restoration ?

[Daves72'GMC]

I'm having a restoration done on my 72 GMC in June. Should I have them take off the cab or should I have them leave it on? and should I have them replace the calking around the drip rail and where the doors close? Any advice about my restoration would be helpful. Thank you everyone.

[minibike]

It is all related to how much money you want to spend on it. A frame off is the absolute best way to go, but you get into more money. As for the caulking, it would be a good idea to wire brush it out and replace. I masked off the area with tape and used a brushable seam sealer in these areas. Worked pretty well.

[Seke69]

here's a link to another thread further down the board <a href="http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php3?threadid=44523">Seam sealer</a> (hopefully I have my code right). they seem to suggest replacing it, I'll probably remove the bulk of it with a screwdriver, then clean it up with a rotary tool/and small wire wheel. but I'll wait for the weather to straighten up so I can prime it...

I hope the link works for you, other wise look back about a page and half. as far as an opinion on frame off or not, that completely up to you, it's more expensive, but more valuable. and takes longer, but usually lasts longer. that's just my opinion...

[Seke69]

Oops! I'll try again.
seam sealer

[ChevLoRay]

When you ask about whether or not to remove the cab, and what to do about the drip rail sealing compound, are you sure you are doing a restoration? Or, are you just getting it "cleaned up and detailed, with a paint job?

I see ads that state a given vehicle is "90% restored - just needs paint". What some people refer to as "restored" is not that, at all. I had a nice looking '67 Impala convertible. It had to have some rust repair done around the rear wheel openings. The top was new; the carpet was new. The seat covers were redone. The body was repainted in the original color. It had new tires, and the suspension was "repaired as needed". The engine had over 130K miles, as did the Powerglide. The A/C didn't work, nor did the radio. The car was beautiful to look at, and it showed well, but it was NOT restored. At the time I did it, the market for those cars was almost non-existant.

"You pays yo money, and you takes yo chances", is a common saying. When it comes to restoration, time is money. Read in the various automotive magazines, and you will read about someone's vehicle that had to be rescued from one shop and taken to another so the first shops' work could be re-done and the vehicle finished. Get references about their work. Ask to see some vehicles done by them. Talk to their owners.

Good luck.