Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

[Daniel S.]

I am in a quandary at this point - engine and transmission on frame and running most items period correct but will probably not have it judged. I want a nice looking driver. I got one quote by sending pictures to one shop waiting for another estimate.
I do not have experience with fiberglass but I did take a couple of adult body shop classes and worked on some beater cars. My nephew who does paint cars and said he will paint mine after the body is ready for priming.
if I do it myself it will be done sooner than if I go to a shop since most seem to have a 4 to 6 month minimum backlog. There is some rough spots I.e. quarter panel might have to be replaced.
Are there any novices who have done their own bodywork.

[Douglas L.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Daniel,

I have a 67 small block convertible that I restored in 1986 through 1989. I almost completely rebuilt the body with around 8 new body panels - rear quarter panels, rear tail light panel, front side vent panels, new front inner panels, and the front valence panel. If you are mechanically inclined, you can teach yourself to do the work. One thing someone taught me in the very beginning is the heat gun is your friend. If you decide to replace the factory quarter panel, the factory glued seams are very strong. Sometimes you can take the seams apart with a heat gun instead of grinding them. The trick is to not use too much heat which could cause damage. Use only enough to help separate the bond. I do not know how the heat gun would work on the glue used in 60, but for me on my 67, it worked great. Fitting new panels is just a matter of patience making adjustments until the fit is right. If there are other areas on the car where a repair was done and the job was not that good, you can use the heat gun to take the repair apart and do the repair over again. The other thing I learned is that you can use tape the hold newly cements panels in place instead of riveting them which makes less finish work for yourself. See attached before and after pics.

If you decide to do the work, wear a mask 100% of the time!!! Good luck!

DOUG'S CORVETTE #2 - 12-5-03.jpgDOUG'S CORVETTE #14 - 12-5-03.jpgDOUG'S CORVETTE #19 - 12-5-03.jpgDOUG'S CORVETTE #30 - 12-5-03.jpgDOUG'S CORVETTE #35 - 12-5-03.jpg

[Daniel S.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Hi Douglas
thanks for the response I heard that the body should be on the frame to align the parts being put on is that your experience? My body is off the frame currently

Dan

did you get your parts from sermersheins now lee bumb

[Douglas L.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Daniel,

I did have the body on the frame with doors in place and where anything bolted through the fiberglass, I aligned the glass panels accordingly. On the replacement panels, back in the late 1980's, you could still get NOS panels through GM. However, I ran into consistency and fit issues with some of those panels. Therefore, I did end up using many Semmershine panels. I restored this car as a "driver". The motor and running gear were original. The body was an "everything hit" instead of a "no hit"!! But, even 30 years later, it is still a perfect driver.

[Daniel S.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Douglas

thatgives me encouragement nice job and I hope if I do it I am as successful I like the idea of the tape.

thank you

Dan

[Richard M.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Dan what areas need work? Please post the photos that you sent to the body shop here.

Rich

[Jack M.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Dan, I am restoring my 62 frame off and doing the body work myself. I also frame-off restored my 69 convertible and did all the body work.

It's time consuming but it's not that hard, albeit with some practice. I have did not have to replace any panels on the 69 and won't on the 62, but have done loads of cracks and other kinds of repairs and they came out fine. I'm sure a professional shop could have done it better and would have had more professional techniques and equipment but I can't see any difference at least externally. When my 69 went to the paint shop all they did was a final skim coat to, for example, take out the original waviness in the doors, and painted it.

You can do it; just take your time, practice and it'll save you a lot of money and probably some time. Good luck.

Jack

[Daniel S.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Hi Rich
Here are some pictures






[IMG]https://www.forums.ncrs.org/blob:https://www.forums.ncrs.org/dade0e33-1243-4076-8f23-6***deec5c2e[/IMG]

[Terry D.]

Re: Do I do bodywork or have it done on my 60

Link goes nowhere