Fixing up a mustang

[barkingmouse]

Hi, I was just wondering how hard it would be for someone who has no experience at all with cars to restore an old mustang? I have always wanted to buy one for real cheap that needed a lot of work done and learning how to do it myself. My question is, how could I best learn the things I would need to know to do this? I dont have time to go to one of those technician schools such as UTI or anything like that so I was just looking on some ideas of if I could even do this, and if so how?

[boosted331]

If you've never worked with metal or cars before, the only way to restore a mustang is to take it to a good shop, hand them lots of cash, and pick your car up in several months. A full resto job isn't the place to start on cars.

[thunderbird muscle]

If you are just starting I doubt you have all the tools you need anyway.

[GTStang]

If you can't goto a school or apprentice under someone then there is only one other way to learn how to work on cars and restore them etc.., You have to just do it, you have to spend the time reading asking, investigating then finally doing. You need to accept that mistakes will be made that will cost you time and money, and to learn from them. You are gonna have to spend a lot of money in tools as you find out you need them.

[barkingmouse]

Well, I really wanted to learn how to do this sort of thing so taking it to a shop would be defeating the purpose of what I'm trying to do. So, if it would be too much for a beginner, is there a different type of car I could buy pretty cheap to learn on that you guys would recommend?

[MrBB]

I did the very thing you are wanting to do. I was given a 1966 Mustang from my grandpa when I was 14. I began without any knowledge on how to even begin. It didn't have front fenders, bumpers, engine, trans, and numerous other things. Luckily though, the car I bought came from California, unlike in Iowa they dont salt the roads in the winter, so this car had very little to no rust. I didnt even have to replace any floor pans! I am still working on it 6 years later(when I have time). I rebuilt a 200 for it, then decided to take that out, and swapped the whole suspension, rear end, and steering assembly so I could get 5 lug wheels and a 289 in it.
To make a long story short, I am finally nearing completion (aiming for next month). It is simply amazing what you will learn by doing this, and you will gain great appreciation for the talent that it takes to accomplish a project like this.
I say, if you have a place where you can work on it for a while, and you have somewhere in the area of $8-10000 (depending on its condition) for tools, books, and parts for a complete restoration, then go for it! It takes patience and time, and be prepared to do a lot of reading! Places like these are great sources of information. Mustangs have got to be one of the best cars out there to restore because of the quantity of parts available. It has been a truely great experience.
Good luck if you decide to undertake this!

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by barkingmouse

is there a different type of car I could buy pretty cheap to learn on that you guys would recommend?

air-cooled VW. They're cheap, easy to work on, and simple to learn.

[mustangman]

O.K. I'm gonna go off topic a little here,

MrBB, Great advice, I was just wondering though, a 1966 Mustang only had 4 wheel lugs originally? Was that just the 6 cylinder models or something? I would have thought all Mustangs from that time frame would have had 5 wheel lugs.

Alright, back to the original question.

[MrBB]

Yes, you are correct mustangman, all the 6 cylinder Mustangs came with 4 lug wheels, and the 8 cylinders had 5.