VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Frame-off restoration services

I have a '48 Chev Sedan that has been in storage for some years now and it is getting time to have it restored. I would like the car to be restored as if it had just rolled of the production line. As a result, I am trying to find a reputable place that would be able to do a complete Frame-off restoration. Any suggestions?

WOW, 49 chev, that's a BIG question in just a small amount of space.

A few questions back:

Are you 'new' to the 'hobby?'

Are you a VCCA member or a member of any 'car club?'

Do you have a pal or two or 10 in the car hobby?

Do you want to do a little or a lot of the restoration yourself; or just turn the car over to a shop and start writing checks?

Not to get 'personal' - but do you have a pretty good amount of money 'set aside' for this project??

I certainly don't have any recommendations about restoration services in your Erie, PA area. There may be some listed in the G and D. Presumably there's some listed in your phone book and on-line in your area. If you're not a VCCA member, join now. I can send you a membership application.

Depending on the condition of the car, exactly what you mean by 'off the production line' and how involved you become in the restoration, this project could (easily) cost up towards SIX figures.

To cut to the chase, I'd suggest you slowly, carefully, investigate this idea. Do that by reading, asking questions, forming a 'network' of guy cars, etc. etc.

What I've suggested here is basically just the preverbial tip of the iceberg. For sure what you're suggesting can be a lot of fun! Good luck!

Bill.

48chev, I've been doing a frame-off on my 48 Aero for over a year now. There is no way under the sun I would have it "outsourced". A total resto is so expensive it's really hard to estimate until the car has been totally taken down. Lots of hidden things to be replaced,and if you buy all new, which btw you can't, you will have a 40k 48. Unless of course you have endless pockets. Do it yourself,you will enjoy it, hate it, swear at it and hug it all at the same time. And at the end, you will feel some pretty heavy pride to stuff under your shirt.

I agree with Walt, just completing my Areo sedan been working on it off & on for 10 years. I couldn't imange paying someone to do all the work, in fact a working man would be priced out of the hobby!!!!!!!

Yes I am new to the hobby. The '48 Chevy was my grandfather's. It has been in storage since the car died in approximately. 1969. Supposedly the engine blew a head gasket and my father could not afford rebuilding the engine at that time.

I am a VCCA member and have noticed a couple of places (i.e. Old Coach Works) that offer frame-off restoration.

Unfortunately I do not have any pals that are in the car hobby.

It would be nice if I contribute some elbow grease to the disassemble/re-assemble process, but where to begin? Would not feel comfortable with some of the more intricate aspects (i.e. rebuilding the engine).

Are there any recommendations for resource books to educate myself about the restoration process?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

Paul,
Just a suggestion, email Tom48 listed above, get with him and plan a trip to Niagara Falls, spend a weekend there, see the mighty cataract (Niagara Falls), do a second honeymoon or siteseeing, spend an afternoon with Tom and learn from his experiences as it sounds like he has a head start on his restoration. Niagara Falls is just a 2 hour drive up I-90 from Erie. Maybe he'll give you a tour of his car and that will encourage you to do some of the work yourself. I was amazed at all the parts available through the internet and also all the great help this web site has been in finding help. Good luck with your restoration.........Bill (I used to live near Niagara Falls before moving to KY)

Paul,
After I wrote the above note I moved on to the next catagory (1949-1954) and the topic was "One Hard Question". A bunch of helpful ideas regarding a frame off restoration. Things you might consider before doing this yourself. To get the most satisfaction from this project you'll need to do as much as possible yourself, and I realize that not everyone has all of the abilities needed to do everything themselves, but try to do as much as you yourself feel confident you'll be able to do. You'll be glad you did when the job is done......Bill

48 Chev: You have tapped into an outstanding source of information / experts here with the VCCA that will help you along the way. Don't let the engine work intimidate you. If it's a simple head gasket problem, it's not difficult to repair, and will help you to build confidence in your ability. Before you know it, you will be tearing into every area of the car, know it inside and out and have a HUGE sense of pride in your accomplishment. These cars are very straight forward by today's standards. I towed my 48 Cabriolet home a couple of years ago from out of state. It was in boxes, and it took some time but when you start the car for the first time, and take it on it's first drive - - WOW, words can't describe the feeling. E-bay is such a good source for parts it makes you wonder how anybody ever too on one of these projects before it came along. The first step sounds like the engine. Can you spin it by hand, or with the starter? Is the engine oil milky? Bowtie.

Oh, just a couple of more comments. If no one has attempted to start the car since 1969, there's going to be a couple of things your going to want to do BEFORE attempting to turn it over. Regular maintenance things like new plugs, points, coolant, some oil in the starter motor (there's a little tube with a spring loaded cover that takes a light machine oil),fresh engine oil, and your REALLY going to want to get some oil into the "top" of the engine. So, if no one has attempted to start if since the '60s these are some things to think about BEFORE attempting to turn it over. If there's a bad head gasket, you may find that the engine WILL run. The "milky" oil is a big piece of info you want to check. If there's water (coolant) in the oil (because of a bad head gasket) it turns "milky" and will need to be COMPLETELY removed. Sometimes a bad head gasket just means a vacuum leak so the engine runs rough. (We can get into that another time, but there's inexpensive tools to check vacuum)If the engine will not move at all, that's another big key to the work that may lay ahead. You have already taken some key steps on the road to the resto of your car (contacting / joining the VCCA)I might suggest that you consider buying the service and body manuals. They are not great (lots of detail missing) but they are a must have to begin. There's several sources on-line. Google service manual. If you need a source I can dig a little and get you one. Bowtie

48Chev:
As you can see, a total self-performed frame off restoration can take years (and big bucks) to complete! (Mine took 28, but that's another story). Assuming the body and frame are indecent shape, you might want to proceed with an engine overhaul and the basic safety stuff (brakes, exhaust, electrical, fuel, etc.) and get 'er on the road and enjoy driving it! The body and interior can be done bit by bit. The VCCA now has a preservation class and many folks would appreciate seeing an nearly unmolested original car on the road.

Coach

48Chev:
As you can see, a total self-performed frame off restoration can take years (and big bucks) to complete! (Mine took 28, but that's another story). Assuming the body and frame are indecent shape, you might want to proceed with an engine overhaul and the basic safety stuff (brakes, exhaust, electrical, fuel, etc.) and get 'er on the road and enjoy driving it! The body and interior can be done bit by bit. The VCCA now has a preservation class and many folks would appreciate seeing an nearly unmolested original car on the road.

Coach

Hi Paul if you want to take a trip up to Niagara Falls sometime I'd be willing to show you my 48 and I have pictures of different stages. Like I mentioned before I did all the work myself except for the motor short block because of machining and matching bearings etc.. You can email me at reijfr@aol.com

See you later,

Tom Reilly