Farm Boy Garage

Congratulations! You just bought the muscle car of your DREAMS. But, you know that it needs some work and you're not a mechanic. You know that there are tons of auto restoration shops out there, but you're wondering how on EARTH you're going to choose the right one. If this scenario sounds like you, you have come to the right place! There are clearly lots of choices out there for car restoration, but that doesn't mean every shop around is the RIGHT shop for you. Not everyone knows how to work on classic cars and not everyone can truly meet your needs. Keep reading this week's blog for a few tips on how to determine if you have found the RIGHT restoration shop to meet ALL your needs. To get in touch with a classic car restoration shop that you can count on to get the job done, call Farm Boy Garage today. We can be reached at 515-528-8904. To get an overview of the classic car restoration services we provide, visit our website at www.FarmBoyGarage.com . How T...

As car people, we know there's just something about the idea of  rebuilding your muscle car  on your own that provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. We get that. We also get that not everyone is properly equipped or savvy enough to accomplish a full restoration on their own. There's no shame in that. You want your classic muscle car to look and run its best. To achieve greatness, sometimes it's just best to leave these tasks to the professionals. Check out these 5 reasons why you should let a professional fully restore your vehicle. 1. Your Planned Budget May Go Out the Door Before you decide to move forward with a restoration project, the first thing you should do is plan out a budget. Car restoration isn't cheap, so having a budget in mind is important. The problem with attempting a restoration project on your own can throw a HUGE and expensive kink in your budget, especially if you're not seasoned in all that is involved. Plus, you may end up p...

When it comes to the care and restoration of your classic truck or muscle car , you don't want to trust just anyone to handle your pride and joy. We as classic car collectors know just how much your ride means to you. That's why we do what we do. Farm Boy Garage went from a young boy’s dream to a grown man’s reality when Bryan Kratzer broke ground in 2015 to designing and building a one of a kind classic muscle car restoration garage. Not sure if Farm Boy Garage is the right restoration shop for you? Check out what some of our clients have to say about us! Customer Testimonials "Bryan and the staff at Farm Boy Garage will honor their word, do great work, bend over backwards to ensure they exceed expectations." - Doyle Z. "Wonderful shop with great accommodations. Owner and employees truly care about the customers. April the manager went above and beyond any questions we had. Joe was extremely knowledgeable. When you come through the door you know you ...

When you pick Farm Boy Garage to  restore your muscle car , you become a part of our family. Because we will be working so closely together, it's only right you get to know the crew that will be taking care of all your  muscle car restoration  needs. This month you'll get the pleasure of finding out a little about Farm Boy Garage's fabricator/ paint specialist, Joe Thomason! Joe Thomason Fabricator/Paint Specialist Joe Thomason AKA Smokin Joe is a Des Moines, IA native. Smokin Joe has run the gauntlet when it comes to his work history. He spent seventeen years working in Information Technology and the remainder as an electrician, painter, fabricator, and working on engines. Smokin Joe’s affection for muscle cars began at a young age, but it was in 2000 when he purchased a 1993 Mustang Convertible and restored her to a luxurious, fast and loud running machine that he realized just how much passion/satisfaction he has for the restored muscle car. Smokin...

When you pick Farm Boy Garage to restore your muscle car, you become a part of our family. Because we will be working so closely together, it's only right you get to know the crew that will be taking care of all your muscle car restoration needs. This month you'll get the pleasure of finding out a little about Farm Boy Garage's body/fabricator/ paint specialist, John Black. John Black Body/Fabricator/Paint Specialist John originates from small town Nauvoo, IL. A graduate of Southeastern Community College located in Burlington, Iowa, John earned his degree in Auto Body and Repair. John’s love for muscle cars and restoration developed at the young age of 12 when he worked on vehicles with his uncle and neighbor who restored custom vans from the 1970’s. With more than 26 years of experience, it is no wonder his 1985 Monte Carlo SS won 23 awards. John’s appreciation and love for the classic muscle car led him to the door of Farm Boy Garage. Spending many months drivi...

Imagine your classic muscle car with a luxurious one-of-a-kind leather interior that matches the exterior in class and style. Maybe you’ve found the classic car of your dreams, but it really needs an interior overhaul to go with a complete exterior restoration. Whatever your dream, when it comes to custom interior restoration , Farm Boy Garage can deliver it - adding luxury, comfort and style to your vehicle at an affordable price. Save Time and Money All too often, when a classic car collector decides to do a complete overhaul on their vehicle, they've got to find a shop to do the exterior work and an upholsterer to do the interior design. Relying on two separate people do handle these jobs can not only be extremely costly, but you can also bet that there will be issues that arise causing your vehicle to sit longer in the shop than you want. For example, when you hire two separate people to do these tasks, issues such as properly installing carpeting over bulging wire harness...

When it comes to tool selection, Snap-On is the best choice for any job - big or small. Anyone who's worked on cars over the years knows that you can rely on their tools to get the job done without worrying about replacing them nearly as often as you would a cheaper, less reliable brand. From toolboxes to wrenches to scan tools, these quality made tools are worth every penny spent. That's why we at Farm Boy Garage trust Snap-On tools to get the job done. Let's take a look back at how Snap-On came to be one of the top producers in the tool industry. "Five do the Work of Fifty" In 1920, the dedication of two determined engineers revolutionized repair and made work easier for professional mechanics leading to the start-up of the Snap-On Wrench company. Joseph Johnson and William Seidemann saw huge success from the inception of their crude demo set. Production was ramped up with the opening of a 2,500 square foot manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, WI, and the...

