U.S. car tool "Body in white" program any feedback

[AKcharger]

I talk to the guys at length at Carlise yesterday and like the Idea of dropping off and shell and picking it up complete. It aint' cheap but really, it's not bad either.

Anyone have any experience or know anyone that's went this route??

[71charger_fan]

I can say that I regret not giving it a try. Would have been cheaper in the long run than the way my body shop billed for more than double their estimate without ever letting me know. I expected maybe a 15 to 20% upcharge, but not more than 100%. I was shocked when I saw the bill. This was for a car the owner took the time to crawl over and under and get a real good look at it before he even agreed to do the work. The final finish is amazing, but I would have been way ahead to ship the car to U.S. Car Tool for the rust and body repair as it turned out. Do body/restoration shops think that enthusiasts don't talk to each other?

[Mike DC]

              
It always cracks me up when people complain about the cost of a Dynacorn body.  

The hobby is full of $20k paint & body jobs, on 50yo bodies, with new welds that look much better than they hold, and the owners are still never driving the cars in the rain again for fear of the rust popping right back up. 

The rust issue has absolutely destroyed our ability to enjoy these cars.  It continues to limit our enjoyment of them long after we have spent money to get the panels patched & replaced.

[AKcharger]

...I can say that I regret not giving it a try. Would have been cheaper in the long run than the way my body shop billed for more than double their estimate without ever letting me know...

That's what I was thinking. My guess is since us car tool specialize in B-bodies they can do it fast/efficient to make $$ unlike a regular resto shop that is learning at your expense. Hard to beat a fixed price

[richRTSE]

I have their rotisserie and frame connectors and I am happy with both. I found this on another website though...

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1730176/re-us-car-tool-body-in-white-program-fly-on-the-wall.html

[AKcharger]

Oh...in case anyone saw this and was wondering $17,500 for standard (the complete unibody with nothing bolted to it)and $25,000 for deluxe with includes all bolt-on body parts plus front and rear Frame Rails

Body Shell Stripped to bare metal (Media Blast and / or Chemical Dip)
Disassemble panels at factory spot weld locations
Repair or Replace damaged panels (parts cost included!)
Fabricate unavailable panels to factory OEM appearance (You will not be able to tell)
Rust inhibitive coating inside panels and structures
Standard factory undercoating inside quarter panels
Prime the entire body shell, ready for final prep and paint

[71charger_fan]

Since I'd already paid to have my right front frame rail replaced and it wasn't part of my outrageous body shop bill, that $17,500 would have saved me a lot of money. How much would have depended on how much it would have cost to ship my shell down there and back.

[AKcharger]

I was thinking of renting a uhual truck and trailer and making a mini-vacation out of it

[Troy]

What car do you have that's so bad that it needs that much metal work?

Troy

[Mike DC]

   
Body panels in new boxes take up a helluva lot more space than loose panels in a stack.  (Unless the UPS guy folds them in half!)

It's not that hard to start needing a truck when you're talking full quarters & floorpans.

[paironines]

The price seems kind of stiff to me depending on the extent of final prep and paint. Is there some filler on the final product or extent of panel warpage etc? I'd like to read what an actual user of this service thinks of it. Any links?

[AKcharger]

- Troy both are find but the '70 is due for another resto as I cut some corners back in 2003 and while it's fine, I want it perfect
- Mike all body panels are included I wouldn't have to buy or ship
- pairones, not sure, I'm suspecting will still need some blocking and filling. If I go with them I plan to visit the shop and review their work and operation in person...I'm not dropping that much $$$ without being comfortable.

[polywideblock]

for us overseas  guys sounds like a good alternative to buying a car and  then letting panel guys that have never touched a US car  do the work for you 

                                                                                                 

[Dmichels]

really does not sound all that bad
I welded on $2000 worth of sheet metal myself I bet that would have cost 3 to 4 grand in labor.
my paint guy charged me $8500 to finish the body work and paint.
Dave