Body Shop
- Thread starter bobmc
- Start date
Purdy Swoft
Well-known member
In most cases body shops don't want the job. Body shops depend on colision work and quick turn around. They don't want an antique that will usually need lots of disassembly and be in the way. They usually are not familiar with model A's. A restoration shop will be your best bet but it will be expensive either way. EPA waste disposal regulations, insurance, material cost, just to name a few things has driven up the cost of doing business and making a profit.Looking for and afordable/ dependable body shop in the pittsburgh, pa area. Have a 1930 coupe that needs the usual rest repair.
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
Since I am not in the Pittsburgh area and don't fit the criteria of what you are looking for, please allow me to throw out some comments & observations towards your wants.
"Affordable" is a term that can be controvercial and generally means many things to many people. Are you thinking "affordable" means less than $5k, --or more than $5k but less than $10k, ...or greater than $10k? And "Reliable" is generally synonomous with 'the shop feels like it is making a fair wage on the job. Usually, those two terms just DO NOT go together in most hobbyist's eyes. I AM NOT saying you are in this category but most people do not realize what it takes, --or what all is involved in doing quality repairs & paint that both you and the craftsman can be proud of.
When I hear "Rust in the usual places", to me that likely means in the cowl area which will possibly include the stringers, and the sub-rail extensions. I also find it usually means somewhere along the lower body line in the quarters, includes the inner fender panels on the quarters, and possibly means some of the sub-rails and the lower rear panel. I generally find that most of my clients have not had their sheet metal media blasted down to bare metal so they really do not know what they have, but most are very positive about what they have when we initially discuss their project. And, ...for the few that have taken the liberty to have theirs blasted ahead of time have found they generally have new issues to contend with (i.e.: the need to straighten newly warped panels! Plus more rust holes than they factored on.).
SO, ...how does one find the typical 'reputable yet affordable' shop to do the job? If this shop only has a budget of $100 or so to repair each side of the cowl, the only way he can make a wage w/o losing money is to use something like stranded filler known in the industry as "Kitty Hair". The 'craftsman' will pack the "rust wound" full of this stuff and then try to mould it into a resemblance of its original shape and call it good. Now if the craftsman has a little more budget, he can order one of the patch panels from the Texas manufacturer and pop-rivet it right over the top and "mud it in" where "nobody but the purists will ever really know". Heck, if things are going well, he might even throw in a few extra dollars and have it lap-welded in.
I know I am being facetious about this, and I'm sure you will agree that this is NOT the proper way of doing repairs like this however the customer needs to understand what truly is involved and he needs to dictate the level of quality he wants upfront. Failing to do this creates financial hardships for both parties later. Realistically if you find someone who takes on the job at a price that seems too good to be true, load up on the Pepto-Bismol because it will be unpleasant between your Body Shop & you. So what is a good shop worth? Generally most good collision shops are no longer willing to do restoration-type work. They are used to making a flat-rate from the insurance company where the rate is over $50 an hour, --and the allowences are liberal enough that most shops can beat it by 25%-50%, --or more. That means their average rate is over $60 an hour. If they are willing to cut their rate to $50 an hour to "fill in", not only will you be unhappy but so will they for taking on the project. You see, as soon as a ins. collision job comes thru the door that pays better than $60 an hour, you get pushed aside with great intentions of them getting back on it however the restoration pay scale is not a motivator any longer. Now as your car sets, you become frustrated and neither of you are happy.
I added the pix below just to show how a car came in a few years ago and the owner was telling me how this was probably the best Model A Coupe body I had ever seen. His Dad had bought it in the early 50's and the owner had driven it to high school. "It has always been taken care of and this should be an easy one" was the direct quote. The pictures tell a different story. If I had quoted him a fixed price ahead of taking on the project, it would have been a financial disaster for me. I wish you all the best in your search and truly hope you find a shop that will beat your expectations.
.
"Affordable" is a term that can be controvercial and generally means many things to many people. Are you thinking "affordable" means less than $5k, --or more than $5k but less than $10k, ...or greater than $10k? And "Reliable" is generally synonomous with 'the shop feels like it is making a fair wage on the job. Usually, those two terms just DO NOT go together in most hobbyist's eyes. I AM NOT saying you are in this category but most people do not realize what it takes, --or what all is involved in doing quality repairs & paint that both you and the craftsman can be proud of.
When I hear "Rust in the usual places", to me that likely means in the cowl area which will possibly include the stringers, and the sub-rail extensions. I also find it usually means somewhere along the lower body line in the quarters, includes the inner fender panels on the quarters, and possibly means some of the sub-rails and the lower rear panel. I generally find that most of my clients have not had their sheet metal media blasted down to bare metal so they really do not know what they have, but most are very positive about what they have when we initially discuss their project. And, ...for the few that have taken the liberty to have theirs blasted ahead of time have found they generally have new issues to contend with (i.e.: the need to straighten newly warped panels! Plus more rust holes than they factored on.).
SO, ...how does one find the typical 'reputable yet affordable' shop to do the job? If this shop only has a budget of $100 or so to repair each side of the cowl, the only way he can make a wage w/o losing money is to use something like stranded filler known in the industry as "Kitty Hair". The 'craftsman' will pack the "rust wound" full of this stuff and then try to mould it into a resemblance of its original shape and call it good. Now if the craftsman has a little more budget, he can order one of the patch panels from the Texas manufacturer and pop-rivet it right over the top and "mud it in" where "nobody but the purists will ever really know". Heck, if things are going well, he might even throw in a few extra dollars and have it lap-welded in.
I know I am being facetious about this, and I'm sure you will agree that this is NOT the proper way of doing repairs like this however the customer needs to understand what truly is involved and he needs to dictate the level of quality he wants upfront. Failing to do this creates financial hardships for both parties later. Realistically if you find someone who takes on the job at a price that seems too good to be true, load up on the Pepto-Bismol because it will be unpleasant between your Body Shop & you. So what is a good shop worth? Generally most good collision shops are no longer willing to do restoration-type work. They are used to making a flat-rate from the insurance company where the rate is over $50 an hour, --and the allowences are liberal enough that most shops can beat it by 25%-50%, --or more. That means their average rate is over $60 an hour. If they are willing to cut their rate to $50 an hour to "fill in", not only will you be unhappy but so will they for taking on the project. You see, as soon as a ins. collision job comes thru the door that pays better than $60 an hour, you get pushed aside with great intentions of them getting back on it however the restoration pay scale is not a motivator any longer. Now as your car sets, you become frustrated and neither of you are happy.
I added the pix below just to show how a car came in a few years ago and the owner was telling me how this was probably the best Model A Coupe body I had ever seen. His Dad had bought it in the early 50's and the owner had driven it to high school. "It has always been taken care of and this should be an easy one" was the direct quote. The pictures tell a different story. If I had quoted him a fixed price ahead of taking on the project, it would have been a financial disaster for me. I wish you all the best in your search and truly hope you find a shop that will beat your expectations.
.
Attachments
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
)
Mitch//pa
BANNED
if your willing to truck it to the phila area i have a shop that i can recommend for you. quality body and paint work done properly does not come cheap. mostly all body shops take in insurance work also, which can put your car on the backburner. for some people thats fine as they are not in a rush for it and gives them time to pay or save up. the shop i use will expedite it if needed or take there time depending on my needs. you can always truck it to brent his pics speak for themselves
nice job on the cp brent
nice job on the cp brent