So I started restoring this car sometime last year and finally it's almost done to my standards. This is what I did myself:

1) Replaced Lucas starter with TheDriven Man High Torque Starter (highly recommend)
2) All new Poly vacuum lines
3) Replaced all the wood trim inside minus the door sills. Added wood trim around shifter and stereo compartment
4) Replaced Exhaust manifold gasket
5) New side mirrors
6) New fuel pump
7) New Rack & Pinion

Some things I couldn't..didn't want to do myself so sent it to a shop and had the following done, some of it is still in progress and should be done in a week.

1) Two tone Leather/Vinyl Seats
2) Repainted a lighter Red Metallic
3) Removed side trim/door guards
4) Removed and relocated the side turn signals to the bumpers
5) Found two points of rust, removed (amazingly the car is virtually rust free, check the photos)
6) All new Poly suspension bushings
7) Engine Poly bushings
8) New Ball joints
9) front fenders had a few dents had them repaired
10) New headlights and fog lights

I will post photos as it stands now

 

Before new paint, and after the new leather/vinyl installed.

 

Now with the new paint job, looks very nice in person and less bright red than the pictures indicate.

 

Cool

Cheers
DD

 

He,he! Don't take this too seriously.

When I was still working, i received an assignment to appraise a mid seventies Cadillac. The car had been damaged in a rear end collision. The adverse insuror valued it as just nanother old Cadillac. i saw it as anear pristine example and if not classic at least special interest. The owner was a young priest. i saw the car at the rectory. I remarked that the interior in wood, chrome and velvet resembled a brothel.
the young priest said, "mebe so, but neither you or i have ever been in one and really don't know"! What could i do, but agree.

Carl

 

Hi, you are going to have a beautiful car, and you will really have something to be proud of. I have a black '86 which is solid but it doesn't have a new respray!
One question: these cars are noted for having a tendency to rust out underneath the windshield and rear glass rubber seals. Did you remove the glass and clean, inspect, and refinish this area before the overall spray?

 

Didn't remove the glass because I couldn't find new rubber trim in time. There was one point of rust showing on the front so had that fixed. Aside from that one point of rust the car looked vitually rust free. The previous owner said the car stayed in Colorado since 1989 and before that it was in Mexico and Texas.

Found out that there is one problem though, there is smoke coming from the center console, I think it's originating from a loose wire or something.

 

It isn't a major task to remove the ski slope and look. But, it may not be electrical.
It may be oil. There is a blanket of sponge like rubber over the transmission thst can get oily and when hot give off oil fumes.

When I did the major surgery on my car, I dispensed with it. No problem??

Carl

 

It starts smoking immediately when the car is turned on, the ski slope is already off and all the window switches have been removed. I'm almost positive it is a couple of exposed wires touching each other. I'll track it down when I get it back.

 

Really nice ride - cant wait to see the end product!