Project car, need opinions; do I work on engine or bodywork first ?
 

Purchase a 93 roller several years ago and am ready to get it back on the road. First thing is I will take it to a bodyshop to verify that frame is straight. My initial plan after that was to get engine and chassis where I want them before working on body and paint last. Had a long conversation with Kilo Racing a year ago and he advised that it is preferred to have paint done beforehand. I plan to do major bodywork and completely repaint entire car. Gonna be expensive and take some time. What do you all think ?

Paint and body first :) Strip the whole car down. Much easier to do when the engine is out :D

Pics of car back when I bought it, body kit has been sold.

Normally im in the get it running and driving first category, but since you want it painted get the engine bay done at the minimum now since the motor is already out. That way if it has to sit its not because you cant drive it but because you dont want to drive.

Great idea, hadn't considered that.

Do what I did. Paint the car and engine bay when the engine is out. You will love the fresh looking engine bay when your project is done.

We have cars brought to us all the time directly from paint shops. We go to great lengths to cover everything to prevent any scratches, but there is always the chance that a wrench slips. I prefer to paint the engine bay, then do all the mechanical work and exterior body work last. This minimizes the chance of a scratch or chip on the fenders or hood. Having thousands into body work on a car that does not run is never fun. Same can be said for having mega money into wheels for a non-running car.

^100% agree. That's the best way to go to minimize risk of damage to fresh (hopefully) flawless paint :nod:

Also an option to leave the bumpers, front fenders and hood off the car and tucked safely away.

kudos... id shake your hand if i could and give you a rescued fd patch..

agree with BR.. ebay first.. get her completely built then exterior

Sorry for the late response and thanks to everyone who replied. Will be getting engine bay painted before starting work on engine.

major bodywork and "going to take some time" that car may end up sitting for 6-8,12+_ months at a bodyshop. it will either get started and shut off a lot or pushed around a lot. it may have to sit outside here and there. Things can go missing and or get stolen from it. No matter what there will be lots of dust and possibly over spray under the hood.

I would pre fit everything mechanical and electrical such as standalone, gauges, etc. Get it all how you like it. Mark any extra holes in the engine bay, weld anything that needs welding, cut things that need cutting. Hammer things that need hammering. Then remove it all and send it off to the bodyshop. When you get it back you will be ready to drop it in and go.

Yes you can worry about possibly dropping a wrench but I think you have more to worry about the car sitting at a shop. Things go bad at shops, they get ripped off, employees can suck, fires, theft, all kinds of stuff.