When I was 15 (about 8 years ago) I purchased a 1956 F100 in so-so shape. I did a lot of the frame work and purchased a new bed. I kinda got frusterated with the cab since it need so much work I pretty much stopped working on it. Well here I am now starting to get back to work on it.

My question is do most of you do most of the body work yourselves?


Just to give you a little background I was a Mercedes Benz Tech for 4 years, so the technical mechanical work isn't an issue for me the body work is a little challenging. The truck is a '56 with a 454 Big block and a Volare front end.

 

I am fairly good at body work, but, don't have a place to do it. I jobed mine out to a local shop. Cost a bit but they did a perfect job including the paint.

 

Like you I have tons of mechanical skills. I was a driveability tech on GM vehicles at several GM dealerships for WAY too many years. I pretty much will have to do my own body work as I'm broke and can't afford to have someone else do it.

I have good friends that are body guys that can help me out when I get stuck.

You can do it
Bobby

 

Having never done any bodywork before, I chose to do all the work on my 56. Or, perhaps I should say, my wallet chose. I had to learn everything on the fly. I read a good article on the H.A.M.B. tech forum called "Bondo 101" and got some tips from a pro-builder buddy and dove in. I picked up on it pretty fast and was much better at the later stuff than the first things I did. I only get weekends to work on it and probably have 200 hours in it.

It has been the messiest, hardest work I have done to date and also the most rewarding.

Next, I'll get to paint it. I don't have any experience with that either.

You're never too old to learn.

 

I have never bought a preformed patch panel, I make all my own. I kind of taught myself to do auto body work and worked in the auto body business almost 20 years ago. I got out because it was a dirty, long hours and low pay business, at least for me. In all of the time I worked in the business I had my truck in storage and never touched it. Who wants to go home and do what you just did for 10-12 hours? Now that I am in a completely different type of industry I enjoy doing body work on my trucks, when I have the time. It is very therapeutic for me to grind, cut and weld metal. Metal doesn't give you a hard time and if it does just take a hammer and smack it. I still use some of my body shop skills in my current line of work which is an added value to my customer's because most shops that do the work I do don't this kind of work.

 

I actually bought my truck partly because I was all pumped up to learn and do metalworking. I found I don't have the patience.

As noted it is incredibly messy. Bondo powder is bad stuff to breathe (did you know that Bondo, thru the '60's at least, used asbestos as a filler? true fact. I'm toast!! )

Painting is incredibly expensive when you have to pay full retail for the paint and supplies. In CA there are restrictions on selling to individuals, coming soon to the rest of the USA (thanks again, EPA). Priming and sealing are do-able, tho. Lots of modern paints are also very toxic, they are essentially full of SuperGlue. A proper respirator setup is $$$$. Where are you going to do the spraying, too? You really need cleanroom conditions, or accept defects.

It's another whole set of tools and buying cheap ones from Harbor Freight is the only practical solution for a hobbyist on a budget. Will you ever use them again? Probably not. You need a good MIG, and likely also an oxy/acet set.

But as Randy points out, it can be extremely satisfying work, when you are at the end... But I found it saved me a couple years' work to just write a check, during which time I was able to do a lot of the mechanical stuff I enjoy.

 

I don't do it personally because my standards exceed my ability. That being said, I have done some with good success. The best advice I can give is to find a friendly person to coach you past the major mistakes. The rest of it is just practice, screwing it up, and re-practice until you get the hang of it. You will spend way more time on it that you should but as mentioned, it's very gratifying. Heck, every skill has a "learning curve".

 

I to was a mechanic. I did it for 14 yrs, certified in brakes, suspensions, engine performance ect. 30 yrs ago in high school I took a collision repair class from a fantatic teacher at La Habra High School. He had an El Camino that was in the car shows. OOPs enough rambling. I too do my own body work. I just filled the radio hole in the dash, and am currently trying to get my hand into painting. Kurt G. Y-block rule.

 

La Habra ? No Wonder you moved !!! :-) :-) :-)

 

Ya, no kidding. The best thing about that is being from La Habra. But , Mr Hurley was a very good auot teacher . Have you been to La Habra? Kurt G.

 

I'm from The Valley (Canoga Park) Yup, I've been to La Habra... It was all good back then....... Just bustin yer *****...... :-)

 

It's all good. Last time I was through there it made me glad I'd left. But for parts sources or body shops SoCal is the place to be. Kurt G. Y-blocks rule.

 

The only work that gets sent out on my projects is machine work and upholstery. The reason for this is only that I don't have the tools. Learned to sew at an early age, my Gramma was a seamstress and made clothes for many. Have worked in both automotive and general machine shops, so have some skills with machine tooling.

 

im doing everthing on my 59 exepct for the machining on the motor.heck im even going to try to cover the seat myself with some help from my mom, shes a wonder with a sewing machine. heck im still working on the body for my truck but i have learned a lot and am a lot better at it now. im only 16 too.

 

Thats the spirit!!! I figure I'll try it all as well. I figure the only difference between myself and the professionals (so called) is that they have the right tools and the experience. My step mom is a wonder with a sewing machine as well and has recovered the seats in their boat as well as their little Mustang, if I get stuck she'll walk me through it.

Good luck with it
Bobby