You will need at least one, but having two is better.

Tools- That wrench set you bought at Walmart just isn't going to cut it, you will need a quality tool set. Your tools set should consist of a screwdriver set, wrench set and socket with extensions at a minimum, you will definitely need more specialized tools as well.

Other Considerations

Many muscle car collectors will agree that the most important part of a restoration is the paint job. But before spraying that first coat of candy-apple red paint, make sure all scratches and dings are accounted for and fixed.

There are plenty of aftermarket parts available for all types of muscle cars including carburetors, transmissions and engine blocks, but in most cases, muscle cars are considered to be more valuable with a higher percentage of original parts. Even if you have parts that have to be replaced, it is better if you find OEM parts. Time for a trip to the junkyard!

Keep it simple. Sure, diamond tuck upholstery and expensive leather seats look sexy and cool, but they can also take away from the authenticity. These are muscle cars, you want to feel badass in them, not sexy.

You never want to feel sexy in a muscle car.