Looking for a body guy.

[HYRDGOON]

Look man, if it's your dream to work on cars or do restorations (which I'm trying to get into as well) it's all up to you to make it happen, and I'm a firm believer in the fact that motivation is the best tool in anyone's garage. Like has been mentioned, a great way to get into it is to find someone who's already in the profession and express how much you'd like to learn, and metalworking classes would also be a good thing to look into.

A year and a half ago when I bought my car I was just about where you're at; I was 20 years old with zero mig welding experience, and a basketcase dream car with some rust issues. I was really nervous about the metalwork that needed to be done, but didn't let it overwhelm me and started by joining this forum (a lot of incredibly skilled, helpful, and nice people on here) and talked to a couple older guys I'm friends with that both have a lot of experience either restoring cars professionally or just their own project. With all these resources on hand, I got myself some sheet metal and a spotweld cutter, borrowed a friend's mig and started practicing spot welding and butt welding stuff together. I know it seems like a really daunting thing to take on, but once you really open yourself up to learning as much as possibly and dive into it, it becomes a lot more simple and pretty damn fun imo. In fact a big reason I bought my first car was for the adventure of learning all this stuff, if you just jump in I think you'll be surprised what you're capable of.
ccasion14:

Feral read after you read the quoted post from SpeedFreak here's a link to his resto thread

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...48110-69-charger-r-t-se-Building-my-dream-car

NOW THAT IS MOTIVATION!

 

[Feral]

It can't hurt right? See if there's a way you can talk to the instructor first and explain any apprehension you might have... maybe there's a way for you to sit in on a class or 2 before registering or forking over any money... also I'm sure there's a small window where you can get money back if you immediately find you don't like it.

If I can ask how old are you?

I'm 27

Look man, if it's your dream to work on cars or do restorations (which I'm trying to get into as well) it's all up to you to make it happen, and I'm a firm believer in the fact that motivation is the best tool in anyone's garage. Like has been mentioned, a great way to get into it is to find someone who's already in the profession and express how much you'd like to learn, and metalworking classes would also be a good thing to look into.

A year and a half ago when I bought my car I was just about where you're at; I was 20 years old with zero mig welding experience, and a basketcase dream car with some rust issues. I was really nervous about the metalwork that needed to be done, but didn't let it overwhelm me and started by joining this forum (a lot of incredibly skilled, helpful, and nice people on here) and talked to a couple older guys I'm friends with that both have a lot of experience either restoring cars professionally or just their own project. With all these resources on hand, I got myself some sheet metal and a spotweld cutter, borrowed a friend's mig and started practicing spot welding and butt welding stuff together. I know it seems like a really daunting thing to take on, but once you really open yourself up to learning as much as possibly and dive into it, it becomes a lot more simple and pretty damn fun imo. In fact a big reason I bought my first car was for the adventure of learning all this stuff, if you just jump in I think you'll be surprised what you're capable of.
ccasion14:

I'm not gonna lie, partly why I don't want to touch the metal myself is because I'm overwhelmed by it and intimidated.

 

[HYRDGOON]

Feral,

27 is still young enough to be figuring out what you want to do but you shouldn't be idle at that age so I hope you're doing something

I'm 35 so a little older than you and I'm also the type to get very overwhelmed and intimidated... SO I know I had 2 choices...

1) Suck it up and start doing projects on my own taking my time and being patient or;

2) Find a good paying job that I can put in extra hours to pay someone to do the work for me... The way my life took me (My job found me not everyone has that situation) this is the option I ended up with....


If you want this car to get done you gotta go one way or the other

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Well I know the feeling well, and I'll also tell you: it'll be way easier to overcome that fear and learn the skills needed than to find someone willing to do the work for you for that amount of money, and more fun/rewarding in the long run, too. For me, overcoming the intimidation was the hardest part, the actual hands on work really wasn't too bad!

Albert Einstein said "It's not that I'm so smart, I just stay with problems longer." I say if I can do it, anyone can.

This is what I started with
View attachment 150251

And this is about where I'm at (engine/trans detailed and in, undercarriage, suspension, engine bay painted, replaced, or restored. Interior stripped and painted, metalwork done, dash and console done, grille assembly almost done, basically just down to bodywork, paint and assembly) it's a lot of work but just know the end result will be worth it.

