Classic Car Fabricator recommendations

stezie

Hi, I wonder if anyone would recommend a car fabricator, to take care of the rust in my car. I have the car disassembled, but I have no experience with body work welding and painting. so need someone to take care of this so that I can get it rebuilt. Looking for someone near to Donegal but will travel for good workmanship.

Its a 1988 Honda Accord. Only 200 on this model spec where produced in total that I am aware off. Think only 4/5 are left running in Europe, so eager to get this thing back up and running again.


Ive put this project on the back burner long enough, time to get the finger out






It is currently a bare shell , ready to go on a trailer...

gn3dr

Don't see many of them anymore. Pics of the rust would give any potential candidates a better idea of what's involved.

w124man

Any bodyshop could swap out a few panels but not any bodyshop has a decent painter. You don't need a fabricator for this work.

gn3dr

I assume when he says the shell is ready to go on a trailer that there is rust on the shell as oppposed to just having top bolt on a few panels.

I would think that "any bodyshop" is the worst place to go for a classic restoration. There is a lot more attention required to restore something than just crash repair something. Welding is one particular area I think most bodyshops are very weak on. And filler is an area they are probably good at.

stezie

hi guys correct, the car is ready to go to someone to to the body work for me. who ever gets to do the work, is able to get right at, it, no trim to worry about, as everything has been disassembled and boxed. its a bare shell right now.

I need someone that can fabricate new inner rear wheel arches. someone that will put the effort in and make it look oem. i need someone experienced in working with classic cars and isnt afraid of getting rid of rust for me. i have asked all the body shops around here, and they arent interested in dealing with rust..

this is an example of one of the inner wheel arches.. completely gone




a bit at the front of the sunroof opening needs sorted..




and the front radiator support beam needs fabricated.

stezie

i have a load more picture on this other forum..3 Geez

w124man

'Any bodyshop' can swap out panels which is most likely what this car needs. If the panels are still available, use them!

kev1.3s

stezie wrote: »

i have a load more picture on this other forum..3 Geez

There are body shops who specialise in this kind of stuff but it doesn't come cheap. Most body shops aren't interested due to time and most people's cost restraints. Where are you based?

gholian

A number of things,
What do you hope to spend on it. Could be talking €2,500 to €3,000 for panel beating and respray without welding.
The rear wheel arch rust to do properly part of the quarter panel will have to be cut out to replace inner wheel arch that has rotted and then welded back on. The sunroof part is a double panel so to do properly will have to be separated as the rust is between the two panels.

It takes a lot of time to do properly and body shops are not interested. As was mentioned try get whatever new panels are available. For the rest of the fabrication you don't need a panel beater. You need someone who can use a mig welder. What I would suggest is buy a piece of 1mm steel. Make up some plates and put them in position and hold in place with clamps,small screws, pop rivets etc. Then get someone with a welder to weld them in every few weeks. This is the only way to make sure it is done properly and not fiber glass and filler. 1mm steel is light and can be shaped fairly easily. For a Welder you could put in an add on Donedeal or ask at local car clubs.

gn3dr

Personally I don't believe a Mig welder should be used on any panel which is visible. TIG is where it is at for bodywork if you want to minimise filler (along with proper metal finishing of course).

stezie

Replacement panels are not available for this car.. Hence why I need someone skilled enough to take it on and fabricate the panels I need..

I've no interest in doing this myself as I have zero experience in this area.

I thought I would ask in this classic car forum for recommendations of a car restorer that can fab a few panels. As I said a typical bodyshop won't go near this kind of work.

stezie

kev1.3s wrote: »

There are body shops who specialise in this kind of stuff but it doesn't come cheap. Most body shops aren't interested due to time and most people's cost restraints. Where are you based?

Have you any recommendations on some one to do this? As I said I'm willing to travel for the right person.

gholian

gn3dr wrote: »

Personally I don't believe a Mig welder should be used on any panel which is visible. TIG is where it is at for bodywork if you want to minimise filler (along with proper metal finishing of course).

Even though all bodyshops use Mig welders.

gn3dr

gholian wrote: »

Even though all bodyshops use Mig welders.

That's kind of my point.....