I do my own body and paint work. I have done it off and on for 35 years and I still do not like it. Body and paint work is a significant fraction of the total effort involved in restoring a truck (or a car). A lot of guys will tell you that they restored their car or truck. Often you will find that they had someone do the body and paint. Restoring a car or truck yourself is a lot more work than disassembling (absolutely the fastest part of the job-really insignificant in the total picture-imho), cleaning, ordering parts and reassembly.
I recently gained access to use a friends downdraft paint booth. Boy does that help! I am used to "painting in a closet" compared to being able to spread out/hang parts for painting like I can in his booth.

 

I think that's why kit cars are looking more attractive all the time

 

I think that is why I like what the people call ''PATINA'' builds.
Plus my sheet metal is not too bad someone tried to do the bodywork on it a long time ago.

 

I wish every day that i'd just left mine alone, it had great patina.

 

its like finding a great old coin you dont scrub it clean or it looses its value.

 

I found the key to good body work yourself is to convince your family that its a family project. especially during the hard parts like sanding. lol Mine came out well so far, this is my first time doing body work and it is very nerve racking, for me anyways, to shoot paint after doing so much prep work. I have had to redo some parts because I was not happy with it. i get everything set up and then I have to go outside and pump myself up, slap myself around alittle then go back grab the paint gun and shoot, lol. I will say this though it is very rewarding to take something with rust holes and pits, work it and then see the final product. I am a mechanic by trade, and I DO not see a career change anytime soon. I think this will by my first and last paint project. I can scratch this off my bucket list as things I did though. wayne here is your pic of the hood ornament. FYI, the camera phone does not do the flat black justice.

 

I also hate bodywork but if I had someone like that helping, I definitely would feel better about it!

I'm not a perfectionist, so my bodywork is good enough for my own purposes. I do it only because I can't afford to hire it out...

 

I will add also that when I do paint I know where all the buggers are and see them when someone who walks up might not,

 

GreatNorthWoods, Your lucky... I'm a perfectionist... Let me tell you it sucks.... I guess that is why I went into Design & inspection... That is why I'm saving the body and paint for later... But I am driving her...

 

I was a perfectionist at one time but I got over it. Life's too short!

 

That's even more inspiring for me because i'm going satin black with mine

Am I the only one that sees a ghostly skull and crossbones in the passenger seat in the second pic?

If that's his daughter you're going to get in trouble

 

that is my jolly roger that normally flies over my boat in the summer time. it hangs in the garage during the off season. and that is my wife, put your tounges back in your skulls guys that was the ONLY day she helped lol.

 

Lookin' good there, Coop! On all counts!

Now that the wife's going to be your baby-mama, you'll have to keep her out of the garage. All that old auto paint is full of lead, and isn't good for the little one's development. Be safe and healthy.

 

Thanks Wayne, After that day, she decided she didn't like that side of the auto restoration business. now I got to figure out how to safety wire a baby seat in the old truck.

 

Hey coop, can we borrow your helper. It sure would make all of our body work go alot easier...