howdy y'all I have a 1969 chevelle and I just picked up a 350 enginge for it. The engine and the car need a full restoration. WHERE DO I START!!! Space is not an issue. I just built a 30 by 36 by 18 feet garage. I have a hoist coming in order. My chevelle is just a 1969 300 deluxe so I thinking I might do a clone yenko. I have been saving a lot recently. We are going to do most the work by ourselfs. Well most the body work anyway and the engine work. There is very little rust on the car and the frame has already been off before and someone else did the work under neath before I bought it. I still have to go down there and see what they did. But THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE TIPS!!! Keep 'em coming !! lol

Read lots of posts before you start. Use the search function here on the website.

I've decided to:

1. remove the frame from the body on my car
2. sandblast and powdercoat the frame and control arms etc.
3. rebuild the frame, rear end, brakes and lines etc. disc in front drums/rear
4. install the rest of the suspension (leave loose) and steering components along with the gas tank and other miscellaneous items.
5. once this is all done put the body back on the frame and go onto bodywork.
6. My small blockand trans are already built so that's one less thing to worry about.

Let's see some pictures of what you got to start with. That reminds me... start a phottobucket.com account or other free phot service and keep track of your progress. This helps for those times when you feel like your getting no where fast.

If you don't have another frame or a GOOD body dolly, do all the body work while the body is on the frame. (Install new body mounts first).

Once the body work is done and everything is prefitted, take the body off the frame and do any frame and suspension work needed.

Paint/powercoat the frame and all, remount the body and do the finish work on the body. (wrap the frame and suspension in plastic so paint and such don't spoil the frame).

If you finish the firewall, radiator support and inner fenders first, you can install engine and transmission in the frame before you reset the body. Cover engine, mask off firewall for finish body work.

Or, with a GOOD body dolly or another frame, the body can be finished, then set on your finished frame.

A good body dolly is one that is strong enough to support the body, have all body mounts in the correct place (elevation) and has casters so you can move it around. I have seen good dollies built out of wood. You can do it yourself at home with careful attention to dimensions.

There are as many ways are there are people here.

Cole,

I always get the body work out of the way first. If you decide to throw in the towel before you finish, you won't loose money on driveline components. Improvements made to the body are easier to get a return on the dollar than a rebuilt engine, transmission, and rear end. People are funny about rebuilt driveline parts.