Mustang Restoration Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Workspace

Once you've selected your project Mustang and established your restoration goals, it's time to set up your workspace. Though it may be tempting to jump straight into restoration, a well-organized workspace is crucial. Without one, you'll likely struggle with missing tools, lost parts, and minor inconveniences that eat up the time you'd rather spend working on your classic Mustang.

Covered in this Chapter

• Workspace Locations - Where to set up shop
• Keeping the Neighbors Happy - Tips for working around others
• Mobile Command Center - Ideas for setting up your workbench on wheels
• Necessary Restoration Tools - What you need to get started

Workspace Locations

Garage

If you're lucky enough to have a garage, then that should be your first choice for a working location. Garages are perfect for restoration work since you'll have shelter from the rain and other environmental conditions. A garage should also give you plenty of space to lay out your parts and keep them organized.

Before you get started on your Mustang project, you'll want to clean out the garage. If your garage is your primary home storage area, that's fine, but you should separate your storage area from your work area.

You'll want your work area to be easy to move around in and clear enough that you can see where everything is.

Prep Your Space

Baker's rack - Basic shelving like a baker's rack will allow you to use vertical space to keep your personal items away from your work area.

Plastic drop sheets - Drape these over your storage items to protect them from metal dust, paint flecks, and debris.

Pegboard - Mount a pegboard to the wall and hang your most used tools there. Make organization even easier by outlining your tools with a sharpie once they're in position.

Lighting - Your garage may already have an overhead light, but now is a good time to upgrade your lighting. It would also be worthwhile to invest in some hands-free mobile lighting options.

Carport

A carport is the next best thing to a garage. It won't provide the same level of protection against the elements, but, depending on where you live, you may not need it. The only major downside to using a carport is that you don't have the luxury of leaving your tools in one location.

Prep Your Space

Mobile tool station - These stations will allow you to roll your tools wherever you need them. When you're done for the day, you can simply roll them back into your shed or home.

Tarps - You'll want one tarp to cover your Mustang when you're not working on it and another tarp to work on. It's great to have a place to lay a bumper or body panel when you pull them off the car that you know will be safe and dirt-free.

Driveway

If you don't have a carport, but still have a driveway, you can use a tarp to create a basic shelter. This will ensure you're not leaving anything more exposed to the elements than it would be under a carport.

As with the carport, you'll want a mobile tool station you can bring in and out as needed.

Keeping the Neighbors Happy

Unfortunately, a lot of people are less than enthused about living next to a real gearhead. Especially when they see the cars and cinder blocks start to emerge. To keep your project on track, you might need to work around your neighbors.

Know the Laws

Whether you're working on a driveway or even in your backyard, check your local ordinances to see what the regulations are on project cars. Some cities are very strict about parking inoperable vehicles on your lawn. In some cases, you'll have to guarantee the vehicle will be out of sight. This may necessitate building a temporary shed or workspace.

Keep Out of Sight

Another solution is to rent a car-sized self-storage unit. You may have to hunt around to find one that will let you work on cars though. Many storage facilities have added “no working on cars” clauses. This has driven many restorers to look into private garage rentals, which are cheaper than renting space in a professional garage. Just make sure you have your restoration timeline in place before starting.

If you plan for this to be the first of many project cars, then it may be worthwhile to rent a workspace or space in a garage. They tend to be zoned for mechanical work, so you're unlikely to get noise complaints. If you have a mechanically inclined friend you can split the bill with, it ends up being relatively cost-effective.

Mobile Command Center

Having a mobile workbench you can place your tools on is a must for major restoration work. It doesn't have to be huge or heavy-duty, but it should be sturdy enough that you can set very heavy items on it.

Many manufacturers sell ready-made mobile workstations that are full of convenient features. Besides a large flat work surface, they also have storage drawers, a push bar and wheels, and sometimes a pegboard to hang tools on. You can buy small to large workstations at any home goods store.

Buy Used or Make Your Own

For the frugal restorer, it's possible to find used workstations on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay. They're remarkably difficult to destroy, so you don't lose much by buying used. Sure, a used workstation will have some bumps and dings, but no workstation looks mint after a good restoration project.

