I have a 71 convertible that I am doing a restomod project on. Well, it's actually a joint project between my dad and I. Anyway, when we bought the car we new we would have to replace some of the sheet metal (floor boards, trunk pan, one of 2 of the engine bay aprons, maybe a couple other little things). Turns out just about every piece of sheet metal on this car is toasted... The more stuff I take off, the more rust holes I find. Also, when we got under neith the car for the first time we found that the sub-frame rails were rotted away, and the pinch welds had expanded to about 10 times their original size with rust.

Now for the dilema: I've talked to a couple body shops and eveyone seems to think it will be about 10-15k to have the body work done, including fixing the frame. Even if I were to sell this car after all was said and done, I would be eating probably 5-6k. I can't afford that, nor do I want to sell the car when I done building it. I could just cut bait and try to salvage some of the capital I've invested, but I've got too much time/money invested into it and I'm too stubborn to let myself do that.

So here's my question to everyone else: Can anyone offer any advice on what I can do to reduce the cost of the work needed? Can anyone suggest a good place to take the car in the Michigan area that won't charge me an arm and a leg? I have almost NO fabricating experiance, and I never learned how to weld (Something I really, really need to learn how to do). Anyway, any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long post, if you actually read everything on here.

 

I should also note that the car is now just a shell, there is nothing left on it to disasemble.

 

Find another car and use the present car as a parts car. I know everyone is Mustang crazy but some times they are just not worth putting the money into. I had to do that to a car that had been in the family since 71. It really hurt to do it but it was just too rusty. All you need is something with good bones.

 

Enroll in a bodywork or welding program at the local community college/votech. Even if you spend $4000 on the program you will still come out ahead by doing it yourself.

Along those same lines, albeit a different course allow a community college / votech / high school program to do the work for you. The quality will be good, because they are going after the grade or certificate. The only draw back is that you could loose your car for the entire year. I remember in high school, alot of people would put their cars in the shop for us to fix, they would pay jobber price for parts and we would do the work.

As long as you're not in any hurry, this is the cheapest route short of doing it yourself.

 

Hey Baker....Do high schools even offer an auto mechanics class anymore? I was a high school music teacher for 36 years, and for the last 10 years the auto mechanics, wood shop and home economics classes started to not be funded so went bye-bye. I guess a Junior college might still offer it though.

 

My school has a special program, but it is for people that want to go into the profession. The class takes up 3 hours a day.

 

Economics say no way to have this car professionally restored. However, as a father and son project/hobby the experience of doing it yourselves could be priceless. I'm in the camp of taking some classes and learning to do the work. What kind of facilities do you have? A project like this will tie up the garage for a looonnnnggg time. You will also have to invest in some serious tools, like a welder and high capacity air compressor.

 

Our facilities are our garage at home. We do have a compressor, but nothing huge (33 gal. 6hp). I would love to take some classes on welding and body work, but I work 40-50 hours a week, and am currently taking 2 classes. I go to school for six months out of the year and work the other six... Kettering University (formerly GMI) if anyone is familiar with that. My dad works 60+ hours a week, so there really isn't time for either of us to take any classes.

I do have some friends who know how to weld and do some minor metal working, and I'm trying to see if they can give me a hand. But I'm still out when it comes to heavy fabricating.

My high school (at least as of 3 years ago) had auto shop and metal shop programs, but there is no way in hell I would trust one of those kids to touch my car. However, taking it to a CC or vocational school may not be a bad idea.

Finally, I am currently in the process of trying to find a car with good bones. Can anyone suggest good places to look? (i.e. mustang/ford junk yards)

Thanks for the replys, and keep them coming!

 

my dad enrolled me at 16 at a local community college, learned body work,painting ect, then after high school enrolled in the Ford program,was a ford tech for 10 years.I have most of the knowledge i'll ever need to do things myself..........but if i didnt, it would cost waaaay to much to restore a car if i had to pay everybody.

 

Allow me to offer a few thoughts and ask a few questions...

You say that the car is not going to be for sale correct ? Are you VERY firm on this ?

It's a project that you and your father are undertaking as a learning opportunity and "together" project. Are you concerned about originality ?

It seems that the car you have may very well be beyond saving. What's the fifth digit in the VIN ? As long as it's not a "C" , "J" , "M" or "R" I have an idea. If it is any of the previously mentioned letters, save the car if at all possible. Most likely it's an "F" , "H" or "T". In that case , how about this idea ????????????????

Locate yourself a 71-73 Coupe that is structurally solid and largely intact. Have a PROFESSIONAL body shop graft in the unique structural support components found only on the convertibles and cut the top off of it . Then ask them to chop the windshield pillars and install the convertible windshield pillars and insert the top supports and framework in the trunk area. I realize that this all seems a little far out there but you might very well save yourself a fortune. You will have built yourself a convertible as you like it and you can do all the resto-mod you like without worrying about originality. A nice Shelby style roll bar , 4 speed trans , 4 wheel disc and suspension upgrades could very well yield a nice handling car that is a hoot to drive.

Now for the two most important pieces of advice I can give you. IF you decide to go this way... PHOTOGRAPH THE ENTIRE PROCESS ! In the event that you ever do sell the car prospective buyers will really appreciate the documentation and it can only help the cars value by proving that it was done properly. Second, DO NOT USE THE ORIGINAL CARS VIN ! Use the VIN off of the coupe and title the car with the correct VIN to the correct car. If you swap numbers and try to claim the car is an original convertible, someone will surely figure it out. It's damned hard to take the little pony for a Sunday drive if you're wearing a set of handcuffs.

JMHO, Dean

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