Bodywork, How far do you go?

O.K. I typed this out earlier and with my 2 fingers, and it took like 20 minutes, then somehow I deleted it before I posted it, and I was pissed!! I said **** IT, but I came back 'cause I needed to know....
When doing bodywork, in areas that won't ever be seen, like under fenders, braces, behind quater panels, rocker panels, ETC. how far do you take it? Do you get it exact, close, or say to yourself " **** it NO one will ever see it???"
I ask because I had been working on the fender of my '47 (drivers rear) for about 3 hours, (p***enger took me 4 hours, it was basically bent in half!!!, and a friend came by and asked " why was I wasting so much time on that" ??It was the rear corner that had been hit, and it was curled under bad, and the 2 sets of bracing material was bent beyond recognition! He said (he works at a body shop) "we just hammer it out, bondo it in and move it out" Well for me that is not the right way, but then he said " if YOU keep at it the way you are you will NEVER get her on the road"...Hmm.... I thought about that for a second and thought he had a point?? But my response was...1: I am building this for me, not to "move" it out the door, 2: I can not work that way, and don't feel it is right, 3: I feel she deserves better than half ***, and want her back the way she was, ...SO, my question is : does he have a "good point"?? how far do you guys work at your steel before you say "thats good enough",.... AND I am NOT looking for a friend bashing, I don't care if you think he is an idiot, fool, dumb***, I am just looking for info on your "work ethics" I guess, on your own stuff. Thanks a lot, this may be the difference between my baby on the road in 3 weeks, versus 3 months!!!...Ken

 

You are right, he is lazy and a hack. Time=$$ in a body shop Time=right in a home setting.

 

I think you have to ask yourself if "good enough" will bother you a year down the road, and are you opposed to going back at it later to make it so you're completely happy with it.
I think the extra effort shows to the eye that's done it before and those people will let you know that the little things make the difference between a good car and a great one.

Flatman

 

The difference between working "for" a production shop on a flat rate and "on "your own car for personal satisfaction is how much time and effort you spend getting it right. Get it right! You will always know.

 

I will ALWAYS know, AND it will ALWAYS bug me if it isn't "just right" plus once the fender is back on (I am welding it to the body) I would NEVER be able to get to it again easily!! Thats why I am asking, I guess I just needed some tips/advice from "people I don't know" so they --you guys-- would tell me that I was doing it wrong or right (with out the "friend" factor)...I guess I am going about it the right way...Thanks alot...Ken

 

You basically answered your own question on points 1,2 and 3, especially the 'don't feel right' and 'she deserves better' responses. Who give a damn what your chop-shop buddy thinks, it's your car. do it your way.

Cheers, Glen.

 

Jimmy Shine says...
"Ask yourself...does it need to be a TEN or a TWO???"

(Geez...ya don't want to end up all perfect like "Littleman" do ya???) Hahaha

 

I agree 100%, Like I said I just needed to make sure (hell I wanted some afformation) that I was "headed" in the right direction!! I know I answered my own questions in my mind/soul, but I also realized he said It would take forever my way, and I seem to think he is right on that point, but won't go that way, so again, I guess I just needed a "pat on the back"..??? Maybe not the right words to express what I am trying to say, but hell I just needed something?!?!? Make ANY sense?????

 

it all depends on what is right to you. having a car on the road means less to me then it does to have one done right.

i have gotten to the point i dont care if i have a car at a show or not.

 

You have to live with the repair...how guilty is your conscience? If it's like me, it's forever, and you will do it right. Even if you don't plan to keep it forever, they aren't making these anymore. It should be done right. Hack up the 1980's-up ****, but keep the really old stuff preserved for the next generation. The parts are getting hard to come by.

If you are doing it for a profit, time = money. I don't know how else to look at it, having worked in both situations...

 

do it right or don't do it at all. you can't compare your own "fun time" with your personal HOT ROD with a production bodyshop.

I'll hope your friend works at a collision/insurance type shop rather than a restoration shop.

"we just hammer it out, bondo it in and move it out"....

hearing things like that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. my buddy likes to say "that's what bondo's for" when he sees me pounding a dent...

one more thing to consider... if you don't give every dent your best effort to do a perfect repair you will never improve. if your plan is to go in half ***ed from the get go, your work will always be half ***ed.

 

Shows are kool to hang out with friends...I did enough shows in the 80's/90's with Low Riders, "hopping and Dancing" to be free from that! I still love lowriders though, but my car is for ME, I honestly DON'T care if someone else likes it, but like I said, I just "needed" to hear from others to make sure I wasn't being like what is that?.. OCD on my baby???? But I think I am and it looks like that is a GOOD thing...Thanks guys...Ken

 

A guy in a club I use to belong to did a perfect 55' Chevy. Frame, behind fender panels, engine compartment, etc...was so perfect, he black laquered everything. After that, he never drove the car again. I thought a happy medium was on one of the TV car shows. After body work, they rhino lined behind the fenders and underneath the body. Any imperfections were covered by the rhino lining, which is self leveling. It's impervious to oil, gas, etc...and since it's not in direct sunlight, it will always stay black. Also good insulation for noise and heat.

