Author Topic: How many of you out there Do .... (Read 7346 times)

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **on:** January 30, 2018, 13:05:04 »

Hello all,

How many of you out there ..——

Restore your own car ...

And/or

Service your own car ?

It is a question I always wanted to ask ...

I did when I was younger, now I do some minor maintenance only.

Dieter

Paul & Dolly · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2018, 13:32:27 »

I used to do a lot, but now it is a question of :

Knowledge / time / physical ability / money , the ratios seem to have changed with age !

Can I do it ?
Do I want to do it ?
Do I really want to do it ?

Oh, maybe I will take it to my local 60s Merc & Alfa specialist, 5 miles away...

Keep well

Paul

cfm65@me.com · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2018, 13:48:50 »

Dieter and Paul,
I am with you and also did it when I was younger. Restored 6 190SLS, 220 Cabrio, 220SE Coupe. Piper Cub, Tiger Moth and a Super Cub. Fixed a few Pagodas, 220SE Cabrio, 2 E Types, 2 911s, MGB and two vintage cars, etc.
Now retired and feel life is to short to do another full resto job. A fixer upper is good enough for me at this stage of life. Remove the upholstery, the shinny bits and the glass. Repair the mechanical stuff, pay for a good paint job and replace all the rubbers. Do the rest as nessecary.
Cheers
Chris

zoegrlh · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2018, 14:10:55 »

Yea I try to do all the work on my SL, I have a friend with a 190Sl, that has a lift, so when I need work on the car I go there and we both work on it. Not much to do anymore, just oil changes etc.

wwheeler · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2018, 15:10:00 »

I do all the work on my two coupes except for actually spraying paint, and mechanical component rebuilds (rear axle, transmission and internal engine). The interior I do all except for recover the seats and restore gauges and such. But all of the assembly work, I do. The Roadrunner is a full nut and bolt restoration and I have a friend co-restoring that with me. We do everything except as above.

Better for your maintaining your brain's function than Sudoku.

merrill · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2018, 15:16:05 »

ha ha

I agree with Paul.

I do what i can depending on my motivation....

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2018, 17:19:29 »

My Pagoda hasn't been touched by a professional mechanic since around 2001 (other than the engine rebuild Joe Alexander did in 2003). I've done everything since then, except for some body work and paint work which I can't do properly. All other repairs and maintenance are mine to do with the help of this group.
My modern Volvos I used to take to the stealership in Geneva, until they just charged too much to fix too little, and around 2010 I started also doing all of the repairs and maintenance on those as well. I went from "oops, electronics, don't touch" to "my OBD scan tool will tell me what's wrong" and I've found working on these 2002/2003 marvels of engineering to be easier in some ways than on the more erratic Pagoda systems.
In addition I do the repairs and maintenance on my motorycles, on the grandfather clocks, the oil heating furnace, the household plumbing, the (you get the picture). Fun to work on tangible mechanical things, when the daily work is mostly thinking and talking.

dirkbalter · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2018, 17:23:58 »

Quote from: wwheeler on January 30, 2018, 15:10:00

I do all the work on my two coupes except for actually spraying paint, and mechanical component rebuilds (rear axle, transmission and internal engine). The interior I do all except for recover the seats and restore gauges and such. But all of the assembly work, I do. The Roadrunner is a full nut and bolt restoration and I have a friend co-restoring that with me. We do everything except as above.

Better for your maintaining your brain's function than Sudoku.

I am similar to Wallace and try to do everything myself with some exeptions. For me it is a hobby. It is it fun, I sometimes make mistakes, I learn. Its also my therapy car, instead of going to the shrink I go to the garage.

Dirk

johnk · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2018, 17:50:12 »

I am doing a full rotisserie restoration myself except for using Joe A for the transmission and differential rebuild, plus he will be looking at what the short block may need while its stripped down this far. Looking forward to the paint part. Haven't sprayed a car in 30 years. If I could find a good hobby for my wife I would be able to get it done a lot quicker.

John K

Bonnyboy · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2018, 18:04:20 »

My pagoda hasn't been to a mechanic since 1990 when my Dad had it just before he parked it. If something goes wrong I work at it until its fixed. The pagoda is just my toy / mental health escape. Sometimes I just take off the car cover and sit in it and inhale the German old car/fuel/leather smell - thats the definition of petrolicious I think.

I don't have the time I used to have just 3 yrs ago, so some things have been left until I get a "round tuit". Luckily I haven't had to do anything major like an engine rebuild or tranny or rear end - mostly just puttering about.

