A Caution for Newbies

[0neoffive]

Over the past years, we have several full body structural rust restorations. Most of these projects come and go from storage as the owners find cash to "invest" in a huge rust hole. "Beam" bodies are noted for hiding structural nightmares. My advice to all is to avoid this issue and buy the best darned body you can find, beg, or steal. Any gearhead with a reasonable skill level can handle the mechanicals of nuts, bolts & fabrics. But, chasing rust will eat up all of your kids' college funding . . . . . . . .I told ya so.

 

[chirodoc]

caution for newbies

Every prospective buyer should read the post by 65 BEAM in the archives section under search "PAINT". Bob chronicles the restoration of his "RUST FREE" ALPINE by Doug Jenninings. Pictures( photobucket) at the Alpine part of this website. ITS CALLED BUYER BEWARE!

 

[Duke Mk1a]

Every prospective buyer should read the post by 65 BEAM in the archives section under search "PAINT". Bob chronicles the restoration of his "RUST FREE" ALPINE by Doug Jenninings. Pictures( photobucket) at the Alpine part of this website. ITS CALLED BUYER BEWARE!

A link would be much easier.

 

[Tiger tamer]

Over the past years, we have several full body structural rust restorations. Most of these projects come and go from storage as the owners find cash to "invest" in a huge rust hole. "Beam" bodies are noted for hiding structural nightmares. My advice to all is to avoid this issue and buy the best darned body you can find, beg, or steal. Any gearhead with a reasonable skill level can handle the mechanicals of nuts, bolts & fabrics. But, chasing rust will eat up all of your kids' college funding . . . . . . . .I told ya so.

Yep. Even worse when it has all been done badly before.

 

[65beam]

newbies

the link to my photobucket is http://s606.photobucket.com/albums/tt142/65beam/ it shows the restoration of my rust free car. my dad was the previous owner of this car and i have been driving it since the mid 60's and the fourth generation of the family has driven it more in the last ten years than i have. one thing my wife demands of our cars is that he goes that extra mile. leave nothing untouched. you'll also find other photos of the wife's blue series 5 that doug restored in 1995. it received the same treatment even though it was a rust free california car. the same goes for the 69GT which was an e bay in find in 2006 that had been in a garage in D.C for 34 years. it was a rust free ,low mileage,all original car with a dent in the right rear fender. it also was taken back to bare metal and nothing was untouched. you also will see the current project which is a RHD harrington that still has a place on the left rear valance and one that will require the left front lower fender be removed due to some rust around a drain hole. there is no reason to say "BUYER BEWARE' since we will never sell the cars.

 

[0neoffive]

The Realities of it all

the link to my photobucket is http://s606.photobucket.com/albums/tt142/65beam/ it shows the restoration of my rust free car.

I can only dream! Frankly, no one has ever brought us a car to rescue that wasn't already maimed or dead. I did inspect a project in Escondido last week that was pretty much a miracle carcass; only a couple of very minor pin-hole issues where moisture had puddled, but the rest was as well as Rootes sent us. Still, some historical impact repair poorly dimensioned will chew up better spent monies. I have to draw on the ole' psych 101 training and juggle the welders and body guys from bad to better projects in order to prevent (or delay) burnout. I'm lucky to work with a bunch who have a good amount of pride to go with their talents, but once in a while a guy will disappear for understandable R&R for a few days. . . . . .In the end, after the wars of frustrations, a customer's smile as they go thru the gears helps make it worth it all.