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What do you need to build super muscle car? PLAN The first step to building a super muscle car is to have a reputable automotive designer create a rendering of the car to your specifications so you have a rough idea of what the finished product will look like. None of these ideas, such as paint scheme, wheels, tires, interior, and color, are set in stone, and you can change them as you go along.  BUDGET It’s a good idea once you have a hard copy of your rendering to figure out how much you are willing to spend on your muscle car. Research prices for the parts that you are most interested in and do a rough estimate on all of them together so you have an idea of what you are going to spend during your build. If you choose to have a professional shop do the building for you, make sure you get an estimate from them that includes their hourly rate and the cost of parts. Set your budget a little higher (say, 10 percent) than the estimate, to cover miscellaneous expenses like shipping. Remember to add paint, bodywork, media and/or soda blasting into your budget as well. FIND YOUR CAR Once you have a budget, your next step is to find a good-bodied car to begin your project with. The less rust, bondo, holes, warps, and filler there is, the more your pocketbook will thank you later. It’s also important to research the vehicle you are looking to purchase, because there might be a reason it’s a “steal.” Make sure the VIN is an actual car! You can learn the correct make, model and year, as well as where the car was made and what color and engine it had originally by checking the VIN. You should also make sure the frame and body are straight, and find out if there were ever any replacement parts such as fenders and quarter panels put on the car. CATALOG YOUR PARTS When you find that “rust-free” car, it’s important when you are tearing it apart that you bag and catalog all your parts. It’s easier to find them later when you know where they are — this is especially important if you are doing a complete restoration. It’s also a good idea to catalog your new parts as they arrive, so you don’t end up purchasing two of everything. STRIPPING After you tear down the car, you might want to consider having it stripped. There are several stripping methods and they vary in price according to the company performing the task. The most common method is media blasting, where particles of walnuts and plastic are used. This method leaves you with the rough, “gray primer” look. You can also try soda blasting, which uses baking soda at high pressure and leaves you with a clean, shiny, “fresh from the factory” look. We personally recommend this method to our customers. There is also a method called acid dipping, where the car is lowered into a pool of liquid acid to remove paint and bondo. PAINT Since your car is now in a “vulnerable” state, it’s smart to either have it primered, or kept indoors to prevent rusting. At this point, you might want to begin the search for a reputable painter in your area. Contact professional shops for referrals or find out if they provide this service in-house. Get estimates from several different paint and body shops, and keep in mind that it’s not always your best bet to go with the “cheapest deal”. It makes sense to go with a painter who readily provides you with work samples, or puts you in contact with customers who have used him. This is the painter who might be a little more expensive but well worth it in the long run. THE ENGINE While your car is being painted, and to keep you from twiddling your thumbs, it’s a "good" time to take the biggest chunk out of your wallet and purchase the engine. When choosing an engine you need to decide what type of power plant you would like, then call around to find the best deal on your motor. We use Jon Barrett Engines for all of our new and rebuilding needs. SUSPENSION AND BRAKES You should also consider ordering your suspension and brakes during the painting process, so you can have everything ready to go when your car comes back from paint. Call competitors and see who has the most product for the best price. Always remember that it’s better to spend a little more money on your brakes and suspension now, instead of later if a component should break. We use Global West, Bear Brakes and QA1 shocks for our Ford and Chevy rebuilding needs. You can call any of these companies and ask for their specs for your car. Remember your wheel and tire choice when ordering your brakes, and keep in mind your rotor size in comparison to the size of your wheels WHEELS AND TIRES Wheels and tires are the meat between you and the asphalt, so it’s natural to want to choose the right ones for your car. Muscle cars are made with the driver in mind, so remember this when choosing a tire. Super muscle cars have a “rake” to them, meaning the front of the car is usually lower than the back. Be careful, though: if the car is too high in the back, you end up with a “stink bug” effect. A typical wheel sizing combination we use for a super muscle car is 17 inches in the front and 18 inches in the back. Any bigger and you begin to see the “bling” of the wheels more than the fierce beauty of the car itself. DETAIL Once your car is back from paint, and all the parts are ready and waiting to be bolted on, it’s very motivating. You're almost to the finish line, but you need to remember that detail catches the public's eye. Take the time to hide air-conditioning hoses and miscellaneous wiring whenever possible. Pick a theme and stick with it — too much chrome and it’s hard to look at, but the right amount of brushed, chromed, and painted parts has the “wow” factor. Your interior should also be installed at this point, and we always recommend a stock interior in black. Detail is VERY important in putting your car back together.
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