I never really understood until recently that time is such a precious thing, as I had so much of it just 5 yrs ago. Life is good - the Pagoda just makes it better.

ah53 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2018, 23:55:12 »

At 70 years old I still do most of everything - except body work and paint - on my small collection of cars and continue to learn new things with each repair. It's a hobby and a place to relax, though I sometimes am forced to repeat over and over, "This is my hobby, I'm having fun." Right now I'm restoring an Austin Healey factory 100M

Joe

su8pack1 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2018, 01:54:42 »

I've had mine since 1982 and other than paint, and an injection pump rebuild, I do everything myself. That for me is the fun in having an old car.

Shvegel · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2018, 21:51:26 »

I am doing my own. It is getting there.

PSB · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2018, 21:52:27 »

Unfortunately I have zero mechanical knowledge and everything is done by "professionals"....

PSB · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2018, 22:05:04 »

Chris,

A slight side track here ..saw you also restored planes ... ...my father had tiger moth in Mozambique.....I still have the leather "helmet" and the broken propeller from his crash (survived unscathed ). Plus a few pictures and a 1/4 scale radio controlled tiger he built ( hundreds of hous ) Did acrobatics in it and A great plane for coastal explorations, low flying, and short runway landing and take off on deserted beaches. I also lived in the Cape Town from 81 to 88 finishing school and UCT . Most fantastic place ...been back quite a few times. Hope the water shortage is manageable.
Regards
Pedro

rbouch8828 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2018, 22:33:38 »

I do what I can and enlist friends for help as needed. Send parts out for refinishing. After redoing the engine compartment and engine and front suspension, with the help of two friends and having sent parts out for refinishing, I then sent the car to Joe A so he can do the rear diff and also do body and paint work that is needed, as well as re-installing dash and interior components that I removed to have refinished.

Roland

49er · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2018, 23:02:34 »

My long list of automobiles started with a "basket case" 1930 Model A Ford coupe, I did a complete body off restoration on that car. The engine was rebuilt by Sears and the paint job (lacquer) was done professionally. That was car was replaced by a 56 Ford which I made a few Performance "enhancements" too. Then came a VW and then my first Pagoda. I loved to tinker and did most all of the maintenance/tune ups on those cars (including my 280) and through the years I also maintained the family cars (GM's, Ford's, Chryslers and Toyotas. Now I must admit, the "get out and get under" days are a thing of the past. The new cars are basically computers on wheels and I have a great old school Mercedes mechanic to work on the SL when needed. My enjoyment these days comes from driving my old friend and then when we get home, spiffing up the car a bit and just admiring what a beautiful machine it is.

John

john.mancini · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2018, 13:35:53 »

I started with a "basket case" 1956 Corvette back in 1980. Restored everything on the car back to factory specs. Sold it for a big profit. That's when the car disease hit me. I restored many other cars after that, including 12 Pagodas. Nowadays, I have someone else do all the work. I'm pretty handy with a spray bottle of detailer!
John

Rothko · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2018, 15:12:37 »

I'm in the minority. I have no mechanical skills, and so I take it to a professional.

johnk · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2018, 18:50:36 »

Rothko,
Don't be ashamed. My wife would tell you that you are the only smart one in the group!

Scottcorvette · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2018, 20:55:42 »

John, I have a beautiful 56 Corvette for sale right now that was restored in the 1980's, could this be your old car???

http://www.corvetteuk.com/index.php?page=sales

zak · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2018, 22:28:47 »

I don't have the skills to do the actual repair work, but I enjoy reading, learning from you guys and diagnosing issues and sourcing parts etc.
I have been using the same euro trained MB mechanic for 20 + years and enjoy hanging out and watching the work be performed and talking to the mechanics about the cars.
He lets me perform cleaning/detailing work in his shop and under the car when on the lift. I can use his tools etc.
Plus he keep a stocked frig of Heineken for his good customers!

jz

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2018, 00:32:24 »

jz,

As a side note, just be sure your friendly mechanic does not apply a special hourly rate

based on a table on rates I once saw.

Just saying

Dieter

john.mancini · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2018, 13:14:18 »

Scott,
My 56 Vette was Venetian Red with Red interior, like yours. But mine had a factory dual quad set up making 240HP and a Powerglide transmission. I just sold my last Corvettes. A 67 L79 Roadster and a 62 factory fuellie.
C1 prices falling in the U.S. Probably still up in Europe, my guess.
John

enriquegarcia · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2018, 17:38:06 »

I'm strictly DIY. Couldn't do it without this website. Next on my list is complete new upholstery. But so far have not needed anything really major, such as complete engine rebuild which would be beyond me. For now, she is running beautifully and looks wonderful ('68 280SL), a far cry from when I got her.

News:

Author Topic: How many of you out there Do .... (Read 7346 times)