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#1 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
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Looking for a good bodyman!!
Well, I have about had it with some of the bodymen I have found. Now I am looking for someone who is willing to come work in my shop once and a while to make some extra money or maybe use his skills on my projects as trade for a place to work on his own truck. I am willing to supply torches, welders, air wrenches, ratchets, wrenches, screw drivers, and a good air supply.. The rest of the tools you would have to supply yourself. Willing to help wherever I can.. I also want to take pictures of all the work being done to my trucks, so I can add articals to my do it yourself section... Email me so we can set up a time to talk. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#2 |
Mike
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: west chester pa
Posts: 2,474
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It's getting hard to find a body man everywhere.Most shops are dealing with newer cars,pull off the old and put new on.Any shop around here that will do metal work is busy and epensive.That is why I do my own.But you know how long that takes.Especially when you run your own business.
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70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires |
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#3 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
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Well I thought I found one that was going to do the work and did do some work on my Panel, but after I got it back I found that charged me $1200.00 for sub par work. Then tried to tell me that it was industry standard. Since when did drilling holes in a truck to pull a dent, then using bondo to fill the holes become industry standard? Especially after I gave explisit instructions not to do it!! I had him cut out the lower rear quarter on the R/H side of my Panel, because it was full of holes that someone had drilled to pull a dent in it. My body man told me then that he could just smear bondo over it to cover it up... My responce to that was, that I did not want that done and if it cost me extra to weld the holes up, then that was what I wanted done. He said it would be cheaper for me if he cut the spot out of the quarter and weld new metal in. So I said do it then, at least there wouldn't be a bunch of holes in my truck. Well he did that repair right and I was happy with it, so I had him take out a dent on the L/H side by the taillight. How does he do that repair??? He drills holes in the dent, uses a slide hammer to pull the dent!!!! Then smears bondo over it to cover it up!!! Without welding up the holes!!! I,m so angry I could spit!!! You can see the bondo pushed through the holes on the inside of my panel!!! What is wrong with this guy??? Anyway I take my truck back to him to fix his mistake and that is when he tells me that, this is industry standard, and he refused to fix it!! He said he had too many hours in it to grind out his work and weld the holes up. That he would grind off the bondo that pushed through the holes and cover that area on the inside of my Panel with undercoating to hide it. Well the only thing I can say about it now, is it is time to get a new bodyman!! WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Springfield, VA
Posts: 460
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Sounds like the guy has some sort of internal disconnect going on there...........
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1971 Shortbed 350/350 w/ Posi-traction 3:73's 1996 Chevy Silverado TJ in Springfield, Virginia Likes old Chevy trucks Drinks Miller MGD ![]() |
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#5 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
|
While I was talking to him about the holes he drilled, he had the balls to tell me that maybe I should have reminded him that was unexceptable!!! What ever happened to accepting responsabillity for your actions!! WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Springfield, VA
Posts: 460
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Sounds like he doesn't take any pride in his work either....
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1971 Shortbed 350/350 w/ Posi-traction 3:73's 1996 Chevy Silverado TJ in Springfield, Virginia Likes old Chevy trucks Drinks Miller MGD ![]() |
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#7 |
67-72 Addict!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: The TAX State!
Posts: 7,857
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Wes, I thought the best technique was to use the welding rods on the dents and pull them out with them and then use a "little bondo" to avoid all those drilled holes. I'm no expert by no means but I have done a fair share of bondo work only. I would go with the full metal replacement like you want. I hope you find somebody that is acceptable. Good luck!
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Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Saskatoon,SK,Canada
Posts: 2,476
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Gee Wes it does sound like you need a new bodyman. I've been though the same kind of thing. I have literally writtten down instructions of what repairs and the way I wanted repairs done and have come back to find nothing even vaguely approximating what I wanted. The worst part is I said just do it and I'm not asking for the cost or the time right now just do it right.
I try to do most of my own bodywork but when an insurance repair needs doing it has to go to the bodyshop and there is usually some little thing I want done outside the claim since it's going into the booth anyway. Afterwards I always ask myself WHY I let somebody else work on my car. In my younger and stupider years I drilled a few holes and used slide hammers too. Once in a while even now I find a reason here or there to use a hole but I mig it up when I'm done. I don't have a stud welder so most of the ime I just tack a nail to the panel and slide hammer on that, then I cut the nail off and grind it smooth. I am not even close to being a bodyman and even I can figure that out. You know for a professional bodyman I am surprised he DOESN'T have a stud welder. I've been thinking of getting one.
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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada |
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#9 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
|
Well I would have thought he had a stud welder. Seems like that is even a faster way to mahe these kind of repairs. I don't know... Like I said, I guess that I need to hire a guy to do it in my shop... This is depressing just thinking about it...