 

[kb67mopar]

I'm only 28. You can do it man, don't be discouraged.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?24585-1967-Coronet-Deluxe

Look at my build thread and see where I started. I had a Harbor freight flux core welder and started with that doing my floor pans and t-bar x-member. I'll be honest once I started looking over my car I was very overwhelmed. I wished I had taken the time to look it over further after finding I needed rear frame rail sections, trunk patches, wheel house patches, quarter patches, fender work, floor patches, etc etc....started and never looked back.

 

[dsd1967]

There are a few tactics I use when taking on a project like this:
1. Have a vision....restomod, original, drag....etc

2. Set a realistic completion date. I tend to set a 2-3 year goal so I don't burn myself out and still have time for fun and family

3. Create a plan including:
a. what will you need to do the repairs....and plan for that to change as you dig deeper
b. what is your budget....I try to finance the project as I go along...I don't like the debt route
c. where is this thing going to sit over the next several years as I work on it
d. how will I document everything....because 3 years later you will be posting on here...."where does this thingy go"
e. labeling stuff as is comes off (boxes and baggies and markers are your friend)...don't get ahead of yourself and forget this step...the goal isn't to see how fast you can rip the car apart...the goal is to understand how it was put together, recognize any peculiar fasteners and brackets, label and document. Take a night to rip a fender off and set that as your only goal for that night. If you get done in an hour.....do you want to continue or go in and relax....you've made your goal and anything additional is a bonus.

4. Start shopping for the stuff you need....take your time collecting so you can find better deals...you don't have to tear into the car from day 1, and when you do get ready to tear into the car, you will have a lot of what you need

5. Small victories are motivation. Some of the things I have done on my most recent project are:
a. restored the grille, and hung it on the garage wall....every day I see that and it makes me smile....even after 2 years into the project
b. rebuilt the 4 speed transmission and it sits on an engine stand in my garage with the shifter attached....and you damm well bet that once in a while I row through the gears and imagine what it wll be like when it's all done (engine sounds included)
c. Restored the K frame and hung all the suspension on it (still in process) and it sits under the car in the garage...again it makes me smile when I look at it because I know another piece of the puzzle is getting ready to go back when the time comes
d. The dana 60 is all new from drum to drum, painted and waiting to go back home
e. The 4 speed pedals are completely restored.....and the list goes on and on.

A lot of these items don't take a lot of money and are fun/relaxing to do. I use the little projects as my fun time in the evenings while listening to the radio (it's better than sitting on my butt watching TV)

Likewise on the body, small victories. An overall car can be overwhelming....so take it on like you are "eating the elephant"..."one bite at a time". If you take a week to fix a fender and get the body work done on it....it's ready....store it in the basement, or attic or a corner of the garage and go on to a door or the other fender next week. Pretty soon....the fenders, doors, hood and trunk lid are sitting there waiting for the main body to be done....then tackle the floors, frame rails....etc.

The key for me is to not be over anxious to get it finished....enjoy the journey as much as the destination. I still remember all the deals, friends, swap meets, hurdles I had to overcome, junkyards explored, challenges and victories, the little things I sweated over that will never be seen....but I know it's there....and those are the things that motivate me to do the next one more than driving the one finished.

Don't talk youself out of it before you start....you will be able to gain the skills....and you have one hell of a support staff on this site.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Really well said dsd, especially the small victories part. Almost every night I do the same thing listening to the radio working on at least something small for he car, this week has been the grille. First thing I technically did on the car when I got it home was polish and repaint the "Charger" and "R/T" emblems, good motivation every time I look at them "Now I have to make the rest of the car as nice as these" haha. Like you said, enjoying the journey and the little things like that is just as important as the finish line

 

[HYRDGOON]

Small and Measurable goals is the key.. I tend to enjoy working on stuff but I like doing it alongside someone else that is more experienced..

That said though Mr. S F's restoration thread inspired me to go pick up my heater box from the shop where my car is since it's out and bring it home to restore myself. I'm going to pick it up later today

 

[dsd1967]

Typing that up makes me want to go grab a couple gears tonight and then finish the K frame....maybe turn up the radio and slam down a couple brewski's....life's simple pleasures.

