How to Restore a 1950 Ford
Between 1949 and 1951, Ford vehicles essentially stayed the same. This makes finding the available parts easier than if the autos had changed dramatically during those years. If you plan to restore your 1950 Ford, follow a few straightforward instructions to ensure the job is done right.
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Things You'll Need
- Automotive tools
- Pencil
- Paper
- Plastic sheeting
- Dish soap
- Degreaser
- Automotive primer
- Pressure washer
- Hand sander
- 1000-grit to 36-grit sandpaper
- Automotive paint
- Automotive clear coat
- Automotive protector gel
- Leather conditioning gel
Instructions
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1
Locate a manual for your vehicle. Online auction sites are a good source for older automotive manuals. These manuals include information on the inner workings of a vehicle, troubleshooting, and parts maintenance.
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2
Examine the vehicle inside and out. Identify missing parts such as gauges or knobs, nuts, bolts and lights. Write the missing parts on a piece of paper.
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3
Remove all components of the engine bay, including the transmission and drive train. Examine them for missing parts and record the parts you need to replace. Pressure wash all of the parts and clean them with degreaser. Replace any rusty nuts or bolts. Tighten everything after you have cleaned it.
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4
Order any parts that need to be replaced or are missing. You can usually find parts from a classic car parts dealer. If you do not have such a dealer locally, search for the parts online.
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5
Clean the interior of the vehicle using mild dish soap. If the older seats are made of leather and are salvageable, use a leather conditioning gel to clean them. Cover all vinyl surfaces with automotive protective cleaner.
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6
Replace any internal gauges or knobs that are missing.
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7
Remove the door panel and replace any broken glass with new glass.
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8
Wash the exterior with dish soap and water, including the wheel wells and undercarriage. Dish soap will not leave a film. Pressure wash rusted areas.
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9
Sand the paint on the outside of the vehicle using sandpaper. Start with 1000-grit sandpaper and work your way down to 36-grit sandpaper. Buff down any rust and repair with thin metal sheets.
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10
Cover the headlights, wheels and windows of the vehicle with plastic sheeting to protect it from the paint.
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11
Apply automotive primer to the entire car using an airbrush machine. Once dry, apply a second coat. Allow the primer to dry for 24 hours before applying automotive paint. The correct color for the vehicle will be on a sticker on the door frame or under the hood of the vehicle. If the sticker is missing, contact you local Ford dealership to find out the correct paint color and where to purchase it.
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12
Apply clear coat to the outside of the vehicle using an airbrush machine, once it has dried.
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13
Remove plastic sheeting and replace any headlights or taillights that are broken.
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14
Replace all of the fixed and cleaned components of the engine bay back in the car in the reverse order of removal. Test drive the vehicle to see if it runs properly.
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