FINALLY got my 55 in the body shop after finding one, but had to wait in line.

[55 Rescue Dog]

Long story getting to this point, but I finally got my 55 to a body shop. Had it picked up yesterday with a tow truck, and earlier today I made a 100 mile round trip to pick up a couple front floor pans. Just went and dropped them off, and was surprised they were working on it, and had most of the body shell sanded down for epoxy already. Still a long ways to go, but it's off to a start now, and I don't have to work on it for a while, plus I got more room in the garage for the winter. I'm just having them get the main shell in primer, and straightened up for now. I will worry about paint after the car is more complete, and mostly drivable.
I was afraid it was going to get shoved off into a corner like the last shop, that ended up just storing it for a year, with stuff piled on top of it. Then I fired them. Gave them $200 for storing it though.
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[scorpion1110]

RD

Looks good. If I remember correctly that old girl was a bit rough when you found her.

[55 Rescue Dog]

RD

Looks good. If I remember correctly that old girl was a bit rough when you found her.

Thanks. I'm actually using 2 old girls, and trying to make one that looks a bit younger, with bits and pieces of both! With less junk in the trunk.

[carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)]

looks like its off to a great start, that shop is good. i see you got the security guards out there too.

[55 Rescue Dog]

They are moving right along, after only a month. About up to the first $1000 bill, and I will just have them keep going until I don't want to pay anymore. Wish I could getting painted while it's there, and blown apart, but I don't want to try and work around new paint, since there is still a of lot fabrication to do. I need to put the car together loosely once, then blow it back apart. Thinking maybe paint on the cowl/dash, etc. so I wouldn't have to pull the engine back out anyway. I'm sure I'll scratch the crap out of that most likely.
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[scorpion1110]

Looks good RD

It might make sense to have them cut it in if you know your colors. My wagon was painted when I got it and I have had to do a lot of work including some fab and despite my best efforts have chipped the hell out of it. I have gotten pretty good as fixing the chips but its still a pain.

Nothing that ticks me off more is when I chip it.

S

[55 Rescue Dog]

Looks good RD

It might make sense to have them cut it in if you know your colors. My wagon was painted when I got it and I have had to do a lot of work including some fab and despite my best efforts have chipped the hell out of it. I have gotten pretty good as fixing the chips but its still a pain.

Nothing that ticks me off more is when I chip it.

S

I hate picking a color, but I'm leaning towards non-metallic Glacier blue/Ivory.

[scorpion1110]

Black exterior and red interior works every time.

I love black cars.

[WagonCrazy]

looking good RD.
you mentioned:

I need to put the car together loosely once, then blow it back apart.

I have taken that strategy with my Nomad build and man...you lose alot of years when you do it this way. Time just has a way of marching on without your plans. Stay at it...don't stop till it comes back apart and final paint is applied, then reassembled. You can do it.

keep posting the progress pics. its motivating to others to see that.

[BamaNomad]

Your car is looking fine even now, RD!

and I have to concur with part of what scorp said... Red interiors make any color look good ... (but I can't go along with the black exterior... I've had ONE black car and swore I'd never have another!

Red interiors even make green and blue cars POP... as well as red, white, silver, and black!~

[55 Rescue Dog]

The car looks much better than it has in decades, but they haven't even started on the body work it still needs, which is way more than I had originally hoped for. The interior of the car will most likely be pretty simple, which will be mostly black, and aluminum, since it will have a cage, 2 race seats, and a little carpet. The other problem is I can't work on the car at all until I get it back, but it's nice not being in my way until this spring hopefully. The shop has a long waiting list, so I'm sure they will want it out of their way by then.

[55 Rescue Dog]

Ouch, just got a call from the body shop. I thought I was only coming up on the first $1000, but they are up to 80 hours, and not close to done with additional body work. I currently owe $3710.96. So much for any paint at this point, so I will try and make it look good in black primer for a while. 2 slower moving big guys working on it is not helping, but probably way faster than me for sure. It would take me a couple years, or more. I am wondering how much other people have spent, long before paint? It's adding up fast, and I still have to deal with the front clip yet, and the $1000's for the rest of the shiny shit. I hate cars at the moment, and wish I had a low-emission Horse instead.
I paid $1800 for the full body shell they are working on, so hopefully it will be a little cheaper than a new reproduction, which still seems stupid.

[scorpion1110]

RD;

My perspective and I do all my own body work, except paint. I am equiped to shoot in my shop, but I havent laid color since the lacquer days.

I just had a color match, and body finish and spray on my 55 Wagon, tailgate and lift gate. The color is close, and paint work is slightly above average and the cost was $1000. To shoot a whole car is easily $7-$10k.

S

[chevynut]

MY painter is actually a full-service rod shop and he charges $65 per hour for labor plus $5 per hour for basic supplies (sandpaper, masking tape, etc.). If they're using decent epoxy primer it's $250-350 a gallon. Good thing you don't have any custom fabrication or metalwork.. You're getting off cheap.

[55 Rescue Dog]

Well, after being forced to sit in the corner for 6 months, I'm still around.
Finally, 4 weeks ago I got my car back from a very expensive 7 month stay in the body shop just to get the main body shell close. It still has some issues, but at this point it's going to be full speed ahead trying to get this thing back together in primer, and drive it. I am giving up on a lot of ideas, plans, and paint to get it to that point. I have figured out these cars are a very expensive pain to try and put back together from bits, and pieces. I have plenty of shiny stuff to figure out how to install which will keep me inspired I hope. Of course none of that ever goes according to plan either.
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