Budget body work

[jtm311]

How fast do you want your car done? If you want it done fairly soon, let the pros do it. If you're in no rush, I say give it a shot. I've never had any training in body work, welding, etc and I've done a ton of panel replacement and body work on my build. I'm not in a rush though so if I do something and I really don't like how it turned out, I can start over. Yes your time is money, but if you don't mind doing it and you're not in a rush, what you will learn from doing it will be worth even more. Search the internet, read books and ask lots of questions. Most people are willing to go the extra bit to help out someone trying to do it themselves.

Mike is correct. I view it this way, perfection only comes if you do it everyday, well I'm ok with 99.9% I'm just finishing up my firewall which I never did before and very happy with it. I say go for it.

[sellersrodshop]

Well as some have stated a pro will "some" times give you a better end result. This is not a guarantee and a shop will not always get it done "faster" heard of piant jail before? I say if you are having fun and just looking to do it your self then go for it (and I am a PRO)! I have seen MANY home done jobs that look better then what some "PROS" do and I have seen and fixed many jobs that where done at home and buy the pros. In the end either way it is not cheap unless you are buying paint from Summit and are looking for the chepo paint job. But if you have the time and drive to follow through then go for it and have fun. Oh the reason most shops want to redo what you have done or not guarantee the work is that after you start it and then they have to finish it (and some stuff is not up to their qaulity) it their name that goes on it! Moat people are not going say yah I started it and did not do a good job but the shop only painted it, most will say yah ABC shop did the work what do you think. So if something is not up to the quality they do then you can seen why they want to start over. Also look to see if any one in your area that know what they are doing to have a look to how you are doing. remember to have fun.

re-read rick's quote above, as some of the best points are made in his response. i say the same thing all the time. the best advice i can re-give from above is find someone locally to guide you with knowledge & advice. it's not rocket science, but the smallest details are what makes a difference, like cleaning welds before applying filler. the best bodywork in the world will pop in 6 months if the welds aren't cleaned. my dad owned/ran body shops his whole working life & i learned from a young age by simply sitting & watching. after that, its just practice. like any profession, you don't walk in the first day & totally wow the crowd, you have to work at it.

again, find that guiding hand & listen to what they say over what you see in a youtube video. if you are just starting out, you won't really know if its a good way or not to do something. any idiot can post a video online, i see them all the time! i know i don't mind offering advice/help to guys in my area....

[newmexicosaint]

if you decide to do it, here is my advice (for what its worth)

Pick a panel and work it till you are done

Be PATIENT!! if you feel yourself rushing, step away and come back when you have settled down a bit

Study your product. Your primer, filler and paint can have a dramatic affect on your outcome. Urethane primers "shrink" and need plenty of time to cure. While they are dry and sandable fairly quickly they continue to shrink back for days. If you have ever seen a slick paint job with "ghost sand scratches" showing through the paint job, this is why.

Here is a link to a primer/filler that can be sprayed, poured or even brushed on (I know this sounds crazy) http://www.clausenautobody.com/prodd...rod=all-u-need
This will not shrink back...consider your Primer the same as the foundation of your house. EVERYTHING depends on how great your foundation is. It is expensive but the best out there in my OPINION.

Also check this out! http://www.clausenautobody.com/prodd...=rust-defender

When using filler remember this, if you can feel it with your hands then you will see it in the final paint.

Good luck.

[67 Fastback]

I started without a clue as to how to weld or anything. My car has turned into a full blown resto since. I've learned more than I ever could paying someone to do it for me. It has taken me along time with alot of mistakes, but I'm happy with what I have accomplished and learned.

Bill

[wayward]

I like to do the metal work and don't mind doing the basic body work.

but at 600 a gallon for base color, I don't have the guts to spray anything but a solid color. my car is a metallic and NO way would I attempt or I would magically turn a 600 gallon into a 1200 two gallon job that includes the need for more sandpaper... ;-)

EL

[SPDMETL]

YOU can screw it up just as wellas they can, and it's cheaper and closer to home!

[Staged 2Discover]

It all depeds on what your own quality standards are. I know my limitations for the the type of quality I want and can't get there for the experience that I have in bodywork as a non professional, so I bit the bullit and farmed it out. No regrets. 8 years later. This rear quarter has a bonded patch panel is still holding out and it's been through some torture at the drags (body flex from lifting front wheels) and I'm a fanatic for straight lines even in daily drivers.
I support the Pro work.

My 2 cents .

Tom

[charchri4]

I'm going to echo the local advice comments above. A friend of mine told me this and it turned out to be the best 100 bucks he ever spent. Find a shop with a good reputation and see if you can pick out one of the younger techs that looks kind of hungry. Ask him or her if they would be willing to look over your car and answer questions for 50 bucks. He will say yes and give you a long list of ideas and suggestions. If that goes well offer him another 50 bucks if you can call him when needed for advice. The guy my buddy found was so helpful he came to his house on paint day and spent a couple hours helping him with the gun and final prep.

I agree with the rest of the guys here. If you want perfection you need a pro. The thing is your car is so cool as it is that you can get away with a lot of paint flaws and it will still be epic!

For what it's worth I have never painted a car either and am just starting in on mine. It's going to have flaws and may not least for years and years but Visa won't own it!

BTW yes that is one heck of a cam! Mine is close but just dosn't have the genes to ever sound as good as your car. http://youtu.be/RZGs7C4AorM