Doing your own Body and Paint

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   Not sure if this is the right place to post this but i'm a bit at my wits end. I've been searching for a year and a half for a body shop that will work on my Torino. Boneyard Builds in Leeds, AL ghosted me after stringing me along for a year and the only other firm quote i've received was $40K just for paint alone. Does anyone have any recommendations of body shops in the south east? 

Pretty soon i may just try and tackle this myself even though I have no experience. If i have to go that route, does anyone have any good resources for getting started?

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Wubbington Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 27-December-2019 Location: Birmingham Status: Offline Points: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wubbington Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Doing your own Body and Paint Posted: 07-July-2022 at 3:10AM
	Not sure if this is the right place to post this but i'm a bit at my wits end. I've been searching for a year and a half for a body shop that will work on my Torino. Boneyard Builds in Leeds, AL ghosted me after stringing me along for a year and the only other firm quote i've received was $40K just for paint alone. Does anyone have any recommendations of body shops in the south east? Pretty soon i may just try and tackle this myself even though I have no experience. If i have to go that route, does anyone have any good resources for getting started?
	Stuart 71 Green Formal Roof 302

Wayner315 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 19-October-2021 Location: Alberta Status: Offline Points: 151	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wayner315 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2022 at 3:48AM
	My path was to buy a MIG, practice and learn as I go. I did some minor patch work on family members vehicles as practice. I have a long way to go still, but between this forum, whether it's asking for tips or following the project pages, and Youtube/literature I'm confident that I'll get there. It's not going to get any cheaper to have someone do it for you and from what I'm reading it seems as though the real "craftsman" are fewer and fewer so all you need is patience and the desire to learn. And probably learn the hard way sometimes.
	72 Gran Torino formal roof Brougham

72 RS 351 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04-September-2014 Location: Knoxville TN Status: Offline Points: 2445	Post Options Post Reply Quote 72 RS 351 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2022 at 4:08AM
	Ditto, the shops will almost all be about production and money. So the older cars are huge projects for them versus any later cars. Keep that in mind, plus concentrate on rust and other obsolete parts. Those will be the hardest issues to deal with, and the most time consuming.
	*Don* 73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W

jversch Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25-March-2013 Location: Canandaigua NY Status: Offline Points: 324	Post Options Post Reply Quote jversch Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2022 at 5:18AM
	Regul8r Carl Corey runs a shop and does great work .
	Jerry VerSchneider 1972 Gran torino formal roof H Code 1973 Gran torino fast back H code.

californiajohnny Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14512	Post Options Post Reply Quote californiajohnny Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2022 at 12:34PM
	this is pretty much what i faced 40 years ago so i just started doing it and liked it and 40 years later still doing it 40k for paint isnt too far off the mark id say about 30k... people dont realize the amount of work required to do it correctly " cheap labor aint skilled...skilled labor aint cheap" i dont do estimates as you always run into more work and customers will keep adding things! so i charge by the hour! + materials...
	JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION

Rockatansky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 5846	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockatansky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09-July-2022 at 5:58AM
	Carls internet contacts https://www.candecustoms.com/ https://www.facebook.com/candecustoms/
	72 GT Ute

78FordLtd2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 19-April-2021 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 124	Post Options Post Reply Quote 78FordLtd2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09-July-2022 at 7:39AM
	The most underestimated part of any car project has to be paint and bodywork. It is that costly and labor intensive. It's probably the most expensive portion of the project and everyone can see the end results. Just about all bodyshops only accept insurance claim work only. They don't want someone's long term project taking up valuable space in their shop while that customer tries to come up with additional funds because of something unforseen or underestimated. It sucks, but that's the way it is. You can do the bodywork and paint yourself and that's probably best as you will know exactly what was done and what was put into it.

72FordGTS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5443	Post Options Post Reply Quote 72FordGTS Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 09-July-2022 at 11:48AM
	We have some older threads with some information to give you an idea of the work involved. They might be worth a read. https://forum.grantorinosport.org/info-howto-prep-and-paint-info_topic13685.html https://forum.grantorinosport.org/info-autobody-and-paint-qa_topic6684.html
	Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin

Steve M. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 08-June-2019 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 1651	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve M. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09-July-2022 at 1:09PM
	Reputation is the key. Good quality is pricey but worth it. Patience and understanding will pay off in the end. Expect it to take more time than expected and cost more than you think.
	Steve M.