1966 Lemans body work questions

algtrader

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Hello,

Attached are pics of the parts of my 1966 Pontiac Lemans needing body work.

The needed work is on the right front panel, right rear panel, and front hood sticks up vertically.

IMG_1143.JPGIMG_1144.JPGIMG_1145.JPGIMG_1146.JPGIMG_1148.JPG

What rule of thumb do you use to decide to buy new panels or try to repair the existing panels?

Thanks
 
If the metal is original your best repairing what you have, provided you have the tools to do so.

From what I see the work you need done shouldn't require replacement of parts provided there is no surprises under the paint work.

My point is either media blast the entire car or Chem strip it down to bare metal to get a good look at what you have to work on.
 
If the metal is original your best repairing what you have, provided you have the tools to do so.

From what I see the work you need done shouldn't require replacement of parts provided there is no surprises under the paint work.

My point is either media blast the entire car or Chem strip it down to bare metal to get a good look at what you have to work on.

Hi EaOutlaw,

Thanks for your assessment. Can you give me an idea what tools I will be needing for body work?

In case body work is not my strong suite, would you recommend using those mobile dent repair guys? Or just have a body shop do it?

Thanks
 
If you dont already have bodywork as one of your skills I would not start investing in all the tools required. The damage is beyond a mobile dent repair. I would think the fenders would be replaced unless you want to spend for hours of somebody trying to restore their original lines assuming they have the skill. The rear quarter might be repairable depending on the condition of the wheel wells, they tend to rust.
______________________________
 
a body shop will be expensive, For some reason I thought you had the means to do this job at home.

As melsg5 mentioned if body work is not in your skill set and you do not have the tools to do this. Farm the work out.

But do not just drop the car of and tell the shop to have their way with the car and come back to a unknown repair bill.

If it is in your skill set and means to do so, I still suggest knowing what your working on.

Who knows what bondo and poorly done patch panels lay under the multiple layers of paint.

if you have orginal OEM panels fenders quarter panels on the car now I still suggest fixing them or having them fixed.

NOS ( new old stock ) parts will be hard to find and very expensive.

Aftermarket parts require many hours to get them to fit somewhat good and very rarely will a shop go the extra mile to ensure a perfect fit.

When a commission based shop gets the job of doing the paint and body work you will have a lot of money invested and the shop gets a get out of jail free card when using aftermarket parts.

They will claim if you gave us OEM parts the job would have been better.

This will leave you with a empty wallet and a car that sort of looks good from the right angles.

If I had the choice between buying a new aftermarket part or saving a factory part I would always go with saving the factory part.

You have nice thick gauge steel that has been bent or dented. in places some of its torn or ripped.

Metal has a good memory and it doesn't want to be in the new shape it is in.

Yet it takes years of practice and a boat load of patience that not a lot of vehicle owners are willing to pay to get the metal back in it exact previous shape.

The ones that do pay for this quality work rarely get it.

Many commission based shops will tell you one thing about their work but behind closed doors and under 1/2" or more of bondo and a 1/4" of high build primer the ugly truth will rear its head a few months to a few years down the road.

As I said earlier the whole key to what will be involved and how expensive it will be is finding out what is under the existing paint.

The direction you go depends on your budget. if you do not have the budget
right now for the entire car to have a rotisserie frame off professional restoration, yet this is what you want then save your money.

What is your planned budget for this work?

If you only wanting a ten foot car and have a small budget, drop it off at a automotive vocational school and let them have their way with it.

If you go the school route plan on being without your car for a long time and make sure to buy them all the quality materials and parts to get the job done right. do not set them up for a poor job by tying their hands using cheap products and or parts.

Buying all the quality tools needed to do this type work, would be worth it if you have the training needed to use them correctly and you were planing on doing more than just one car.

here is a link that can better describe what it would take to do some of the work that is needed to your car.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/paint-body/hrdp-1108-diy-auto-body-paint-tips/

Nothing is more rewarding than doing the job yourself and knowing you did it better than anyone you could pay to do the work.

If you are really wanting to learn how to do this work and your in no hurry and are willing to buy all the tools and read any and all information provided
I will be glad to flood you with as much information as I know or find online, and I am sure others here will help out as well.

I would start on parts from a junk or donor leMans and not your car. once you have done enough individual panels and are comfortable working on your car you may end up with fenders trunk lids etc that you may be able to use.
 
The direction you go depends on your budget. if you do not have the budget
right now for the entire car to have a rotisserie frame off professional restoration, yet this is what you want then save your money.

What is your planned budget for this work?

If you only wanting a ten foot car and have a small budget, drop it off at a automotive vocational school and let them have their way with it.

If you go the school route plan on being without your car for a long time and make sure to buy them all the quality materials and parts to get the job done right. do not set them up for a poor job by tying their hands using cheap products and or parts.

Buying all the quality tools needed to do this type work, would be worth it if you have the training needed to use them correctly and you were planing on doing more than just one car.

here is a link that can better describe what it would take to do some of the work that is needed to your car.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/paint-body/hrdp-1108-diy-auto-body-paint-tips/

Nothing is more rewarding than doing the job yourself and knowing you did it better than anyone you could pay to do the work.

If you are really wanting to learn how to do this work and your in no hurry and are willing to buy all the tools and read any and all information provided
I will be glad to flood you with as much information as I know or find online, and I am sure others here will help out as well.

I would start on parts from a junk or donor leMans and not your car. once you have done enough individual panels and are comfortable working on your car you may end up with fenders trunk lids etc that you may be able to use.

Thanks for the reply. Definitely will not go the vocational school route. I'm in no hurry to restore so have all the time in the world to figure this out. The link you provided was helpful. Please keep the info coming.
 
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