Body shops won't let me pay them?!

[Gibson]

So I bought a welder and have been practicing on some scrap patch panels in preparation for repairing my floorpans, cab supports and rockers. Last night I tackled a cab corner just to whet my appetite and see how I was coming.

I'm reeeeeeally bad as it turns out. It was especially hard trying to get the patch and the cut out parts to line up. And then when I did, I ended up with a gap in one spot (about 1/16 wide).

So I decided I'd just pay someone to do it - but none of the body shops in the area will touch it! They all say they only do insurance work! I've called about half a dozen. They all say "Get a welder and do it yourself" - which I would do if I didn't suck at it.

Anyone got any advice on finding someone? Specifically in the Knox TN area?

[justpball]

go to your local hot rod hang out and ask around, guys that do custom work is who would do it....

[swb85]

Don't get frustrated, keep practicing!! Not very many people are good when they first start out. You'll get the hang of it!

[old Rusty C10]

see if you can get a guy from a body shop to do it on the side for you

[Tony_SS]

talk around or find a shop that specializes in restorations or custom work.

[Driveway Dreams]

with the masses here. Keep trying. Get involved in a local club or go to some cruise nights. Find out who other people go to to have their work done. You may check on the local thread on here too. I know the CO thread has a pretty good group of guys. You may find someone on here in your area that way.

[Mudder]

I know a guy here that would probably be happy to do it. He takes jobs like that on the side from his insurance jobs. Not bad rates either. You should be able to tackle the floor and pan areas. The body panels are a different story. Are you just tacking the peices in place before you do all the welding?

[Keith Seymore]

Or - use "structural adhesive" rather than welding, and you can still do it yourself.

K

[silvereagle07]

It's really easy. Plus there is no warping or grinding. Glue, glue, rough up and apply filler. Keith what kind of tool did you use to step the panel?

[Keith Seymore]

It's a panel flanging tool (a modified vise grip), available through the Eastwood catalog.

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-panel-flanger.html

K

[Driveway Dreams]

Man, looking at that makes me glad we don't get much rust here. Even on these squares. I have had to do my share of panel replacements when I worked in body shops, even though I was the painter. (Danged stupid know nothing body guys )

[Gibson]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Are you just tacking the peices in place before you do all the welding?

Yup. Did a bunch of spots and let them cool in between - then went back and tried to fill it in slowly. But I just don't have the skill yet to do a passable job. The welding I know all comes down to practice.

Actually, my problem was mostly in fitment. I saw the thread with those pics that Keith linked (awesome work!) and that was actually what I was originally planning to do. But when I got my cab corner in the mail (first panel I ordered just randomly from the internet - before I found this site and the great prices at Mike's Bump And Grind Garage). I overlaid it on the existing cab corner and it was easily 1/4" too wide. So to make it fit, I would have had to cut a 1/4" strip out of it in the middle somewhere. I figured if I was going to do all that work, I might as well weld it anyway. I think the tri-plus that Mike carries has much better fitment.

Can you do that same kind of "flange and adhesive" thing with the rockers too?

[Driveway Dreams]

I would not attatch a rocker with adhesive. It is a far to structural piece to do that.

[Gibson]

That makes sense. I'll definitely need to find someone to weld them then - or weld them myself. I'll do the other cab corner with the adhesive though - that does look way easier. That flanger is a lot cheaper than I thought it would be.

[texanidiot25]

^ +1, from a guy who has rust for rockers, it gives a lot of strength to the door jam at the hinges. I know the industrial stuff is strong, but i'd only weld that. But for other patch panels and such, it's easy work.

But many don't see it as 'properly fixing' it. worry about it's long term hold.

[Driveway Dreams]

Not to mention that there is a safety issue if you sacrifice the structural integrity of the truck. There are a few things that I will not compromise on 1) Frame 2) Pillars 3) Rockers 4) Floor braces

[diamondave]

So there isnt any welding shops near by?....

[Chevrolet4x4s]

I have this one
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=1110
really heavy built,works good.

This one is cheaper,but I haven't used it
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66302

Shane

[pat386]

check with welding shops, or you may have to head a little north to knoxville

[Gibson]

Originally Posted by pat386

check with welding shops, or you may have to head a little north to knoxville

I would happily go to Knoxville... I'll start asking around for welding shops/custom places.

Thanks all!

[pat386]

with the size of knoxville, you should be able to find body shops, welding shops and custom shops!

[Number21]

Try looking for/posting an add on craigslist under the services section. I'll bet you can find a lot of guys who are out of work who'd love to do the job for a little cash under the table. I'm in the same situation - luckily my neighbor owns a body shop!

[jeffspower]

Put an ad on Craigslist under "labor gigs". With all the people out of work, you will get plenty of responses. I put an ad on there looking for someone to do drywall work and made the mistake of listing my phone number. The first call came in 5 minutes with dozens over the next few hours. Just ask for references and previous work that they can show you, and you should get it done easy enough.

[Gibson]

That sounds like a plan. I also put some calls into local welding shops. We'll see how it pans out.

Thanks everyone!