Looking for you guys opinions on which is the best bang for the buck. Should I strip my car down and send off to have it media blasted, or just have the body shop sand and repair each individual area? Just bought my 1st Wagon, a 67 Ford Ranch Wagon, a few weeks ago with the intention of doing a few minor repairs to become roadworthy and the remainer of cosmetic repairs as time and funds permit. The longer I have it the more rust and bondo I find...mainly rust though. The lower rear quarters need replaced, along with the hood, "trunk" floor, and drivers toe board area. There is a rust hole under the LH vent grill, on the underside of the drip rails all along the rear "big window", and its rusted out where the wind diverter @the D-post meets the roof.
to the forum TA. Never had the money, time, or place for such work. But it will save you a lot of time in the long run. Sounds like a lot of rust area to repair to me. If you are good at welding and body work do it one piece at a time on your own. If you have a garage or workshop it is a good way to learn these skills. Nearly anyone can do everything except the detail finishing. You burn a few holes. You weld them shut and continue. Small wire welders are cheap and gasless are now available. Or hire a good friend or small shop to do the dirty work............From what I've heard about where you live, why not just park it out in the open and let Mother Nature sand blast it? -As revbill says, it won't be a pretty sight after it is dipped or blasted!
Like I wrote, if you have the time and money. Even swiss cheese can be plugged after you find all the holes.
I want to replace the hood, quarters, and trunk section. I spotted a hood on a fairlane site for dirt cheap. That'll be a simple bolt on affair. I've been considering buying a mig welder and practising on the patches on the floor pans. I should have my technique down by the time I get to the quarters. I was thinking I might try using the old hood to fab up the piece for the LH lower quarter and patches for anything too big to fill with wire. Most new quarter panels I've found run around $450 to over $600. There is a bead roller at work I think they'll let me use durring lunch to fab the ribs for a new trunk pan.
Two things I think that are really necessary for anyone wanting to do their own body work is a 60 gal compressor and a gas-MIG , and of course all the smaller tools that a person acquires over time. ,,,,, the two total about a grand but well worth it and the fun of doing it yourself is great. Anytime I run across a piece of scrap metal (for free) I snag it, just for the practice and older hoods and body parts can usually be used as patch panels ....good luck
Yippy TA!!!! Now you sound like a real car guy. So you warp a few panels and burn some holes. That old hood will come in handy! Go for it man! Oh...Buy a few good fire extinquishers too.
I'm fairly confident if I read all instructional material to set things up propper, take my time, and make liberal use of lots of clamps, I should be able to avoid making too much of a mess of things. A couple fire extinguishers are definatly on the shopping list as well. A fire in the garage would take out my wagon as well as my fully restored 71 Datsun 240Z, and all my wood working tools, lawn and garden equipment, etc, etc, etc. All to save a few bucks for a cheap extinguisher!
