Order Of Build

[paulk68]

This might me a stupid question, I am working on my first build it is a 68 camaro that was a driver, that started to rust so i parked in my dads garage and tore it down to a shell. i have a cris alston front clip but no suspension yet. now that i have been saving some money where should i begin? i am sick of seeing the body rust but should i get all the suspension first then save more to do engine and tranny? i just need an order of how you guys do it. thanks
Paul

[SaturnVUEguy]

I myself would start with the frame/suspension, move on to the powertrain (engine, trans, driveshaft, rearend) then body, move on to engine bay and interior

[rob07002]

I've always been told to go from the rear forward, starting with the chassis/suspension.

[ironworks]

Well if it is rusting it might be a good idea to fix the rust and get it in epoxy primer. Then since it is unibody perform your chassis mods to the front and rear suspension. You want to do the front first on most subframe cars, beacuse they dictate the ride height for the whole car. Then do the rear, if your doing a common rear suspension upgrade and are using a common wheel and tire size they usually work well with most front end upgrades, but be sure first. I try to figure out the stance right after we strip the car down. But alot of our chassis's are full custom so we can have any ride height or tire size we want. But there is no since in destorying the suspension geometry in the front or rear or having to do something twice for poor planning. You should also pick your tire and wheel sizes now.

Good luck

[jackfrost]

get the body at least in epoxy. then you can start bolting parts back on it as you go, so you have some sense of progress. otherwise, you can't see anything happening for a long time, and that's depressing. i know.

[SatisTraction]

body 1st. it takes the longest and can cost the most.

[bradf74]

I agree body then from the ground up

[Motown 454]

pick the rims and tires very early . I learned that lesson
Wayne

[BritishGreen68]

do all the body and paint while the car is gutted, get the wheels and tires, and then build off of that. If you do paint after you will be taking off alot of things you just put on, and overspray and wetsanding and all that can ruin some of the finish on your new parts. Once its painted, you can do the engine and suspension, and then do interior last. The wheels will determine alot of things such as width of rearend, rolled or modified fender lips, mini tubs, brakes and all sorts of things. So those you should probably have to begin with.

[ProdigyCustoms]

pick the rims and tires very early . I learned that lesson
Wayne

Or buy them from someone that sets up cars like your everyday, LOL!

I agree with body to epoxy first, suspension next. You have to get it on it's suspension, pretty much on tires, to do the bodywork. if you do any body work on a jig or stands, and if the body is not under the same strains it will be when on tires, you can end up with a panel that is stright until you put it on the tires.

So in order

Do your sheetmetal,

get it in DP90,

Get the suspension under it and on the tires,

line up all the panels,

do the bodywork