If you prefer to create your own workstation, you're certainly not alone. Making a custom workbench that's perfect for you isn't overly challenging. Just make sure the surface area is large enough to work on but narrow enough to push it in and out of doors and around your workspace.

Most Important Workbench Features

Height: The perfect height for lifting and lowering will be right at your navel. If you're building your own, that should be easy to establish. If you're shopping around, check for adjustable legs so you can make it the right height.

Storage: The purpose of this workbench is to give you a way to easily organize your tools, so you'll want multiple styles of storage.

• Drawers are a desirable feature for storage, but they can be difficult to install and add to overall weight.
• Shelves and small containers give you plenty of storage space with less heft and more customizability than drawers.
• An attachable pegboard is useful , but if height is a concern, try adding a few simple hooks for your most important tools.

Handlebar: One crucial feature to add to your mobile workstation is a simple handlebar. Not only is a handlebar great for mobility, but you can also hang a rag on it to wipe your hands off.

Wheels: For wheels, you'll want to weigh your workstation as it will be when it's loaded down with tools. That way you're sure to get wheels that are properly rated. Make sure the wheels you select are removable in case you need to clean them. A locking feature is also a good idea so you can keep your table from rolling away.

Necessary Restoration Tools

Once you've got a place for the car to live and a workbench for your tools, you should make sure you have the tools to work on your classic Mustang.

Though restoration requires a lot of tools, there's no need to buy them all at once. Most of these tools are also great to have around the house, so you may already have many of them.

If the body of your Mustang is perfect, then it's unlikely that you'll need painting supplies or body hammers and a dolly. If you do need specialty tools, they can often be borrowed from other Mustang enthusiasts or rented from local auto shops for a small fee. Appraise the tools you'll need based on the work you need to do. It's also wise to do a tool inventory before each stage of the restoration process to be sure you have what you need.

Jack Stands and a Jack

The first thing on your shopping list should be a great set of jack stands and a jack so you can work underneath your Mustang with room to move around.

We can't stress enough how important it is to have safe, quality jack stands. After all, they'll be the only things between you and a 2,400+ lb. vehicle. It's better not to have jack stands than to have bad jack stands.

You'll need to be on a solid surface, not gravel or loose asphalt, if you're going to use jack stands. If the only surface you have to work on is gravel, dirt, asphalt, or has a steep grade, you shouldn't buy jack stands at all. Instead, you may need to get friendly with a local shop for the work that requires them.

Features to look for in a high-quality jack stand are a stamped steel bottom, heavy-gauge metal construction, and a method of raising and lowering that you feel comfortable with.

A good rule of thumb is to have one jack stand for each wheel you plan to have in the air. You'll also need to consider weight restrictions. Even though a classic Mustang is a lighter vehicle, it's better to have too much weight capacity than not enough. Do you really want to flinch every time you hear something settling above you?

Permanent Markers

Labeling parts as you remove or prepare them can save you a headache down the road. You may even want to get markers in a variety of sizes and colors to indicate what part of the process or area the parts came from. For parts that are hard or impossible to write on, a roll of masking tape is also a lifesaver.

Rags

You'll want a ton of rags for different purposes. You'll need junk rags to wipe down greasy parts, to wipe off your hands, and to clean up chemicals and messes.

You'll also want nicer cloths, like microfiber towels, as you get towards the detailing stage. Microfiber towels are great for everything from buffing to rapidly absorbing a large quantity of fluid.

Kitty Litter

Cheap and absorbent, cat litter remains the tool of choice for quickly absorbing spills before they become slipping hazards.

Trash Bags

Keep plenty of trash bags on hand and make sure the trash goes directly into the bag. Too often people create a 'toss pile' and end up throwing out an important screw or bushing when they scoop it up.

Plastic Tarps

Even if you're going to be working in the world's most perfect garage, you'll want a plastic tarp. Moisture can seep through a concrete floor, and you'll want to cover the floor before setting any pieces down on it.

Small Containers

Whether you use zippered plastic bags, old baby food containers, or mason jars, small containers will keep you organized. Drop all the nuts and bolts from a particular piece into a container and then label it with where it came from.

Screwdrivers

Having a drill is great, but for some parts, you'll want to use traditional hand tools. Philips and flathead screwdrivers will be invaluable throughout the restoration process. If you don't have a full set, then a durable screwdriver with interchangeable tips can work. You'll be using your screwdrivers a lot, so take the time to make sure you're getting a set that can handle frequent use.