I'll guarantee in my imagination that I chirp the tires when I hit 4th gear

 

[Feral]

There are a few tactics I use when taking on a project like this:
1. Have a vision....restomod, original, drag....etc

2. Set a realistic completion date. I tend to set a 2-3 year goal so I don't burn myself out and still have time for fun and family

I have a general idea of what I want out of the car, sort of a restomod thing. And it's not really all that out there for what I'm looking to build it as. I'd like to make a nice street machine out of it, something that can run like a scalded dog, but could make long trips in too.

I'm not sure whether or not I want to use the original engine, or use the 440 I have too. I'm leaning towards the 440 for name sake, but the 383 would keep some originality; but I'm not too concerned about keeping it original. Either way, I want to build the engines for a 1:1 HP to CI ratio area, and I want a six pack.

I'm eventually going to stick a Richmond gear "Super Street Overdrive" 5 speed behind the engine, with a 3.54 or 3.73 rear end. I'd like to get the transmission, rear diff ratio and tire combination to where the car would be doing 2,500 RPM or less at 65 MPH in OD.

I'd like to convert the car into a 4 wheel disc brake system, 4 link rear end system (maybe)

I'd like to get a black interior and an aftermarket stereo system that looks and fits like the original stereo, black metallic paint with silver metallic stripes.

 

[6speedGTX]

Another good resource is the local schools/trade schools. If you can make friends with a bodywork instructor that will come and point you in the right direction in exchange for a little cash, it can really help boost your confidence. Also, those guys are used to showing people with little to no experience how to get started. Good luck on your project.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Sounds like a good plan man! Start taking as many pictures as you can to document everything before you start tearing into it

Typing that up makes me want to go grab a couple gears tonight and then finish the K frame....maybe turn up the radio and slam down a couple brewski's....life's simple pleasures.

I'll guarantee in my imagination that I chirp the tires when I hit 4th gear

F**k yeah, gotta love the simple things ccasion14:

 

[Tbone416]

Be careful a lot of shops will not touch it if it's apart! I think you should start slow do a door or fender first. Take it off strip it do your metal work epoxy it and prime it then move on to your next piece before you know it your done! It's not so intimidating if you do a little at a time.

 

[Feral]

I've got someone who's going to do the body work for me, and he's going to let me help him and teach me a few things too. He's able to work with me and my low income, we discussed basic financials over the weekend and as I get closer to having my ducks in a row we'll be going over more the car and the plan in more detail.

I just sold my Camaro, in the process of finalizing the sale of my '72 Rallye doors, got some good overtime coming to me this month; I anticipate that I should be able to have the parts and finances ready to get work started by or even before spring time.

 

[godfatherofchry]

well son when I started I didn't know how to hold a roll of tape and after 25yrs,dam they told me I was good!!..but anyways you're young and have time on your side,that being said!! the first thing I would do is get on the computer and look for sum cheap for now basic tools,hammer dolly or two,mybe a dent puller,any old spray gun for now and there are allot that are free for asking,tin snipes mybe sum v gripes,if you need hand tools like wrenches go to sears and get a starter set they figure about 75 cents per tool.,and there good for getting your credit started if need be,, a long flat file & a short one a cupel sheets of paper,and get started I got my start on old J/D tractors.my first day he side theres your job I will ajust your pay wen its dun (min wage was 1.25)Omy here we go,my first day my hands looked like I was im a fite.blod and all,I was so pumped up I for got about queting time and the boss for got about me untell around 11 that night wen he went to go to bed.and here he comes I gess thinking he wasn't going to have a shop in his under wer and a hat!!,and with my mouth hanging open with that deer in the headlite look he looks at me and says don't you evon think it!!! anyways we both remembered that over all these years,so are you back from the store yet get to it!!!!!!!!!!Artie

 

[Magnes]

You can do it.

Read. Watch videos. Read. Watch more videos. Go out and practice a bit on some scrap panels from the junkyard. Cut out a patch on the crap panel and weld it back together.

Have faith in yourself.