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How do I fix a car real, real good?
My dad recently gifted me the car he had as a teenager and it needs A LOT of work. The interior, exterior, engine, and basically every system needs at least some work done before it’s ready to hit the road again. I’ve fixed up cars in the past, but never to this extent. How can I fix this car real, real good?
Jack Walsh · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That sounds like quite the project, and I’m sure your dad was overjoyed to be able to give you the car he had as a teenager!
To fix a car real, real good, you should:
- Have the vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic who can give you a list of needed repairs and a general idea of what it’ll cost.
- Find a workspace and gather all the tools you’ll need. The space should be well ventilated, well lit, and have plenty of room.
- Set a schedule and block out time each week or month to work on the vehicle. A large project can be intimidating, but setting time aside to give it the time it deserves can make it a bit more manageable.
- Set a budget and save your money. Performing all the repairs won’t be cheap, so it helps to understand your financial situation before you get started.
- Find a friend with mechanical experience who can help with more complex tasks.
Be mindful that this project won’t be done overnight and will require a lot of time and elbow grease, so you may want to document your progress with a journal and pictures. Additionally, you can hang pictures of the vehicle when it was new to give you some extra motivation.
Finally, once the vehicle is ready to hit the roads, don’t forget to purchase a
car insurance
policy!If you’d rather leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, use
Jerry
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- Gregory R.
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