I'm new here from California and I need a good sheetmetal/body guy. Does anyone have any suggestions? I need to install a new floor and firewall......

 

litefoot - Welcome to FTE. You'll get lots of help and information here...some of it will even be accurate. Please also remember that stupid questions are just fine. They make us look smarter and we like that.

Some questions for you:

1) Where in California are you located? Maybe one or more of us are close enough to help.
2) How much money have you got? Body work in very pricey, even if it isn't any good...and the good guys are VERY pricey!

If you are on a severe budget as I am, you will get much better bang for your buck (literally) by learning to do it yourself. That may seem a daunting possibility, but many of us have done so and with little or no space or equipment. You'd be surprised at how easy it is, once you get going and you'll get lots of help for that here. I learned from helping others, asking questions and from TV shows and video tapes.

Start your gallery and put some digital photos in it of the areas in question. Maybe a replacement isn't required? Maybe it can be patched? We can tell you more if we can see some pics. You can start a gallery by going to the "User CP" button on the blue bar at the top of the forum page. Pick "Edit Gallery" and follow the instructions.

Again, welcome....and good luck

 

I should have said I'm new to Texas, Southlake near Keller. I have considered doing this myself but the problem is there's rust through out the floor including the lower door sills and keeping the cab square is a challenge, not to mention finding good metal to weld to.

 

For the beginner like me, what should I look for in a welding machine??? I am not afraid of making mistakes, I know they can be fixed with patience... and sometimes money helps.

 

Geoles -

Here's a recent thread that talked about different welders:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...?highlight=MIG

 

can we see some pics of the floor mentioned?

 

But then, I repeat myself.

Seriously, the most rewarding thing I have done on my truck is sheet metal and body work. And, I had NO experience with either before.

 

I need more coffee....sorry

 

Not trying to pick on you, but your situation Is so common with newcommers to the hobby that it's worth discussing again in hopes of keeping others from taking this slippery path and helping you at the same time with some difficult to hear but good advice.
So many start off by buying a "basket case" vehicle because of it's low price, figuring they have a lot of room in the budget for working on it that way. They don't consider their own abilities, time, or have a realistic concept of the costs of hiring others to do work for them they can't or don't want to do themselves.
Bodywork is extemely labor intensive to do properly, and if not done properly can turn a pig into a pig with an expensive new coat. It's always more cost effective to buy a starter with the best body and sheetmetal you can find. Yes, the price is likely to be multi thousands of dollars more expensive than the basket case, but a quality body man's labor @ 50-150.00+ per hr can eat up $10K in a big hurry without looking like they did much!
My advice to you is to decide which route you want to take:
1.) Learn to do the work yourself. This is the less expensive and most rewarding route, but does require dedication to spending the time (and money on tools and materials) to first learn how and then to do the work needed. It also requires a suitable place to work that you can tie up for the YEARS you'll be working in it.
2.) Spend the majority of your time fixing the mechanicals and updating the chassis while looking for better condition sheetmetal to swap onto your now updated chassis.
Good sheetmetal should not be very difficult to find in TX but will require spending time chasing it down. Be VERY selective here so you don't end up with someone elses mistakes or another body that's only a little better but still needs a lot of work.
3.) If you can't/don't want to take either of those two routes and have deep enough pockets to afford to pay a quality bodyman to do extensive body repair, instead search out a completed (or nearly so) project by (preferably) a skilled homebuilder. To many in this hobby doing the work to bring a vehicle up to drivable condition is their favorite part. Once they complete the build they sell it to finance a new project. Other's lose interest after several years and thousands of dollars invested and will sell out cheap to get out from under it (or to stop the S/O nagging) after completing the most expensive part. An older restoration or survivor (barnfind, or what we use to call an Uncle Daniel) is an excellent starter, even if you plan to build a hot rod because you are sure that all the expensive little bits are there and in good useable condition, and it's always a lot nicer to work on a relatively clean sound vehicle than one that's mostly red dust and critter residue.
Whichever route you decide to take we will be glad to "hold your hand" along they way, just ask!

 

Here's the thing, I have the know how and the welders, I just HATE sheetmetal work!!! This is the second time I have rebuilt this truck,(the first was with my Dad back in '77) and this time I'm doing a frame off with a modern suspension .....I'll post some pics as soon as I unpack my camera.......

 

Isn't it ironic how building something the first time is fun and the second time it's work! Fortunately, my floor was pretty good although I did do some patching here and there with fiberglass.

Vern

 

well ive done all the work on my 59 and im 15. yes it took a lot of body filler but nothing to deep. i like building the motor a lot better than body work but i hate spending money even more