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On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Newport, NC
Posts: 52
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I wish some of you were a little closer the east coast of NC. I worked at a Pontiac dealership doing bodywork for 7 yrs and was in a fight with my boss at least once a week about the right way to do things and the way he wanted them done. I got out of doing bodywork for a living because of health reasons but still do side work to make a little extra money and would gladly help any of you out. Bodyshops in this area have a labor rate of $38 an hour, which I think is crazy. I understand having an overhead but damn. My boss was bragging about the shop two years ago, we grossed over 1.1 million. (Big Dealership)
I am kind of wondering what some of labor rates are in some of the shops in some of your areas. Sean _________________________________ Size does matter, get a BB! |
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#11 |
Used to have a truck
Join Date: May 2002
Location: port orchard WA
Posts: 1,552
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Ive got quite a few family members in the body work and paint business and $38 an hour for decent body work plus materials is on the cheap side. You are paying for the building, labor for everyone from the secretary to the body guy and painter to the shop foreman not to mention EPA mandated regs which add to the cost of whatever work you have done. You are paying for the equipment to do the work , the power to do it and a myriad of other things. After all that maybe the guy who owns the shop will turn enough profit to allow him to keep the shop open and the people who work there employed at a wage that will allow them to feed their families and put a roof over their heads and put parts in THEIR trucks. Doing niche bodywork that doesnt use a lot of filler is expensive and labor intensive work that doesnt get subsidized with insurance dollars. Its no wonder its hard to find a "shop" to do it. Why would they? For the pride of it? Pride doesnt pay the mortgage. Its one of the facts of life that you get what you pay for and bodywork is no exception.
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No truck :-( |
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#12 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
|
Well Mike I agree with what you are saying.. I run a buisness also. I wasn't complaining about his shop rates nor was I complaining about how long it took. I, in fact, told him that I expected to pay more because I wanted the job done right. That wasn't the issue, the issue was he did sub par work, or at least work that he knew wouldn't be acceplable to me. Then once I found what he did, he refuses to fix it!! Says that he has too much time in it to just grind it out and fix it the way I wanted. He also says that what he did is industry standard... Well you and I both know that is not true... I never once complained to him about shop rates, nor the amount of time it took do it. I also didn't say anything about how much time it would take to finish it. I agreed with his terms!! Anyway it's a sad day when you can't take your truck into a shop and pay their price and be able to expect a certain leval work to be done, nor be able to get them to fix it. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Blue Ridge, Tx
Posts: 1,172
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Unfortunately, it's been like that for as long as I can remember. It may not be or look right to you, but will look fine to another. I do business like my father, his father and so on did/do. I will guarantee any work I complete untill it hits the curb. It doesn't leave until you are happy with it, after that, it's all yours. Otherwise, you have them coming back a week later saying the paint is chipping when they obviously smacked something to cause the chipping. Same thing goes with any engine or interior work I do.
I hate to hear of guys getting screwed like that. You ask for one thing and get something totally opposite.
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Fawker Fab three seater rock crawler buggy 498 BBC/SM465/203/205 doubler, propane, 5.13's, 42" PB Rockers '66 C10 - The new hot rod '77 3+3 Dually - 12 valve 4wd conversion tow rig project '28 Ford 2 door sedan street rod RevLimit Offroad "Hang on beer, we can do this." |
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#14 |
Saving 1 truck at a time!
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kent, WA
Posts: 6,465
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Good luck Wes! I don't think you are going to find anyone to work in your shop for free although I know a really good body man that will work in your shop for $25/hr. You have to provide all the materials and he will show up and do an excellent job. You will probably have to pay something for his commute time but he is really worth it...very nice work.
Let me know if want to talk to him. You can get excellent work in the Seattle area at several custom shops but you have to wait in line and be willing to pay about $55+ per hour. I think that is a pretty good deal. These shops have built National Street Rod Award Winners so they have pretty good credibility. The telling sign of a really good shop (I am sure there are excellent insurance shops that obviously do things differently) is when you enter they have several vehicles with fresh bare metal fab and repairs on them. They are proud of their work and do not cover it until the last minute! I never realized this until I read your post, but it is pretty common in the best shops in our area.
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'68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary) |
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#15 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
|
stllokn, That actually doesn't sound bad... You and I will have to talk when you come down to pick up your parts. $25.00 hr sounds pretty reasonable for good work. I'll be talking to you about this later. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
__________________
On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Iowa
Posts: 236
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I can understand your delimma wes... But then again it is hard to find someone to do quality work at a low price.I'm not saying you were trying to find the cheapest guy on the block.Take into consideration....was this at his shop? does he guarantee his work?does he need the money all up front? are there other "projects" sitting around? what kind of experience/certifications does he have? as far as $38 an hour...I don't open my toolbox for less than 50-I'm not trying to sound cocky thats just what I need to do my work. In any case to anyone looking be careful who you chose, ask around and youll find some one.
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you never have too many suburbans.... |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada
Posts: 1,086
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Sorry to hear about your bodywork problems WES, that type of workmanship you got is terrible!!!! When I got my truck done some years back I had a guy who took pride in his work and did a very good job, hmmmm word of mouth is something this guy does not seem to care about!!! Take care WES, Doug
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#18 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
|
Doug, Thanks for the words of encouragement. They are appriciated.
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__________________
On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#19 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jonesville NC
Posts: 621
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sorry to here that wes that is old school ways of doing it. he should have use a stud welder. i charge 40.00 hr. i do take pride in my work i love repairing rust that is what i am best at. love cutting old metal out and put new in just like a freash cut lawn when you done with it just look at makes you happy
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Iowa
Posts: 236
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I agree with what your'e saying wes, 100 %.It sounds like you looked into everything that you should have-wish more people would- perhaps he fell sick with old timers disease-been doin' it long enough-looks good enough-close enough...Good luck in the finished project,we need more on the road!
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you never have too many suburbans.... |
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