Classic Body conundrum

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rustyswinger

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Location
Edmonton
So,

The swinger isn't rusty anymore. She's street legal but no where near "done

I have welded new steel to the quarters, doors, and every where else that needed it. Now I need a Body shop to finish the job.

NOBODY wants her. I'm near Edmonton Alberta if anyone knows anyone I could turn to.

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Most body shops nowadays are parts replacers. Most don't possess the skills or desire to tackle your car. You may find someone who agrees to do it, but it probably won't end well. You'll keep forking over money while your car sits behind their shop for years. In the end you'll end up finishing it in your driveway.
 
Whats the reason the shops dont want it?
Cant warranty for rust through?
They wont do it for the money you want to spend?
Not many shops turn away work nowadays.
 
Whats the reason the shops dont want it?
Cant warranty for rust through?
They wont do it for the money you want to spend?
Not many shops turn away work nowadays.
They all want insurance/collision work. They claim they can't make any money and won't put their name on a project I started
 
Most body shops nowadays are parts replacers. Most don't possess the skills or desire to tackle your car. You may find someone who agrees to do it, but it probably won't end well. You'll keep forking over money while your car sits behind their shop for years. In the end you'll end up finishing it in your driveway.
I won't touch auto body paint anymore.

ain't got the constitution for it
 
I might know of a guy here in Calgary. He does nice work but he is not cheap. You are probably looking at around $20,000 minimum, The paint alone will run anywhere between 5 to 10K unless you just want a single stage paint. If you are interested let me know and I will put you in touch with him.
 
Whats the reason the shops dont want it?
Cant warranty for rust through?
They wont do it for the money you want to spend?
Not many shops turn away work nowadays.
The one guy that quoted said 10k to start. He won't guarantee he can do it before winter next year. I have money, but can't stand a deal like that
 
That blows me away,i understand the insurance/parts changer thing.
But whats the point of having a body shop if you arent doing the good stuff?
Both body shops in my town have the project corner. Always something sitting there. Progress is usually slow though.
Paying to get it done in a reasonable time frame is going to be pricey.
Not bodywork, but i quoted a miserable job for every worst case scenario in the hopes it would go away. Nope,fixed it.
Needed extra parts on top of quote and still came out below quote.
I hope you find something reasonable and quality work.
 
Oh and people wonder why i want to do my own body/paint.
Left with few options, and i have the space to do it.
 
I might know of a guy here in Calgary. He does nice work but he is not cheap. You are probably looking at around $20,000 minimum, The paint alone will run anywhere between 5 to 10K unless you just want a single stage paint. If you are interested let me know and I will put you in touch with him.
I don't know if my expectations are out to lunch but 20K for finishing a driver quality car seems over the top.
 
The wages,materials and shop space go for a premium these days.
Especially west of the gap....
 
100 hours for bodywork,prep and paint isnt that unrealistic. Here the body shop is like $60/hour plus materials 15/hour and paint
Puts that 100 hours at 10 grand
With taxes.
 
100 hours for bodywork,prep and paint isnt that unrealistic. Here the body shop is like $60/hour plus materials 15/hour and paint
Puts that 100 hours at 10 grand
With taxes.
10k I could live with. It was the 20 k I gag at
 
I don't own a body shop, but my best friend has for almost 40yrs. Any reputable shop has more work than they know what to do with. Most high volume shops pay their guys piece work. They crank em out and are not going to touch a project car with a 10' pole.

The second type of shop is the high end artist. He's going to do top notch work for top notch money and you're gonna wait.

Then there's the third type of shop. You drive by this shop all the time and wonder how he stays in business. It's the owner and the flavor of the week helper. He'll agree to do your car to get the deposit. Your car gets rolled out back with the other junk piles that have been there for years. Now you go through the routine of calling him for an update, and he talks you down for a while. About 6 months later you get a call for more money. He spread some filler and primer he had left over on a shelf to show you some progress. You give him some money and he pays his back rent, vendor, or meth dealer. The cycle starts again. This will continue till your patience, or his ability to BS you runs out. You flip out and come to get your car and he says not until you pay $2,609 in storage fees.
 
Paint it youself in the backyard..... build a plastic booth, or do the roll on tremclad or rustoleum thing. Google it, there are some awesome results.

Best option though is to approach the local colleges that teach autobody. My buddy had his 70 cuda painted lime green at the college here in kelown. It turned out awesome.

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I don't own a body shop, but my best friend has for almost 40yrs. Any reputable shop has more work than they know what to do with. Most high volume shops pay their guys piece work. They crank em out and are not going to touch a project car with a 10' pole.

The second type of shop is the high end artist. He's going to do top notch work for top notch money and you're gonna wait.

Then there's the third type of shop. You drive by this shop all the time and wonder how he stays in business. It's the owner and the flavor of the week helper. He'll agree to do your car to get the deposit. Your car gets rolled out back with the other junk piles that have been there for years. Now you go through the routine of calling him for an update, and he talks you down for a while. About 6 months later you get a call for more money. He spread some filler and primer he had left over on a shelf to show you some progress. You give him some money and he pays his back rent, vendor, or meth dealer. The cycle starts again. This will continue till your patience, or his ability to BS you runs out. You flip out and come to get your car and he says not until you pay $2,609 in storage fees.
****. I'll send it to he crusher before I do that
 
Paint it youself in the backyard..... build a plastic booth, or do the roll on tremclad or rustoleum thing. Google it, there are some awesome results.

Best option though is to approach the local colleges that teach autobody. My buddy had his 70 cuda painted lime green at the college here in kelown. It turned out awesome.

View attachment 1715118376
I had thought about approaching the local college. might be my best option.

I built a plastic booth in my garage and painted the floor, engine bay, trunk etc. Damn near killed myself with that poison.
 
Lol. I grew up- no lets say i grew old around the body shop. Learned a lot and how to do some of it well.
Im sure theres a shop that wont rob you blind or screw you over.
Local car clubs are a good place to make connections,finding the “guy” is what you need to do.
 
Lol. I grew up- no lets say i grew old around the body shop. Learned a lot and how to do some of it well.
Im sure theres a shop that wont rob you blind or screw you over.
Local car clubs are a good place to make connections,finding the “guy” is what you need to do.
I'll keep looking. I have hope I can get a decent job for an honest price. I'll spend the money, but cripes..... there has to be a limit.
 
Poison is an understatement. Respirators, even for the rattle can stuff.
There are two part rattle can paints too
Local paint supplier fills cans with your colour and you press a button to release hardener,shake it and away you go.
 
Ask around at the local body shop supply for a small shop.
 
Poison is an understatement. Respirators, even for the rattle can stuff.
There are two part rattle can paints too
Local paint supplier fills cans with your colour and you press a button to release hardener,shake it and away you go.
I speak to people all the time who claim they "like the smell" of that stuff.

VOC paint will kill you. Or ruin you.
 
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