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Author
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Topic: Inexpensive Body work or Sell
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MidLifCrisis
Gearhead Posts: 673
From: Frederick County, MD
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 03-31-2006 09:27 PM
 
I am torn between attempting to bring my car back to respectability or sell it for parts.
Its a '69 Torino GT Fastback. It needs quarters, but I have lower patch panels, both lower fenders need work, the hood is rough, it may need a driver's torque box, and the drivers floor has holes near the kickpanel and beside the seat. Both front & rear frame rails look good. The car was disassembled prior to my getting it, so it would be easy to do the body work. Does anyone know of an inexpensive bodyshop in the Frederick, Maryland area? The interior would need reupholstery. I was thinking of doing a "StockCar look" restoration so that I wouldn't have to keep everything exact and could have some fun customizing it with go-fast parts. The motor runs, and the car moves, but the brakes need overhauling, and if I cammed the motor I would want to do rings and valves. In the last year or so, I have found free time getting more scarce and money is tight with my second kid looking at college. The other option is to sell the 351W, auto trans, and 9" rear and throw the car in with it. What do you guys think I could get for this? Charlie [This message has been edited by MidLifCrisis (edited 03-31-2006).]
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roger
Gearhead Posts: 533
From: ontario, canada
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 04-01-2006 09:44 PM
Inexpensive body shop, those words don;t actually fit together, look at 65-100 per hr.
If your not doing it all yourself I;d plan on 15-20K to make her nice & i think i;m being concervative.
Now if your an expert body guy, can rebuild the motor yourself, have mastered the art of re-doing upholustry ,then its just a mater of your time & materials.
If your none of the above, sell it & buy a car that is mostly done & someone has lost interest (or money) to finish.
I;d rather spend the extra $$$ for a running car in primer than do a ground up anytime, but thats just me.
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MidLifCrisis
Gearhead Posts: 673
From: Frederick County, MD
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 04-02-2006 11:36 AM
Thanks, Roger. Doing the mechanicals would be easy for me, but I've never attempted body work on this scale. As for "inexpensive body shop", the economy has been too good, and there are shops that can pick and choose what they want and don't want to work on. It is getting impossible to find a bodyman, that has time to do anything "on the side".As for selling, what do you think I can get? Fordman75 just sold a motor and trans cheap for $250 in the classifieds. I was thinking about $950 for the entire car. Too high or too low? Charlie
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-02-2006 08:53 PM
That's about good,$1000 is a decent price if it can put itself on a trailer. Too bad you're so far away! 
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-03-2006 06:13 PM
'Inexpensive body shop' hehe, that's funny!  ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '70 Mustang Convertible - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 XL
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MidLifCrisis
Gearhead Posts: 673
From: Frederick County, MD
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 04-04-2006 07:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
'Inexpensive body shop' hehe, that's funny!
Yeah, its funny because your car is fairly straight and you found someone to take the interest in giving it a quality paint job. There is a guy around here that works out of his house, but he is hard to get hold of and acts like he has enough work. There is also the older guy that was a bargain, but had so much work over the last few years his prices have tripled. His eye sight is bad anyway, so I wouldn't want him going any further than primer, because he has a tendency to miss the lower sections like the rockers or load it up with paint until it runs. Sometimes I feel as if a long term project would be great, but other times (like when I have finished my coffee) I am so focused on results that it would drive me crazy having it sit and not being able to move to the next step. I am torn between allowing this to be the educational experience where I learn to do bodywork, and wanting to tear up the streets in a hotrodded Ford fastback. I may go fishing and put it in the classifieds. If it is meant to go, it will sell. If not I will know that this is meant to be kept. Thanks for the advice. Charlie
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4235
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-05-2006 08:44 AM
Being self taught on bodywork isn't a bad thing. It would save you alot of money for sure. Just be ready to accept your work. These cars can go two ways. Either you accept what you have,or have really deep pockets. Right now,with a family budget,bills,etc. I am happy with a driver quality car. Someday I'll have a show quality car. It's funny to go to car shows. There will always be someone snickering at the quality of your car,then turn and leave in a Honda Civic. They are the ones who won't step up to the plate.
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MidLifCrisis
Gearhead Posts: 673
From: Frederick County, MD
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 04-08-2006 12:15 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MLariviere:
Right now,with a family budget,bills,etc. I am happy with a driver quality car. Someday I'll have a show quality car.
I feel the same way. I had my first Mustang for so long, trying to make everything perfect, postponing some things for a year or more unitl the cash became available to do the next thing on my list. I never truly enjoyed the car. It was always in the midst of the next step of restoration.
I am quite happy with driver quality. I found it is much more enjoyable to punch into it, have the secondaries open and feel the rush when the pipes roar than it is to stand next to it and see it shine and be afraid to touch it. Life's too short to own a trailer queen until I hit the lottery Charlie
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roger
Gearhead Posts: 533
From: ontario, canada
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-13-2006 10:29 AM
I found once i got my first "Quality" paint/body job i was a nervous wreck going anywhere but to a car show.
Now, a few road dings, many bug carcasses later I;ve at least got a car that i;ll drive even if they say it might rain later in the day.
i;m finding in my little group, as they spend dollars on those paint jobs, i go out touring alone alot now.
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