 

YES EXACTLLY!!!! AN insurance shop!!!
Hey thats why I came to YOU guys... I just needed the "moral" support!! Theres the word I was looking for!!! The fender is on welded and looks great! a ---little--- bondo on the seam and I'll be O.K.!!!!!!! The support under and behind the fender corner, looks like it was NEVER hit and looks brand new to me, I AM SATISFIED!!!! and feel GREAT about the repair, Thank you ALL..Ken

 

For me the bottom line is I have to be happy with it. If some stupid little insignificant piece is not right it will bug me, regardless of what other people may think. If you can live with it that's all that matters. Don't forget who you are building the car for.

 

WELL said.
Always give it your best reasonable effort. Sometimes your better to admit that something should be replaced instead of fixed...but thats still giving it your best effort because its best for the car.

 

The quality of the repair should match the quality of the rest of the car. Don't repair something to perfection if the rest of the car is a turd,(which I'm sure it's not!). I drive myself nuts with details that nobody will ever see, but in the end, I'm happy.

 

Thats what Im doing on my car. No way Im going to "bodywork" under the fenders. Thats a waste of time, in my book, for my car.

 

It is up to you to go as far as you feel is needed. Remember not every effort in this life has to be an "A" effort, sometimes a "C" is ok and going for an "A" is a waste of time. It is your car, your time and your money do what makes you feel good.

 

i'd say do it right or do it to the best of your abilities. i've spent lots of time getting things right that you would never see and it has earned me the "tweaker" ***le. i've also gone back to redo things as my skill level has improved (and likely will redo more in the future as my level still ****s).

 

by all means do it absolutely perfect. The next owner will appreciate it. He won't PAY for it, but he WILL appreciate it.

 

sometimes a "C" is ok and going for an "A" is a waste of time.

in my opinion going for an "A" is never a waste of time.

that is not to say a "C" is not OK... but I feel you need to give it your best effort. if it comes out to be a "C" after you finished... well hopefully you learned something about what to do different the next time.

 

I'm in between the two opposites of being a pro or a hack. I'll be careful and gentle but If things don't go to plan I pull out the 9 inch or the bolt cutters. but Ive been at my new job working with an extreme pro'ish type of guy- this is a mentally unstable type- I walked into the workshop to find him actually messuring, with a tape how far the spanners where from the edge of the bench while he was taking a machine apart, and each time he used a spanner he would put it down on the bench in order and make sure it was in the "right" neat place. he still "lost" (old old worker walked past and grabber and hid) three bolts, he chucked a m***ive wobbly and went home - and I work with this guy every day.

basically do it to the level you would want it to be done if you paid someone to do it!

"where's the fuking 9 inch"

 

This isn't exactly an answer. I saw an article on a Muntz Jet customized by Bailon. The work that couldn't be seen was pure hack work. The guy who restored it did some soul searching and kept the rough looking bracing and such to keep the spirit of the car. Like I said, not an answer. Just a thought...

 

Hey, being OCD on your pride and joy is fine. You just have to do a reality check once in a while, wich is basically what you have done here.

 

It really doesn't matter if the part you are working on shows or not, because you will know it is there and whether or not its right. In the end you will be proud that it is done right. If you are like me it will bug the heck out of you unless it is done right. Who cares if it takes a little longer to get the job done. Keep up the good work!

 

I do it right the first time-= doesnt matter if someone wont see it. My customers expect the best and thats what I give them.
PLus, if you ever go to sell your car-someone is gonna look where you dont think they will.
Take the time and do it right.

 

I work production and I feel it has to be right all the way. The day you think no one will see it, is the day they do. I can't sleep, hacking things out for the customer or for myself. Fix it once, and fix it right.

 

I think this guy is refering to "bodyworking" as in skimming and blocksanding the underside of his fenders. Come on guys, for a riddler award car, thats one thing, and if you want to do it, fine. But for 99% of the time, the underside of a fender on a car where you have to lay on the ground, and look under to see, who cares? I dont mean fill big dents with bondo, but to spend time block sanding under your fenders is a bit extreme. Do it if you want, but to say that not doing it is hack work, or "C" grade work, thats rediculous. Are you going to clean out all of the dirt under there too after every drive? You cant even see under there without a flashlight!

Undercoat, or even better, rhino liner, is the best bet, it cuts down on road noise, and will keep out moisture.

 

Mom always said "Be proud of what you do." It always been good advise. If your in doubt or not happy with the work. Then you certainly wont be proud. Ask your friend if he's proud of the work he does everyday. The answer will probably surprise you both.