Owning a classic car is like owning a little slice of history. Like any antique, it’s important to take extra care to preserve its beauty and functionality, especially after having it restored! At Farm Boy Garage , we know the importance of maintaining your classic ride properly and want to share some tips with you to help you keep your ride looking its best after having it fully restored by yours truly. Take a look: Keep it Clean Washing your car regularly keeps salt, grime and other impurities from permanently damaging your classic's exterior. Don’t forget about the undercarriage as well. Salt and road grime are really good at finding their way into every nook and cranny. Be sure to clean the underside of your car really well to help all the exposed parts clean and corrosion free. Give it a Good Wax Wax is the best way to make the paint look its best. You should give your classic a really good waxing at least once every six months. While you're at it, you should a...

As car people, we know there's just something about the idea of rebuilding your muscle car on your own that provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. We get that. We also get that not everyone is properly equipped or restoration savvy enough to accomplish such a big task on their own. There's no shame in that. You want your classic muscle car to look and run its best. To achieve greatness, sometimes it's just best to leave these tasks to the professionals. Check out these 5 reasons why you SHOULDN'T attempt a vehicle restoration project on your own, and instead hire a vehicle restoration professional. 1. Your Planned Budget May Go Out the Door Before you decide to move forward with a restoration project, the first thing you should do is plan out a budget. Car restoration isn't cheap, so having a budget in mind is important. The problem with attempting a restoration project on your own can throw a HUGE and expensive kink in your budget, especially if yo...

If you've been considering buying an older car to restore , it's important to know that a quick and hasty purchase without proper research is not advisable. Choosing the right muscle car, vintage automobile or classic pickup truck is an important part of your decision making, but there are other factors to think about, too. Here are some things you should consider before putting your pen to your checkbook to make that purchase. Have a Goal in Mind Before buying your next classic car, it's really important to think about what your goals are and what you plan to do with it once you get it. What do you want from this automobile when the project is finished. Do you plan to make it your play car or will you be reselling it? Restoring a car for investment purposes will play a big role in deciding your purchase. How often do you plan to drive it and will you be proudly showing it off at car shows? By asking yourself these questions, you'll more easily be able to determin...

If you've ever asked someone who isn't a huge classic car enthusiast what their favorite classic car is, chances are they've answered the '69 Camaro. Reason? It's one of the most memorable muscle cars around! Featured in movies like Charlie's Angels and 2 Fast 2 Furious, the popularity of the '69 Camaro has even made its way to the big screen. But what makes this performance pony our pick of the month for a collector worthy classic car ? Let's take a look. A New Look The 1969 Chevy Camaro marked the last of the first generations of Camaros and is arguably the most popular. It featured entirely new, more aggressive looking sheet metal and a revised grille. Transitioning to a flatter, wider looking stance, going away was the original coke bottle shape. A redesigned dash and more comfortable seats made it more livable, too. But it was the staggering array of available performance equipment that marks 1969 as the greatest model year for Camaros. More...

When you pick Farm Boy Garage to restore your muscle car , you become a part of our family. Because we will be working so closely together, it's only right you get to know the crew that will be taking care of all your muscle car restoration needs. This month you'll get the pleasure of finding out a little about Farm Boy Garage's owner, Bryan Kratzer! Meet Bryan Kratzer - Owner/Operator Bryan Kratzer is a small town farm boy from Seymour, Iowa. He believes life is all about having great friends/family, staying positive, working hard and having a good time all the while making dreams come true. At an early age, Bryan developed a passion for nice cars that not only look good but go fast. Believing things can always be better, Bryan would do little things to improve the performance and appearance of all his vehicles. Bryan’s passion for muscle cars led to his dream of owning his very own shop. All of Bryan’s hard work paid off when in 2015 he purchased 5 acres ri...

The guys at Fa rm Boy Garage have vast experience with restoring and repairing all makes and models of muscle cars and classic trucks. No project is too big or small – if you're in need of a full restoration for your classic ride, the skilled staff at Farm Boy Garage will get the job done right! Check out some of the services we offer:  Farm Boy Garage Services Custom Upholstery When the seats of a vehicle are beyond replacement or when a customer wants a new interior, we can either repair or replace the entire upholstery of the vehicle. If you wish to preserve the vehicle's original upholstery, we can preserve and improve that upholstery, making it look new again. Tear Down When a client brings their vehicle in for a full restoration that requires tear down, we disassemble and catalog every piece on vehicle to ensure that the vehicle is put back in its original condition and that all panels, trim, molding placements, etc fit properly. The body is pulled off th...

Welcome to Farm Boy Garage where we make your classic car dream a reality! From vintage muscle cars to classic trucks, we've got a deep love and appreciation for restoring that vintage beauty back to perfect! In our blog, we'll be sharing with you a wealth of information regarding vehicle restoration , vintage car fun facts and topics, and we'll even share with you some of our projects! This week, we're going to keep it simple and just give you a brief overview of what we do, how we got started, and some of the services we take care of in our garage. Check it out! FROM DREAM TO REALITY Farm Boy Garage went from a young boy’s dream to a grown man’s reality when Bryan Kratzer broke ground in 2015 to designing and building a one of a kind muscle car restoration garage. Bryan Kratzer, owner-operator of Farm Boy Garage, is a born and raised Iowa farm boy. He was taught to work hard, be honest, and self-reliant. His word is his bond. WE'RE A ONE-STOP-SHOP We spe...