Technical Advice
This is a series of easy to read articles that I wrote with practical advice to help the auto enthusiast who is collecting and restoring classic cars. I share useful knowledge and information required to successfully manage and perform an automobile restoration and fabrication project.
Automobile Restoration 101
Automobile restoration and hot rod fabrication are costly and time consuming projects which always exceed the most sober estimates. Rarely is a special interest automobile reborn or born without the collaboration and scheduling of experts, extra time and funds. The value of the finished product typically does not equal the cost with the notable exception of rare cars — and particularly race cars with history — whose value usually exceeds the cost.
There are a few instances where an automobile in very good original condition is best preserved and not restored. When you seek advice and ask an owner who has undertaken a similar restoration or fabrication/build for their estimates of time and expense, they typically underestimate because memory tends to improve upon history, except when they are selling their project or completed car. A large part of the reason for this pitfall is that you will be doing things you have not done before and you do not really know the scope of the project until it is a pile of parts.
Restoring an automobile — or building and fabricating a unique hot rod as they used to be built before complete kits became available — is a collaborative effort involving many experts and specialized facilities, and the ability to network with and manage experts. A significant part of the cost (time and money) involves what is commonly recognized to be the roll of the general contractor.
Why Are Restoration Projects So Expensive?
- Greater scarcity of original parts
- Ever higher standards of restoration
- Higher quality and cost of reproduction parts
- Icreasing labor costs at restoration shops
- Costs are increasing for painting and electro-plating due to the significant escalation of raw materials, and safety and disposal costs placed upon service providers by OSHA and the EPA
Two Interesting Topics
Rebuilding My 750 Veloce Engine
I wrote these three articles in 2020 for the Giuliettaletta published quarterly by the UK-based Giulietta Register. They describe my rebuilding of Alfa Romeo’s first version of their famous all aluminum 4 cylinder hemi with two camshafts — actually their 750 Veloce (fast) version — and focus on the important stuff that is not in shop manuals. Many of the issues I address were later fixed by development engineers with their 101 version. I can now report that this engine works in stop and go traffic and performs well on highways too. Best of all it loved the roads northeast of Ashland, North Carolina during the Alfa Romeo Owner's Club (AROC) pre-convention tour in 2023.
Part 1 starts with an overview of the challenges that I faced. Then I assemble renovated and new parts in the engine’s crankcase, or block. Decisions made here will influence how smooth and robust it is.
Part 2 is mostly about preparing the cylinder head for valves, improving flow, accommodating higher lift cams and trick gaskets to keep it from leaking.
Part 3 is about camshafts, timing, and running with carburetors intended for racing.
Engine Testing Videos
You can see and hear the two Alfa Romeo engines that I rebuilt running for the first time before installation.
See Engine Testing Videos
Tech Articles to Download (PDF Format)
Philosophical Choices — Defining Your Approach to a Restoration or Build
Essential Tools and Facilities — An Overview
Project Preparation — Preparing Your "Head" for the Project
Project Organization — The Organization and Steps of a Restoration Project
Project Management — No Car is Restored Without a Lot of It
Restoration and Fabrication Costs — Knowledge to Guide Project Selection
Restoration Quality — Quality is in the Details
Auto Body Construction — History and Techniques
Basics of Automotive Electrical Systems — For Restoration and Fabrication
Modifications and Upgrades — Choices and Issues
