Body lift and chassis refurb time line?

[jmccrary]

For those who has done it...whats the average time for body lift and chassis breakdown? I am looking at having the chassis blasted, repaired if required and zinc coated...then have the body repainted...finally, have the interior refinished.

I am thinking, 3 days to lift the body
3 days to break the chassis down
one week for repair and coating of chassis
2 weeks for paint
2 weeks for interior (all but seats)

One week for reassemble of chassis and body

This is working on the car about 3-4 hours per day and about 8 on the weekends. My knowledge is about more than average on mechanics and I have pretty much all the hand-tools required. Only thing I do not have is a lift for the body...build or beg for help...oh and having the body and chassis done at the same time to compact the time line.

Thanks chaps!

[jmccrary]

Griffinr said:

What about the time for cleaning up, repairing/replacing, painting all the bits you took off. Trailing arms, tank and frame, wishbones, engine, gearbox. Are there any leaks to fiminimalistndition is your clutch in, the list goes on "while your at it".
Rob.

Rob, you are correct about the list. As for the frame and suspension, these will be repaired or replaced as needed. On the motor, clean-up and change only the required parts. This will be a minimalsit on the mechanics. I know the rear trailing arms are excellent, but the fronts not as much.

[jmccrary]

DamianS3 said:

Looks optimistic to me and assumes you have all parts available at just the right time.

It took Dulfords 6 months to do mine and we didn't touch the interior etc..

Good luck though great to see another saved.

Oh should point out mine was the worst chassi Dulfords had seen to date.

Cheers Damian

Ouch! Glad its sorted! As for saving...I want to keep her on the road for as long as possible and enjoy as much as possible!

[jmccrary]

phillpot said:

Sorry but you seem to have 6 days to take body off and strip and only one extra to put it all back together!

Depending on what snags you hit, your ability to solve them and your general speed of work body could be off in a day, there's really not a lot holds it on.

As others have said you will have a multitude of bits to clean, inspect, replace, paint etc.

Time will just "disappear" once you start re-assembly.

Think somebody has watched too many "Wheeler Dealers".... nothings ever siezed, broken or buggered, new parts always fit etc....


Good Luck

Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 10th December 20:39

Mike, I do understand where you are coming from on the refit part. I do expect parts to break, seize, or just cause me to throw stuff in anger. However, this is a "well, the chassis was not damaged" approach. I have inspected the chassis from underneath really well to understand where my issues will come from (front suspension). All the nuts and bolt type of work I feel I can take on, but the body work and frame repair, no thank you! I have tried this before in the past and I would rather leave this to a skilled craftsman. I have noticed from all my prior work that the first one is the hardest. This is why I allowed the time for putting it back together only to add in an extra day.

As for the 'Wheeler Dealer' aspect. I would be amazed if someone thinks it only take a few mins to take a motor out of a car and to replace everything. Having done all of this personally, I know that a five min job can turn into an all niter. I would be cynical if I figured it would come out and go back in from just shear thought. All of this is going to come from months of prep work. I know what I need to order for the front suspension (all of it)to be done, but just checking out each part and getting most of it lined up and not wait until everything is apart to do the ordering.

As for other projects that takes years...this can be explained because life gets in the way. Who knows, the car may rest in pieces for months or life may make it where I can have the time to work on her and put her back together. I do know one fact, I cannot afford to pay someone to do a lot of the work...so...it will be, chassis rots and car goes away, or I do the laborious work and hope for the best.

[jmccrary]

Loach1 said:

Excellent opportunity to convert to LHD, if you were so inclined. I personally don't think it makes any difference.......

Don't forget the convertible top if it needs doing.

David...oh yeah, the top...sore subject right now lol...

[jmccrary]

Loach1 said:

Why so? I hope you don't know something I don't! It is raining in Baltimore, but I believe our cars are tucked away in the belly of the beast where they are nice and dry, if a little cold. If I see your car next week sitting in the elements I might ask the dock workers nicely to put it in their shed to keep it dry.

I hate the tan color of mine. But thanks a pic also!

[jmccrary]

phillpot said:

No offence intended Justin, just my wry sense of humour and maybe a little sarcasm......

However I still think (and you did ask)that with all the planning in the World to go from a bare chassis one Saturday morning to driving down the road next Saturday is a tall order!

Chuck in a bare, no lights, bumpers, door handles, striker plates etc etc fresh from paintshop body tub (doors and boot lid off, engine bay stripped out?) and you have a challenge !!!!


Team you have 36 hours, your time starts now

No offence taken . I do agree that in parts the wallet will magically open and start the ordering process. I do think it will be a tall order and stress me out quite a bit...however, I it will be good. Maybe this spring I will have everything in order and start the process. One thing I do want to do better is replace all the bolts in the suspension to stainless. The main reason is to ensure rust and any other type of corrosion on the bolts will not cause a weak link. So...preperation will need to be in place and hope there is no major issues to contend with.

[jmccrary]

G, thanks for the advice and the "hooker red" shots! In due time we will see!! Also, the bolts...I always figured stainless would work, so need to research for some others. Will have to make sure the bolts put in can handle the stress! That is the last place I would want to fail. I too was looking at the wiki list and starting to plan the way to do it!