If you're just starting out in the world of car restoration, then you may want to brush up on your welding skills. Check and see if you can get a crash course in your local community college, and you'll be glad you did. It's an essential skill that not only comes in handy with car work but with many home projects as well.If you're looking for the easiest welder to use on old car restorations, then give MIG, or Metal Inert Gas a try. Before, MIG-type welders were ridiculously expensive, but today you can buy one for $200 and up. Bare-bones MIG welders are cheaper but they lack extra features such as easy wire feed and gas pressure controls, multiple current settings and others. A quick look at a MIG welder will reveal 4 settings for current, variable speed controls and a gas bottle controlled by a manual valve that's useful for almost all automotive work. It only takes a few hours practicing with a MIG welder to be proficient with automotive restoration tasks.Other welder types include Oxy-Acetylene, Arc and TIG, but they usually require more practice before you're confident enough to work on classic cars.As a side note, make sure to get an instant darkening welding helmet. This equipment gives you better protection and it frees up both hands for more efficient metalwork

Floor jacks are widely available, relatively inexpensive and they are must-haves in auto restoration. Steer clear of compact floor jacks that can be carried in a car trunk. You'll need your floor jack huge, heavy and with steel wheels. Moreover, a proper floor jack must have a minimum lift height of 16 inches and lift capacity of two tons.

Screwdrivers are a staple in any home or car restoration project. You'll need a set of them with varying lengths, and in flat and Phillips. The same rule applies for pliers- you'll need varying sizes of regular, locking, wire-cutting and needle-nosed always ready and on hand.Moreover, you'll need a set of sockets. If possible, get both the half-inch and 3/8 inch ones, but a 1/2 inch set should suffice if you're on a budget. Just keep in mind that a smaller set won't be able to do anything to a large fastener that's torqued down.Don't forget box-end and open-end wrenches. You'll need overlapping sizes, i.e., one wrench will have 1/2 inch to 9/16ths, while the other has 9/16th inch to 5/8ths so you'll have the luxury of having two wrenches work on a single nut or bolt at any given time.Rounding out the must-haves include tape measures, spark plug sockets, allen wrenches, a hacksaw, hammer, a cold chisel and some files. In the electrical tool department, you'll want a sabre saw, a 4-inch grinder and a reversible variable-speed drill. If you can, get an electric impact wrench. You'll be glad you did!Some of the equipment and tools listed here will require knowledge and a bit of skill. Take some time and familiarize yourself before conducting actual restoration work. If you are a novice, you may also want to consider joining local club and asking member or a professional to mentor you during the restoration process.

When we look for cars that we want to bring back to life from the Muscle Car Graveyard, a little-known fact is that cars from the Northeastern Sector of the United States that were subjected to excessive Salt during bad winters not only had problems with rust.In the usual places, but many have suffered Rust problems on the top side of the frame which can’t be detected with the naked eye even when closely inspected on a lift. Make sure you get as much history on any Classic Car you might want to restore. You will thank me later..." - Eric Grandi - Eric's Muscle Cars.