Am getting ready to begin my first complete frame-off restoration on a
70 Spitfire. The car currently runs (and smokes), but has no brakes or
seats. There are a number of things I want to check out before I begin
to teardown, and am looking for any suggestions based on your
experiences.
I plan to do a compression test to check out valves and pistons/rings,
etc; restore enough braking capacity to drive vehicle off-street
somewhere to take it through all gears, etc. I have also already
taken over 200 documentation photos of all features of the car in it's
current condition. Are there other things I should check out before
teardown?
I am also still debating proper restoration sequence. For example,
should I do all bodywork and paint with body off? If so, won't some
joints/seams possibly open-up during handling and installation of the
body on frame? Here's my current plan... drain and remove fuel tank,
brace body and openings and replace all sills and floors, remove body
from frame, teardown completely, re-build engine and gearbox, repair
and restore frame/suspension/brakes, re-install engine and gearbox,
re-install body, do all bodywork and painting, and finally re-do all
interior. Any comments regarding this sequence?
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