Pry Bar

A lot of your Mustang's parts are going to require some insistence, and a pry bar offers just that. Though any pry bar can work, a shorter pry bar will be more useful for the very small areas you may need to work in.

Wrenches

There's a reason they call it wrenching, and it does require actual wrenches. You'll want two types of wrenches: crescent wrenches and socket wrenches.

Crescent wrenches can do almost everything socket wrenches do. However, the ratcheting action of socket wrenches makes them invaluable for working with challenging nuts in difficult locations. Having both isn't a huge upfront cost, and a good set will last you a lifetime.

Though it's unlikely you'll need all the sizes that come in a wrench set, it tends to be more cost-effective than buying them individually.

Needle Nose Pliers

No home hardware kit is complete without a good set of needle-nose pliers. These little tools are perfect for when you need a better grip or need to pick up something that's in a space too small for your fingers to get into.

Rubber Mallet

A rubber mallet should be standard in every toolkit. There are times when you'll want and need to smack things. When that happens, it's better to do it with a high-quality rubber mallet, rather than a traditional hammer.

Masking Tape/Painter's Tape

Painter's tape or masking tape is a valuable tool when it comes to protecting areas of your car. Though the most obvious application is covering areas you don't want to get paint on, there are times when you'll want to cover an opening to protect it from falling dust or debris. You can also use this tape to keep things together, add labels, and countless other tasks. Masking tape is especially useful when you're trying to label wires.

Sandpaper

For auto work, you'll want a variety of sandpaper grades, including extra and super fine-grit paper for high-level work. It's good to get sandpaper that can withstand dry or wet sanding to get the best finish.

Orbital Sander (Optional)

If you expect a lot of body work, either to remove rust or to prepare a surface for paint, then an orbital sander is a great investment. These tools are relatively inexpensive and can save you from overworked arms.

Air Compressor and Spray Gun (Optional)

For painting a car, there's no better combination than a solid air compressor and a spray gun. You don't want to be painting with a brush since that will leave unfortunate lines, no matter how smooth your application is. If you don't think you'll need these in the future, you can always rent or borrow them from a friend.

Wire Snaps

Though they're most useful for interior restoration, a tool to cut wire will come in handy during many restoration processes.

Gloves

You might worry that gloves will limit your ability to do fine level detail work. Though they're impractical for every task, finding a snug pair of protective gloves is a good safety investment.

Safety Glasses

Whether you need safety glasses will depend somewhat on the tasks you're planning to complete. Paint, cleaning solvents, and metal dust can all cause long-term damage to your eyes. Safety glasses, even good ones, are cheaper than a single trip to the optometrist.

Ear Plugs

One loud noise or power tool use won't significantly damage your hearing, but with car restoration, those instances add up quickly. You'll want to preserve your hearing so you can appreciate the engine's purr and exhaust's rumble once you're finished.

Body Hammers and Dollies

If you're doing extensive body repair or planning to repair sheet metal, you'll need a good set of body hammers and dollies. These tools are only used for metal work, so if you've already got a great body on your classic Mustang, you won't need them.

Portable Work Stand

These come readymade, or you can use a pair of sawhorses and a board to create one. You'll want a place to put bumpers, body panels, hoods, and other large body parts while you work on them. A portable work stand is the ideal tool for isolating a single part for detailed work.

A Magnetic Rake

You can make one of these or buy one. Essentially, you just want a long magnet you can roll around on the floor when you're done working for the day. This will make it easy to pick up small slivers of metal that could cause problems later on.

A Note About Brands

It would be nice to say that brands don't matter, but truthfully, they do. Some brands pride themselves on high quality and others cut corners to keep their costs low.

That said, it's hard to pick a definitive best or to say that price and quality always go hand in hand. It's better to set your budget in advance and then go try out some tools. Hold them in a variety of positions. Can you imagine working with them for hours without getting blisters? If not, try some more.

Sometimes, used tool kits can be a remarkable find for a new wrencher. Not only will you get the tools that someone else carefully selected and successfully used, but you'll also get to see how well they take abuse.

As with new sets, be sure to inspect older tool sets for feel and wear and tear.