where do I start?

[jar1292]

first off in the last three weeks I've visited six body shops that I have known to do really great restore projects. three of the shops flat lined me with a NO one said that the can do it on there down time and two of them were kind enough to say that the will start with ten grand to back them up! I've come to the conclusion that i can at least get it ready to ping out the dents.

the car is really strait for what i can see the right front panel has a wave and the usual pitting in the rear panels behind the tires. the only problem is that before I bought it the previous owner recently black primered the whole thing. so i honestly have no clue as to whats underneath. or how he prepped it. Ive had one guy tell me to aircraft remover everything and another tell me not too cuz it would remove too much! and another guy said to just prep it how it is. the fact is that everybody has there suggestions but not willing to do it. so I'm taking matters into my own hands.

where do i start so I can make the rational decision if i can do it myself or not. I just don't want it to be a mess or have any unneeded problems for the pros if i decided that I cant do it myself. I have full access to any tools that I need minus a blaster. the shop that i have it in costs a fortune in the winter to keep warm but it has all the power,air and lighting that I need just not the hands to do it.



any kind of direction or advice is greatly appreciated. if you want pics let me know

[Silver R/T]

if you do decide to do it yourself I'd suggest taking your time on each panel and doing panel at a time. Strip panel, take off any old bondo, pop out any dents, do your filler work. prime it and move onto next panel.

[roger440]

You dont say what sort of standard you want to get it to.

If you just want to smoke it about, then, hey, just prime it and shoot the colour. If its a good or excellent standard you are after, then you need to know what is under the paint.

[jar1292]

I want the best job possible for what I gotta put into it. and if I do it myself then i want peaple to say "wow you did that, can you do mine?" not "wow looks like you painted it yourself!" besides if i dont take off the primer,in the back of my head will always be whats hiding that will come out in five years!

[Silver R/T]

rattle can primer is not good for even amateur paint job imo. You would be better off taking it all off anyways.

[jar1292]

so do I start sanding it off blast it off or chemically remove whats on there now?

[hemi-hampton]

You ask of 3 different ways & 3 different people will tell you 3 different ways. I've used all 3 of the methods mentioned above. LEON.

[69 OUR/TEA]

Is it that noone will do it,or the 10K scared you away that is giving you the courage to do it yourself?
Sounds like you have no experience in bodywork/painting,you say wave in right front panel,usual pitts behind rear tires(which is rot by the way)which leads into cutting out metal,welding in patches ,etc..Anyway,I commend you for wanting to do it yourself,but be carefull as you may open a can of worms and become overwelmed very easily and quickly.
There are alot of factors on your part as far as buying materials,your rent for your shop/building/garage or whatever it is you have,tools that you think you have but don't,add that all up minus the time and aggravation,you will be better off finding a place to do it,just shop carefully for that place. If it is ambition you have,add on another part time job on top of whatever you do for work,and work doing that to earn the extra $$$$$$$ to pay the professionals to do your car,you will have to work one way or another for it:Twocents:

[TylerCharger69]

I agree with all of the above....If you want a full resto....then asking 10 K in advance is usually standard practice....you have to realize...that if done properly....every single panel, inner and outer, on the car will be touched.  Most likely on a rotisserie.  Now....if you question your painting capabilities, then you can do the bodywork yourself....get it roughed in, and let the body shop finish it off for you.  I have to do this for two reasons....1, I question my workmanship when it comes to a major clearcoat paint job, and 2, I don't think my neighbors would appreciate me painting a car in my garage...especially since there is no way to properly ventilate and filter overspray.  But....shooting primer is no big deal, and using fillers  (not bondo) isn't a big deal either.  It boils down to how much you want to spend, the extent you want to go with it, and if you trust yourself doing it.  So really...no one can give you a correct answer because we don't know your capabilities....not to mention we don't know how your bank account looks,  and to what extent does your car need to be repaired.  A decision you'll probably have to decide for yourself.....Just my

[Back N Black]

As for doing most of the bodywork yourself and getting a pro bodyshop finish it up? Most bodyshops will not finish a car that they did do the entire job.They do not want to put their reputation on other peoples work.