picked up a rough 87 Grand National - how to approach project?

[paradigm]

Picked up an 87 Grand National clean title car with 98k miles from NJ. VIN checks out as does the RPO sticker / WE2 code. The car is a bit of a mess, with the wrong trim bits on it, rotted areas on floors, areas cut out of the rear driver fender, doors not in good shape with holes along the bottom, and original drivetrain is gone and an incomplete LS swap sits in it. Frame looks solid, most body panels look decent, trunk is solid. A lot of the wiring has been modified due to swap, unsure if the motor and transmission are operable (5.3 LM7 + 4L80e with no driveshaft). Not sure what condition the brakes are, and how ready the fuel system is.

How would you guys approach this project?
Work on the floors first? then drivetrain?
Before I get the motor running, I want to paint the engine bay which will be a good bit of work on its own removing the inner fenders, other metal bits, preparing everything, and priming / painting. I have never done metal work or welding. I am hoping to buy a mig welder and learn on the floor.

And the floors:
Driver side looking forward, rotted area:

driver floor looking rearward:

passenger floor looking rear, soft area:

Areas of floor pan suspected to need replacement:

 

[L05edSS]

start where ever you will but prolly best thing to do is get it moving under its own power as a motivator first. imo

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

start where ever you will but prolly best thing to do is get it moving under its own power as a motivator first. imo

I can definitely see things from that perspective, but also think it could be a good time to attack the big stuff while it's apart. Tough call.

1: Get it driving under its own power before worrying about the body. Definitely helps with motivation when you can drive it.

2: Do the big work (floors, paint the bay, etc.) now since it's already sitting, undrivable. Unless you need the extra set of wheels it saves having to dismantle as much later.

It's worth noting that any car is worth more if it can be driven, so you make a good point.

 

[Streetbu]

Everyone starts with the mechanicals first. I did too. I would've been much more motivated to continue to work on a car that looked really nice, and only needed mechanical work. I would get everything body wise done, except paint, first. Probably because that's the part I don't want to do and motivation can wane quickly in a large project.
Only other thing I can suggest is make a plan and stick to it... this should take at least a month. Figure out your budget, plan of attack, where the parts you need are coming from, etc.

 

[Malibu795]

I did body work first, mainly because I went on deployment at the time...
It saved the car, on one hand, other I have a custom paint code, painter is long retired (painted in 03/04 winter)
And I've got gouges from pulling the engine..

Personally I'd do mechanical first... If doing the whole floor pans, it's easier with engine transmission out

Also easier to move projects around when they move under their own power as well

Split the stuff up into "bite size" projects and don't start another till that's "done"
Grease pen a check list on a window.. can split list in to project categories as well

 

[85ss/85gn]

Looks like the rearend was replaced with a 7.5 rearend.

 

[mclellan83]

All good suggestions, looking forward to seeing you get this together

 

[81cutlass]

1. Pressure wash it off an make sure it doesn't get wet when it rains, fix leaks into interior if it does leak so your interior doesn't get ruined. Fix hinges or latches as the thing is pretty rusty the doors are probably out of alignment or hinges worn and hard to close. Replace any worn or missing weatherstripping
2. Brakes
3. Make sure the interior doesn't stink and makes you want to work on it. De mouse-house it, take out the inevitable dirty laundry or trash in the interior and inventory what parts are sitting in the trunk or back seat
4. Get it running
5. Put the damn HVAC box back in!



47. Fix the floors and body


But that's just how i'd do it

 

[paradigm]

Looks like the rearend was replaced with a 7.5 rearend.

Rear end looks to be the factory 8.5" based on the ears at 5 and 7 o clock?

 

[paradigm]

I can definitely see things from that perspective, but also think it could be a good time to attack the big stuff while it's apart. Tough call.

1: Get it driving under its own power before worrying about the body. Definitely helps with motivation when you can drive it.

2: Do the big work (floors, paint the bay, etc.) now since it's already sitting, undrivable. Unless you need the extra set of wheels it saves having to dismantle as much later.

It's worth noting that any car is worth more if it can be driven, so you make a good point.

Thats the dilemma I am having. Do I roll the car into my garage and start attacking the tough stuff (floors first) whiles the car is apart, then paint the engine bay, then get the drivetrain running? Or do I get it running, only to take it back apart so that I can paint the bay, get the heater box in, and then start the floors.